Reuters: Ask Jeeves' moves spur merger talk

Emeryville, Calif.-based Ask Jeeves operator of the Ask.com and Teoma.com Internet search sites — said Wednesday it will sell its enterprise search division and use proceeds from an upcoming $100 million debt offering for "general corporate purposes which might include potential acquisitions and investments."

Word that Ask Jeeves intended to fortify its war chest came about a month after Yahoo! Inc. sold $750 million in senior convertible notes.

While Yahoo! was not specific about what it will do with the money raised from its offering, its announcement reignited speculation that big deals were possible.