DBT Online 1Q00 Results Rebound from4Q99.

Business Editors

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 25, 2000

DBT Online, Inc. (NYSE: DBT) reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2000. Total revenues and royalties were $24.2 million with operating income of $1.5 million and net income of $1.3 million, or $0.06

From the fourth quarter to the first quarter, total revenues increased 11%. Total expenses, excluding one-time items, declined slightly. As a result, operating margin, excluding one-time items, expanded from a negative 6% in the fourth quarter to a positive 6% in the first quarter. Ron Fournet, President and CEO of DBT, commented, "We're very pleased with our e-commerce revenue momentum from internal growth, new products, and acquisitions, and our ability to control costs and expand margins. This strong improvement was in line with our plans for the first quarter, and we look forward to continued progress throughout the year."

Compared to the year ago first quarter, total revenues and royalties increased 33% to $24.2 million from $18.2 million. Operating income declined $1.0 million to $1.5 million compared to $2.5 million. Net income declined $700,000 to $1.3 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, compared to $2.0 million, or $0.10 per diluted share. Year over year changes reflect increased revenues from core growth and acquisitions offset by goodwill amortization, higher costs associated with ramping up sales, and integrating the acquisitions of KnowX.com and WinSHAPES. These results are in line with the Company's plan to expand from a smaller one-product/one-market company to a larger multi-product/multi-market company with greater ability to leverage its large database of public records and its Internet-based search and delivery systems.

Revenue from Investigative Services reflected strong sequential and year over year growth due to the continued success of AutoTrackXP(SM) (www.autotrackxp.com); expanding revenues from helping insurance companies detect and prevent fraudulent claims; and the fourth quarter introduction of the new FAIR(SM) Internet service, which helps government agencies fight welfare fraud. Federal revenues expanded on a sequential quarter basis as DBT continued to successfully rebuild this business. Revenues from Employment Services also reflected strong sequential and year over year growth due to the first quarter introduction of The Screening Network(TM) (www.screeningnetwork.com), a new Internet service that helps companies fight employment fraud, and expanded offline search revenue generated through AutoTrackXP.

"Acquisitions added to the Company's strength," Mr. Fournet explained. "While goodwill and transition costs affected results, KnowX.com continues to be an exciting business, on track to be profitable in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, WinSHAPES has helped us create Link IT(SM), a new e-commerce feature that will be formally launched on AutoTrackXP, and CORE(SM), a robust graphics display software package." Patent enforcement royalties declined slightly compared to the year ago quarter. DBT ended the quarter with $41.3 million in cash and short-term investments.

About DBT Online, Inc.

DBT Online, Inc. (www.dbtonline.com) is a leading nationwide provider of organized online public record data and other information. DBT's database is one of the country's largest depositories of public records combined with other information, containing 6 billion records and more than 27 terabytes of online data storage capacity. DBT's customers use its online information services to detect fraudulent activity, assist law enforcement efforts, locate people and assets, and verify information and identities, as well as many other purposes. DBT currently has more than 14,000 customers, consisting primarily of insurance companies, law firms, private investigators, and law enforcement and government agencies. On February 14, 2000, DBT and ChoicePoint, Inc. (NYSE: CPS) announced they have signed a definitive agreement, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, to merge. A special meeting of shareholders of DBT to vote on the merger will be held May 16, 2000.

DBT ONLINE CONTACT: Gary Fishman at 212-889-1727 x110 or Kimberly Ferro at 212-889-1727 x106.

Forward-Looking Statements: Information contained above with respect to the Company's Results of Operations, regarding expected future events and financial results, is forward-looking and subject to risks and uncertainties. Those statements are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 31E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The following important factors could affect the future results of the Company and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements: (i) the ability to manage DBT's rapid expansion, (ii) protecting DBT's proprietary technology, (iii) impact of future government regulation on the availability of public records, and (iv) the extent, timing and success of competition from other database providers.

                       -- Financials Attached --


                                            DBT ONLINE, INC.
                              CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS(a)
                                 (in 000's except per share amounts)

                                             Three Months Ended
                                                 March 31,
                                        ----------------------------
                                              2000            1999
                                              ----            ----

Revenues                                    $22,657         $16,535
Patent royalties                              1,543           1,653
                                        ------------    ------------
     Total revenues and royalties            24,200          18,188

Cost of revenues                              9,100           7,432
Sales and marketing                           4,510           2,286
Research and development                      2,248           1,179
General and administrative (b)                6,821           4,779
                                        ------------    ------------
     Total expenses                          22,679          15,676

Income from operations                        1,521           2,512
Interest income, net                            418             443
                                        ------------    ------------

Income before income taxes                    1,939           2,955
Provision for income taxes                      678           1,005
                                        ------------    ------------

Net income                                   $1,261          $1,950
                                        ============    ============
Basic net income per common share             $0.06           $0.10
                                        ============    ============
Diluted net income per common share           $0.06           $0.10
                                        ============    ============
Basic wtd avg shares outstanding             20,211          18,914
                                        ============    ============
Diluted wtd avg shares outstanding           20,769          19,694
                                        ============    ============
EBITDA(c)                                    $4,550          $4,480
                                        ============    ============

a.  The May 1999 acquisition of I.R.S.C., Inc. was accounted for as a
    pooling of interests, and thus, all current and historical
    financial data have been restated to reflect the combined results
    of operations.

b.  General and administrative expenses for the three months ended
    March 31, 2000 includes $663 in goodwill amortization from the
    acquisition of KnowX.com in September 1999 and WinSHAPES in May
    1999.

c.  Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
    ("EBITDA") is presented not as a substitute for income from
    operations, net income or cash flows from operating activities.
    The Company has included EBITDA data (which are not a measure of
    financial performance under generally accepted accounting
    principles) because such data are used by certain investors to
    analyze and compare companies on the basis of operating
    performance, leverage and liquidity, and to determine a company's
    ability to service debt.