UK Net Guide purchased a URL redirect so that visitors to looksmart.co.uk will now be redirected to UK Directory.
Paul Mead, head of sales at UK Net Guide, said that they signed the deal to take advantage of LookSmart's much bigger database and established UK user base.
"There has been a definite movement in the market towards search-based technology with many major brand portals moving into the market and snapping at Google's heels," he said.
"The LookSmart deal and its relaunch as UK Directory demonstrates our commitment to the philosophy of using human editors to guide users to the most relevant sites. Our directory-based model allows the targeting of very specific categories ensuring maximum ROI."
Paul Siminsky, chief executive officer of LookSmart International, said: "We are pleased to announce this handover to UK Net Guide as a reputable online publisher with a similar website model to LookSmart. The fact that UK Net Guide compiles its directory from human review rather than search-based algorithm made this a strong fit. We feel that our valued users will be in safe hands with UK Net Guide."
Mead explained that UK Net Guide will develop the LookSmart database of its claimed 180,000 human reviewed websites in 34,000 categories alongside its existing product: "We are looking to extend the database further -- it is a perfect fit with our brand," he added.
The deal is a turnaround for the pay for performance search engine provider following a troublesome year in 2003, when LookSmart's UK operations closed as LookSmart's UK contract to provide MSN with paid for listings ended, with the US contact ending in January this year.
LookSmart was previously BT LookSmart until the partnership amicably dissolved as BT wanted to concentrate on core activities.
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