Gartner to Buy Meta Group: “Leading analyst firm Gartner and META Group, an information technology research and consulting firm, have reached an agreement under which Gartner will acquire META Group in an all-cash transaction valued at $10.00 per share, or approximately $162 million. The boards of directors of both companies have unanimously approved the agreement.
Gene Hall, Gartner’s CEO, said in a statement: ‘This transaction is an exciting opportunity that will give us increased depth in key sectors, geographies and markets, and an increased ability to seize revenue opportunities with the addition of META Group’s well-trained, successful sales force. In sum, the acquisition will make Gartner a stronger company with increased opportunities for growth and greater resources to offer clients.’
Gartner said it does not expect the transaction to have a material impact on its 2005 operating results, excluding charges related to the integration of META Group, but expects it to be meaningfully accretive thereafter.
Gartner serves more than 10,000 clients, including chief information officers and other senior IT executives in corporations and government agencies, as well as technology companies and the investment community. ”
I’m not really sure if this is a good thing for the IT Industry. This makes Gartner Group even more influential that they already are.
I have often wondered whther developments in the IT industry happen because Gartner sees/predicts them or whether they happen because Gartner says they will happen..
Last year there has already been a lot of discussion on the role of IT analysts and in particular about their level of independency. I’ve always viewed Gartner Group and Meta Group and 2 analysts who do not necessariliy agree on certain topics; I wonder how they will manage this moving forward.
