Gartner, Inc. acquires META Group for $162 million.

Gartner, Inc. (Stamford, CT), a provider of research and analysis for the IT industry, has agreed to acquire META Group (Stamford, CT), an IT research and consulting firm, in a cash transaction valued at $10 per share, or approximately $162 million.

META research operations include

coverage of such IT topics as applications, collaboration, content, development, enterprise architecture, infrastructure, operations, project management and security. Featured reports include "2005 Worldwide IT Benchmark Report," "Best Practice in Storage Mangement" and "IT Operations Desk Reference, among others.

META's consulting unit is designed to help mid-size and large businesses increase their returns from technology investments and help IT vendors develop successful sales and marketing plans. Its Advisory unit supplies technology services, executive services, industry-focused services and data services. META Group generated $122 million in revenue in 2003.

Gartner had 2003 revenue of $858 million and the company said the acquisition will "bring valuable additional dimensions to Gartner's already strong core research capabilities."