META Group Announces Early Termination of Hart-Scott-Rodino Waiting Period in Connection With Planned Acquisition of Meta Group by Gartner, Inc

Business Wire, Jan 31, 2005

STAMFORD, Conn. -- META Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: METG) a leading provider of information technology (IT) research, advisory services, and strategic consulting, announced today that the Federal Trade Commission granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 applicable to the planned acquisition of META Group by Gartner, Inc (NYSE: IT and ITB).

On December 27, Gartner, Inc. and META Group announced they had entered into an agreement for Gartner to acquire META Group for $10 per share. Consummation of the merger remains subject to other customary closing conditions, including approval by META Group's stockholders.

About META Group

META Group is a leading provider of information technology research, advisory services, and strategic consulting. Delivering objective and actionable guidance, META Group's experienced analysts and consultants are trusted advisors to IT and business executives around the world. Its unique collaborative models and dedicated customer service help clients be more efficient, effective, and timely in their use of IT to achieve their business goals. Visit www.metagroup.com for more details on our high-value approach.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements contained in this press release regarding the consummation and timing of the pending acquisition are forward-looking statements (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Such forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties; consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied thereby. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: failure to obtain the approval of META Group's stockholders of the pending acquisition or failure to satisfy other conditions to completion of the transaction described in META Group's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings can be found on META Group's web site at www.metagroup.com and the SEC's Web site at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements included herein speak only as of the date hereof and META Group disclaims any obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances.

Additional Information

META Group has filed a preliminary proxy statement and other documents regarding the proposed transaction described in this press release with the Securities and Exchange Commission. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND SUCH OTHER MATERIALS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT META GROUP AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. A definitive proxy statement will be sent to security holders of META Group seeking their approval of the transaction. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the definitive proxy statement (when available) and other documents filed by META Group with the SEC at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov.. The definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents may also be obtained free of cost by directing a request to John Riley at 203-973-6700.

META Group's directors and executive officers may be deemed, under Securities and Exchange Commission rules, to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the META Group stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about META Group's directors and officers can be found in META Group's Proxy Statements and Annual Reports on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of those persons may be obtained by reading the proxy statement and other documents regarding the proposed transaction when they become available.