Jupiter Communications Inc. Tuesday
expanded into the business-to-business space with the purchase of two
research companies that focus on corporate Internet trends for an estimated
$50.6 million in cash and stock.
Jupiter (JPTR)
signed definitive agreements to acquire privately-held Internet Research Group, a research and consulting firm focused exclusively on Internet infrastructure markets and Net Market Makers, which provides information and market education about Internet
intermediaries.
The deals combined are worth approximately $50.6 million in cash and stock,
though no other terms of the acquisitions were disclosed.
Internet Research Group studies and
analyzes Internet infrastructure markets. Its clients include Adobe Systems, Bell Atlantic, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Oracle, Sun
Microsystems, Akamai Technologies,
Lucent and Novell.
NMM provides information, analysis, resources and connections to companies
that build and grow Net markets, as well as to the broader community of
investors and technology partners.
As part of its B2B strategy, Jupiter also launched a conference and
exhibition, the Jupiter Business-to-Business Commerce Forum, to be held in
early June, and a new Business-to-Business Commerce research and
advisory service.
Jupiter Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gene DeRose said the
expansion into the B2B space was always planned, but the company was waiting
for the right time to make its move.
“We decided to expand our presence in this particular, essential segment
only once we were assured that we would be the leading authority, and we
could bring our unique combination of assets to bear on
the opportunity,” DeRose said.
“Taken together, we are quickly adding
tremendous
executive and analytical talent, enlarging the scope of our research and
conference businesses, expanding our own Web initiatives, and
strengthening our Silicon Valley presence.”
“By adding explicit coverage of, and events
devoted to the exploding business-to-business commerce phenomena, we intend
to greatly expand our relationships with existing client
companies, while attracting many more with our complete set of research and
advisory solutions,” he added.
