Forrester Buys JupiterResearch

Syndicated research firm Forrester has acquired JupiterResearch from MCG Capital for $23 million in cash plus assumed liabilities. The deal was made known just hours in advance of Forrester’s second-quarter earnings call.

Both Forrester and JupiterResearch specialize in syndicated research, analysis, and advice for business professionals. Forrester serves marketing and strategy, IT, and technology industry professionals. The research firm sees the addition of JupiterResearch as a way to enhance its data-driven insight, serve more categories, and possibly broaden the audience which the research is syndicated to.

It will certainly beef up the company’s marketing chops.

“Acquiring JupiterResearch is a significant step in our growth strategy for the marketing & Strategy segment of Forrester’s business,” said Dennis van Lingen, managing director of Forrester’s Marketing & Strategy Client Group, in a statement. “JupiterResearch’s established offering, well-respected research team, and strong sales organization compliment Forrester’s and solidify our long-standing leadership position as advisors to Marketing & Strategy professionals worldwide.”

Jupiter will continue to operate somewhat autonomously through the end of the year. Its research products and Web site will maintain their current branding, with closer integration planned for 2009

On Forrester’s second quarter earning’s call CEO George Colony said the company would consider future acquisitions. Nielsen Company, a research competitor to Forrestor, acquired IAG Research in April to enhance its analytical insight.

JupiterResearch was was founded in 1996 and later owned by Jupitermedia. It was acquired by MCG Capital and briefly merged with Kagan Research to form JupiterKagan before Kagan itself was sold off. ClickZ was previously owned by Jupitermedia.

Forrester closed 2007 with revenues of $212 million, and Jupiter with $14 million. The acquiring research company has over 1,000 employees, with 353 assigned to research duties and about the same to sales. Jupiter has a workforce of 83; about half are dedicated to research. Forrester expects to retain all Jupiter employees in the acquisition.