GARTNER, INC.
Table of Contents

 
 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

(Mark One)

     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2005

OR

     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

For the transition period from       to      

Commission File Number 1-14443

Gartner, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware   04-3099750
(State or other jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)   Identification Number)
     
56 Top Gallant Road   06904-2212
P.O. Box 10212   (Zip Code)
Stamford, CT    
(Address of principal executive offices)    

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (203) 316-1111

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES X NO       .

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2) YES X NO       .

The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s capital stock as of April 30, 2005 was 89,583,781 shares of Class A Common Stock and 22,612,954 shares of Class B Common Stock.

 
 

 


Table Of Contents

             
  FINANCIAL INFORMATION        
 
           
  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)   Page
 
           
 
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2005 and
December 31, 2004
    3  
 
           
 
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the
Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
    4  
 
           
 
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the
Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
    5  
 
           
 
  Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements     6  
 
           
  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
    13  
 
           
  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT
MARKET RISK
    24  
 
           
  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES     25  
 
           
  OTHER INFORMATION        
 
           
  EXHIBITS     26  
 
           
 EX-10.1 2002 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
 EX-10.2 GARTNER EXECUTIVE BENEFITS PROGRAM
 EX-31.1 CERTIFICATION
 EX-31.2 CERTIFICATION
 EX-32 CERTIFICATION

2


Table of Contents

PART I            FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

GARTNER, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited, in thousands)

                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2005     2004  
 
               
Assets
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 158,721     $ 160,126  
Fees receivable, net
    233,284       257,689  
Deferred commissions
    32,015       32,978  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    39,850       37,052  
 
           
Total current assets
    463,870       487,845  
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net
    61,333       63,495  
Goodwill
    229,994       231,759  
Intangible assets, net
    257       138  
Other assets
    73,668       77,957  
 
           
Total Assets
  $ 829,122     $ 861,194  
 
           
 
               
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
  $ 148,499     $ 181,502  
Deferred revenues
    333,704       307,696  
Current portion of long-term debt
    40,000       40,000  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    522,203       529,198  
Long-term debt
    140,000       150,000  
Other liabilities
    51,406       51,948  
 
           
Total Liabilities
    713,609       731,146  
 
               
Stockholders’ Equity
               
Preferred stock
           
Common stock
    75       75  
Additional paid-in capital
    484,565       485,713  
Unearned compensation, net
    (5,551 )     (7,553 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net
    8,887       12,722  
Accumulated earnings
    175,383       190,089  
Treasury stock, at cost
    (547,846 )     (550,998 )
 
           
Total Stockholders’ Equity
    115,513       130,048  
 
           
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
  $ 829,122     $ 861,194  
 
           

See the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

3


Table of Contents

GARTNER, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)

                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2005     2004  
Revenues:
               
Research
  $ 125,196     $ 122,242  
Consulting
    64,010       64,626  
Events
    8,055       18,171  
Other
    2,563       3,628  
 
           
Total revenues
    199,824       208,667  
Costs and expenses:
               
Cost of services and product development
    95,278       95,476  
Selling, general and administrative
    91,546       87,634  
Depreciation
    6,079       7,937  
Amortization of intangibles
    28       197  
Goodwill impairments
          739  
META integration charges
    3,405        
Other charges
    14,274       10,513  
 
           
Total costs and expenses
    210,610       202,496  
 
           
Operating (loss) income
    (10,786 )     6,171  
(Loss) gain from investments, net
    (5,106 )     20  
Interest (expense) income, net
    (1,345 )     245  
Other expense, net
    (304 )     (3,113 )
 
           
(Loss) income before income taxes
    (17,541 )     3,323  
(Benefit) provision for income taxes
    (2,834 )     2,859  
 
           
Net (loss) income
  $ (14,707 )   $ 464  
 
           
 
               
Income (loss) per common share:
               
Basic
  $ (0.13 )   $ 0.00  
Diluted
  $ (0.13 )   $ 0.00  
 
               
Weighted average shares outstanding:
               
Basic
    111,324       130,311  
Diluted
    112,416       133,180  

See the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

4


Table of Contents

GARTNER, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited, in thousands)

                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2005     2004  
Operating activities:
               
Net income (loss)
  $ (14,707 )   $ 464  
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization of intangibles
    6,107       8,134  
Non-cash compensation
    275       485  
Tax benefit associated with employee exercises of stock options
    128       1,494  
Deferred taxes
    (295 )     542  
Loss (gain) from investments, net
    5,106       (20 )
Amortization of debt issue costs
    222       299  
Goodwill impairments
          739  
Non-cash charges associated with impairment of long-lived assets
          2,943  
Changes in assets and liabilities:
               
Fees receivable, net
    20,249       30,389  
Deferred commissions
    959       2,609  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    (3,676 )     (790 )
Other assets
    768       (115 )
Deferred revenues
    30,739       2,285  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    (31,290 )     (24,763 )
 
           
Cash provided by operating activities
    14,585       24,695  
 
           
 
               
Investing activities:
               
Investment in intangibles
    (150 )      
Prepaid acquisition costs
    (2,501 )      
Additions to property, equipment and leasehold improvements
    (4,063 )     (3,005 )
 
           
Cash used in investing activities
    (6,714 )     (3,005 )
 
           
 
               
Financing activities:
               
Proceeds from stock issued for stock plans
    3,604       16,270  
Payments on debt
    (10,000 )      
Purchases of treasury stock
          (4,000 )
 
           
Cash (used) provided by financing activities
    (6,396 )     12,270  
 
           
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    1,475       33,960  
Effects of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents
    (2,880 )     (1,180 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    160,126       229,962  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 158,721     $ 262,742  
 
           

See the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

5


Table of Contents

GARTNER, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

Note 1 — Basis of Presentation

These interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes of the Company filed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported amounts of operating revenues and expenses. These estimates are based on management’s knowledge and judgments. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows at the dates and for the periods presented have been included. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2005 may not be indicative of the results of operations for the remainder of 2005. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

Note 2 — Comprehensive (Loss) Income

The components of comprehensive (loss) income for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 are as follows (in thousands):

                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2005     2004  
Net (loss) income:
  $ (14,707 )   $ 464  
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
               
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    (3,831 )     (104 )
Reclassification adjustment of foreign currency translation adjustments to net income upon closing of foreign operations
          2,943  
Net unrealized (losses) gains on investments, net of tax
    (4 )     28  
 
           
Other comprehensive (loss) income
    (3,835 )     2,867  
 
           
Comprehensive (loss) income
  $ (18,542 )   $ 3,331  
 
           

During the first quarter of 2004, the Company reclassified $2.9 million of accumulated translation adjustments associated with certain operations in South America into net income as a result of the Company’s decision to close those operations. The reclassification adjustment was recorded as a loss within Other expense, net.

Note 3 — Computations of (Loss) Income per Share of Common Stock

The following table sets forth the reconciliation of the basic and diluted income (loss) per share (in thousands, except per share data):

                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2005     2004  
Numerator:
               
Net (loss) income used for calculating basic and diluted (loss) income per share
  $ (14,707 )   $ 464  
 
           
 
               
Denominator:
               
Weighted average number of common shares used in the calculation of basic (loss) income per share
    111,324       130,311  

6


Table of Contents

                 
Common stock equivalents associated with stock compensation plans
    1,092       2,869  
 
           
Shares used in the calculation of diluted (loss) income per share
    112,416       133,180  
 
           
 
               
Basic (loss) income per share
  $ (0.13 )   $ 0.00  
 
           
Diluted (loss) income per share
  $ (0.13 )   $ 0.00  
 
           

For the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, options to purchase 17.2 million and 11.6 million shares, respectively, of Class A Common Stock of the Company were not included in the computation of diluted (loss) income per share because the effect would have been anti-dilutive.

Note 4 — Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has several stock-based compensation plans. The Company applies APB Opinion No. 25 “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (APB 25) in accounting for its employee stock options and purchase rights and applies Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (SFAS 123) for disclosure purposes only. Under APB 25, the intrinsic value method is used to account for stock-based employee compensation plans. The SFAS 123 disclosures include pro forma net loss and loss per share as if the fair value-based method of accounting had been used.

If compensation for employee options had been determined based on SFAS 123, the Company’s pro forma net loss and pro forma loss per share would have been as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2005     2004  
Net (loss) income as reported
  $ (14,707 )   $ 464  
Add: Stock-based compensation expense, net of tax, included in net (loss) income as reported
    217       315  
Deduct: Pro forma employee compensation cost, net of tax, related to stock options, restricted stock and share purchase plan
    (3,413 )     (2,490 )
 
           
Pro forma net loss
  $ (17,903 )   $ (1,711 )
 
           
 
               
Basic and diluted (loss) per share:
               
As reported
  $ (0.13 )   $ 0.00  
Pro forma
  $ (0.16 )   $ (0.01 )

The fair value of the Company’s stock plans was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2005     2004  
Expected Dividend yield
    0 %     0 %
Expected stock price volatility
    29 %     42 %
Risk-free interest rate
    3.6 %     2.3 %
Expected life in years
    3.6       3.8  

In December 2004 the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 123R, “Share-Based Payment” (SFAS 123R). The rule replaces SFAS No. 123 and APB 25 and will require the recognition of expense for share-based payments, to include the value of stock options granted to employees. The revised rule was originally effective for periods beginning after June 15, 2005, with early adoption permitted.

7


Table of Contents

In April 2005 the SEC issued a rule that amended the date of compliance with SFAS 123R (“the SEC amendment”). Under the SEC amendment, SFAS 123R must be adopted beginning with the first interim or annual reporting period of the registrant’s first fiscal year beginning on or after June 15, 2005, which means that the Company must adopt SFAS 123R by January 1, 2006.

The Company is currently assessing the impact SFAS 123R will have on its financial position, cash flows, and results of operations, and the method of adoption it will use. The Company believes that the implementation of the new rule may have a material effect on its results of operations.

The Company has a plan to make a one-time offer to buy back certain vested and outstanding stock options for cash at a price lesser or equal to fair value, which is subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders at the annual meeting (See Note 10 — Stock Programs for additional information).

Note 5 — Segment Information

The Company manages its business in three reportable segments: Research, Consulting, and Events. Research consists primarily of subscription-based research products, access to research inquiry, as well as peer networking services and membership programs. Consulting consists primarily of consulting, measurement engagements, and strategic advisory services. Events consists of various symposia, conferences, and exhibitions.

The Company evaluates reportable segment performance and allocates resources based on gross contribution margin. Gross contribution, as presented below, is defined as operating income excluding certain selling, general and administrative expenses, depreciation, amortization of intangibles, goodwill impairment, income taxes, META integration charges, and other charges. The accounting policies used by the reportable segments are the same as those used by the Company.

The Company does not identify or allocate assets, including capital expenditures, by operating segment. Accordingly, assets are not reported by segment because the information is not available and is not reviewed in the evaluation of segment performance or in making decisions in the allocation of resources.

The following tables present information about reportable segments (in thousands). The “Other” column includes certain revenues and other expenses (primarily selling, general, and administrative) unallocated to reportable segments, expenses allocated to operations that do not meet the segment reporting quantitative threshold, and other charges. There are no inter-segment revenues:

                                         
    Research     Consulting     Events     Other     Consolidated  
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2005:
                                       
Revenues
  $ 125,196     $ 64,010     $ 8,055     $ 2,563     $ 199,824  
Gross contribution
    77,011       23,142       3,342       2,171       105,666  
Corporate and other expenses
                                    (116,452 )
 
                                     
Operating (loss)
                                  $ (10,786 )
 
                                     
 
                                       
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2004:
                                       
Revenues
  $ 122,242     $ 64,626     $ 18,171     $ 3,628     $ 208,667  
Gross contribution
    79,027       25,244       7,107       3,157       114,535  
Corporate and other expenses
                                    (108,364 )
 
                                     
Operating income
                                  $ 6,171  
 
                                     

8


Table of Contents

Note 6 — Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, by reporting segment, for the first quarter of 2005 are as follows:

                                 
    Balance             Currency     Balance  
    December 31,             Translation     March 31,  
    2004     Impairments     Adjustments     2005  
Research
  $ 131,921     $     $ (1,370 )   $ 130,551  
Consulting
    67,150             (395 )     66,755  
Events
    30,606                   30,606  
Other
    2,082                   2,082  
 
                       
Total goodwill
  $ 231,759     $     $ (1,765 )   $ 229,994  
 
                       

During the first quarter of 2004, the Company recorded an impairment loss of goodwill of $0.7 million for certain operations in South America as a result of the decision to close those operations.

The following table presents the Company’s intangible assets subject to amortization (in thousands):

                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2005     2004  
Non-compete agreements:
               
Gross cost
  $ 775     $ 628  
Accumulated amortization
    (559 )     (548 )
 
           
Non-compete agreements, net
    216       80  
Trademarks and tradenames:
               
Gross cost
    202       202  
Accumulated amortization
    (161 )     (144 )
 
           
Trademarks and tradenames, net
    41       58  
 
           
Intangible assets, net
  $ 257     $ 138  
 
           

Aggregate amortization expense for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 was $28,000 and $197,000, respectively. The estimated future amortization expense of purchased intangibles is as follows (in thousands):

         
2005 (remaining nine months)
  $ 141  
2006
    87  
2007
    29  
 
     
 
  $ 257  
 
     

Note 7 — META Integration Charges

On April 1, 2005, the Company completed its purchase of META Group, Inc. (“META”). See Note 13 — Subsequent Events for additional information. During the first quarter of 2005, the Company incurred approximately $3.4 million for expenses related to the integration of META, primarily for strategic and operational consulting advice and legal and accounting services. In accordance with SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations”, these merger integration services were expensed as incurred.

Note 8 — Other Charges

During the first quarter of 2005, the Company recorded other charges of $14.3 million. Included in the charge was $10.6 million for costs associated with employee termination severance payments and related benefits. The workforce reduction is a continuation of the plan announced in the fourth quarter of 2004 and has resulted in the termination of 123 employees during the three months ended March 31, 2005. In addition, the Company also recorded other charges of approximately $3.7 million, primarily related to a restructuring of the Company’s international operations.

During the first quarter of 2004, the Company recorded other charges of $10.5 million, of which $10.4 million was associated with the realignment of the Company’s workforce and $0.1 million was associated with costs to close certain operations in South America. The workforce realignment portion of the charge represents costs for employee termination severance payments and related benefits. This workforce realignment was a continuation of an action plan initiated during the fourth quarter of 2003, which resulted in the termination of 132 employees during the first quarter of 2004.

9


Table of Contents

The following table summarizes the activity related to the liability for the restructuring programs recorded as other charges (in thousands):

                                 
    Workforce     Excess     Asset        
    Reduction     Facilities     Impairments        
    Costs     Costs     And Other     Total  
Accrued liability at December 31, 2003
  $ 12,816     $ 19,159     $     $ 31,975  
Charges during first quarter of 2004
    10,410             103       10,513  
Non-cash charges
    (142 )           (35 )     (177 )
Payments
    (8,853 )     (1,121 )     (31 )     (10,005 )
 
                       
Accrued liability at March 31, 2004
    14,231       18,038       37       32,306  
Charges during remainder of 2004
    19,297       2,263       5,681       27,241  
Non-cash charges
    (354 )           (4,216 )     (4,570 )
Payments
    (23,906 )     (3,126 )     (4 )     (27,036 )
 
                       
Accrued liability at December 31, 2004
    9,268       17,175       1,498       27,941  
Charges during first quarter of 2005
    10,598       (187 )     3,863       14,274  
Payments
    (5,522 )     (520 )     (1,762 )     (7,804 )
 
                       
Accrued liability at March 31, 2005
  $ 14,344     $ 16,468     $ 3,599     $ 34,411  
 
                       

The asset impairments and other charge in the first quarter of 2005 relate to a restructuring in the Company’s international operations, which will be primarily paid out in the second quarter of 2005. The majority of the accrued severance of $14.3 million at March 31, 2005 will be paid by December 31, 2005. In addition, costs for excess facilities will be paid until 2011. The Company expects to fund these payments from existing cash.

The non-cash charges for workforce reductions during 2004 resulted from the establishment of a new measurement date for certain equity compensation arrangements upon the modification of the terms of the related agreements. The asset impairments and other charge in 2004 were primarily for the exit from certain non-core product lines and asset impairments.

Note 9 — Investments

During the quarter ending March 31, 2005, the Company recorded a non-cash charge of $5.1 million related to a writedown of the Company’s investment in SI II, after the Company received preliminary indications of interest to acquire the investment for less than the recorded value. The investment was written down to its estimated net realizable value. The loss is recorded in (Loss) gain from investments, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Note 10 — Stock Programs

Tender Offer

On August 10, 2004, the Company completed a Dutch auction tender offer in which it repurchased 11.3 million shares of its Class A Common Stock and 5.5 million shares of its Class B Common Stock at a purchase price of $13.30 and $12.50 per share, respectively. Additionally, the Company repurchased 9.2 million Class A shares from Silver Lake Partners, L.P. and certain of its affiliates at a purchase price of $13.30 per share. The total cost of the repurchases was $346.2 million, including transaction costs of $3.8 million.

Stock Repurchase Program

In July 2001, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the repurchase of up to $75.0 million of Class A and Class B Common Stock. The Board of Directors subsequently increased the authorized stock repurchase program to a total authorization for repurchase of $200.0 million. During the first quarter of 2004, the Company repurchased 292,925 shares of its Class A Common Stock and 57,900 shares of its Class B Common Stock at an aggregate cost of $4.0 million. In connection with the tender offer, the Board of Directors terminated the stock repurchase program in June 2004. On a cumulative basis the Company repurchased $133.2 million of its stock under this program.

10


Table of Contents

Restricted Stock Award

During the first quarter of 2004, the Company granted 175,000 shares of restricted stock on which the restriction may lapse after a three-year period based upon revenue and earnings metrics. This grant was forfeited in the third quarter of 2004.

Stock Option Buyback

In April 2005, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a one-time offer to buy back certain vested and outstanding stock options for cash. The offer is subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders at the annual meeting scheduled for June 29, 2005. The offer would be made to all current and former employees, except current executive officers and directors, who are holders of certain vested and outstanding options. Options that would be eligible are those that have an exercise price per share that is at least twenty percent above the average closing price of the Company’s common stock during the fourteen trading days prior to the commencement of the offer. Option holders will be offered the opportunity to elect to cancel eligible options in exchange for a payment equal to the value of the outstanding options, as calculated based on the Black-Scholes valuation technique. The Company estimates that it would pay out cash for redeemed stock options in an amount ranging between $6.0 million and $8.0 million, assuming 100% participation. If the stockholders approve this proposal, the Company is considering launching the offer in the third quarter of 2005.

Based on the SEC amendment related to SFAS 123R, as discussed in Note 4, the Company is currently analyzing the accounting effects of the proposed offer in order to determine whether it should adopt SFAS 123R prior to launching the proposed offer.

If the Company does not adopt SFAS 123R prior to launching the proposed offer, then the accounting for the offer will be governed by APB 25. Under APB 25, the cash consideration paid for redeemed stock options is treated as compensation expense, which is a charge to earnings. Assuming 100% participation, the estimated charge would be between $6.0 and $8.0 million, pretax. Additionally, those outstanding options which the Company offered to redeem and which were not tendered would be subject to variable accounting treatment from the day of the offer onward, requiring it to take a potential charge each quarter to the extent the in-the-money value of those options increased as measured on the last day of the quarter. Additionally, to the extent the Company issues new equity awards to those employees whose options it redeemed within 6 months from the closing of the offer, those equity awards would also be subject to variable accounting. Any variable accounting treatment triggered by the proposed offer would cease upon adoption of SFAS 123R.

Should the Company adopt SFAS 123R prior to launching the proposed offer, then the Company will not incur a charge to earnings for the cash consideration paid for redeemed stock options. As the Company will be redeeming the options at a price lesser or equal to fair value, the cash consideration paid for redeemed stock options will result in a reduction in the amount of additional paid-in-capital. Additionally, the Company will be required to writedown certain deferred tax assets set up when the options being redeemed were granted. Any writedown of deferred tax assets would result in non-cash tax expense, which could be material.

Note 11 — Defined Benefit Pension Plan

The Company has a defined-benefit pension plan in one of its international locations. The plan is statutory in nature, covers approximately 85 individuals, and is accounted for in accordance with the requirements of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87, — “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions” (SFAS 87). Benefits paid under the plan are based on years of service and employee compensation, and employees vest under the plan after five years of service. Benefits are paid under the plan through a reinsurance contract, which the Company maintains with a third-party insurance company. The Company pays an annual insurance premium for this coverage. In accordance with the requirements of SFAS 87, the reinsurance contract does not qualify as a plan asset since it is maintained outside of the plan. Net periodic pension expense was $0.3 million in both the first quarter of 2005 and 2004.

Note 12 — Contingencies

The Company is involved in legal proceedings and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes the outcome of all current proceedings, claims and litigation will not have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations when resolved in a future period.

The Company has various agreements in which it may be obligated to indemnify the other party with respect to certain matters. Generally, these indemnification clauses are included in contracts arising in the normal course of business under which the Company customarily agrees to hold the other party harmless against losses arising from a breach of representations related to such matters as title to assets sold and licensed or certain intellectual property rights. It is not possible to predict the maximum

11


Table of Contents

potential amount of future payments under these indemnification agreements due to the conditional nature of obligations and the unique facts of each particular agreement. Historically, payments made by the Company under these agreements have not been material. As of March 31, 2005, the Company is not aware of any indemnification agreements that would require material payments.

Note 13 — Subsequent Events

On April 1, 2005, the Company completed its purchase of META in an all-cash transaction for $10.00 per share, or approximately $168.0 million, excluding transaction costs. META was an information technology and research firm based in Stamford, Connecticut with 715 employees. In 2004, META generated $141.5 million in revenue from 52 worldwide locations and had $91.9 million of assets at December 31, 2004.

In order to complete the purchase of META, on April 1, 2005 the Company used approximately $101.0 million of existing cash and it borrowed an additional $67.0 million under its revolving credit facility.

12


Table of Contents

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The purpose of the following Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) is to help facilitate the understanding of significant factors influencing the first quarter operating results, financial condition and cash flows of Gartner, Inc. Additionally, the MD&A also conveys our expectations of the potential impact of known trends, events or uncertainties that may impact future results. You should read this discussion in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this report and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. Historical results and percentage relationships are not necessarily indicative of operating results for future periods.

References to “the Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” are to Gartner, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to historical information, this Quarterly Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are any statements other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, hopes, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “should,” “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” or other words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those discussed in “Factors That May Affect Future Performance” and elsewhere in this report and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. Readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s opinion only as of the date on which they were made. Except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation to review or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances as they occur. Readers also should review carefully any risk factors described in other reports filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

OVERVIEW

With the convergence of IT and business, technology has become increasingly more important — not just to technology professionals, but also to business executives. We are an independent and objective research and advisory firm that helps IT and business executives use technology to build, guide and grow their enterprises. Our core mission is to provide insight to technology leaders. We deliver this insight through our entire product portfolio.

We employ a diversified business model that leverages the breadth and depth of our research intellectual capital while enabling us to maintain and grow our market-leading position and brand franchise. Our strategy is to align our resources and our infrastructure to leverage that intellectual capital into additional revenue streams through effective packaging, campaigning and cross-selling of our products and services. Our diversified business model provides multiple entry points and synergies that facilitate increased client spending on our research, consulting and events. A key strategy is to increase business volume with our most valuable clients, identifying relationships with the greatest sales potential and expanding those relationships by offering strategically relevant research and analysis.

We intend to maintain a balance between (1) pursuing opportunities and applying resources with a strict focus on growing our three core businesses and (2) generating profitability through a streamlined cost structure.

We have three business segments: research, consulting and events.

•   Research provides insight for CIOs, IT professionals, technology providers and the investment community through reports and analyst briefings, access to our industry-leading analysts, as well as peer networking services and membership programs designed specifically for CIOs and other senior executives.
 
•   Consulting consists primarily of consulting, measurement engagements and strategic advisory services (paid one-day analyst engagements) (“SAS”), which provide assessments of strategy, cost, performance, efficiency and quality focused on the IT industry.
 
•   Events consists of various symposia, conferences and exhibitions focused on the IT industry.

We believe the following business measurements are important performance indicators for our business segments.

13


Table of Contents

     
BUSINESS SEGMENT
  BUSINESS MEASUREMENTS
 
Research
  Contract value represents the value attributable to all of our subscription-related research products that recognize revenue on a ratable basis. Contract value is calculated as the annualized value of all subscription research contracts in effect at a specific point in time, without regard to the duration of the contract.
  Client retention rate represents a measure of client satisfaction and renewed business relationships at a specific point in time. Client retention is calculated on a percentage basis by dividing our current clients, who were also clients a year ago, by all clients from a year ago.
  Wallet retention rate represents a measure of the amount of contract value we have retained with clients over a twelve-month period. Wallet retention is calculated on a percentage basis by dividing the contract value of clients, who were clients one year earlier, by the total contract value from a year earlier. When wallet retention exceeds client retention, it is an indication of retention of higher-spending clients, or increased spending by retained clients, or both.
  Number of executive program members represents the number of paid participants in our executive programs.
 
Consulting
  Consulting backlog represents future revenue to be derived from consulting, measurement and strategic advisory services engagements.
  Utilization rates represent a measure of productivity of our consultants. Utilization rates are calculated for billable headcount on a percentage basis by dividing total hours billed by total hours available to bill.
  Billing Rate represents earned billable revenue divided by total billable hours.
 
Events
  Number of events represents the total number of hosted events completed during the period.
  Number of attendees represents the number of people who attend events.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL POSITION

On April 1, 2005, we completed the purchase of META in an all-cash transaction for $10.00 per share, or approximately $168.0 million, excluding transaction costs (See Note 13 — Subsequent Events in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

We continue to focus on growing revenue in our core Research business. Revenue was up 2% in the first quarter of 2005, to $125.2 million, from $122.2 million in the first quarter of 2004. At March 31, 2005, contract value was $515.7 million, which represents the Company’s highest reported contract value since December 31, 2001. Contract value is up substantially from $492.9 million at March 31, 2004, a 4.6% increase. At March 31, 2005, our research client retention rate remained strong, at 80%, the same rate as of December 31, 2004, and up from 77% at March 31, 2004. Wallet retention was up 2 percentage points over the prior year, rising to 94% at March 31, 2005 from 92% at March 31, 2004.

Revenue from our Consulting segment was down by 1% in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the prior year, to $64.0 million from $64.6 million. We ended Calendar 2004 with three consecutive quarters of sequential increases in backlog, and as we noted in our 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K, during 2004 we exited certain less profitable consulting practices and geographies in order to focus on more promising sectors. That realignment continues to have a positive impact, and we continue to focus on exiting from less promising areas. While Consulting backlog at March 31, 2005 was down 3.5% from December 31, 2004, it is up substantially from the prior year, to $107.8 million at March 31, 2005, from $91.6 million at March 31, 2004, a 17.7% increase. During the first quarter of 2005, our consultant utilization rate increased to 63%, as compared to 62% during the first quarter of 2004, and the average hourly billing rate remains strong at over $300 per hour.

Our Events business continues to deliver strong results. Our continuing emphasis on managing the Events portfolio to retain our long-time successful events and introduce promising new events has resulted in improved profit performance, as the gross contribution margin for the first quarter of 2005 increased 2 percentage points, to 41% from 39% for the first quarter of 2004. Overall revenues recognized during the first quarter of 2005 were $10.0 million lower than the prior year quarter, which was primarily due to a lower number of events being held compared to the prior year due to the timing of our Events calendar. The Company held 4 fewer conferences in the first quarter of 2005, with 5 conferences held compared to 9 in the first quarter of 2004. We have scheduled over 60 events in 2005 as compared to the 56 we held in 2004.

For the first quarter of 2005 we had a net loss of $14.7 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, which included pre-tax charges of $22.8 million. The pre-tax charges include $3.4 million related to our integration of META, $5.1 million in impairment losses

14


Table of Contents

on investments, and $14.3 million related to a reduction in our workforce and restructuring in our international operations.

In February 2005, our Board of Directors approved the elimination of our classified Board structure. Additionally, the Board of Directors approved the combination of our Class A and Class B Common Stock. Both of these items are subject to stockholder approval at our annual meeting of stockholders scheduled to take place on June 29, 2005.

We are currently in the process of evaluating and revising our capital structure based on our current and long-term liquidity needs. We intend to issue long-term debt, using the proceeds to pay down the outstanding amounts under our senior term A loan facility, as well as part of the amounts outstanding under our revolving credit facility. Additionally, we are evaluating alternatives to increase the amount of debt that we can have outstanding as a multiple of our EBITDA.

We ended the first quarter of 2005 with $115.5 million of stockholders’ equity. Our cash decreased slightly, from $160.1 million at December 31, 2004, to $158.7 million at March 31, 2005. On April 1, 2005, we used approximately $101.0 million of our existing cash to complete the purchase of META.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The preparation of financial statements requires the application of appropriate accounting policies. The policies discussed below are considered by management to be critical to an understanding of Gartner’s financial statements because their application requires significant management judgments and estimates. Specific risks for these critical accounting policies are described below.

Revenue recognition — We recognize revenue in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 101, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements, and SAB No. 104, Revenue Recognition. Revenue by significant source is accounted for as follows:

•   Research revenues are derived from subscription contracts for research products. Revenues from research products are deferred and recognized ratably over the applicable contract term;
 
•   Consulting revenues are based primarily on fixed fees or time and materials for discrete projects. Revenues for such projects are recognized as work is delivered and/or services are provided and are evaluated on a contract-by-contract basis;
 
•   Events revenues are deferred and recognized upon the completion of the related symposium, conference or exhibition; and
 
•   Other revenues, principally software licensing fees, are recognized when a signed non-cancelable software license exists, delivery has occurred, collection is probable, and the fees are fixed or determinable. Revenue from software maintenance is deferred and recognized ratably over the term of the maintenance agreement, which is typically twelve months.

The majority of research contracts are billable upon signing, absent special terms granted on a limited basis from time to time. All research contracts are non-cancelable and non-refundable, except for government contracts that have a 30-day cancellation clause, but have not produced material cancellations to date. It is our policy to record the entire amount of the contract that is billable as a fee receivable at the time the contract is signed with a corresponding amount as deferred revenue, since the contract represents a legally enforceable claim. For those government contracts that permit termination, the Company bills the client the full amount billable under the contract but only records a receivable equal to the earned portion of the contract. In addition, the Company only records deferred revenue on these government contracts when cash is received. Deferred revenues attributable to government contracts were $39.0 million and $40.9 million at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively. In addition, at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the Company had not recognized uncollected receivables or deferred revenues, relating to government contracts that permit termination, of $3.9 million and $4.2 million, respectively.

Uncollectible fees receivable — Provisions for bad debts are recognized as incurred. The measurement of likely and probable losses and the allowance for uncollectible fees receivable is based on historical loss experience, aging of outstanding receivables, an assessment of current economic conditions and the financial health of specific clients. This evaluation is inherently judgmental and requires material estimates. These valuation reserves are periodically re-evaluated and adjusted as more information about the ultimate collectibility of fees receivable becomes available. Circumstances that could cause our valuation reserves to increase include changes in our clients’ liquidity and credit quality, other factors negatively impacting our clients’ ability to pay their obligations as they come due, and the effectiveness of our collection efforts. Total trade receivables at March 31, 2005 were $240.9 million, offset by an allowance for losses of approximately $7.6 million. Total trade receivables at December 31, 2004 were $266.1 million, offset by an allowance for losses of approximately $8.5 million.

15


Table of Contents

Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets — The evaluation of goodwill is performed in accordance with SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” Among other requirements, this standard eliminated goodwill amortization upon adoption and requires ongoing annual assessments for goodwill impairment. The evaluation of other intangible assets is performed on a periodic basis. These assessments require management to estimate the fair value of our reporting units based on estimates of future business operations and market and economic conditions in developing long-term forecasts. If we determine the fair value of any reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, we must recognize an impairment charge, for the associated goodwill of that reporting unit, to earnings in our financial statements. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment at least annually, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors we consider important that could trigger a review for impairment include the following: significant under-performance relative to historical or projected future operating results, significant changes in the manner of our use of acquired assets or the strategy for our overall business, significant negative industry or economic trends, significant decline in our stock price for a sustained period, and our market capitalization relative to net book value.

Due to the numerous variables associated with our judgments and assumptions relating to the valuation of the reporting units and the effects of changes in circumstances affecting these valuations, both the precision and reliability of the resulting estimates are subject to uncertainty, and as additional information becomes known, we may change our estimates.

Accounting for income taxes — As we prepare our consolidated financial statements, we estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions where we operate. This process involves estimating our current tax exposure together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included within our consolidated balance sheet. We record a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets when future realization is in question. We consider the availability of loss carryforwards, existing deferred tax liabilities, future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need for the valuation allowance. In the event we determine that we would be able to realize our deferred tax assets in the future in excess of our net recorded amount, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would increase income in the period such determination was made. Likewise, should we determine that we would not be able to realize all or part of our net deferred tax asset in the future, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would be charged to income in the period such determination was made.

Contingencies and other loss reserves and accruals — We record accruals for severance costs, lease costs associated with excess facilities, contract terminations and asset impairments as a result of actions we undertake to streamline our organization, reposition certain businesses and reduce ongoing costs. Estimates of costs to be incurred to complete these actions, such as future lease payments, sublease income, the fair value of assets, and severance and related benefits, are based on assumptions at the time the actions are initiated. To the extent actual costs differ from those estimates, accruals may need to be adjusted. In addition, these actions may be revised due to changes in business conditions that we did not foresee at the time such plans were approved. Additionally, we record accruals for estimated incentive compensation costs during each year. Amounts accrued at the end of each reporting period are based on our estimates and may require adjustment as the ultimate amount paid associated with these incentives are sometimes not known until after year-end.

Impairment of investment securities — We record a charge to earnings when a market decline below cost is other than temporary. Management regularly reviews each investment security for impairment based on criteria that include: the length of time and the extent to which market value has been less than cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, the valuation of comparable companies and our intent and ability to retain the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in market value. Future adverse changes in market conditions or poor operating results of underlying investments could result in losses or an inability to recover the carrying value of the investments that may not be reflected in an investment’s current carrying value, thereby possibly requiring an impairment charge in the future.

During the quarter ending March 31, 2005, we recorded a non-cash charge of $5.1 million related to a writedown of the Company’s investment in SI II (See Note 9 — Investments in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overall Results

Total revenues decreased 4%, or $8.9 million, to $199.8 million in the first quarter of 2005 compared to $208.7 million for the first quarter of 2004. The decrease in total revenues resulted from a $10.1 million decline in revenues attributable to the timing of various events in Gartner’s Events business, which was partially offset by an increase in revenues from the Company’s Research segment of approximately $3.0 million. We held 5 events in the first quarter of 2005 compared to 9 events in the first quarter of 2004. Excluding the effects of foreign currency translation, total revenue for the first quarter of 2005 would have declined approximately 6%. Please refer to the section of this MD&A entitled “Segment Results” for a further discussion of revenues by segment.

16


Table of Contents

Cost of services and product development was down slightly, to $95.3 million in the first quarter of 2005 compared to $95.5 million in the first quarter of 2004. Excluding the effects of foreign currency translation, cost of services and product development would have decreased by approximately 2%. The decrease in cost of services and product development resulted primarily from a $6.0 million decrease in expense in our Events business, as 4 fewer events were held in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the prior year quarter. This reduction was almost completely offset by higher expenses of $3.5 million for additional headcount in our Consulting practice and higher overall employee compensation related to merit increases and bonuses. During the first quarters of 2005 and 2004, cost of services and product development benefited by the reversal of $2.1 million and $1.8 million, respectively, of prior year’s incentive compensation program accruals. As a percentage of sales, cost of services and product development increased to 48% during the first quarter of 2005 from 46% during the first quarter of 2004. The increase was due to lower revenue as a result of changes in our Events schedule, a shift in the mix of our Research products to lower margin Executive Programs, and increased compensation costs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $3.9 million, or 4%, to $91.5 million in the first quarter of 2005 from $87.6 million in the first quarter of 2004, primarily due to increased compensation costs, reflecting higher investment in our sales channel. Excluding the effects of foreign currency translation, SG&A expenses would have increased approximately 3% over the prior year. During the first quarters of 2005 and 2004, SG&A expenses benefited by the reversal of $0.8 million and $0.7 million, respectively, of prior year’s incentive compensation program accruals.

Depreciation expense for the first quarter of 2005 decreased 23% to $6.1 million, compared to $7.9 million for the first quarter of 2004. The decrease was due to a reduction in capital spending, which has led to a decrease in depreciation expense.

Amortization of intangibles of $28,000 for the first quarter of 2005 decreased from $197,000 for the same period in 2004.

goodwill impairments of $0.7 million in the first quarter of 2004 were due to the closing of certain operations in South America.

Meta integration charges in the first quarter of 2005 were $3.4 million. These expenses relate primarily to strategic and operational consulting advice and legal and accounting services. We currently estimate that we will incur approximately $13.0 to $19.0 million in charges in 2005 related to the integration of META.

Other charges in the first quarter of 2005 were $14.3 million. Included in the charges were $10.6 million for costs associated with employee termination severance payments and related benefits. We plan to reinvest a significant portion of the savings from the termination of these employees into improving our products, processes, and infrastructure to help drive future growth. The workforce reduction is a continuation of the plan announced in the fourth quarter of 2004 and resulted in the termination of 123 employees during the three months ended March 31, 2005. In addition, we also recorded other charges of approximately $3.7 million, primarily related to a restructuring of the Company’s international operations.

Other charges of $10.5 million during the first quarter of 2004 were primarily associated with a realignment of our workforce. This workforce realignment was a continuation of the action plan initiated during the fourth quarter of 2003 and resulted in the termination of 132 employees.

We currently estimate that we will incur approximately $6.0 to $7.0 million of additional other charges in the second quarter of 2005 for the consolidation of employees from two buildings into one building in San Jose, California. This consolidation is part of our continuing effort to adjust our office space as needs change and was disclosed in our 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(loss) gain from investments, net for the first quarter of 2005 was a $5.1 million loss. The loss is due to a writedown of the Company’s investment in SI II, after the Company received preliminary indications of interest to acquire the investment for less than the recorded value. The investment was written down to its estimated net realizable value. The loss is recorded in (Loss) gain from investments, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Interest income (expense), net was $1.3 million of expense during the first quarter of 2005 as compared to $0.2 million of income in the first quarter of 2004. The increase was due to the new credit agreement signed in the third quarter of 2004 and related borrowings. Also, during the fourth quarter of 2003 we converted our outstanding convertible debt to equity, which substantially eliminated our interest expense for the first quarter of 2004.

Other expense, net was $0.3 million for the first quarter of 2005 and consists primarily of net foreign currency exchange losses. Other expense, net of $3.1 million for the first quarter of 2004 includes the non-cash write-off of $2.9 million of our accumulated foreign currency translation adjustments associated with certain of our operations in South America that we closed. As a result of the decision to close the operations, we were required to reclassify these currency adjustments that had

17


Table of Contents

accumulated within equity, in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 52 “Foreign Currency Translation,” to earnings.

(benefit) provision for income taxes was a benefit of $2.8 million in the first quarter of 2005 compared to a provision of $2.9 million in the first quarter of 2004. The effective tax rate was 16.2% for the first quarter of 2005 and 86% for the first quarter of 2004. In both periods, the effective rate for the quarter was different from the annualized effective rate due to certain expenses for which no tax benefit is received. In the first quarter of 2005 the Company had a loss, therefore disallowed deductions decrease the tax rate. In the first quarter of 2004, the Company had GAAP income and disallowed deductions, which increase the tax rate.

The effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2005 was lower than the annualized rate, primarily due to impairments of capital assets for which the Company receives no tax benefit. The effective tax rate was higher in 2004 due to certain expenses, a goodwill impairment and the non-cash write-off of our accumulated foreign currency translation adjustments associated with certain of our operations in South America, which received no tax benefit. Additionally, the benefits received on the workforce reduction charges during 2005 and 2004 were lower than the annualized effective tax rate due to the lower tax rates in the jurisdictions where these deductions occurred. Excluding these items, the effective tax rate was 33% in the first quarter of both 2005 and 2004. We anticipate the annualized effective tax rate for the full year of 2005 to approximate 33%. However, this may change based upon the acquisition of META.

SEGMENT RESULTS

We evaluate reportable segment performance and allocate resources based on gross contribution margin. Gross contribution is defined as operating income excluding certain selling, general and administrative expenses, depreciation, amortization of intangibles, goodwill impairment, income taxes, META integration charges, and other charges. Gross contribution margin is defined as gross contribution as a percentage of revenues.

Research

Research revenues increased 2% to $125.2 million for the first quarter of 2005, compared to $122.2 million for the first quarter of 2004. Excluding the effects of foreign currency, revenue was up approximately 1% over the prior year quarter. Revenue was up due primarily to an increase in sales performance in Executive Programs.

Research gross contribution of $77.0 million for the first quarter of 2005 decreased $2.0 million, or 2.5%, from the $79.0 million for the first quarter of 2004. Gross contribution margin for the first quarter of 2005 decreased to 62% from 65% in the prior year period. The decrease in gross contribution margin is a result of an increase in compensation costs and a shift in the mix of our products to lower margin Executive Programs.

Research contract value increased $22.8 million to $515.7 million at March 31, 2005 from $492.9 million at March 31, 2004. Approximately $13.0 million of the increase was due to the effects of foreign currency with the remainder mostly due to an increase in Executive Programs. The contract value at March 31, 2005 represents the highest reported contract value since December 31, 2001.

Client retention rates increased 3 percentage points, to 80% at March 31, 2005 from 77% at March 31, 2004, while wallet retention rates increased to 94% during the first quarter of 2005 from 92% during the first quarter of 2004. Our Executive Program membership was 2,978 at March 31, 2005, up 14.3% from 2,604 members at March 31, 2004.

Consulting

Consulting revenues decreased 1% to $64.0 million for the first quarter of 2005 compared to $64.6 million for the first quarter of 2004. Excluding the effects of foreign currency translation, Consulting revenues would have been down 3%. Consulting revenues have remained relatively stable with the prior year period despite the realignment of our business to exit certain less profitable consulting practices and geographies. Billable headcount increased to 509 at March 31, 2005, from 475 at March 31, 2004.

Consulting gross contribution of $23.1 million for the first quarter of 2005 decreased 8.3% from the $25.2 million for the first quarter of 2004. Gross contribution margin for the first quarter of 2005 decreased 3 percentage points to 36% from 39% in the prior year period. The decrease in gross contribution margin was driven by a decline in revenue from higher margin SAS, despite higher consultant utilization rates, which increased to 63% during the first quarter of 2005 as compared to 62% in the prior year quarter. The billing rate for the first quarter of both 2005 and 2004 was over $300 per hour.

18


Table of Contents

Consulting backlog, which represents future revenues to be recognized from consulting, measurement and SAS, increased $16.1 million, to $107.8 million at March 31, 2005, compared to $91.7 million at March 31, 2004. Approximately $5.0 million of the increase in backlog was due to the effects of foreign currency.

Events

Events revenues decreased 56% to $8.1 million for the first quarter of 2005 compared to $18.2 million for the first quarter of 2004 due to the timing of various events. The Company held 5 conferences in the first quarter of 2005, 4 fewer than the 9 conferences held in the first quarter of 2004. This planned change in the events schedule resulted in a shift of approximately $10.0 million in revenues from the first quarter of 2005 to the second quarter of 2005. The Company is scheduled to hold over 60 events in 2005 as compared to the 56 it held in 2004.

Gross contribution of $3.3 million for the first quarter of 2005 decreased from $7.1 million for the first quarter of 2004 due to events timing, as discussed above. Gross contribution margin for the first quarter of 2005 increased 2 percentage points, to 41% from 39% for the first quarter of 2004. The increase in gross contribution margin was due primarily to higher average revenue per event in our recurring events due to a higher number of attendees, along with lower overall conference expenses.

Attendance at Events was 2,555 for the first three months of 2005 compared to 3,258 in the same period in the prior year, with the decline attributable to the movement of conferences to the second quarter of 2005 as discussed above.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Cash provided by operating activities totaled $14.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 compared to $24.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004. The net decrease in cash flow from operating activities of $10.1 million was primarily due to the timing of events, and to a lesser extent an increase in employee compensation and a shift in the mix of our products in the Research segment from higher margin core research to lower margin Executive Programs.

Cash used in investing activities was $6.7 million in the first quarter of 2005 compared to $3.0 million in the prior year. The increase was due primarily due to the expenditure of $2.5 million in prepaid acquisition costs related to the META transaction, as well as an increase in capital expenditures of approximately $1.1 million.

Cash used by financing activities totaled $6.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005, which declined compared to cash provided of $12.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, due to the repayment of our debt and a decline in option proceeds. We paid $10.0 million in quarterly debt payments in the first quarter of 2005 on our Term A loan facility. We received proceeds from stock issued for stock plans of $3.6 million during the first quarter of 2005 as compared to $16.3 million during the same period in the prior year as a result of our higher stock price during the first quarter of 2004 as compared to 2005, which resulted in more stock option exercises by employees in 2004.

Cash Used to Acquire META

In order to complete the purchase of META, on April 1, 2005 we used approximately $101.0 million of existing cash and borrowed an additional $67.0 million under our revolving credit facility.

Stock Option Buyback

In April 2005, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a one-time offer to buy back certain vested and outstanding stock options for cash. The offer is subject to the approval of our stockholders at our annual meeting scheduled for June 29, 2005. The offer would be made to holders of certain vested and outstanding options. We estimate that we will pay out cash for redeemed stock options in an amount ranging between $6.0 million and $8.0 million, assuming 100% participation. If the stockholders approve this proposal, we are currently considering launching the offer in the third quarter of 2005.

OBLIGATIONS AND COMMITMENTS

We have a Credit Agreement that provides for a $200.0 million term A loan facility and a five-year, $100.0 million revolving credit facility. We are subject to certain customary affirmative, negative and financial covenants under this credit agreement, and continued compliance with these covenants is required in order to borrow the maximum amount of the credit facility. These covenants are primarily based on financial results and other measures such as contract value.

At March 31, 2005, there was $180.0 million outstanding under the term A loan facility and $3.5 million of letters of credit outstanding under the revolving credit facility. At March 31, 2005, the interest rate on the term A loan facility was 4.35%. We made an additional scheduled quarterly debt repayment of $10.0 million on the term A loan facility in early May 2005,

19


Table of Contents

thereby reducing the amount outstanding at that time to $170.0 million.

On March 5, 2005, the Company entered into a First Amendment to the Credit Facility, which modified the definition of Consolidated EBITDA to allow the Company to add back the amounts of certain cash charges to the calculation of EBITDA. This resulted in additional borrowing capacity under the revolving credit facility. As a result of this covenant amendment, our borrowing availability at March 31, 2005 under the revolving credit facility was $96.5 million. In connection with the purchase of META, on April 1, 2005, we borrowed $67.0 million under the revolving credit facility, and then borrowed an additional $10.0 million under the revolver in early May 2005 which was used to make the quarterly payment on the term A loan facility discussed above. After these actions, we had approximately $19.5 million remaining borrowing capacity under the revolving credit facility. During the first quarter of 2005, the weighted-average interest rate on the revolving credit facility was approximately 4.0%.

We are currently in the process of evaluating and revising our capital structure based on our current and long-term liquidity needs. We intend to issue long-term debt, using the proceeds to pay down the outstanding amounts under our senior term A loan facility, as well as part of the amounts outstanding under our revolving credit facility. There can be no assurances that long-term debt will be available to us on commercially reasonable terms. Additionally, we are evaluating alternatives to increase the amount of debt that we can have outstanding as a multiple of our EBITDA. We expect to have in place changes to our capital structure by June 30, 2005. If we are unable to increase the amount of debt that we can have outstanding as a multiple of our EBITDA prior to June 30, 2005, we may not be in compliance with the debt to EBITDA ratio financial covenant of our credit facility, which would have a material adverse affect on our liquidity and financial position. We believe that our current cash balances together with cash anticipated to be provided by operating activities and cash to be available through an increase in the amount of allowable debt will be sufficient for our expected short-term and foreseeable long-term cash needs in the ordinary course of business.

Tender Offer

On August 10, 2004, we completed a Dutch auction tender offer in which we repurchased 11,339,019 shares of our Class A Common Stock and 5,505,489 shares of our Class B Common Stock at a purchase price of $13.30 and $12.50 per share, respectively. Additionally, we repurchased 9,228,938 Class A shares from Silver Lake Partners, L.P. and certain of its affiliates at a purchase price of $13.30 per share. The total cost of these repurchases was $346.2 million, including transaction costs of $3.8 million.

Stock Repurchase Program

In July 2001, our Board of Directors approved the repurchase of up to $75.0 million of our Class A and Class B Common Stock. The Board of Directors subsequently increased the authorized stock repurchase program to a total authorization for repurchase of $200.0 million. During the first quarter of 2004, we repurchased 292,925 shares of our Class A Common Stock and 57,900 shares of our Class B Common Stock at an aggregate cost of $4.0 million. In connection with the tender offer, the Board of Directors terminated the stock repurchase program in June 2004. On a cumulative basis, we have repurchased $133.2 million of our stock under this program.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Through March 31, 2005, we have not entered into any off-balance sheet arrangements or transactions with unconsolidated entities or other persons.

BUSINESS AND TRENDS

Our quarterly and annual revenue, operating income, and cash flow fluctuate as a result of many factors, including the timing of the execution of research contracts, the timing of Symposia and other events, all of which occur to a greater extent in the fourth quarter, as well as the extent of completion of consulting engagements, the amount of new business generated, the mix of domestic and international business, changes in market demand for our products and services, the timing of the development, introduction and marketing of new products and services, and competition in the industry. The potential fluctuations in our operating income could cause period-to-period comparisons of operating results not to be meaningful and could provide an unreliable indication of future operating results.

20


Table of Contents

FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE PERFORMANCE

We operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment that involves numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond our control. In addition, we and our clients are affected by the economy. The following section discusses many, but not all, of these risks and uncertainties.

Decreases in IT Spending Could Lead to Decreases in Our Revenues. Our revenues and results of operations are influenced by economic conditions in general and more particularly by business conditions in the IT industry. A general economic downturn or recession, anywhere in the world, could negatively affect demand for our products and services and may substantially reduce existing and potential client information technology-related budgets. Such a downturn could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, including the ability to: maintain client retention, wallet retention and consulting utilization rates, and achieve contract value and consulting backlog.

We May Not Successfully Integrate the Acquisition of META. We have made and may continue to make acquisitions of, or significant investments in, businesses that offer complementary products and services, including our acquisition of META that we completed on April 1, 2005. The risks involved in each acquisition or investment include the possibility of paying more than the value we derive from the acquisition, dilution of the interests of our current stockholders or decreased working capital, increased indebtedness, the assumption of undisclosed liabilities and unknown and unforeseen risks, the ability to integrate successfully and efficiently the operations and personnel of the acquired business, the ability to retain key personnel of the acquired company, the time to train the sales force to market and sell the products of the acquired company, the potential disruption of our ongoing business and the distraction of management from our business. The realization of any of these risks could adversely affect our business.

If the Recently Implemented Restructuring and Reorganization of Our Management Team Does Not Achieve the Results That We Anticipate, the Success of Our Business Strategy May Suffer. Our future success depends, in significant part, upon the continued service and performance of our senior management and other key personnel. We have recently reorganized our business around specific client needs. As part of this reorganization, a number of key management positions have been filled by the promotion of current employees or the hiring of new employees. Additionally, we have restructured our workforce in order to streamline operations and strengthen key consulting practices. If the reorganization and restructuring of our business does not lead to the results we expect, our ability to effectively deliver our products, manage our company and carry out our business plan may be impaired. On July 23, 2004, we announced that the Board of Directors named Eugene A. Hall as our Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Hall succeeded Michael Fleisher, who had previously announced his intention to depart as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Additionally, James C. Smith, a current Board member, has been named non-executive chairman of the Board of Directors. Further, on September 28, 2004, we announced that the position of President and Chief Operating Officer, previously held by Maureen O’Connell, was eliminated and that Mr. Hall would assume direct responsibility for business operations. If we cannot successfully integrate our Chief Executive Officer into our senior management team, then our ability to effectively deliver our products, manage our company and carry out our business plan may be impaired.

We Face Significant Competition Which Could Materially Adversely Affect Our Financial Condition, Results of Operations and Cash Flows. We face direct competition from a significant number of independent providers of information products and services, including information that can be found on the Internet free of charge. We also compete indirectly against consulting firms and other information providers, including electronic and print media companies, some of which may have greater financial, information gathering and marketing resources than we do. These indirect competitors could choose to compete directly with us in the future. In addition, limited barriers to entry exist in the markets in which we do business. As a result, additional new competitors may emerge and existing competitors may start to provide additional or complementary services. Additionally, technological advances may provide increased competition from a variety of sources. However, we believe the breadth and depth of our research assets position us well versus our competition. Increased competition may result in loss of market share, diminished value in our products and services, reduced pricing and increased marketing expenditures. We may not be successful if we cannot compete effectively on quality of research and analysis, timely delivery of information, customer service, the ability to offer products to meet changing market needs for information and analysis, or price.

We Depend on Renewals of Subscription Base Services and Our Failure to Renew at Historical Rates Could Lead to a Decrease in Our Revenues. Some of our success depends on renewals of our subscription-based research products and services, which constituted 63% of our revenues for the first quarter of 2005 and 59% for the first quarter of 2004. These research subscription agreements have terms that generally range from twelve to thirty months. Our ability to maintain contract renewals is subject to numerous factors, including the following:

•   delivering high-quality and timely analysis and advice to our clients;
 
•   understanding and anticipating market trends and the changing needs of our clients; and
 
•   delivering products and services of the quality and timeliness necessary to withstand competition.

Additionally, as we implement our strategy to realign our business to client needs, we may shift the type and pricing of our products which may impact client renewal rates. While research client retention rates were 80% at March 31, 2005 and 77% at

21


Table of Contents

March 31, 2004, there can be no guarantee that we will continue to maintain this rate of client renewals. Any material decline in renewal rates could have an adverse impact on our revenues and our financial condition.

We Depend on Non-Recurring Consulting Engagements and Our Failure to Secure New Engagements Could Lead to a Decrease in Our Revenues. Consulting segment revenues constituted 32% of our revenues for the first quarter of 2005 and 31% for the first quarter of 2004. These consulting engagements typically are project-based and non-recurring. Our ability to replace consulting engagements is subject to numerous factors, including the following:

•   delivering consistent, high-quality consulting services to our clients;
 
•   tailoring our consulting services to the changing needs of our clients; and
 
•   our ability to match the skills and competencies of our consulting staff to the skills required for the fulfillment of existing or potential consulting engagements.

Any material decline in our ability to replace consulting arrangements could have an adverse impact on our revenues and our financial condition.

We May Not be Able to Attract and Retain Qualified Personnel Which Could Jeopardize the Quality of Our Research. Our success depends heavily upon the quality of our senior management, research analysts, consultants, sales and other key personnel. We face competition for the limited pool of these qualified professionals from, among others, technology companies, market research firms, consulting firms, financial services companies and electronic and print media companies, some of which have a greater ability to attract and compensate these professionals. Some of the personnel that we attempt to hire are subject to non-compete agreements that could impede our short-term recruitment efforts. Any failure to retain key personnel or hire and train additional qualified personnel as required to support the evolving needs of clients or growth in our business, could adversely affect the quality of our products and services, and our future business and operating results.

We May Not be Able to Maintain Our Existing Products and Services. We operate in a rapidly evolving market, and our success depends upon our ability to deliver high quality and timely research and analysis to our clients. Any failure to continue to provide credible and reliable information that is useful to our clients could have a material adverse effect on future business and operating results. Further, if our predictions prove to be wrong or are not substantiated by appropriate research, our reputation may suffer and demand for our products and services may decline. In addition, we must continue to improve our methods for delivering our products and services in a cost-effective manner. Failure to increase and improve our electronic delivery capabilities could adversely affect our future business and operating results.

We May Not be Able to Introduce the New Products and Services that We Need to Remain Competitive. The market for our products and services is characterized by rapidly changing needs for information and analysis. To maintain our competitive position, we must continue to enhance and improve our products and services, develop or acquire new products and services in a timely manner, and appropriately position and price new products and services relative to the marketplace and our costs of producing them. Any failure to achieve successful client acceptance of new products and services could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial position.

Our International Operations Expose Us to a Variety of Risks Which Could Negatively Impact Our Future Revenue and Growth. Approximately 39% of our revenues for the first quarter of 2005 were derived from sales outside of North America. As a result, our operating results are subject to the risks inherent in international business activities, including general political and economic conditions in each country, changes in market demand as a result of exchange rate fluctuations and tariffs and other trade barriers, challenges in staffing and managing foreign operations, changes in regulatory requirements, compliance with numerous foreign laws and regulations, different or overlapping tax structures, higher levels of United States taxation on foreign income, and the difficulty of enforcing client agreements, collecting accounts receivable and protecting intellectual property rights in international jurisdictions. We rely on local distributors or sales agents in some international locations. If any of these arrangements are terminated by our agent or us, we may not be able to replace the arrangement on beneficial terms or on a timely basis, or clients of the local distributor or sales agent may not want to continue to do business with us or our new agent.

We May Not be Able to Maintain the Equity in Our Brand Name. We believe that our “Gartner” brand is critical to our efforts to attract and retain clients and that the importance of brand recognition will increase as competition increases. We may expand our marketing activities to promote and strengthen the Gartner brand and may need to increase our marketing budget, hire additional marketing and public relations personnel, expend additional sums to protect the brand and otherwise increase expenditures to create and maintain client brand loyalty. If we fail to effectively promote and maintain the Gartner brand, or incur excessive expenses in doing so, our future business and operating results could be materially and adversely impacted.

The Costs of Servicing Our Outstanding Debt Could Impair Our Future Operating Results. We have a $200.0 million senior credit facility as well as a $100 million revolving credit facility. The affirmative, negative and financial covenants of the credit facility could limit our future financial flexibility. The associated debt service costs of these facilities could impair our future

22


Table of Contents

operating results. The outstanding debt may limit the amount of cash or additional credit available to us, which could restrain our ability to expand or enhance products and services, respond to competitive pressures or pursue future business opportunities requiring substantial investments of additional capital. We are currently evaluating alternatives to increase the amount of debt that we can have outstanding as a multiple of our EBITDA. If we are unable to obtain such an increase prior to June 30, 2005, we may not be in compliance with the debt to EBITDA ratio financial covenant of our Credit Facility which would have a material adverse affect on our liquidity and financial position.

If We Are Unable to Enforce and Protect Our Intellectual Property Rights Our Competitive Position May be Harmed. We rely on a combination of copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret, confidentiality, non-compete and other contractual provisions to protect our intellectual property rights. Despite our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights, unauthorized third parties may obtain and use technology or other information that we regard as proprietary. Our intellectual property rights may not survive a legal challenge to their validity or provide significant protection for us. The laws of certain countries do not protect our proprietary rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States. Accordingly, we may not be able to protect our intellectual property against unauthorized third-party copying or use, which could adversely affect our competitive position. Our employees are subject to non-compete agreements. When the non-competition period expires, former employees may compete against us. If a former employee chooses to compete against us prior to the expiration of the non-competition period, there is no assurance that we will be successful in our efforts to enforce the non-compete provision.

We May be Subject to Infringement Claims. Third parties may assert infringement claims against us. Regardless of the merits, responding to any such claim could be time consuming, result in costly litigation and require us to enter into royalty and licensing agreements which may not be offered or available on reasonable terms. If a successful claim is made against us and we fail to develop or license a substitute technology, our business, results of operations or financial position could be materially adversely affected.

Our Operating Results May Fluctuate Which May Make Our Future Operating Results Difficult to Predict. Our quarterly and annual operating income may fluctuate in the future as a result of many factors, including the timing of the execution of research contracts, which typically occurs in the fourth calendar quarter, the extent of completion of consulting engagements, the timing of symposia and other events, which also occur to a greater extent in the fourth calendar quarter, the amount of new business generated, the mix of domestic and international business, changes in market demand for our products and services, the timing of the development, introduction and marketing of new products and services, and competition in the industry. An inability to generate sufficient earnings and cash flow, and achieve our forecasts, may impact our operating and other activities. The potential fluctuations in our operating income could cause period-to-period comparisons of operating results not to be meaningful and may provide an unreliable indication of future operating results.

Interests of Certain of Our Significant Stockholders May Conflict With Yours. Silver Lake Partners, L.P. (“SLP”) and its affiliates own approximately 42.2% of our Class A Common Stock and approximately 33.7% of our total common stock on a combined basis as of February 28, 2005. Currently, the owners of our Class A Common Stock are only entitled to vote for two of the ten members of our Board of Directors and vote together with the holders of the Class B Common Stock as a single class on all other matters coming before the stockholders. SLP is restricted from purchasing additional stock without our consent pursuant to the terms of a Securityholders’ Agreement. This Securityholders’ Agreement also provides that we cannot take certain actions, including acquisitions and sales of stock and/or assets without SLP’s consent. Additionally, ValueAct Partners and its affiliates own approximately 13.0% of our Class A Common Stock, 22.7% of our Class B Common Stock and 14.9% of our total common stock on a combined basis as of February 28, 2005. While neither SLP nor ValueAct holds a majority of our outstanding shares, they may be able, either individually or together, to exercise significant influence over matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors and the approval of mergers, consolidations and sales of our assets. Their interests may differ from the interests of other stockholders.

Our Anti-takeover Protections May Delay or Prevent a Change of Control. Provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law may make it difficult for any party to acquire control of us in a transaction not approved by our Board of Directors. These provisions include:

•   The presence of a classified Board of Directors;
 
•   The existence of two classes of common stock with our Class B Common Stock having the ability to elect 80% of our Board of Directors;
 
•   The ability of our Board of Directors to issue and determine the terms of preferred stock;
 
•   Advance notice requirements for inclusion of stockholder proposals at stockholder meetings;
 
•   A preferred shares rights agreement; and
 
•   The anti-takeover provisions of Delaware law.

23


Table of Contents

These provisions could delay or prevent a change of control or change in management that might provide stockholders with a premium to the market price of their Common Stock. We have announced that we intend to eliminate our classified board structure and combine our two classes of common stock, subject to the approval of our stockholders, at our next annual meeting of stockholders to be held June 29, 2005. These actions could serve to make it easier for a change of control to occur.

We May Have to Take Substantial Non-Cash Compensation Charges in Future Periods. On October 15, 2004, we announced that Eugene A. Hall received an inducement grant of 500,000 shares of restricted stock with a market value on the date of grant of $12.05 per share. As long as Mr. Hall remains an employee, the restriction on the 500,000 shares of restricted stock will lapse upon the earlier of (a) our 60 day average stock price meeting certain targets, or (b) a change in control. The price targets are $20 for the first 300,000 shares, $25 for the next 100,000 shares and $30 for the remaining 100,000 shares. If our 60 day average stock price exceeds the stipulated per share target during the 60 day measurement period, we will be required to record a non-cash compensation charge equal to the closing price of our stock on the date the target is met times the number of shares associated with the applicable target. For example, if our average 60 days stock price is $22 per share and the stock closes at $22.50 per share, the first lapse shall result in us recording a $6.75 million non-cash compensation charge (i.e., 300,000 shares at $22.50 per share).

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

In December 2004 the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 123R, “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123R”). The rule replaces SFAS No. 123 and APB 25 and will require the recognition of expense for share-based payments, to include the value of stock options granted to employees. The revised rule was originally effective for periods beginning after June 15, 2005, with early adoption permitted.

On April 21, 2005 the SEC issued a rule that amends the date of compliance with SFAS 123R (“the SEC amendment”). Under the SEC amendment, SFAS 123R must be adopted beginning with the first interim or annual reporting period of the registrant’s first fiscal year beginning on or after June 15, 2005, which means that we must adopt SFAS 123R by January 1, 2006.

We are currently assessing the impact SFAS 123R will have on our financial position, cash flows, and results of operations, and the method of adoption we will use. We believe that the implementation of the new rule may have a material effect on our results of operations.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Risk
At March 31, 2005 we have exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates since we had $180.0 million drawn on our unsecured senior revolving credit facility with JPMorgan Chase Bank. Under the revolving credit facility, the interest rate on borrowings is LIBOR plus an additional 100 to 150 basis points based on our debt-to-EBITDA ratio. However, we believe that an increase or decrease of 10% in the effective interest rate on available borrowings from our senior revolving credit facility would not have a material effect on our future results of operations. Each 25 basis point increase or decrease in interest rates would have an approximate $0.5 million annual effect under the revolving credit facility when fully utilized.

Investment Risk
We are exposed to market risk as it relates to changes in the market value of our equity investments. We invest in equity securities of public and private companies directly and through SI II, of which we own 22% at March 31, 2005. SI II is engaged in making venture capital investments in early to mid-stage IT-based or Internet-enabled companies. In the fourth quarter of 2004 we made the decision to sell our interest in SI II. During the first quarter of 2005 we had an impairment writedown of $5.1 million in our investment in SI II (see Note 9 — Investments in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements). As of March 31, 2005, we had remaining investments in equity securities of approximately $1.8 million. These investments are inherently risky as the businesses are typically in early development stages and may never develop. Further, certain of these investments are in publicly traded companies whose shares are subject to significant market price volatility. Adverse changes in market conditions and poor operating results of the underlying investments may result in us incurring additional losses or an inability to recover the original carrying value of our investments. If there were a 100% adverse change in the value of our equity portfolio as of March 31, 2005, this would result in a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $1.8 million. We have no additional commitments to fund SI II.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
We face two risks related to foreign currency exchange: translation risk and transaction risk. Amounts invested in our foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net in the stockholders’ equity

24


Table of Contents

section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our foreign subsidiaries generally collect revenues and pay expenses in currencies other than the United States dollar. Since the functional currencies of our foreign operations are generally denominated in the local currency of our subsidiaries, the foreign currency translation adjustments are reflected as a component of stockholders’ equity and do not impact operating results. Revenues and expenses in foreign currencies translate into higher or lower revenues and expenses in U.S. dollars as the U.S. dollar weakens or strengthens against other currencies. Therefore, changes in exchange rates may affect our consolidated revenues and expenses (as expressed in U.S. dollars) from foreign operations. Currency transaction gains or losses arising from transactions in currencies other than the functional currency are included in results of operations.

From time to time we enter into foreign currency forward contracts or other derivative financial instruments to hedge the effects of adverse fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. At March 31, 2005, we had four foreign currency forward contracts outstanding. Foreign currency forward contracts are reflected at fair value with gains and losses recorded currently in earnings.

The following table presents information about our foreign currency forward contracts outstanding as of March 31, 2005, expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents.

                                         
                    Forward              
Currency           Contract     Exchange     Unrealized        
Purchased   Currency Sold     Amount     Rate     Gain (Loss)     Expiration Date  
USD
  Euros   $ 3,543,000       .7576     $ 57,000     April 1, 2005
DKK
  Euros     3,366,000       .1342       (1,000 )   April 21, 2005
SEK
  Euros     1,068,000       .1096       1,000     April 22, 2005
CHF
  Euros     1,676,000       .6450       (4,000 )   April 23, 2005

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

We have established disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that the information we are required to disclose in our reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported in a timely manner. Specifically, these controls and procedures ensure that the information is accumulated and communicated to our executive management team, including our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Management conducted an evaluation, as of March 31, 2005, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, under the supervision and with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer. Based upon that evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in alerting them in a timely manner to material Company information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed under the Act.

In addition, there have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

25


Table of Contents

PART II OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

(a) Exhibits

     
EXHIBIT
NUMBER   DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
 
   
10.1
  2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan as amended and restated on April 19, 2005.
 
   
10.2
  Gartner Executive Benefits Program.
 
   
31.1
  Certification of chief executive officer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
   
31.2
  Certification of chief financial officer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
   
32
  Certification under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Items 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of Part II are not applicable and have been omitted.

26


Table of Contents

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

     
        Gartner, Inc.
 
   
 
   
Date       May 10, 2005
  /s/ Christopher Lafond
   
        Christopher Lafond
      Executive Vice President
      and Chief Financial Officer
      (Principal Financial and
      Accounting Officer)

27

EX-10.1
 

Exhibit 10.1

GARTNER, INC.

2002 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

As Amended and Restated Effective June 1, 2005

     The following constitute the provisions of the 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan of Gartner, Inc.

  1.   PURPOSE.

     The purpose of the Plan is to provide employees of the Company and its Designated Subsidiaries with an opportunity to purchase Common Stock of the Company through accumulated payroll deductions. It is the intention of the company to have the Plan qualify as an “Employee Stock Purchase Plan” under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The provisions of the Plan, accordingly, shall be construed so as to extend and limit participation in a manner consistent with the requirements of that section of the Code.

  2.   DEFINITIONS.

  (a)   “Administrator” shall mean the Board or the committee of the Board appointed to administer the plan pursuant to Section 13 hereof.
 
  (b)   “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
  (c)   “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
  (d)   “Common Stock” shall mean the Class A Common Stock, par value $.0005, of the Company.
 
  (e)   “Company” shall mean Gartner, Inc.
 
  (f)   “Compensation” shall mean all base straight time gross earnings, payments for overtime, shift premium, incentive compensation, incentive payments, bonuses, and commissions.
 
  (g)   “Designated Subsidiaries” shall mean the Subsidiaries which have been designated by the Board from time to time in its sole discretion as eligible to participate in the Plan.
 
  (h)   “Employee” shall mean any individual who is an employee of the Company for purposes of tax withholding under the Code whose customary employment with the Company or any Designated Subsidiary is at least twenty (20) hours per week. For purposes of the Plan, the employment relationship shall be treated as continuing intact while the individual is on sick leave or other leave of absence approved by the Company. Where the period of leave exceeds 90 days and the

 


 

      individual’s right to reemployment is not guaranteed either by statute or by contract, the employment relationship will be deemed to have terminated on the 91st day of such leave.

  (i)   “Enrollment Date” shall mean the first day of each Offering Period.
 
  (j)   “Exercise Date” shall mean the last day of each Offering Period.
 
  (k)   “Fair Market Value” shall mean, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:

  (1)   If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the National Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation (“NASDAQ”) System, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for the Common Stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported), as quoted on such system or exchange (or the exchange with the greatest volume of trading in Common Stock) on the date of such determination (or, if not a market trading day, then the last market trading day prior to the date of determination), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable; or
 
  (2)   If the Common Stock is quoted on the NASDAQ system (but not on the National Market System thereof) or is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on the date of such determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or
 
  (3)   In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the Administrator.

  (l)   “Offering Period” shall mean a period of approximately six (6) months, commencing on the first Trading Day on or after June 1 and terminating on the last Trading Day in the period ending the following November 30, or commencing on the first Trading Day on or after December 1 and terminating on the last Trading Day in the period ending the following May 31, during which options granted pursuant to the Plan may be exercised. The duration, commencement and termination of Offering Periods may be changed pursuant to Section 4 of this Plan.
 
  (m)   “Participant” shall mean an Employee who elects to participate in the Plan during the applicable Offering Period.

-2-


 

  (n)   “Plan” shall mean this 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended and restated herein.
 
  (o)   “Purchase Price” shall mean an amount equal to 95% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Exercise Date.
 
  (p)   “Reserves” shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each option under the Plan which have not yet been exercised and the number of shares of Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but not yet placed under option.
 
  (q)   “Subsidiary” shall mean a corporation, domestic or foreign, of which not less than 50% of the voting shares are held by the Company or a Subsidiary, whether or not such corporation now exists or is hereafter organized or acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary.
 
  (r)   “Trading Day” shall mean a day on which national stock exchanges and the NASDAQ System are open for trading.

  3.   ELIGIBILITY.

  (a)   Any Employee who shall be employed by the Company on a given Enrollment Date shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.
 
  (b)   Any provisions of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no Employee shall be granted an option under the Plan (i) to the extent, immediately after the grant, such Employee (or any other person whose stock would be attributed to such Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own capital stock of the Company and/or hold outstanding options to purchase such stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of the capital stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary, or (ii) to the extent his or her rights to purchase stock under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company and its subsidiaries to accrue at a rate which exceeds Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) worth of stock (determined at the fair market value of the shares at the time such option is granted) for each calendar year in which such option is outstanding at any time, as same shall automatically be adjusted if this dollar amount set forth in the Code is adjusted.

  4.   OFFERING PERIODS.

     The Plan shall be implemented by consecutive Offering Periods with a new Offering Period commencing on the first Trading Day on or after June 1 and December 1 each year, or on such other dates as the Administrator shall determine, and continuing thereafter until terminated in accordance with Section 19 hereof. The Administrator shall have the power: (i) to change the duration, commencement and termination of Offering Periods and/or Purchase Periods with respect to future offerings without stockholder approval if such change is announced at least ten

-3-


 

(10) days prior to the scheduled beginning of the first Offering Period or Purchase Period to be effective thereafter, and (ii) to implement overlapping Offering Periods.

  5.   PARTICIPATION.

  (a)   An eligible Employee may become a Participant in the Plan by completing a subscription agreement authorizing payroll deductions in the form maintained by the Company from time to time and filing it with the Company’s HR department prior to the applicable Enrollment Date.
 
  (b)   Payroll deductions for a Participant shall commence on the first payroll following the Enrollment Date and shall end on the last payroll in the Offering Period to which such authorization is applicable, unless sooner terminated by the Participant as provided in Section 10 hereof.

  6.   PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS.

  (a)   At the time a Participant files his or her subscription agreement, he or she shall elect to have payroll deductions made on each pay day during the Offering Period in an amount not less than one percent (1%) and not exceeding ten percent (10%) of the Compensation which he or she receives on each pay day during the Offering Period, and the aggregate of such payroll deductions during the Offering Period shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the Participant’s Compensation during said Offering Period.
 
  (b)   All payroll deductions made for a Participant shall be credited to his or her account under the Plan and will be withheld in whole percentages only. A Participant may not make any additional payments into such account.
 
  (c)   A Participant may discontinue his or her participation in the Plan as provided in Section 10 hereof, or may increase or decrease the rate of his or her payroll deductions during the Offering Period by completing or filing with the Company a new subscription agreement authorizing a change in payroll deduction rate. A Participant may not change his or her payroll deduction rate, either by increasing or decreasing such rate, more than once during an Offering Period. The Administrator may, in its discretion, adjust the number of participation rate changes permitted during any Offering Period. The change in rate shall be effective with the first full payroll period following ten (10) business days after the Company’s receipt of the new subscription agreement unless the Company elects to process a given change in participation more quickly. A Participant’s subscription agreement shall remain in effect for successive Offering Periods unless terminated as provided in Section 10 hereof.
 
  (d)   Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code as the same may be amended and Section 3(b) hereof, a Participant’s payroll deductions may be decreased to 0% at such time during any

-4-


 

      Offering Period which is scheduled to end during the current calendar year (the “Current Period”) that the aggregate of all payroll deductions that were previously used to purchase stock under the Plan in a prior Offering Period which ended during that calendar year plus all payroll deductions accumulated with respect to the Current Period equal $23,750, as the same shall automatically be adjusted if the dollar amount set forth in the Code is adjusted. Payroll deductions shall recommence at the rate provided in such Participant’s subscription agreement at the beginning of the first Offering Period that is scheduled to end in the following calendar year, unless terminated by the Participant as provided in Section 10 hereof.
 
  (e)   At the time the option is exercised, in whole or in part, or at the time some or all of the Company’s Common Stock issued under the Plan is disposed of, the Participant must make adequate provision for the Company’s federal, state or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which arise upon the exercise of the option or the disposition of the Common Stock. At any time, the Company may, but will not be obligated to, withhold from the Participant’s compensation the amount necessary for the Company to meet applicable withholding obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company any tax deductions or benefits attributable to sale or early disposition of the Common Stock by the Employee.

  7.   GRANT OF OPTION.

     On the Enrollment Date of each Offering Period, each eligible Employee participating in such Offering Period shall be granted an option to purchase on the Exercise Date of such Offering Period (at the applicable Purchase Price) up to a number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock determined by dividing such Employee’s payroll deductions accumulated prior to such Exercise Date and retained in the Participant’s account as of the Exercise Date by the applicable Purchase Price; provided that in no event shall an Employee be permitted to purchase during each Offering Period more than a number of Shares determined by dividing $12,500, as the same shall be automatically adjusted upon any adjustments in the dollar amount set forth in the Code, by the Fair Market Value of a share of the Company’s Common Stock on the Enrollment Date, and provided further that such purchase shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 3(b) and 12 hereof. Exercise of the option shall occur as provided in Section 8 hereof, unless the Participant has withdrawn pursuant to Section 10 hereof, and shall expire on the last day of the Offering Period.

  8.   EXERCISE OF OPTION.

     Unless a Participant withdraws from the Plan as provided in Section 10 hereof, his or her option for the purchase of shares will be exercised automatically on the Exercise Date, and the maximum number of full shares subject to the option shall be purchased for such Participant at the applicable Purchase Price with the accumulated payroll deductions in his or her account. No fractional shares will be purchased; any payroll deductions accumulated in a Participant’s account which are not sufficient to purchase a full share shall be retained in the Participant’s

-5-


 

account for the subsequent Offering Period, subject to earlier withdrawal by the Participant as provided in Section 10 hereof. Any other monies left over in a Participant’s account after the Exercise Date shall be returned to the Participant. During a Participant’s lifetime, a Participant’s option to purchase shares hereunder is exercisable only by him or her.

  9.   DELIVERY.

     As promptly as practicable after each Exercise Date on which a purchase of shares occurs, the Company shall have the shares purchased upon the exercise of the option listed in street name with a brokerage company of the Company’s choice (the “Broker of Deposit”).

  10.   WITHDRAWAL; TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

  (a)   A Participant may withdraw all the payroll deductions credited to his or her account and not yet used to exercise his or her option under the Plan at any time prior to the 15th day before the end of an Offering Period by giving written notice to the Company in the form maintained by the Company from time to time. All of the Participant’s payroll deductions credited to his or her account will be paid to such Participant promptly after receipt of notice of withdrawal without interest and such Participant’s option for the Offering Period will be automatically terminated, and no further payroll deductions for the purchase of shares will be made for such Offering Period. If a Participant withdraws from an Offering Period, payroll deductions will not resume at the beginning of the succeeding Offering Period unless the Participant delivers to the Company a new subscription agreement. A Participant may not make a partial withdrawal of payroll deductions.
 
  (b)   Upon a Participant’s ceasing to be an Employee (as defined in Section 2(h) hereof), for any reason, including by virtue of him or her having failed to remain an Employee of the Company for at least twenty (20) hours per week during an Offering Period in which the Employee is a Participant, he or she will be deemed to have elected to withdraw from the Plan and the payroll deductions credited to such Participant’s account during the Offering Period but not yet used to exercise the option will be returned to such Participant or, in the case of his or her death, to the person or persons entitled thereto under Section 14 hereof, and such Participant’s option will be automatically terminated.

  11.   INTEREST.

     No interest shall accrue on the payroll deductions of a Participant in the Plan.

  12.   STOCK.

  (a)   The maximum number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock which shall be made available for sale under the Plan shall be 4,000,000 shares, subject to adjustment upon changes in capitalization of the Company as provided in Section 18

-6-


 

    hereof. If on a given Exercise Date the number of shares with respect to which options are to be exercised exceeds the number of shares then available under the Plan, the Company shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares remaining available for purchase in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine to be equitable.

  (b)   The Participant will have no interest or voting right in shares covered by his or her option until such option has been exercised.
 
  (c)   Shares to be delivered to a Participant under the Plan will be registered in the name of the Participant or in the name of the Participant and his or her spouse as specified in the Participant’s subscription agreement.

  13.   ADMINISTRATION.

  (a)   Administrative Body. The Plan shall be administered by the Board or a committee of members of the Board appointed by the Board. The Administrator shall have full and exclusive discretionary authority to construe, interpret and apply the terms of the Plan, to determine eligibility and to adjudicate all disputed claims filed under the Plan. Every finding, decision and determination made by the Administrator shall, to the full extent permitted by law, be final and binding upon all parties. Members of the Board who are eligible Employees are permitted to participate in the Plan, provided that:

  (1)   Members of the Board who are eligible to participate in the Plan may not vote on any matter affecting the administration of the Plan or the grant of any option pursuant to the Plan.
 
  (2)   If a committee is established to be the Administrator of the Plan, no member of the Board who is eligible to participate in the Plan may be a member of the committee.

  (b)   Rule 16b-3 Limitations and Listing Standards. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection (a) of this Section 13, in the event that Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or any successor provision (“Rule 16b-3”), or the listing standards of any stock exchange or national market system on which the Company’s securities may be listed (the “Listing Standards”), provide specific requirements for the administrators of plans of this type, the Plan shall be only administered by such a body and in such a manner as shall comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 and the Listing Standards. Unless permitted by Rule 16b-3, no discretion concerning decisions regarding the Plan shall be afforded to any committee whose members are not “non-employee directors” as that term is used in Rule 16b-3.

  14.   DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY.

-7-


 

  (a)   A Participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any shares and cash, if any, from the Participant’s account under the Plan in the event of such Participant’s death subsequent to an Exercise Date on which the option is exercised but prior to delivery to such Participant of such shares and cash. In addition, a Participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any cash from the Participant’s account under the Plan in the event of such Participant’s death prior to exercise of the option. If a Participant is married and the designated beneficiary is not the spouse, spousal consent shall be required for such designation to be effective.
 
  (b)   The Participant may change such designation of beneficiary at any time by written notice. In the event of the death of a Participant and in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is living at the time of such Participant’s death, the Company shall deliver such shares and/or cash to the executor or administrator of the estate of the Participant, or if no such executor or administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of the Company), the Company, in its discretion, may deliver such shares and/or cash to the spouse or to any one or more dependents or relatives of the Participant, or if no spouse, dependent or relative is known to the Company, then to such other person as the Company may designate.

  15.   TRANSFERABILITY.

     Neither payroll deductions credited to a Participant’s account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an option or to receive shares under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution or as provided in Section 14 hereof) by the Participant. Any such attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be without effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw funds from an Offering Period in accordance with Section 10 hereof.

  16.   USE OF FUNDS.

     The Company may use all payroll deductions received or held by the Company under the Plan for any corporate purpose, and the Company shall not be obligated to segregate such payroll deductions.

  17.   REPORTS.

     Individual accounts will be maintained for each Participant in the Plan. Statements of account will be given to participating Employees at least annually, which statements will set forth the amounts of payroll deductions, the Purchase Price, the number of shares purchased and the remaining cash balance, if any.

  18.   ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION.

-8-


 

  (a)   Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, the Reserves as well as the price per share of Common Stock covered by each option under the Plan which has not yet been exercised shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration”. Such adjustment shall be made by the Administrator, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into             shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an option.
 
  (b)   Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Offering Period will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action, unless otherwise provided by the Board.
 
  (c)   Merger or Asset Sale. In the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the merger of the Company with or into another corporation, each option under the Plan shall be assumed or an equivalent option shall be substituted by such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation, unless the Board determines, in the exercise of its sole discretion and in lieu of such assumption or substitution, to shorten the Offering Period(s) then in progress by setting a new Exercise Date (the “New Exercise Date”) or to cancel each outstanding right to purchase and refund all sums collected from Participants during the Offering Period(s) then in progress. If the Board shortens the Offering Period(s) then in progress in lieu of assumption or substitution in the event of a merger or sale of assets, the Board shall notify each Participant in writing, at least ten (10) business days prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for his or her option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that his or her option will be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date he or she has withdrawn from the Offering Period(s) as provided in Section 10 hereof. For purposes of this paragraph, an option granted under the Plan shall be deemed to be assumed if, following the sale of assets or merger, the option confers the right to purchase, for each share of option stock subject to the option immediately prior to the sale of assets or merger, the consideration (whether stock, cash or other securities or property) received in the sale of assets or merger by holders of Common Stock for each share of Common Stock held on the effective date of the transaction (and if such holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the sale of assets or merger was not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent (as

-9-


 

      defined in Section 424(e) of the Code), the Board may, with the consent of the successor corporation and the Participant, provide for the consideration to be received upon exercise of the option to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock upon the sale of assets or merger.
 
      The Board may, if it so determines in the exercise of its sole discretion, also make provision for adjusting the Reserves, as well as the price per share of Common Stock covered by each outstanding option, in the event the Company effects one or more reorganizations, recapitalization, rights offerings or other increases or reductions of shares of its outstanding Common Stock, and in the event of the Company being consolidated with or merged into any other corporation.

  19.   AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION.

  (a)   The Board may at any time and for any reason terminate or amend the Plan. Except as provided in Section 18 hereof, no such termination can affect options previously granted, provided that an Offering Period may be terminated by the Board on any Exercise Date if the Board determines that the termination of the Plan is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Except as provided in Section 18 hereof, no amendment may make any change in any option theretofore granted which adversely affects the rights of any Participant. To the extent necessary to comply with Rule 16b-3 or Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or provision or any other applicable law or regulation), or the Listing Standards, the Company shall obtain stockholder approval in such a manner and to such a degree as required.
 
  (b)   Without stockholder consent and without regard to whether any Participant rights may be considered to have been “adversely affected,” the Administrator shall be entitled to change the Offering Periods, limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during an Offering Period, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars, permit payroll withholding in excess of the amount designated by a Participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in the Company’s processing of properly completed withholding elections, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Common Stock for each Participant properly correspond with amounts withheld from the Participant’s Compensation, and establish such other limitations or procedures as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion advisable which are consistent with the Plan.

-10-


 

  20.   NOTICES.

     All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form specified by the Company at the location, or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

  21.   CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES.

     Shares shall not be issued with respect to an option unless the exercise of such option and the issuance and delivery of such shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all applicable provisions of law, domestic or foreign, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the shares may then be listed, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.

     As a condition to the exercise of an option, the Company may require the person exercising such option to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the aforementioned applicable provisions of law.

  22.   TERM OF PLAN.

     The amendment and restatement of the Plan set forth herein shall become effective on June 1, 2005. The Plan shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years from its original effective date of February 1, 2002 unless sooner terminated under Section 19 hereof.

  23.   ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS OF RULE 16b-3.

     The terms and conditions of options granted hereunder to, and the purchase of shares by, persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall comply with the applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3. This Plan shall be deemed to contain, and such options shall contain, and the shares issued upon exercise thereof shall be subject to, such additional conditions and restrictions as may be required by Rule 16b-3 to qualify for the maximum exemption from Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to Plan transactions.

  24.   RULES FOR FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS.

  (a)   The Administrator may adopt rules or procedures relating to the operation and administration of the Plan to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, rules and procedures may be adopted regarding handling of payroll deductions, payment of interest, conversion of local currency, payroll tax, withholding procedures and handling of stock certificates that vary depending on location.

-11-


 

  (b)   The Administrator may approve such supplements to, or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of this Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom, without affecting the terms of this Plan as in effect for any other purpose, (including supplements, amendments, restatements and alternative versions designed to be outside the scope of Section 423 of the Code), provided that no such supplements, amendments, restatements or alternative versions shall include any provisions that are inconsistent with the terms of this Plan, as then in effect, unless the Plan could have been amended to eliminate such inconsistency without further approval by the stockholders of the Company.

-12-

EX-10.2
 

Exhibit 10.2

Gartner Operating Committee Members (U.S. Associates),

As a member of Gartner’s Operating Committee employed in the United States, you play a vital role in the overall success of our corporate performance. To that end, you have been asked to collaborate across organizational lines and make or support those decisions that build the total organization’s value. In recognition of this responsibility, you have the opportunity to participate in an executive benefits package intended to enhance the current benefits offered to you by Gartner.

These enhanced benefits include:

•   Enhanced severance policy

•   35 Paid Time Off days

•   $15,000 annual payment to purchase the perquisites of your choice (grossed up for tax purposes)

•   ERISA-excess program that allows you to contribute over the current 401(K) limits

•   Annual executive medical exam

Enhanced Severance Policy

     The role you play as a senior leader has a higher risk/reward than other roles. In order to ensure that you are focused on your responsibilities, we have included an enhanced severance policy as part of this package.

If you are terminated without Cause then you will be entitled to receive the following:

•   your current annual base salary and PTO accrued through your termination date (up to a maximum of 25 days per year) plus continued base salary for a period of twelve months following the termination date, payable in accordance with Gartner’s regular payroll schedule as in effect from time to time;

•   all options and other exercisable rights vested as of the termination date held by you shall remain exercisable for 90 days following your termination date;

•   reimbursement for COBRA premiums incurred ,minus the contribution paid by active associates, to continue group health benefits (or, at Gartner’s election, to obtain substantially similar health benefits through a third party carrier) for twelve months for you, your spouse and any eligible children, provided that you make the appropriate election; and

•   no other compensation, severance or other benefits, except only that this provision shall not limit any benefits otherwise available to you in the case of a Change in Control.

If you are terminated without Cause during the 12 month period following a Change of Control, then all outstanding equity awards shall vest in full and be immediately exercisable, and shall remain exercisable for 12 months following the termination date.

Cause” means (i) yours failure to perform your assigned duties or responsibilities (other than a failure resulting from disability) in such a manner as to cause material loss, damage or injury to Gartner; (ii) gross negligence or serious misconduct by you in connection with the discharge of the duties of your position in such a manner as to cause material loss, damage or injury to Gartner; (iii) your use of drugs or alcohol in such a manner as to materially interfere with the performance of your assigned duties; or (iv) your being convicted of, or entering a plea of nolo contendere to, a felony. In each

 


 

instance, the foregoing acts and omissions shall not constitute Cause unless and until you have been provided with written notice from Gartner describing your act or omission that otherwise would constitute Cause and your failure to remedy such act or omission within 30 days of receiving written notice.

“Change in Control” shall have the same meaning as in Gartner’s 2003 Long Term Incentive Plan.

Paid-Time-Off (PTO) Program

Gartner understands the importance of time away from work and how it results in a better frame of mind to provide outstanding results. As a senior leader of Gartner, you will be eligible for the highest level of PTO days, 35 days.

If your employment should terminate, you will be paid for any unused PTO up to a maximum of 25 days. The rate is based on your base salary only.

Annual Lump-Sum Payment

Under the executive benefit program, Gartner will pay you an annual lump sum payment of $15,000 from which you can choose to purchase the perquisites of your choice. For US taxpayers, this amount shall be grossed-up. In other words, you will be entitled to receive an additional payment (a “Gross-Up Payment”) in an amount such that after payment by you of all income and payroll taxes imposed on the benefit payment and the Gross-Up Payment, you will retain the same amount on an after tax basis with respect to the benefit payment due that you would have retained had no such tax been imposed. In all cases, you are responsible for paying your own taxes.

ERISA-Excess Program

This program allows you to contribute in excess of current 401(k) limits into a non-qualified plan set up by Gartner.

Executive Health Exam

    You are eligible for an annual preventive physical examination by Executive Health Exams International (EHE). There are EHE facilities located in New York and in Stamford. You will be contacted by EHE to set up your appointment at your convenience. For US taxpayers, the fees or premiums paid on your behalf in regard to this benefit shall be grossed-up. In other words, you will be entitled to receive an additional payment (a “Gross-Up Payment”) in an amount such that after payment by you of all income and payroll taxes imposed on the benefit payment and the Gross-Up Payment, you will retain the same amount on an after tax basis with respect to the benefit payment due that you would have retained had no such tax been imposed. In all cases, you are responsible for paying your own taxes.

 


 

In Conclusion

These benefits are being offered to you to supplement the current benefits package offered to all associates. You are not required to take these additional benefits. You choose which are the most appropriate given your individual requirements.

The receipt of these benefits is contingent upon your signature below. By signing below, you hereby agree that these shall be the only benefits, including but not limited to severance benefits, (other than those benefits offered to all Gartner associates) that you shall be entitled to, and that any and all other benefits or arrangements, whether oral or in writing, previously existing between you and Gartner have been superceded and extinguished by this Program.

Yours truly,

Gartner, Inc.

         
     
By:      
Title:   
       
 

Acknowledged

         
     
By:      
Name:    
       
 

 

EX-31.1
 

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION

     I, Eugene A. Hall, certify that:

     (1) I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Gartner, Inc.;

     (2) Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

     (3) Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

     (4) The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d –15(f) for the registrant and have:

  a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
  b)   Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
  c)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
  d)   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

     (5) The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors:

  a)   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
  b)   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ Eugene A. Hall

Eugene A. Hall
Chief Executive Officer
May 10, 2005

 

EX-31.2
 

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION

I, Christopher Lafond, certify that:

     (1) I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Gartner, Inc.;

     (2) Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

     (3) Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

     (4) The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d –15(f) for the registrant and have:

  a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
  b)   Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
  c)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
  d)   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

     (5) The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors:

  a)   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
  b)   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ Christopher Lafond

Christopher Lafond
Chief Financial Officer
May 10, 2005

 

EX-32
 

Exhibit 32

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

     In connection with the Quarterly Report of Gartner, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2005, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, each hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge:

  (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

  (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ Eugene A. Hall

Name: Eugene A. Hall
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Date: May 10, 2005

/s/ Christopher Lafond

Name: Christopher Lafond
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Date: May 10, 2005

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Gartner, Inc. and will be retained by Gartner, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.