Document:

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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2

   NOTE OF META GROUP, INC. IN FAVOR OF THE BANK OF NEW YORK IN THE PRINCIPAL
                 AMOUNT OF $25,000,000 DATED SEPTEMBER 18, 2000

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, META GROUP, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "BORROWER"), hereby promises to pay to the order of THE BANK OF
NEW YORK (the "BANK"), on the Maturity Date, the lesser of TWENTY FIVE MILLION
DOLLARS ($25,000,000.00) or the outstanding principal balance of the Loans made
by the Bank, and to pay interest from the date hereof on the principal balance
thereof from time to time outstanding, at the rate or rates, and at the times,
set forth in the Credit Agreement, dated as of September 18, 2000, between the
Borrower and the Bank (as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the "CREDIT AGREEMENT"), in each case at the office
of the Bank located at 10 Mason Street, Greenwich, Connecticut, or at such other
place as the Bank may specify from time to time, in lawful money of the United
States of America in immediately available funds.

         Capitalized terms used herein which are not otherwise defined herein
shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Credit Agreement.

         The Loans evidenced by this Note are prepayable in the amounts and
under the circumstances, and its maturity is subject to acceleration upon the
terms, set forth in the Credit Agreement. This Note is the Note under, and as
such term is defined in, the Credit Agreement, and is subject to, and should be
construed in accordance with, the provisions thereof, and is entitled to the
benefits and security set forth in the Loan Documents.

         The Bank is hereby authorized to record on the schedule annexed hereto,
and any continuation sheets which the Bank may attach hereto, the (i) date and
amount of each Loan made by the Bank, (ii) character thereof as an ABR Advance,
a LIBOR Advance, a Fixed Rate Advance, or a combination thereof, (iii) interest
rate (without regard to the Applicable Margin) applicable to each LIBOR Advance
and any Fixed Rate Advance, (iv) Interest Period applicable to each LIBOR
Advance, and (iv) date and amount of each conversion of, and each payment or
prepayment of principal of, any such Loan. No failure to so record or any error
in so recording shall affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans,
together with interest thereon, as provided in the Credit Agreement, and the
outstanding principal balance of the Loans made by the Bank as set forth in such
schedule shall be presumed to be correct absent manifest error.

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         Except as specifically otherwise provided in the Credit Agreement, the
Borrower hereby waives presentment, demand, notice of dishonor, protest, notice
of protest and all other demands, protests and notices in connection with the
execution, delivery, performance, collection and enforcement of this Note.

         This Note may only be amended by an instrument in writing executed
pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement.

         THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES
OF CONFLICT OF LAWS, BUT INCLUDING SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS
LAW.

                                    META GROUP, INC.

                                    By:      /s/ BERNARD F. DENOYER
                                             -----------------------------
                                    Name:    BERNARD F. DENOYER
                                             -----------------------------
                                    Title:   CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                                             -----------------------------

                                       2

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                                   SCHEDULE TO
                                   -----------

                                      NOTE
                                      ----

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 Interest Rate
                                                                   on LIBOR
                                                                   and Fixed
                                                                     Rate
            Type of                            Amount of           Advances
            Advance                            principal           (without             Interest
             (ABR,                            converted,           regard to           Period (if
           LIBOR or         Amount of           paid or           Applicable              LIBOR            Notation
DATE      fixed rate)        advance            prepaid             margin)             advance)            made by
----      -----------       ---------         ----------         -------------         ----------          --------
<S>       <C>               <C>               <C>                <C>                   <C>                  <C>

</TABLE><PAGE>

                                                                     Exhibit 4.3

   SECURITY AGREEMENT BETWEEN META GROUP, INC. AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK DATED
                               SEPTEMBER 18, 2000

         SECURITY AGREEMENT (as the same may be amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time, this "AGREEMENT"), dated as of September
18, 2000, by and among META GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"BORROWER"), such other Persons which from time to time may become party hereto
(collectively with the Borrower, the "GRANTORS"), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK (the
"BANK").

                                    RECITALS

         A. Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of the date
hereof, by and between the Borrower and the Bank (as the same may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "CREDIT Agreement").

         B. It is a condition precedent to the Bank's acceptance and execution
of the Credit Agreement and the making of the Loans, the issuance of the Letters
of Credit and all other extensions of credit under the Credit Agreement that the
Borrower and each Subsidiary which owns any Capital Stock of any other
Subsidiary, shall execute and deliver to the Bank this Agreement.

         Therefore, in consideration of the Recitals, the terms and conditions
herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Grantors and the Bank hereby
agree as follows:

Section 1.        DEFINED TERMS

                 (a) Capitalized terms used herein which are not otherwise
defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Credit
Agreement.

                 (b) When used in this Agreement, the following capitalized
terms shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto as follows:

                     "ADDITIONAL  GRANTOR":  each Grantor which becomes a party
         hereto pursuant to Section 10 hereof.

                     "COLLATERAL": as defined in Section 2.

                     "EQUITY INTEREST": (i) with respect to a corporation,
         the capital stock thereof, (ii) with respect to a partnership, a
         partnership interest therein, all rights of a partner in such
         partnership, whether arising under the partnership agreement

<PAGE>

         of such partnership or otherwise; (iii) with respect to a limited
         liability company, a membership interest therein, all rights of a
         member of such limited liability company, whether arising under the
         limited liability company agreement of such limited liability company
         or otherwise; (iv) with respect to any other firm, association, trust,
         business enterprise or other entity which is similar to any other
         Person listed in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), and this clause (iv), of
         this definition, any equity interest therein, any interest therein
         which entitles the holder thereof to share in the revenue, income,
         earnings or losses thereof or to vote or otherwise participate in any
         election of one or more members of the board of directors or other
         governing body or Person thereof, and (v) all warrants and options in
         respect of any of the foregoing and all other securities which are
         convertible or exchangeable therefor.

                     "EVENT OF DEFAULT": as defined in Section 6.

                     "FINANCING STATEMENTS": any UCC financing statements
         executed by the Grantors in connection with this Agreement.

                     "NYUCC": the UCC as in effect in the State of New York on
         the date hereof.

                     "OBLIGATIONS": all of the obligations and liabilities of
         the Grantors under the Loan Documents, in each case whether fixed,
         contingent, now existing or hereafter arising, created, assumed,
         incurred or acquired, as such obligations and liabilities may be
         amended, increased, modified, renewed, refinanced by the Bank, refunded
         or extended from time to time.

                     "OFFICE LOCATION": as defined in Section 3(a).

                     "SUPPLEMENT": a Supplement to this Agreement, duly
         completed, in the form of Annex A hereto.

                     "UCC": with respect to any jurisdiction, Articles 1, 8
         and 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in
         such jurisdiction.

                 (c) When used in this Agreement, the following capitalized
terms shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the NYUCC:
"CERTIFICATED SECURITY", "ISSUER", "PROCEEDS", "SECURED PARTY", and "SECURITY".

Section 2.        GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

                  To secure the prompt and complete payment, observance and
performance of the Obligations, the Grantors hereby grant to the Bank a security
interest in and to all of the Grantors' right, title and interest in and to all
of the following property now owned or hereafter acquired (collectively, the
"COLLATERAL"):

                                      -2-

<PAGE>

                 (i) the safekeeping account in the name of the Borrower
         maintained at the Bank and designated as account number 241033 and any
         demand deposit accounts established in connection with such account
         (together with any successor accounts, the "ACCOUNT") and all property
         from time to time held in or credited to the Account, whether now held
         or hereafter acquired and transferred into or credited to the Account,
         including, without limitation, all monies, bills, bonds, notes,
         obligations, securities, commercial paper, instruments or other
         investment property and financial assets of any nature held in or
         credited to the Account, in each case, together with all payments and
         distributions now or hereafter made thereon (whether constituting
         principal, interest or dividends and whether payable in cash or in
         property); all sums now or hereafter deposited in, and all sums due or
         to become due on (whether as interest, dividends or otherwise), the
         Account; all rights (contractual or otherwise) now or hereafter arising
         under, connected with or in any way related to the foregoing items of
         Collateral including all securities entitlements with respect thereto;
         all claims (including the right to sue or otherwise recover such
         claims) against third parties now or hereafter arising under, connected
         with or in any way related to the foregoing items of Collateral; and
         all additions thereto and all substitutions, exchanges and replacements
         therefor, and all Proceeds thereof; and

                 (ii) all Equity Interests in each Person which now is or may
         hereafter become a Subsidiary of any Grantor, whether or not evidenced
         by a Security, and all Proceeds thereof; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that with
         respect to any Foreign Subsidiary which does not become a Subsidiary
         Guarantor pursuant to the terms of Section 8.8 of the Credit Agreement,
         the Equity Interests in such Foreign Subsidiary pledged hereunder shall
         be equal to 60% of the outstanding Capital Stock of such Foreign
         Subsidiary.

Section 3.        REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

                  Each Grantor hereby represents and warrants to the Bank as
follows:

                 (a) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE. With respect to the Borrower, as
         of the date hereof, the Borrower's chief executive office, is, and has
         been continuously for the immediately preceding five-month period,
         located at the address set forth in Section 10.2 of the Credit
         Agreement (the "OFFICE LOCATION").

                 (b) NAME OF GRANTOR. No Grantor has changed its legal name
         during the six year period immediately preceding the date hereof,
         except as the Bank shall have been advised of prior to such Grantor
         becoming a party to this Agreement.

                 (c) SECURITY INTEREST. This Agreement, together with the
         delivery to the Bank of the Certificated Securities constituting
         Collateral and the continuous possession thereof by the Bank creates a
         continuing enforceable Security Interest in the Collateral in favor of
         the Bank. The Bank shall be

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

         considered a "PROTECTED PURCHASER" within the meaning of Article 8 of
         the NYUCC, with respect to the Collateral consisting of Securities.

Section 4.        COVENANTS OF THE GRANTORS

                  Each Grantor hereby covenants with the Bank as follows:

                    (a) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE. Such Grantor shall maintain its
         place of business, or if such Grantor has more than one place of
         business, its chief executive office, at the Office Location or at such
         other location in respect of which (A) such Grantor shall have provided
         the Bank with prior written notice thereof, and (B) if the Bank deems
         necessary, UCC financing statements (or amendments thereto), in form
         and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Bank, shall have been
         filed within two months of such change.

                    (b) FURTHER ASSURANCES. Such Grantor shall, at its own
         expense, promptly execute and deliver all certificates, documents,
         instruments, financing and continuation statements and amendments
         thereto, notices and other agreements, and take all further action,
         that the Bank may reasonably request from time to time, in order to
         perfect and protect the Security Interest granted hereby or to enable
         the Bank to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with
         respect to the Collateral. Such Grantor hereby irrevocably appoints the
         Bank as such Grantor's true and lawful attorney-in-fact, in the name,
         place and stead of such Grantor, to perform on behalf of such Grantor
         any and all obligations of such Grantor under this Agreement, and such
         Grantor agrees that the power of attorney herein granted constitutes a
         power coupled with an interest, provided, however, that the Bank shall
         have no obligation to perform any such obligation and such performance
         shall be at the sole cost and expense of such Grantor. If such Grantor
         fail to comply with any of its obligations hereunder, the Bank may do
         so in such Grantor's name or in the Bank's name, but at such Grantor's
         expense, and such Grantor hereby agrees to reimburse the Bank in full
         for all reasonable expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees,
         incurred by the Bank in connection therewith.

                    (c) INFORMATION. Such Grantor at its own expense shall
         furnish to the Bank such information, reports, statements and schedules
         with respect to the Collateral as the Bank may reasonably request from
         time to time.

                    (d) DEFENSE OF COLLATERAL. Such Grantor at its own expense
         shall defend the Collateral against all material claims of any kind or
         nature of all Persons at any time claiming the same or any interest
         therein adverse to the interests of the Bank, and such Grantor shall
         not cause, permit or suffer to exist any Lien upon the Collateral
         except as permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

                                      -4-

<PAGE>

                    (e) DELIVERY OF PLEDGED COLLATERAL. Each Certificated
         Security representing an Equity Interest in a Person which is or shall
         become a Subsidiary of such Grantor shall be promptly delivered to the
         Bank (subject to the limitation contained in Section 2(ii)), to be held
         by the Bank pursuant hereto, in suitable form for transfer by delivery
         or accompanied by duly executed documents of transfer or assignment in
         blank, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Bank. Such Grantor
         agrees that until so delivered, each such Certificated Security shall
         be held by such Grantor in trust for the benefit of the Bank and be
         segregated from the other Property of such Grantor.

Section 5.        OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE GRANTORS

                  (a) NO DUTY TO PRESERVE. Except as otherwise required by
         law, each Grantor agrees that, with respect to the Collateral, the Bank
         has no obligation to preserve rights against prior or third parties.

                  (b) BANK'S DUTY WITH RESPECT TO COLLATERAL. The Bank's only
         duty with respect to the Collateral delivered to it shall be to use
         reasonable care in the custody and preservation of the Collateral, and
         each Grantor agrees that if the Bank accords the Collateral
         substantially the same kind of care as it accords its own Property,
         such care shall conclusively be deemed reasonable. In the event that
         all or any part of the Certificated Securities constituting the
         Collateral are lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken while such
         Certificated Securities are in the possession of the Bank, each Grantor
         agrees that it will use its best efforts to cause the delivery of new
         Certificated Securities in place of the lost, destroyed or wrongfully
         taken Certificated Securities upon request therefor by the Bank,
         without the necessity of any indemnity bond or other security, other
         than the Bank's agreement of indemnity upon usual and customary terms
         therefor. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Bank
         shall not be under any duty to send notices, perform services, exercise
         any rights of collection, enforcement, conversion or exchange, vote,
         pay for insurance, taxes or other charges or take any action of any
         kind in connection with the management of the Collateral.

Section 6.        EVENTS OF DEFAULT

                  Each of the following shall constitute an "EVENT OF DEFAULT":

                      (a) If any Grantor shall fail to observe or perform any
         term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement; or

                      (b) The occurrence and continuance of any other Event of
         Default under, and as such term is defined in, the Credit Agreement.

Section 7.        REMEDIES

                  (a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default or at any time
         thereafter during the continuance thereof, the Bank may:

                                      -5-

<PAGE>

                      (i) exercise any and all rights and remedies granted to a
         Secured Party by the UCC or otherwise allowed at law, and otherwise
         provided by this Agreement, and

                      (ii) dispose of the Collateral as it may choose, so long
         as every aspect of the disposition including the method, manner, time,
         place and terms are commercially reasonable, and each Grantor agrees
         that, without limitation, the following are each commercially
         reasonable: the Bank shall not in any event be required to give more
         than 14 days' prior notice to any Grantor of any such disposition, any
         place within the City of New York or the County of Fairfield,
         Connecticut may be designated by the Bank for disposition, and the Bank
         may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by
         announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may,
         without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was
         so adjourned.

                  (b) Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that the Bank may
         elect, with respect to the offer or sale of any or all of the Equity
         Interests constituting the Collateral, to conduct such offer and sale
         in such a manner as to avoid the need for registration or qualification
         of such Equity Interests or the offer and sale thereof under any
         Federal or state securities laws and that the Bank is authorized to
         comply with any limitation or restriction in connection with such sale
         as counsel may advise the Bank is reasonably necessary in order to
         avoid any violation of applicable law, compliance with such procedures
         as may restrict the number of prospective bidders and purchasers,
         require that such prospective bidders and purchasers have certain
         qualifications, and restrict such prospective bidders and purchasers to
         Persons who will represent and agree that they are purchasing for their
         own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or
         resale of such Equity Interests, or in order to obtain any required
         approval of the sale or of the purchaser by any Governmental Authority.
         Each Grantor further acknowledges and agrees that any such transaction
         may be at prices and on terms less favorable than those which may be
         obtained through a public sale and not subject to such restrictions and
         agrees that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Bank is under no
         obligation to conduct any such public sale and may elect to impose any
         or all of the foregoing restrictions, or any other restrictions which
         may be reasonably necessary in order to avoid any such registration or
         qualification, at its sole discretion, and that any such offer and sale
         so conducted shall be deemed to have been made in a commercially
         reasonable manner.

                  (c) To the extent permitted by law, each Grantor hereby
         expressly waives and covenants not to assert any appraisement,
         valuation, stay, extension, redemption or similar laws, now or at any
         time hereafter in force, which might delay, prevent or otherwise impede
         the performance or enforcement of this Agreement.

                                      -6-

<PAGE>

Section 8.        VOTING

                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, each Grantor shall have the right to vote all Securities constituting
the Collateral and receive and retain all dividends and distributions thereon
until such time, if any, as an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing and the Bank shall have notified the Grantors that the Bank shall
have elected to terminate the rights of the Grantors under this Section, at
which time the Bank shall then be vested with the right to vote all Securities
constituting the Collateral and receive and retain all dividends and
distributions thereon, until such time as such Event of Default is cured or
waived.

Section 9.        NOTICES

                  All notices and other communications provided for or otherwise
required hereunder or in connection herewith shall be given in the manner and,
with respect to the Borrower and the Bank, to the addresses set forth in Section
10.2 of the Credit Agreement. The address for notices to each other Grantor
executing this Agreement shall be in care of the Borrower.

Section 10.       ADDITIONAL GRANTORS

                  Section 8.8 of the Credit Agreement requires, upon the terms
and conditions set forth therein, that each Subsidiary of the Borrower that was
not in existence on the Effective Date which owns any Capital Stock of any other
Subsidiary of the Borrower, shall enter into this Agreement as an additional
Grantor. Upon execution and delivery by the Bank and any such Subsidiary of a
Supplement, together with certificates evidencing the Equity Interests being
pledged (subject to the limitation contained in Section 2(ii)) and such UCC
Financing Statements and other documents as the Bank shall require in order to
perfect the Bank's security interest granted thereby, such Subsidiary shall
become a Grantor hereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named
as a Grantor herein. The execution and delivery of such Supplement shall not
require the consent of any other Grantor hereunder. The rights and obligations
of each Grantor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding
the addition of any new Grantor as a party to this Agreement.

Section 11.       TERMINATION

                  On any date upon which (i) the Bank shall no longer have any
obligation to make any Revolving Credit Loans or issue any Letters of Credit,
and (ii) the Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid in full in cash, the
Liens granted hereby shall cease and the Bank shall, at the Grantors' expense,
execute and deliver all UCC Termination Statements which the Grantors shall have
reasonably requested, and return to the Grantors all Collateral which shall
remain in the possession of the Bank at such time.

                                   -7-

<PAGE>

Section 12.       RELATIONSHIP TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

                  This Agreement is the "SECURITY AGREEMENT" under, and as such
term is defined in, the Credit Agreement, and is subject to, and should be
construed in accordance with, the provisions thereof. Each of the Bank and the
Grantors acknowledges that certain provisions of the Credit Agreement, Sections
1.2 (Principles of Construction), 3.9 (Taxes), 10.1 (Amendments and Waivers),
10.3 (No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies), 10.4 (Survival of Representations and
Warranties and Certain Obligations), 10.7 (Counterparts), 10.9 (Construction),
10.10 (Governing Law), 10.11 (Headings Descriptive), 10.12 (Severability), 10.13
(Integration), 10.14 (Consent to Jurisdiction), 10.15 (Service of Process),
10.16 (No Limitation on Service or Suit) and 10.17 (WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY)
thereof, are made applicable to this Agreement and all such provisions are
incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth herein.

         [THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE HAS INTENTIONALLY BEEN LEFT BLANK.]

                                      -8-

<PAGE>

                  IN EVIDENCE of the agreement by the parties hereto to the
terms and conditions herein contained, each such party has caused this Security
Agreement to be duly executed on its behalf.

                                        META GROUP, INC.

                                        By:      /s/ BERNARD F. DENOYER
                                                ------------------------

                                        Name:    BERNARD F. DENOYER
                                                ------------------------

                                        Title:   CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                                                ------------------------

Accepted by:

THE BANK OF NEW YORK

By:/s/ Mark J. Sicinski
   ------------------------
   Mark J. Sicinski,
   Vice President

                                      -9-

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