Tue, 22 Dec 2015

Japan’s Recruit Holdings is to buy Dutch recruiter USG People for €1.42bn (£1.04bn), the companies have announced. 

The deal reflects Recruit’s ambition to take on global recruiters such as Adecco to become a world leader in HR by 2020, and its long-term goal of becoming the top global company by 2030.

It allows the Japanese firm to access not only the Netherlands but also Germany, Belgium and France – all staffing markets that Recruit has identified as important for its growth. 

In 2015 alone, Recruit bought three staffing companies – Chandler McLeod and Peoplebank in Australia and Atterro in the US. It also purchased US staffing firm Anteo Group in 2013 and Staffmark (US) and AdvantageResourcing (US, UK, Australia) in 2011. In 2010, it bought US staffing firm The CSI Companies.

In addition to staffing firms, Recruit has acquired various HR media companies, such as global job board Indeed in 2012. Last year, via Indeed, it bought tech provider MoBolt. 

But in line with its long-term goal, it has also been purchasing various other marketing-type sites. In this category, 2015 acquisitions include restaurant-booking site Quandoo and beauty-booking sites Wahanda and Treatwell.

The USG deal is expected to close in April or June 2016.