Transactions

Stay Abreast of Exciting Activities and Developments in the Recruitment and Staffing Industry.

Through our global network and sector knowledge, our team maintains contact with and keeps track of both active and potential buyers, investors and sellers in the recruitment and staffing industry, including:

Highly acquisitive companies, Private Equity (PE) and Venture Capital (VC) providers of growth capital funding across North America, the UK and Europe, and Asia-Pacific;
Recruitment and staffing businesses that are exploring fund-raising and growth capital options to accelerate their business plans and expand their organizations further;
Recruitment and staffing businesses that are preparing for exit, or have been approached by a prospective buyer or investor.

We also conduct sector-specific research to gain insider knowledge of the nuances of noteworthy transactions happening in the industry. This includes insights into company valuations, M&A market mapping, and the cultural nuances that could often make or break an acquisition.

Newsfeed: Noteworthy Transactions in 2024

En Japan invests $1.5 million in Linc

On September 2, 2024, En Japan (4849:TYO), a provider of HR technology and recruitment services, invested JPY 230 million (USD 1.5 million) in Linc, a Japanese global human resources support service.

ZRG acquires Linked4HR Solutions

Executive search firm ZRG has acquired Linked4HR Solutions, a Dubai-based company specializing in executive interim search and HR advisory services in the Middle East and Africa. Additionally, ZRG brought on Linked4HR’s founder and CEO, Hicham Hachkal, as managing director for interim and HR advisory. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Japanese staffing platform Lapras raises over $2 million in funding

Tokyo-based Lapras, a staffing platform that links skilled IT engineers with companies, has secured around JPY 400 million (USD 2.7 million) through a third-party allocation of new shares to Wanted Japan, the Japanese arm of Korean HR tech firm Wanted Lab, along with loans from financial institutions. This brings the total funds raised by Lapras to approximately JPY 1.2 billion (USD 8.3 million).

Cognizant Completes Acquisition of Belcan

Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Belcan for roughly $1.3 billion in cash and stock. Belcan is a prominent global provider of Engineering Research & Development (ER&D) services across the commercial aerospace, defense, space, marine, and industrial sectors.

Humanforce is making a move to acquire LiveHire through a takeover offer

Humanforce Holdings is moving ahead with an on-market takeover bid to acquire direct-sourcing provider LiveHire (LVH:ASX), according to regulatory filings on 14 August. Humanforce already holds 19.99% of shares in Melbourne, Australia-based LiveHire.

Open Up Group reports a 19.6% increase in Q4 revenue and announces an acquisition

Tokyo-based engineering staffing provider Open Up Group reported a 19.6% year-over-year increase in revenue, reaching JPY 46.56 billion (USD 289 million) in its fiscal fourth quarter ending on 30 June. The company also announced its acquisition of IT staffing firm Ophiuchus Invesco.

Hueman People Solutions Expands Capabilities with PrincetonOne Acquisition

Hueman People Solutions, a leader in recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) and talent acquisition, announced the acquisition of PrincetonOne, a distinguished RPO provider with a strong presence in the Pharmaceutical, Biotech, Life Sciences, Manufacturing, and Industrial sectors.

Cognizant to acquire Belcan for approx. US$1.3 billion

Cognizant Technology Solutions (NASDAQ: CTSH) announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Belcan, the 10th-largest provider of engineering staffing in the US, at a purchase price of approximately $1.3 billion in cash and stock, subject to customary adjustments.

Kelly completes acquisition of Motion Recruitment Partners (MRP)

Described as the largest acquisition in Kelly’s history, the acquisition of MRP strengthens the scale and capabilities of Kelly’s staffing and consulting solutions across technology, telecommunications, and government specialties in North America, and recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) solutions globally.

Advanced RPO Acquires Aspirant RPO

Advanced RPO, a leading recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) provider, announced today that it has acquired Aspirant RPO, another US-based RPO provider.

Knox Lane Partners with All Star Healthcare Solutions

Knox Lane, a growth-oriented investment firm, today announced it has acquired a majority stake in All Star Healthcare Solutions, a premier, full-service healthcare staffing firm focused exclusively on the locum tenens market.

Allegis Division Acquires Katthree Management Consultancy

QuantumWork Advisory, a division of the Allegis Group, acquired KatThree, an Amsterdam-based management consultancy.

QuantumWork Advisory, an Allegis Group Company, Acquires Talent Tech Labs

QuantumWork Advisory, a specialized global workforce advisory and transformation firm, has acquired Talent Tech Labs (TTL), a world-class research firm renowned for its in-depth understanding of the evolving workforce technology landscape. QuantumWork Advisory is part of Allegis Group, which ranks as the largest staffing firm in the US based on revenue.

Hudson RPO Acquires UAE-Based Striver, a Leading Executive Search Firm

Hudson RPO, a global total talent solutions company owned by Hudson Global, Inc., announced it is expanding its presence in the Middle East with the acquisition of Striver, a Dubai-based executive search organization. This announcement follows Hudson RPO’s March 2024 acquisition of Dubai-based Executive Solutions, a firm focused on Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO). The addition solidifies Hudson RPO’s Position in the Middle East.

PE-backed ServicePoint acquires IT staffing firm SmartSource

ServicePoint, a portfolio company of Mill Point Capital LLC, announced the acquisition of Smart Source LLC, a leading nationwide technology service provider.

Boyden Buys UK-Based Executive Search Practice with Energy Focus

Executive search firm Boyden acquired fellow executive search firm FWB Park Brown’s energy practice based in Scotland effective March 1. The move aims to strengthen Boyden’s industrial practice and enhance its ability to serve clients globally in the oil, gas, mining and renewables industries, according to the company.

ZRG Acquires Wiser Partners, a Leading Botique Search Firm Focused on Marketing and Sales Roles

ZRG, one of the world’s most rapidly growing global talent advisory firms, today announced its acquisition of Wiser Partners, a retained executive search firm headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, with offices across the U.S.

ZRG Acquires Ignata Finance Group

ZRG, a rapidly expanding global talent advisory firm, has announced its acquisition of Ignata Finance Group, a London-based staffing and recruiting firm specializing in executive search and finance recruitment.

Newsfeed: Noteworthy Transactions in 2023

Japan staffing agency Outsourcing to undergo Bain-backed MBO

Japanese human resources service company Outsourcing aims to take its shares private through a management buyout with Bain Capital, which will likely exceed 200 billion yen ($1.3 billion), Nikkei has learned.

Recruitment Entrepreneur announces sale of shares in Elite Cyber to Eurocom Group

Recruitment Entrepreneur (RE), a private equity firm specialising in the startup and scale of recruitment businesses, today announced the sale of their shares in a leading global cybersecurity recruitment services company Elite Cyber (EC).

The IN Group boosts life sciences expertise with acquisition of BioTalent

London-based workforce solutions firm the IN Group has boosted its capabilities in the life sciences recruitment industry with the acquisition of BioTalent. By combining BioTalent with the industry-leading life sciences practice of its recruitment brand Investigo, the move will create a specialist life sciences division of over 50 experts in the UK, US, and EMEA.

Jogan Inc. Acquires Emergency Management Organization All Hands Consulting

The Jogan Inc. holding company expands with the acquisition of All Hands Consulting, joining healthcare staffing company Jogan Health. The acquisition marks a significant milestone for both organizations as they embark on a journey of shared growth and prosperity.

Swedish Education Staffing Firm Humly acquires M2 Education in bid for UK expansion

In an undisclosed deal, staffing businesses M2 Education Ltd, which has offices in Newcastle and Preston, has been acquired by strategic acquirer Humly, an international private equity-backed organisation, to support its continued growth and utilisation of new technology. The company – founded by Mark Birnie and Melissa Kumar – places teachers, teaching assistants, and tutors on a permanent and temporary basis into primary, secondary and Special Education Needs (SEND) establishments in the Newcastle, Cumbria and Lancashire areas.

Kingsley Gate accelerates its Executive Search and Advisory leadership by acquiring Seeliger y Conde

Global Executive Search leader Kingsley Gate announced today that it has acquired Seeliger y Conde the leading executive search and leadership advisory firm in Spain, in order to expand its client service offering and geographic reach. This strategic integration will allow clients of both firms to benefit from an injection of proprietary technology into the search process.

M3 Acquires Messly, Leading Physician Recruiting Platform in the U.K.

M3, Inc. has announced the acquisition of Messly, a leading physician recruiting platform company in the U.K. M3 operates m3.com, a specialized web portal for medical professionals that delivers healthcare-related information to its 320,000+ physician members in Japan. Messly is a leading recruiting marketplace platform for U.K. doctors and recruiting agencies.

Premier Health Signs Purchase Agreement to Acquire British Columbia-Based Company Solutions Staffing Inc.

Premier Health of America Inc., a leading Canadian Healthtech company, announced that it has signed a binding share purchase agreement to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of Solutions Staffing Inc., a Vancouver, British Columbia-based healthcare staffing firm that provides nurses and allied healthcare professionals.

Impellan Group confirms it is in discussions to be acquired by HeadFirst Global

Impellam Group PLC on Tuesday confirmed that it is in talks to be acquired by HeadFirst Global, a HR services platform.

Hays has acquired DE&I specialist Vercida Consulting

Hays, a well-known HR services and recruitment consultancy, has purchased a controlling stake in the consulting division of Vercida Group. By doing so, Hays aims to bolster their diversity, equity, and inclusion advisory services with the assistance of Vercida Consulting.

True Acquires First and Leading Diversity & Inclusion Tech Company Jopwell

True, a leading platform offering innovative solutions for talent management, has announced its acquisition of Jopwell, a platform dedicated to helping Black, Latinx, and Native American students and professionals advance their careers.

H.I.G. Capital Acquires Majority Stake in Office People

H.I.G. Capital, a leading global alternative investment firm with $55 billion of equity capital under management, announced that an affiliate has acquired a majority stake in Office People GmbH, establishing a partnership with founder Olaf Hansen and the management team.

GMP Recruitment acquires The Recruitment Company Midlands

Worcestershire-based firm GMP Recruitment has finalised the takeover of The Recruitment Company Midlands (TRCM) as it continues its plans for growth.

SHIFT acquires EQIQ K.K.'s WAHL+CCASE bilingual recruitment business through a company split

The SHIFT Group announced today that it has executed a definitive agreement to acquire WAHL+CASE, the bilingual recruiting business of EQIQ K.K. Specialized in recruiting for start-ups and tech companies, the business is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and is expected to strengthen SHIFT’s recruitment capabilities and expand its service portfolio.

Acacium Group acquires Australia-based Sanctuary Recruitment

Acacium Group, the London-based healthcare and clinical/scientific staffing provider, announced that it has acquired Sanctuary Recruitment, an aged care recruitment consultancy based in Sydney, Australia.

Synergie to acquire German-based staffing firm Runtime Group

Synergie SE (SDG:PAR), a Paris-based staffing firm, has signed an agreement to acquire German staffing firm Runtime Group.

UAE-based Dulsco Group acquires Scotland-based Advance Global Recruitment

Dulsco Group, a recruitment firm headquartered in the UAE, announced that it has acquired Edinburgh-based Advance Global Recruitment Ltd (AGR), a specialist in energy recruitment.

Gravitas Acquires Hamlyn Williams' Hong Kong and Shenzhen Operations

Hong Kong – UK-headquartered global recruitment company Gravitas Recruitment Group has acquired both of the Hamlyn Williams’ Hong Kong and Shenzhen operations. This acquisition is part of the recruitment firm’s growth and expansion plans, and will continue to strengthen its presence in the Asia markets.

Job Search Advice Website, Career Sidekick, Acquired by Amai Group

Career Sidekick, a job search advice website headquartered in Florida, USA, was acquired by Singapore-based Amai Group.

Accordant Group Acquires Hobson Leavy

Recruitment company Accordant Group Limited has acquired Auckland, New Zealand-based executive search firm Hobson Leavy.

New York-based Kingsley Gate Partners acquires London-based The Omerta Group

Kingsley Gate Partners, an executive search firm based in New York City, acquired The Omerta Group, a London-headquartered executive search firm focused on financial services.

IPE Ventures acquires TaskMaster Resources Limited

IPE Ventures, the private equity arm of the IPE Group, announced the acquisition of Taskmaster Resources Limited, an industrial recruitment firm, headquartered in Leeds, UK.

Heidrick & Struggles enters into agreement to acquire Atreus

Heidrick & Struggles announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Atreus, an executive interim & on-demand talent business in Germany.

Newsfeed: Noteworthy Transactions in 2022

Heidrick & Struggles Enters into Agreement to Acquire Atreus, Executive Interim & On-Demand Talent Business, in Germany

Heidrick & Struggles (Nasdaq: HSII), a premier provider of global leadership advisory and on-demand talent solutions, has entered into an agreement to acquire Atreus, one of the leading players for executive interim management in Germany. The acquisition builds on Heidrick & Struggles’ leadership position in the on-demand talent space by expanding this offering into Continental Europe and is an important component of the firm’s broader strategy to diversify its suite of executive talent and leadership advisory offerings.

HIG portfolio company Oxford Global Resources acquires Hale International

HIG Capital (HIG) portfolio company, Oxford Global Resources (Oxford), a provider of specialty staffing and consulting services in the United States and Europe, acquires Hale International (Hale).

Unite People Completes Management Buyout (MBO)

Unite People, a Leeds-based civil engineering industry-focused recruitment firm, announced that it has completed a Management Buyout (MBO).

AEA SBPE Partners with RED Global Limited

AEA Investors’ Small Business Private Equity (AEA SBPE) team announced today that its fund has closed the acquisition of RED Global Limited alongside rollover investment from the Company’s senior leadership team.

Starfish Partners Acquires Ohio-based Direct Recruiters Inc. (DRI) in all stock deal

PLANO, Texas – Starfish Partners, an international investment and ownership platform for niched professional and mid-to-upper management search specialists, announced the acquisition of Direct Recruiters, Inc. (DRI).

Aurex Group Completes Management Buyout

Aurex Group has completed a management buyout (MBO), changing the company ownership effective from 23 August 2022. The firm is now a 100% management-owned company globally and will continue to specialise as a full-service search partner focused within the Real Estate, Infrastructure, and Natural Resources sectors.

Korn Ferry acquires IT staffing provider Infinity Consulting Solutions

Global consulting provider Korn Ferry (NYSE: KFY) acquired Infinity Consulting Solutions, an IT staffing provider based in New York. The deal closed Aug. 1 for a 100% stake in the firm. It is expected to be immediately accretive to Korn Ferry’s adjusted earnings.

TekPartners and Genuent Holdings Announce Merger and Additional Investment

IT staffing providers TekPartners and Genuent Holdings LLC announced they are merging to become Inspyr Solutions. Headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, TekPartners is a subsidiary of P2P Staffing Corp.

Bespoke Partners Receives Strategic Investment from AEA Growth

Bespoke Partners, a leading provider of retained executive search and leadership advisory services for enterprise software companies, today announced that the firm has received a strategic investment from AEA Growth.

AMS strengthens position in India with FlexAbility acquisition

FlexAbility, renamed FlexAbility by AMS, will operate within the AMS global platform. FlexAbility CEO Vinod Subramanian will continue to lead its management team and the company’s next phase of growth.

Berry Recruitment Group Buys First Recruitment Services

South England-based Berry Recruitment Group (BRG) has acquired First Recruitment Services (FRS).

People 2.0 acquires Brookson Group

UK-based provider of support services to independent contractors joins global business

ZRG Acquires London-based Executive Search Firm Walter James

ZRG, a rapidly growing global talent advisory firm, today announced their acquisition of London-based executive search firm Walter James.

People in to Acquire Accounting Recruitment Firm Perigon Group

Australia-based staffing firm PeopleIn Limited, formerly known as People Infrastructure, announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in accounting recruitment firm Perigon Group Pty Ltd.

Outsourcing Firm Hinduja Global Solutions Acquiring Diversify Offshore Staffing

Business process management firm Hinduja Global Solutions ltd. (HGS:NSI) announced Sunday it is acquiring a 100% state in Diversify Offshore Staffing Solutions Pty. Ltd., a Brisbane-based provider of outsourcing and offshoring services in the Philippines.

Acacium Group Acquires Favorite Healthcare Staffing

Favorite Healthcare Staffing, the eighth-largest US healthcare staffing firm, was acquired by Acacium Group, a healthcare recruitment firm based in London.

The Access Group Acquires Vincere

The Access Group, which owns a number of business management software brands, announced today that it acquired Vincere, a recruitment operating system purpose-built for recruitment and staffing agencies.