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Staffing firm Adecco has announced its acquisition of Knightbridge Human Capital Solutions, a strategic move to bolster its expertise in talent solutions and services.

Acquisition Announcement: Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions has been acquired by our company.

Recruitment firm Adecco confirms purchase of Knightbridge Human Capital Solutions
Recruitment firm Adecco confirms purchase of Knightbridge Human Capital Solutions

Staffing firm Adecco has announced its acquisition of Knightbridge Human Capital Solutions, a strategic move to bolster its expertise in talent solutions and services.

In a strategic move to strengthen its presence in North America and enhance its service capabilities, the world's leading provider of HR solutions, a Fortune Global 500 company, has announced the acquisition of Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions for an enterprise value of CAD 80 million.

Based in Canada, Knightsbridge is a leading human capital solutions firm that specializes in Talent & Leadership Development, Career Management & Transition, and Executive Search & Recruitment. Founded in 2001, the company has built a strong reputation across diverse industries, including financial services, energy, and professional services.

David Shaw, Founder and CEO of Knightsbridge, expressed his excitement about the partnership, praising Lee Hecht Harrison's complementary expertise and cultural fit. The acquisition will see Knightsbridge combined with Lee Hecht Harrison, the global leader in career transition and talent mobility.

The integration of Knightsbridge into Lee Hecht Harrison presents significant synergy potential and benefits. One of the key advantages is the expanded market reach and client base. Knightsbridge's strong relationships with major clients such as the Ontario Pension Board and Ontario Energy Board will enhance business development opportunities, broadening the geographical reach into Canada.

The combination also brings complementary expertise, with Knightsbridge's 20 years of experience in executive search, sales, and business development across North America and Asia Pacific complementing Lee Hecht Harrison's existing services in career transition, leadership development, and talent advisory. This creates a more comprehensive portfolio covering the entire talent lifecycle from recruitment to career transformation.

The acquisition will also strengthen Leadership & Talent Capability, allowing Lee Hecht Harrison to tap into Knightsbridge's specialized recruitment expertise for high-level roles such as CEOs and CIOs, improving its ability to deliver executive search and leadership consulting solutions with deeper domain knowledge and enhanced candidate sourcing capabilities.

Cross-selling and integrated service offerings will also be a significant benefit, with the combination of Lee Hecht Harrison's global scale and career transition services with Knightsbridge's executive search capabilities creating opportunities for cross-selling to existing clients on both sides, providing a one-stop-shop for workforce transformation solutions.

The acquisition will be financed with the group's existing financial resources and is expected to be EVA-enhancing in the second year after closing. Peter Alcide, President of Lee Hecht Harrison, stated that the combination will benefit clients in Canada and around the world.

With over 31,000 FTE employees and around 5,100 branches in over 60 countries and territories, the group connects over 650,000 associates with clients every day. The acquisition establishes Lee Hecht Harrison as the market leader for Human Capital Solutions in Canada and reinforces its leadership position in key markets globally.

The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in Q2 2015. Our S.A., registered in Switzerland and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ADEN), looks forward to welcoming Knightsbridge to the group.

  1. The acquisition of Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions by a Fortune Global 500 company, a world leader in HR solutions, is designed to boost their presence in North America and enhance service capabilities.
  2. Knightsbridge, based in Canada, is a firm specializing in Talent & Leadership Development, Career Management & Transition, and Executive Search & Recruitment, with a strong reputation across finance, energy, and professional services.
  3. Upon the acquisition, Knightsbridge will be combined with Lee Hecht Harrison, a global leader in career transition and talent mobility, creating a more comprehensive portfolio covering the entire talent lifecycle from recruitment to career transformation.
  4. The integration of Knightsbridge will strengthen Leadership & Talent Capability, allowing Lee Hecht Harrison to deliver executive search and leadership consulting solutions with deeper domain knowledge and enhanced candidate sourcing capabilities.
  5. Cross-selling and integrated service offerings will be a significant benefit, creating opportunities for a one-stop-shop for workforce transformation solutions by blending Lee Hecht Harrison's global scale and career transition services with Knightsbridge's executive search capabilities.
  6. The acquisition is expected to be financially beneficial, with funding coming from the group's existing resources, and is predicted to be EVA-enhancing in the second year following closure.

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