Manpower Inc. Acquires Vitae in the Netherlands

Manpower Inc., announced today that it has acquired Vitae, a leading professional placement firm in the Netherlands. Vitae, which has offices in 10 locations, will initially operate independently under its own brand, affiliated with Manpower Professional within Manpower Netherlands. Vitaeís current directors will remain active in the company.

This acquisition of Vitae is part of our ongoing strategy to broaden our portfolio of recruitment services within our Manpower Professional brand to provide our clients with all of the talent they need, particularly the technology and finance professionals that are currently in high demand,î said Jeffrey A. Joerres, Manpower Inc. Chairman and CEO.

Established in 1986, Vitae offers permanent placement for approximately 4,000 candidates per year in 12 different specialist fields. Vitae has a strong reputation for identifying effective solutions specialized in reaching and retaining professionals, and for continually nurturing the professional and personal development of candidates.

ìOver the next decade, the most important corporate resource is talent, and itís also the resource in shortest supply. In tomorrowís economy, the aging population will only increase the competition for qualified candidates. Individuals will change jobs more often, forcing businesses to find innovative ways to retain key people. Manpower is committed to helping employers in the Netherlands meet this need. The acquisition of Vitae aligns with our strategy to further strengthen our professional placement segment,î said Hans Leentjes, Managing Director of Manpower Netherlands.

According to Stef Hinfelaar, Director of Vitae, the acquisition by Manpower is not only a logical, but also a desired step. ìIn the last few years we have invested greatly in our brand and in our people. We are very pleased that this union gives us the chance to realize future growth scenarios while still maintaining our identity. For us, that is a compelling prospect.î

The acquisition of Vitae by Manpower Netherlands will be submitted to the Netherlands Competition Authority (Nederlandse Mededingingsautoriteit, NMa) for approval.