Wall Street Journal (12/22/15) Peter Landers

Japanese staffing company Recruit Holdings Co. said Tuesday it planned to buy a Dutch peer, USG People NV, for €1.42 billion ($1.55 billion), in the latest example of Japanese companies looking abroad for growth. “Recruit’s midterm vision is to become the world leader in human resources by around 2020, in terms of number of positions filled. To achieve this, we are seeking to grow our business platforms in Japan and abroad organically and through acquisitions,” said Masumi Minegishi, Recruit’s chief executive. In the past five years, Recruit has bought several staffing companies in the U.S., Europe, and elsewhere. USG People ranks 12th in the world among staffing and recruitment firms, Recruit said.