Staffing company Empresaria Group has expanded its business into the Netherlands after completing a six-figure acquisition. The Crawley-based company will pay €500,000 (£342,000) for a majority stake in recruitment specialist EAR Holding.

Staffing company Empresaria Group has expanded its business into the Netherlands after completing a six-figure acquisition. The Crawley-based company will pay €500,000 (£342,000) for a majority stake in recruitment specialist EAR Holding.

Empresaria is to pay €400,000 in cash and the balance in shares. It takes a 60 per cent stake in EAR, while the other 40 per cent remains with the Dutch firm’s management.

The deal is part of Empresaria’s plan to expand its business internationally. It now has operations in 16 countries across Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific.

EAR specialises in the temporary recruitment of electricians, plumbers and painters.

In the year to December 2006, Empresaria’s pre-tax profits increased 30 per cent to £2.89 million, with sales of £75.5 million.