Pearson plc acquired a provider of hiring assessments, while Protiviti acquired a digital marketing firm and ZRG announced an investment.

Pearson plc

Global publishing firm Pearson plc acquired Personnel Decisions Research Institutes, a provider of workforce assessment solutions to the US federal government. PDRI, founded in 1975, is based in Arlington, Virginia.

The consideration for PDRI represents an enterprise value of $190 million, and Pearson will fund the acquisition through existing cash and available liquidity. The deal is expected to close in the first half of next year.

PDRI had revenue of $33 million in 2021. It is being acquired from the SHL Group.

Protiviti

Protiviti, a global consulting firm and a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE: RHI), acquired R2integrated, a digital marketing firm based in Baltimore.

R2integrated’s 75 employees will join Protiviti, with R3Integrated’s chief digital officer Michael Paige and chief commercial officer Chris Hessler joining as managing directors.

Terms of the transaction were not announced.

ZRG

ZRG, the eighth-largest US executive search firm, announced a secondary equity investment from a consortium of new and existing institutional investors led by Timber Bay Partners, an independent private equity firm based in Ohio.

ZRG noted the new capital will accelerate its acquisition and hiring efforts as it continues to build out a full suite of offerings to help clients solve people problems.

“We see tremendous opportunity to acquire great businesses in the recruiting and talent advisory areas that will augment our organic growth across all of our business lines,” said Larry Hartmann, CEO of ZRG. “The new equity capital and expanded credit facility provide ample dry powder for our organic and acquisition growth plans.”

The new equity round includes increased support from existing investors and several new institutions. RFE will manage the new equity consortium and maintain a control equity position, according to ZRG.