The Employment Group, a Dutch firm that owns a portfolio of specialist  staffing brands, announced that it has acquired Cottus, a technical service provider based in the Netherlands.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Cottus places technicians at the executive and secondary level in electrical engineering, installation technology and mechanical engineering with clients. The company trains the employees themselves in their own vocational schools. Currently, more than 700 technicians and professionals work via Cottus.

Following the acquisition, the Cottus vocational schools are now open to the Employment Group professionals. Cottus’ management, led by Derk Meijer and Gerrit van Buul, will remain in place.

“With the takeover of Cottus, The Employment Group is taking the next step in its ambition to become the largest specialist contractor in shortage professions within the construction and technology sector in the Netherlands," Jan-Willem Gelderblom, CEO of The Employment Group, said. “In addition to secondment and the provision of interim professionals, the company, which has 37 branches after the takeover, focuses on the deployment of specialised (professional) staff in industry, technology and construction.”

With the acquisition of Cottus, The Employment Group will now consist of five specialised staffing companies that focus on professionals, professionals in technology, the painting industry and construction. The company’s portfolio of staffing companies include Voort, Koen, Faber.schilders, Faber.bouw, and now Cottus. In 2016, when the company was acquired by private equity firm, Egeria, it had annual revenue of €165 million.