W-Group, an HR solutions group based in Italy, announced it has acquired Magister Group, an Italian multi-business corporation focused on HR. Magister’s four company brands: Ali Lavoro, Labor-B, Repas, and Yous are joining the W-Group.

With the acquisition, W-Group said it strengthens its growth process, based on the creation of an ecosystem of independent entities for brands and activities, but complementary in values​​and business approach.

Founded in 2021 by Federico Vione, an ex-senior executive at The Adecco Group, W-Group consists of several HR firms including Brescia-based employment agency MAW.

Magister Group was founded in 1987. In addition to HR, the company also focuses on infotainment and food.

Federico Vione, CEO of W-Group, said, “Together with Magister we will have further growth opportunities through a shared path based on our multi-brand model that preserves the identity and the autonomy of individual companies: we will not merge organizations and we will protect the culture and model that have made Ali, Labor-B and Yous success stories to help them enhance their strengths by accelerating their development.”

Andrea Lombardi, President and CEO of Magister Group, said, “In W-Group we have found the ideal partner to continue on our growth path. First of all because we are united by a perfect identity of vision on the centrality of people and, precisely for this reason, we believe in the need to develop tailor-made HR consultancy projects that enhance a strategic business model based on the organization of work.”

Lombardi continued, “We believe that this project represents an opportunity for the people who work in Ali and in the other Magister Group companies because they will become part of a company of larger size and structure, in Italy and abroad, and which has the ambition to change the world for a better job market.”

W-Group closed 2023 with €575 million in turnover (up 9% compared to 2022). With the addition of the Magister Group, W-Group stated that this will lead to an initial turnover of over €825 million with 1,400 people on staff, and significant growth prospects “thanks to the possible synergies between all the entities of the group.”

In addition to Maw, W-Group’s subsidiaries also include inJob, an international recruitment company from Verona; the Howay training company, active in the field of growth and professional development of companies and people; Gotaway, a company specialising in the outsourcing of logistics and production activities; as well as Men at Code, a digital agency. W-Executive is also part of the W-Group and specialises in the executive search sector. Winside, a company that offers services for large clients who need to receive tailored responses in the HR field is also a part of the group.

W-Group used Houlihan Lokey as M&A and financing advisor and Legance as legal advisor. Magister Group was assisted by Mediobanca as financial advisor, by GOP as legal advisor and by Ernst & Young for the financial and fiscal vendor due diligence.

Further financial details were not disclosed.