Dutch recruitment giant Randstad looks to have moved a step closer to acquiring Vedior after announcing it has increased its stake in Vedior to 15.03%.

Since December 3, 2007, Randstad has acquired a total of 26,149,000 Vedior shares through open market purchases, which have been financed from available cash and existing credit facilities.

Randstad said last week it wanted to buy Vedior in a cash-and-shares deal worth 3.3bn euros to create the world’s second largest staffing company after acquiring 10.23% of the company.

But as the intended mixed cash and share offer of €9.50 cash and 0.32759 Randstad shares per Vedior share is not applicable to the recently acquired Vedior shares, it is now anticipated that, subject to the intended offer being declared unconditional, the total number of new Randstad shares to be issued to Vedior shareholders in connection with the intended acquisition of Vedior will be lower than communicated on 3 December 3.

Randstad confirms it expects the leverage ratio (Net Debt/EBITDA) of the combined group to be below 2.0, in line with our financing policy, within 12 months after completion of the transaction.