UK Edition
Government prepares for Unilever picking Netherlands over UK
Unilever is expected to make a call on where it will base its headquarters within the next couple of weeks, with the Government bracing for the Dove maker to pick the Netherlands over the UK.
Boss Paul Polman earlier this month said the group was likely to complete its review into where to house its legal base by the end of the first quarter.
It is now thought that a decision is likely to come during the second week of March, during its next scheduled board meeting, although no decision has yet been taken.
Unilever declined to comment.
The review into where to house Unilever's legal base has been highly politicised, with both the UK and Dutch governments wading in to try to win over the manufacturer.
Last year, Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte staged a play for the business, offering to slash corporation tax and abolish a tax on dividends.
Meanwhile, the UK's Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on Wednesday evening confirmed that it was "in regular contact with Unilever and we will continue to work with them during this process".
It said it was working with companies to create an "environment where businesses can thrive". Unilever exports around a third of the products it makes in the UK, equal to around €1bn (£875m), and talks with the Government are also thought to centre around trade borders.
Although discussions are continuing with both sides, the Government is preparing for Unilever to pick Rotterdam over London, according to The Financial Times.
The newspaper cited an unnamed British official as saying: "It wouldn't be a great surprise if it happened."
Moving its main base to the Netherlands would mean it would not have to be registered or hold shareholder meetings in two countries, simplifying its structure.