Britain's third-biggest company, Unilever, will scrap its London corporate headquarters and make Rotterdam its sole legal home in a blow to Prime Minister Theresa May's government as Brexit looms. The maker of Dove soap and Ben & Jerry's ice cream launched a review of its dual-headed structure last year after fighting off a $143-billion takeover from Kraft Heinz, triggering a battle between Britain and the Netherlands. Unilever said the choice to end 88 years of operating with two parent companies was not linked to Brexit but would simplify its structure, improve its corporate governance and help enable takeover deals. Forged by the 1930 merger of the Dutch margarine producer Margarine Unie and the British soap maker Lever Brothers, Unilever said its 7300 staff in the UK would be unaffected and it would continue to be listed in London, Amsterdam and New York. "This is not about Brexit," said CEO Paul Polman. "Unilever is in 190 countries in the world. Most of these countries are not...
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