Mubasher: Unilever will merge its Dutch and British entities into one London-based company, according to a statement on Thursday.

The decision came two years after a failed attempt by the consumer goods giant to move its headquarters to the Netherlands.

The plan will not affect operations or employees in the two countries and the company will keep its listings on both the London and Amsterdam stock exchanges.

"We remain committed to the Netherlands and the UK and there will be no change to Unilever’s footprint in either country," Unilever’s chairman, Nils Andersen, said.

“Unifying the company’s legal structure will create greater strategic flexibility, remove complexity, and further improve governance,” Andersen added.

The board’s proposal is still subject to shareholder approval and regulatory consents.