Dutch government talks to 250 companies about Brexit

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The Dutch government announced on Saturday that it will hold talks with 250 companies on the transfer of Britain's operations to the Netherlands, with a view to its exit from the European Union, scheduled for 29 March.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs said in a report that a recruitment program had brought 42 companies or branches and 1,923 jobs in Britain to the Netherlands in 2018.

According to the report, Japanese investment bank Norinchukin, media company TVT Media, financial service providers MarketAxess and Azimo and UK marine insurer P & I Club are among the movers.

"In 2019, several companies, including Discovery and Bloomberg, have already announced their intention to invest in the Netherlands because of Brexit," the ministry said.

"In addition, the Dutch Agency for Foreign Investment is discussing with more than 250 foreign companies considering setting up in the Netherlands after Brexit."

Most of them were British, but some were American or Asian companies reconsidering their European structures.

"There are companies in the financial sector, media and advertising, life sciences, health and logistics," he said.

Businesses that have moved to the Netherlands or have indicated their intention to do so include Chicago's Cboe Global Markets, London Stock Exchange Group, Tradeweb, Panasonic and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group.

The European Medicines Agency, which is already operating from a temporary space in Amsterdam, has transferred 900 people from London to the Netherlands by the end of the year.