IN D U ST RY N EW S Gerson Relocation acquires Dijkshoorn Gerson Relocation Ltd, part of the AGM Group of Companies, has announced it has acquired the business and assets of Dijkshoorn Euromovers B.V., a FIDIaffiliated moving services provider based in the Netherlands. AGM bought Bishops Move from administrators earlier this year and Dijkshoorn becomes its first location outside the UK. It says this will allow it to expand its European service and support capabilities, and help it prepare for the UK leaving the EU on 31 December. According to the company, Gerson Relocation B.V. will provide a range of moving and relocation services out of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, handling moves to and from the EU. It will allow EU-based employers to book directly with the company. It added that current Dijkshoorn services for its clients will continue uninterrupted on a local and global basis, and that agent partners of both businesses will benefit from joint UK-EU shipment consolidation services and OA/ DA services for moving and DSP. In a joint statement, Paul Evans, AGM Group Chairman, and Russell Start, AGM Group Managing Director, said: Both Gerson Relocation and Dijkshoorn have a long history of delivering service excellence to customers and clients in their respective moving and relocation markets. Together, we will have the capabilities to provide integrated pan-European moving and relocation solutions. We look forward to welcoming Dijkshoorn to the family. Denis Zonneveld, Managing Director, Dijkshoorn, added: In the new moving and relocation environment, it is increasingly important to be part of a larger organisation. I firmly believe that Gerson Relocation is the right partner to take the company and our employees forward while protecting the legacy of the Dijkshoorn name. I look forward to being part of the future growth. Many businesses have chosen to leave London for other European locations Brexit company moves under way Financial services are among the businesses that have moved operations and staff away from the UK and into the EU as a result of Brexit. As the end of the Brexit transition phase on 31 December approaches, the Financial Reporter said that, according to EY Brexit Tracker data, more than 400 relocations to Europe had been announced by finance companies, 12 FF300 DecJan21 pp10-17 News.indd 12 with an exodus of 7,500 jobs out of London. EY stated that Dublin was the most popular destination for the relocations, with 34 financial services businesses moving there, followed by Luxembourg, Frankfurt and Paris. Bloomberg also reported that US bank JPMorgan Chase is moving approximately 200bn in assets to Frankfurt from London, making the Russell Start, AGM Group Managing Director Paul Evans, AGM Group Chairman bank one of the largest in Germany. It will move up to 200 staff from London to destinations including Frankfurt, Madrid, Milan and Paris. There is set to be inbound movement, too, however. At Unilever, 99 per cent of shareholders voted in favour of the proposal to move the companys headquarters to London, as part of plans to remove the current dual-company structure and make a single firm. The business, which owns brands from Magnum ice cream and Knorr, to Lynx and Persil, currently has its main office in Rotterdam, and employs 155,000 people around the world, including 2,500 in the Netherlands and 6,000 in the UK. Meanwhile, some British banks, including Lloyds, Halifax and Barclays, have told expat customers that they will close their accounts as the result of the restrictions that will come into force after 31 December. The British government has also announced that EU visitors will need a passport and will no longer be able to enter the country with an ID card. WW W. F I D I FOC U S . OR G 24/11/2020 11:53