Yahoo has announced that it will relocate its European head office from the United Kingdom to Switzerland. Yahoo plans to make the move to the shores of Lake Geneva within 18 months.

According to AP, Swiss media reported that Yahoo will benefit from a special tax break by moving to Switzerland.

The total number of employee’s affected by the move was not clear (5% is a figure quoted) with other reports saying that 70 employees in management roles will be told to relocate or lose their jobs.

Yahoo follows companies including EA and Cisco Systems that have relocated European Operations to Switzerland in recent times. The move would indicate business as usual for Yahoo despite Microsoft’s hostile takeover bid and rumored negotiations with other possible merger or acquisition partners.