YouGov has insisted it is not abandoning London after its boss suggested it could be eyeing a US listing.
Co-founder and chairman Stephan Shakespeare sparked speculation it was about to jump ship by saying the US felt like a ‘natural base’ for the company.
He suggested the polling firm, which he set up in 2000 with ex-Conservative Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi, was big enough to float across the Atlantic after it acquired German market research group GfK for £271million earlier this year.
American dreams: YouGov chairman Stephan Shakespeare (pictured) sparked speculation the firm was about to jump ship by saying the US felt like a ‘natural base’ for the company
He told the Financial Times: ‘The US spends the most on marketing data. They are the most savvy. It is a natural base.’
Shakespeare also said that US markets were better at supporting companies than the UK was. But the company insisted a move is not on the cards.
A spokesman for YouGov said: ‘The board routinely considers all its listing options, including a premium listing on the LSE. No decision has been made and a US listing is not being considered in the near term.’
YouGov’s departure from the London market would be another blow to the City.
