The market research firm, co-founded by former chancellor Nadhim Zahavi, said it was considering a move after expanding its business through a recent takeover Photo : Stephan Russo/Pennsylvania.
British opinion polling service YouGov has threatened to move its listing to New York due to the exodus of companies from the London Stock Exchange.
The market research firm was founded by Stephen Shakespeare and former chancellor Nadhim Zahavi said they were considering relocating after expanding their business through a recent takeover.
Mr Shakespeare told the Financial Times: “I think markets are better supporting companies like ours there.”
He said YouGov could either move its primary listing to New York or open a secondary listing.
A company representative said that the board of directors is considering all options, but added: “A decision has not yet been made, and a listing in the United States is not considered in the near future.”
Any decision to relist would deal another blow to the London Stock Exchange, which is trying to stop the flow of companies moving to the US.
2006 The UK is less attractive than the rest of the G7.
Cambridge-based chip maker Arm achieves a record $70bn (£55bn) valuation on a New York listing after rejecting requests from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for a London listing.
Plumbing supplier Ferguson moved its main listing to the US last year, and CRH, the world's largest building materials supplier, is planning a similar move.
Flutter, the gambling group behind Paddy Power and Betfair, is preparing an additional promotion in New York.
On Monday, FTSE 250 listed company Plus500 confirmed that it is considering listing its shares in the US.
CEO David Zruia said her valuation would be “much higher” if the business traded in New York and that he would consider a dual listing when market conditions improve.
Mr Zruia said, that British investors tend to view Plus500 as a financial services company while its strengths lie in technology, meaning it should be valued more highly. “In the UK, it is perceived as a financial services provider, which contributes to a lower valuation, which should not be,” he said.
An Israeli company listed in the UK for ten years has a growing US subsidiary.
It comes as private equity giant CVC Capital Partners is developing plans for a potential listing on the Amsterdam stock exchange.
1504 UK invests far more money abroad than attracts
The company, which owns manufacturer PG Tips and owns stakes in Six Nations rugby and Formula One, has shelved plans in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine but is known to be considering a listing before the end of the year. CVC declined to comment.
While YouGov is known for its policy polls in the UK, the company also surveys consumer opinion and behavior in a number of sectors and considers the US its largest market.
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Mr. Shakespeare said the US is a “natural base” for YouGov as the country “spends the most on marketing data; they are the smartest.”
The YouGov executive added that while the company was previously too small to consider a U.S. listing, it is now weighing the move after buying the consumer data division from German market research group GfK closed a €315 million deal earlier this year.He said: “Until recently, we were too small. With a recent acquisition, our company grew by 50% overnight. I feel like we could go into a bigger market, [which] would be helpful.”
Mr. Shakespeare moved into the YouGov chairman role this month, handing over the CEO job to former Meta CEO Steve Hatch. Shakespeare and his family own about 8% of YouGov, valued at just over £1bn.
Mr Zahavi, co-founder of YouGov in 2000, no longer owns shares in the company.
< p>Earlier this year, he was sacked as chairman of the Conservative Party over a dispute over a tax on the sale of around £27m of YouGov shares held by an offshore group linked to his family.
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