Acquisitions boost YouGov growth
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UK-- Online researcher YouGov has reported a 39% increase in profit, with strong organic growth accelerated by acquisitions.
Preliminary full year results show the firm's revenue for the 12 months ending 31 July up 51% to £14.3m, with profit before tax at £4.1m. Earnings per share were up 35% to 4.5p.
Chairman Roger Parry said the firm had “performed extremely well”, with 63% growth in the core UK business and 39% in the Middle Eastern division.
YouGov acquired Dubai-based researcher Siraj in July 2006 and a 32% stake in US agency Polimetrix in December. Since the year end it has made three more buys: Germany's Psychonomics for £14m, Scandinavian online researcher Zapera for £5.3m, and the remaining stake in Polimetrix for £11.7m.
“Our focus is now on the integration of these businesses into our group and the development and implementation of group-wide systems and products,” Parry said.
The firm also launched joint ventures with Centaur Media and networking guru Carole Stone, and in August set up an investment division, YouGovAlpha, to take over from its dissolved JV with stockbroker Execution. Another planned JV with Australian marketing services group Photon was called off last month.
Parry said the board was looking forward to another successful year, with trading so far “in line with expectations”.
Author: Robert Bain
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