YouGov Regulatory News (YOU)

4 April 2011

YouGov plc

Interim results for the six months ended 31 January 2011

US becomes YouGov's largest region driven by successful acquisitions and good organic growth

Summary of Results

Key Financials

·; Turnover of £27.0m (2010: £21.3m) 27% higher

·; Adjusted operating profit increased 57% to £2.2m (2010: £1.4m)

·; Organic revenue growth of 8% and organic operating profit growth of 7%

·; Adjusted profit before tax improved 64% to £2.3m (2010: £1.4m)

·; Adjusted earnings per share doubled to 2.1 p (2010:1.0p)

·; Reported profit before tax of £0.4m (2010: loss of £0.5m)

·; Middle Eastern minority shareholding bought out - accretive to EPS, 0.2p in period.

·; Balance sheet remains strong - net cash of £10.9m after making total acquisition payments of £4.8m (Balance at 31 July 2010: £15.6m)

Operational highlights

·; USA - now the largest region at 26% of Group turnover, reflecting 66% organic revenue growth and Harrison acquisition

·; Harrison (acquired in August 2010) performing well with initial revenue contribution of £3.9m and profit of £0.7m

·; UK - continuing to grow well, revenue increased by 19%

·; Scandinavia - revenue increased by 18% and trading profitably, continuing trend from second half of year ended 31 July 2010

·; Middle East - stable revenue with profits increased by 14% reflecting cost savings made in 2010

·; Germany - restructuring in progress to address continuing poor performance; online products revenue up 95%

·; BrandIndex revenue up 38% year-on-year as international client base increases

1Adjusted operating profit is defined as Group operating profit before amortisation, exceptional items and one-off costs associated with acquisition activities.

Commenting on the results, Stephan Shakespeare, Chief Executive, said:

"YouGov has grown revenue and profits during the first six months of this financial year, as expected. Harrison, our recent US acquisition, has performed very well, extending our reach into the US corporate research market and helping to make the USA our largest market by revenue. Our UK, Middle Eastern and Scandinavian businesses have also gained market share and increased profits and we expect these positive trends to continue. In Germany, the planned performance improvement programme is under way with a new CEO to be appointed soon but we recognise that it's challenging.

Innovation remains at the heart of our growth strategy. BrandIndex continues to grow its client base globally, in Germany the new online products business is performing well and in the UK, SixthSense, our new business intelligence reports business, has made a promising start. Current trading is in line with the Board's expectations and we are already benefitting from the broader range of services that we can offer our clients. This combined with our strong balance sheet, means we are well placed to continue to invest in new products as well as to open up new markets."

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YOUGOV PLC

CEO's REPORT

Introduction

In the six months to 31 January 2011, YouGov has grown well and significantly improved its profitability. This strong performance builds on the progress reported at the end of the last financial year in delivering benefits from the measures we took to make our operations more efficient and to tighten our focus on products and sales. While market conditions have improved, we are also gaining market share in the UK, USA and Scandinavia which all reported impressive revenue growth. As predicted, the USA has now become our most significant growth region and the largest contributor to Group revenues. This is through a combination of organic development and the contribution of Harrison Group, the custom research business acquired in August 2010, which is performing ahead of expectations. Our Middle East business has also increased the growth and profitability of its locally generated business offsetting the expected decline from a long term contract. We have also given considerable attention to fixing problems in our German business as reported at the last year-end. We believe that the actions already taken are strengthening the business but we do not expect Germany to contribute significantly in profit terms until the next financial year. Our Group strategy puts increasing emphasis on our core strength of delivering high-quality data and insight, and further developing the scope and relevance of real-time research. At all levels throughout the Group, we are strengthening the foundation for continued growth. BrandIndex, our flagship brand intelligence service, has continued to win new customers in all our markets and its revenue has grown by 38% compared to the six months ended 31 January 2010. We are currently developing significant enhancements that will make it even easier for our clients to integrate BrandIndex with their day-to-day management information.

We have also begun to serve a broader range of users, through business intelligence reports that combine our primary research data with other sources and provide an informed commentary. In the UK, SixthSense which started in mid-2010 has now produced 101 reports whose scope ranges from a whole sector (such as Food and Drink) down to an in-depth study of a category (such as Baby Foods). We are also offering macro-economic data products, such as HEAT launched in October 2010, which measures consumer economic activity and confidence. This now covers the UK, USA and China (since January 2011) and is attracting buyers from new segments such as the investment community and strategic planners.

Financial Performance

Total Group revenue in the period rose by 27% to £27.0m from £21.3m in the six months to 31 January 2010. Organic revenue growth, excluding Harrison, was 8%. The USA was our highest growth region both organically, delivering 66% organic growth, and delivering total growth of 274% including Harrison. UK revenue grew by 19% and Scandinavia by 18%. Middle East revenue fell by 3% although locally generated revenue increased by 27% and German revenues fell by 12%.

Gross margins fell slightly to 76% from 77%, largely due to the USA where, as expected, the proportion of external data collection costs rose following the Harrison acquisition although it is planned to transfer much of Harrison's data collection to our own US panel over the next year.

Group operating costs, excluding amortisation and exceptional items, of £18.3m were 21% higher in this half year than the comparative period last year, with 14% due to Harrison and 7% from organic growth. The underlying growth reflected the investment made in new initiatives in the UK and USA as well as in staff needed to service growth in existing business areas. At 31 January 2011, Group staff numbers totalled 449 (full time equivalents) compared to 421 in January 2010 and 425 in July 2010. The underlying staffing increase since July 2010 is 17 (after allowing for 33 staff added with Harrison and reduction of 26 due to the disposal of Great Place to Work Germany).

Total Group adjusted operating profit, before amortisation and exceptional items, rose 57% to £2.2m compared to £1.4m in the six months ended 31 January 2010. Amortisation charges for intangible assets totalled £1.9m in the period of which £1.5m related to acquired assets and £0.4m to the Group's internally generated assets. The exceptional credit of £0.2m (2010: cost of £0.1m) included the gain of £0.5m realised on the sale of Great Place to Work Germany, a business formerly owned by our German unit and other exceptional costs.

The Group's net financial costs (including imputed interest on deferred consideration) were stable at £0.1m.

The higher operating profit led to the adjusted profit before tax of £2.3m being £0.9m higher than the comparable result of £1.4m. The statutory Group profit before tax was £0.5m compared to a loss of £0.6m in the six months ended 31 January 2010. Adjusted earnings per share more than doubled to 2.1p compared to 1.0p in the six months to 31 January 2010.

Our business has continued to be cash generative with £1.0m generated from operations (before paying interest and tax) in the six months to 31 January 2011. This represents operational cash conversion of 51% of operating profits (2010: 176%). The lower conversion rate reflects the increase of £3.0m in trade receivables since 31 July 2010 resulting from the high level of sales in the last quarter of the period. However, this seasonal trend is consistent with previous years and the Group's debtor days of 76 as at 31 January 2011 were lower than at 31 January 2010 (82 days) although 15 days higher than at 31 July 2010.

Net cash has reduced to £10.9m compared to £14.9m as at 31 January 2010. This was after expenditure incurred on investments in the period of £4.8m which included a net cash outlay of £2.4m on the acquisition of Harrison and £1.9m for the purchase of the minority interest in our Middle Eastern subsidiary. We also invested £1.0m in the continuing development of our technology platform (£0.9m) and of our panel (£0.1m).

Analysis of Adjusted Operating Profit and Earnings per Share

As in previous years, the Directors are not recommending the payment of a dividend.

1Imputed interest relates to the unwinding of discounting in respect of deferred consideration for acquisitions.

2Adjusted profit before tax is defined as Group profit before tax after adding back amortisation, share based payments, imputed interest, exceptional items and one-off costs associated with the acquisition of new entities.

3 Adjusted earnings per share is calculated based on the post-tax result derived from the adjusted profit before tax and the fully diluted number of shares.

Review of operations

UK

Our UK business has continued to build on success and deliver growth both in custom research and data products revenue. However, as planned we have continued to invest in new initiatives such as the new SixthSense reports business as well as to strengthen further our sales and business delivery teams. This has increased UK operating costs by £0.5m compared to the six months ended 31 January 2010.

Revenue growth was largely driven by the Consumer, Technology and Telecom sector, which gained new clients such as Argos and Penguin Books as well as launching more syndicated products. These include the Tablet tracker, designed to follow the successful formula of the Mobile Broadband (Dongle) Tracker in becoming the leading indicator of product adoption and performance in its market. Revenue from the Financial Services and Public sectors also saw increases since the comparable period last year. Our market leading Omnibus service continued to grow with revenues 18% higher due especially to the expansion of its international services. The UK's new SixthSense reports business which provides in-depth reports on a range of sectors drawing on YouGov's primary research data as well as other specialist sources has started well and already gained over 100 clients many of which are new to YouGov.

USA

Our revenue in the USA more than tripled compared to the six months ended 31 July 2010 due both to organic growth and the acquisition of Harrison in August 2010 which added £3.9m in the period. Following the acquisition, we now have, as planned, a business with a significant presence in the corporate research market which complements our historic strength in US academic and political research. Our recent US acquisitions are all compatible with YouGov's online model which has helped to make their integration a relatively smooth process.

BrandIndex has also continued to grow well in the US with revenue up 62% from the comparable period. While corporate clients now account for 83% of our US revenue, political work remains important to us, representing 10% of US revenue in the period due to the benefit of the 2010 mid-term elections. This reflects the growing acceptance of online methods for political polling in the US which we have pioneered in contrast to commercial research for which online has long been regarded as the norm.

The major clients for our existing US business in the period included Domino's Pizza, Bloomberg and OMD. Harrison's main clients included Coca-Cola, Activision and T-Mobile.

Germany

In Germany, our aim has been to focus on the areas of long term strategic importance and establish a base for sustainable profitability. While the new online products business (including Omnibus and BrandIndex) exceeded expectations with revenues 95% up compared to the six months ended 31 January 2010, the traditional custom business has performed less well with revenue declining by 17%. This was due largely to the financial services sector, which has faced increased competition from new entrants although this was offset by growth in business-to-business and FMCG clients. The sale in December of Great Place to Work, to a buy-out team led by our German CEO, has provided the opportunity to re-assess and strengthen the management structure of our German business. At the time of writing, we expect shortly to appoint a new CEO. As previously announced, measures to improve efficiency and profitability are under way including a major re-engineering of the business processes and the scaling back of unprofitable areas of the custom research business. Our experience underlines the difficulty of integrating a business which did not fit well with our core YouGov model.

Significant clients in the period included a number of German regional savings banks, Henkel, Deutsche Bahn (German Railways) and Nokia Siemens.

Scandinavia

Following the successful turnaround in the last half of the previous year, our Scandinavian business has continued to perform well with revenue growth of 18% compared to the six months ended 31 January 2010 maintaining the return to profitability achieved in the previous half year. Our Swedish offices in particular, have been successful in winning new business in the region's largest market. In February 2011, we launched a new Swedish political opinion service led by Lars Björkman, a recognised expert in the field. Our annual syndicated study, the Nordic Food and Health Survey has also attracted a number of new clients. The business's major clients in the period included Coca-Cola, Steen & Strom, Danske Bank and Bristol Myers Squibb.

Middle East

In the Middle East, we maintained our strategy of growing the regionally generated business and improving our operating margins so as to offset the expected scaling down of a historic long term contract. Thus, overall revenues were only 3% lower than the comparable period as the locally generated business grew by 27% and operating profit increased by 14% to £0.8.m from £0.7m reflecting the benefit of the cost reduction carried out in early 2010. Our regional online data services which include Sample Only, Omnibus and BrandIndex continue to expand with revenue growth of 481% compared to the six months ended 31 January 2010. In line with YouGov's model of strong media engagement, we established a collaboration with Al-Aan TV to provide surveys for their pan-regional Arabic language TV channels. While the recent political upheaval in the region clearly makes the outlook more uncertain, we believe that in the long term it will increase the value of our ability to provide fast and accurate information on the views and attitudes of Middle Eastern citizens. Indeed, we have already published the first opinion poll on Egyptian political views following the resignation of President Mubarak. Our major clients in the region this half-year included Pepsico, Saudi Telecom and Riyadh Bank.

Panel development

We continue to invest in our online panels to increase our research capabilities, both in new geographies and specialist panels. The total panellist numbers (defined as the number of panel registrations) have increased to 2,649,000 as at 31 January 2011, an increase of 5.5% compared to 31 July 2010 and 5.2% from 31 January 2010. The online panel sizes in each hub were:

Corporate Development Activities

As previously announced, in August 2010, the Group acquired 100% of Harrison Group, a leading US market research agency for a basic purchase consideration of six times the EBITDA achieved by Harrison in the year ended 31 December 2010 ($2.4m) which amounts to a total of £9.5m ($14.3m). £4m ($6m) of this was paid on completion and the balance will be payable in instalments between 2011 and 2013, contingent upon the results achieved in 2010 and 2011. An additional payment of up to £0.8m ($1.25m) will be payable in 2013 contingent upon strong EBITDA growth targets being achieved in the calendar years 2011 and 2012.

On 31October 2010, the Group purchased the 22% shareholding that we did not already own in our Middle East business, (YouGov ME FZ LLC) from the minority shareholders. The consideration for this purchase was £1.87m which represented a discount of £1.95m compared to the book value of minority interests of £3.82m. This purchase will improve the ability of the Group to develop our Middle Eastern business as well as enhancing the earnings attributable to YouGov's shareholders.

As part of our strategy of focusing our attention in Germany on our core and strategic market research business, YouGov disposed of Great Place to Work Deutschland GmbH ("GPW Germany"), a wholly owned unit within YouGovPsychonomics AG, our German subsidiary, through a management buy-out led by the CEO of YouGovPsychonomics and the CEO of GPW Germany. The sale was completed on 31 December 2010 and resulted in a net surplus over book value of £500,000 which has been treated as an exceptional credit.

On 24 November 2010, the Group invested £0.5m in return for a shareholding of 25% in Co-Editor Limited, of which Doughty Media 2 Limited, a company controlled by Stephan Shakespeare, owns 75%. Co-Editor has developed software and expertise in the field of news and content aggregation which will be provided exclusively to YouGov for the purpose of providing dedicated content and activities for members of YouGov's online panels. Co-Editor's main business objective is to exploit its IPR in markets and activities outside market research. YouGov also has options to acquire additional shares which will enable it to benefit from increases in Co-Editor's equity value resulting from its business development.

Current trading and outlook

YouGov has, as expected, delivered a good performance in the first half of the current financial year. In the second half of the year we expect to maintain the positive trends seen in our US, UK, Scandinavia and Middle East businesses. However, the turnaround of our German business continues to pose challenges in the short term, although we believe that the measures already in progress will ultimately prove successful. Overall, the Group is currently trading in line with the Board's expectations.

Our business is already benefitting from the broader range of our research capabilities, especially in the US, and from the revenue growth generated by our data products. Our continuing strong balance sheet leaves us well placed to maintain investment in new product development as well as in the expansion of our existing business activities.

Stephan Shakespeare

Chief Executive Officer

4 April 2011

YOUGOV PLC

STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITES

The directors confirm that, to the best of their knowledge, these consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 as adopted by the European Union. The interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.7R and DTR 4.2.8R, namely:

·; an indication of important events that have occurred during the first six months of the financial year and their impact on the condensed set of financial statements , and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the financial year; and 

·; material related-party transactions in the first six months of the financial year and any material changes in the related party transactions described in the last Annual Report.

The directors of YouGov plc are listed in the YouGov plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 July 2010.

By order of the Board:

Stephan ShakespeareChief Executive Officer

Alan NewmanChief Financial Officer

4 April 2011

YOUGOV PLC

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

YOUGOV PLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

YOUGOV PLC

consolidated balance sheet

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of this financial information.

Alan Newman

Chief Financial Officer

4 April 2011

YOUGOV PLC

consolidated statement of changes in equity

YOUGOV PLC

consolidated cash flow statement

YOUGOV plc

notes to the consolidated interim financial statements

1 GENERAL INFORMATION

YouGov plc and subsidiaries' ('the Group') principal activity is the provision of market research. The market research industry is subject to seasonal fluctuations, with peak demand in the second half of the group's financial year. For the six months to 31 January 2011 the level of sales represented 65% of the annual level of sales for the year ended 31 July 2010.

YouGov plc is the Group's ultimate parent company. It is incorporated and domiciled in Great Britain. The address of YouGov plc's registered office is 50 Featherstone Street, London, EC1Y 8RT. YouGov plc's shares are listed on the Alternative Investment Market.

YouGov plc's consolidated interim financial statements are presented in pounds sterling (£), which is also the functional currency of the parent company.

These condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been approved for issue by the board of directors on 4 April 2011.

This consolidated interim financial information for the six months ended 31 January 2011 does not comprise statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006.Statutory accounts for the year ended 31 January 2010 were approved by the Board on 12 April 2010and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors on thoseaccounts was unqualified, did not contain an emphasis of matter paragraph and did not containany statement under section 498 of the Companies Act 2006. The consolidated financial statements of the group for the year ended 31 July 2010 are available from the company's registered office or website (www.yougov.com).

This consolidated interim financial information is unaudited and not reviewed.

2 FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this interim report are forward looking. Although the group believes that the expectations reflected in these forward looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct. As these statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward looking statements.

We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

3 BASIS OF PREPARATION

This consolidated interim report for the six months ended 31 January 2011 has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 'Interim financial reporting' as adopted by the European Union. The consolidated interim report should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2010, which has been prepared in accordance with IFRS's as adopted by the European Union.

The financial information contained in the consolidated interim report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in the Companies Act 2006. The figures for the year ended 31 July 2010 have been extracted from the statutory financial statements which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The auditors' report on those financial statements was unqualified and did not contain a statement made under Section 498 (3) of the Companies Act 2006.

Accounting policies

The accounting policies adopted are consistent with those of the annual financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2010.

Accounting estimates and judgementsThe preparation of interim financial information requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amount of income, expense, assets and liabilities. The significant estimates and judgements made by management were consistent with those applied to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2010.Risks and uncertaintiesThe principal strategic level risks and uncertainties affecting the group remain those set out in the 2010 Annual Report.The chairman's statement and chief executive's review in this interim report include comments onthe outlook for the remaining six months of the financial year.

4 SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS

Management has determined the operating segments based on the reports reviewed by the board of directors. The board of directors review information based on geographic lines - UK, Middle East and North Africa, Germany and Central Europe, Scandinavia and Northern Europe, and North America. These divisions are the basis on which the group reports its segmental information. The group only undertakes one class of business, that of market research.

5 EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS

Restructuring costs in prior year arose due to the termination of operations of certain divisions within the Scandinavian business.

Acquisition costs arose due to the purchase of Harrison in 2010. Details of the sale of Great Place to Work are further disclosed in note 11 b). The investments written off relate to joint ventures in Greece, Russia and Chile which have now been wound up.

6 DIVIDEND

No dividend was paid or proposed during the period (2010: £nil).

 7 TAXATION

8 EARNINGS PER SHARE

8 EARNINGS PER SHARE- CONTINUED

9 GOODWILL, INTANGIBLE ASSETS, PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

In accordance with the group's accounting policy, the carrying values of goodwill and other intangible assets are reviewed annually for impairment. The last full annual impairment review was undertaken as at 31 July 2010. IAS 36 also requires carrying values to be reviewed at each balance sheet date and a full impairment review to be undertaken should any information come to light which may indicate an impairment. An impairment review was performed by Management as at 31 January 2011 and this supported the carrying value of goodwill.

The review assessed whether the carrying value of goodwill was supported by the net present value of future cash flows derived from assets using an initial projection period of 4 years (inclusive of the current financial year) for each cash generating unit. After the initial projection period (years 5 - 10 inclusive) growth rates of 5% (12% for YouGovPolimetrix) which is conservative both in comparison with historical performance (across all geographies) and annual growth rates in the internet based market research sector. Annual growth rates of 3% have been assumed in perpetuity beyond year 10.

The weighted average cost of capital used by the group to discount the future cash flows to their present value is 10% (2010: 10%).

10 SHARE CAPITAL

The increase in share capital represents issue of share options of 3,486.

11 BUSINESS COMBINATION AND DISPOSALS

(a) Acquisition of Harrison Group

The acquisition of Harrison Group, one of the USA's leading market and strategic research firms was completed on 16 August 2010. The basic purchase consideration payable is six times the EBITDA achieved by Harrison in the year ended 31 December 2010 of $2.39m (£1.5m) amounting to $14.3m (£9.1m). $6m (£3.8m) of this was paid on completion and the balance will be payable in instalments between 2011 and 2013, contingent upon the results achieved in 2010 and 2011. An additional payment of up to $0.8m (£0.5m) will be payable in 2013 contingent upon strong EBITDA growth targets being achieved in the calendar years 2011 and 2012. An instalment of £1.9m ($3m) is due to be paid in April 2011.

The instalments due between 2011 and 2013 (including the incentive payment) have been discounted to a net present value of $8.5m (£5.4m) resulting in a finance charge of $0.6m (£0.4m) taken to the income statement over the earn-out period.

Professional fees of £0.5m have been incurred to date relating to the Harrison acquisition. In accordance with IFRS 3 (revised) all professional fees have been expensed in the period that they have been incurred. £0.3m was recognised in financial year 2009/10 and £0.2m in the six months to January 2011.