YouGov launches hedge fund

19/05/2008 Robert Tyerman

Online market researcher YouGov, broker Numis and investment group Four Capital Partners are seeking £25 million for YouGov Alpha Fund.

Numis is leading the funding for Alpha, a ‘research-driven hedge fund’ which intends to use the fruits of YouGov’s research to give it an edge on spotting likely impending share price movements. Rich individuals, discretionary fund managers and institutions are invited to put a minimum of $100,000 (£50,000) each into the fund, which will be listed in Dublin for monthly dealings.

Stephan Shakespeare, co-founder and ‘chief innovation officer’ of AIM-listed YouGov, is a director of the fund, whose manager Chris Rodgers of Four Capital, says, ‘Our investment decisions will be driven by the data’ YouGov supplies. Praising YouGov’s ‘unrivalled online panel methodology’ and citing its recent polling success with the London mayoral elections, he maintains, ‘Our investment edge is genuine and it is sustainable.’

Recommended by Growth Company Investor at 90p two years ago, YouGov shares hit 205.5p in April 2007 now trade at 170.5p, up 1.25p this morning. That values the company at £162 million.

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