- YouGov boss transfers shares to family firm, gifts shares to children

- London Stock Exchange NED buys over £1 million of shares

- Balfour Beatty chief capitalises on positive set of results

Stephan Shakespeare, the chief executive of YouGov (YOU), the international online research and data analytics group, sold 1,563,625 shares at 950p per share on 3 April for a total consideration of £14,853,438.

The sale was from his personal holding to Shaers Limited, a family investment company owned by Shakespeare and his spouse.

In a separate transaction on 31 March, Shakespeare transferred a total of 3,344,000 shares from his personal holding to his children Anna-Elizabeth and Hillary Shakespeare.

Following these transactions, his direct holding is now 2,123,029 shares representing approximately 1.94% of the company's issued share capital.

The group reported an impressive set of results for the six months ending 31 January with pre-tax profits more than doubling to £21 million from £9.2 million.

Shakespeare said: ‘Our demand environment remains robust with increasingly sticky, long-term relationships with existing customers, and growing opportunities for multi-year contracts and trackers with new customers.

‘This sales momentum has continued into the second half of the year, giving us confidence that YouGov can achieve top-line growth for the full year in line with current market expectations.’

LSE’s Brand snaps up over £1 million shares

Martin Brand, non-executive director of London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), bought 14,301 shares in the group at £77.89 per share on 4 April for a total outlay of £1,113,839.

At the beginning of March, the group reported a strong set of full-year results with total income up 20% to £7.4 billion.

The firm also announced a 10% hike in its full-year dividend to 107p along with a new share buyback programme.

Several brokers, including Jefferies, reaffirmed their Buy rating on the stock following the results.

Balfour Beatty CEO capitalises on positive set of results

Leo Quinn, chief executive of infrastructure and construction company Balfour Beatty (BBY), sold 74,401 shares at 373p per share on 4 April netting a handy £277,516.

The sale came after the group reported a three-fold increase in annual pre-tax profit to £287 million from £87 million the previous year.

The firm’s total order book has increased 8% to £17.4 billion after it won the high-profile £1.2 billion Lower Thames Crossing contract back in January.

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Issue Date: 06 Apr 2023