Director Dealings: Adventis eyes best buys

Published on Saturday 14 November 2009 12:09

MARKETING and advertising group Adventis believes that the recession has thrown up interesting opportunities for acquisitions.

Earlier this month the company, which specialises in the pharmaceuticals, technology and financial services sectors, raised around 800,000 through a placing in a move analysts believe suggests it is moving on potential targets.

Adventis said it expects organic growth will resume in 2010, when the benefits of steps to cut costs will also be seen.

Shares in the group are down 30 per cent on the summer, and director dealing by two board members suggests they believe they currently offer good value.

Finance director Peter Linnell made his first purchase, buying 26,315 shares at 19p.

Chairman Aubrey Adams bought 300,000 shares at the same price and how holds 750,000 shares.

&#149 Hans Wijers, a non-executive director at oil group Shell, has bought his first holding in the firm. He purchased 5,000 shares at 1,789p in the company, which recently announced a sharp drop in third-quarter earnings after oil prices fell.

&#149 Algy Cluff, chairman and chief executive of Cluff Gold, has sold shares after exercising options in the mining company. He sold 400,000 shares bought at the option price of 20p and made a 200,000 profit. Cluff still retains a stake of more than 1.8 million shares.

&#149 Two directors at security group G4S have profited from exercising share options.

Chief executive Nick Buckles and finance director Trevor Dighton between them spent more than 1.6 million on exercising the options and sold the shares for 3.8m.

Buckles retains 1.59 million shares and Dighton still owns 1.05 million shares in the company, which last week announced strong growth in revenues in the first nine months.

&#149 Andrew Case, chief executive of shipping services company Clarkson, has sold part of his significant holding. He disposed of 200,000 shares at 8 each to cut his stake to just over 550,000 shares.

Non-executive director Paul Wogan also bought 5,000 shares at the same price last week to double his stake.

&#149 Jeff Carr, finance director at transport operator FirstGroup, has bought his maiden stake in the group. He purchased 15,000 shares at 387p.