Shares in rude health at Advanced Medical Solutions

SHARES in woundcare products developer Advanced Medical Solutions have performed strongly so far this year.

Interest from possible suitor Consort Medical, which made two approaches to buy the company before ending discussions, and positive news on its products have seen the shares rise by more than a third since January.

AMS reported full-year profits rose from 2.7 million to 4.1m in 2009 and has said it intends to pay a dividend for the current financial year.

In March it also received clearance from US authorities for a skin adhesive used to close surgical incisions.

Despite the share price rise, chairman Geoffrey Vernon increased his family's holding last week with the purchase of 100,000 shares at 42p each. He now holds 1.03 million shares.

• Dr Wilson Totten, chief executive of Galashiels-based pharmaceutical group ProStrakan, bought 44,736 shares at 86p each. He now holds 528,284 shares.

• Michael Tobin, chief executive of IT hosting business Telecity, has increased his stake in the company with the purchase of 1,000 shares at 390p each. He now holds 712,553 shares.

• Martin Varley, chief executive of promotional products business Altitude Group, has upped his already substantial stake. He purchased 100,000 shares at 8.25p and now holds 10.7 million shares, just over 28 per cent of the company.

• Lord Puttnam, a non-executive director of interactive whiteboard specialist Promethean World, has bought 59,463 shares at 200p each. He now holds 250,000 shares.

• Alan Dunsmore, finance director at steelwork supplier Severfield-Rowen, has made his maiden purchase of shares. He bought 10,000 shares at 224p each.

• John May, a non-executive director at insolvency firm Begbies Traynor, has bought his first stake in the company with the purchase of 62,500 shares at 79p each.

• Peter Wynter-Bee, managing director of mining and recycling company ZincOx, has bought 128,000 shares at 50.25p each, taking his holding to 490,000 shares.

• Three directors at machinery manufacturer Molins have bought their first stakes in the company. Chief executive Dick Hunter and non-executive directors John Allkins and Andrew Cripps each bought 20,000 shares at 67.5p a share.

• Tony Kouzarides, a non-executive director at antibodies group Abcam, sold 5,000 shares at 1,187p each. He still retains a stake of 80,244 shares.