- Next CEO sells £12.4 million shares
- Mobico director buys €98.325 shares
- Canal+ director snaps up 40,000 shares
Simon Wolfson, CEO of Next (NXT) has sold 100,000 shares at £123.62 for a total value of £12.4 million on 9 May.
Wolfson’s sale comes after the FTSE 100 clothing colossus reported strong first quarter sales - £55 million ahead of the company’s previous guidance.
There could be an element of profit-taking with Wolfson’s move as year-to-date Next’s shares have gained 24%, or it could be a sign of caution due to the company’s outlook for second half sales.
In its latest trading update, the company said the ‘full effects of this April’s National Insurance increases will begin to filter through to the wider economy in the second half.’
MOBICO DIRECTOR BUYS €98,325 SHARES
Francisco Iglesias, group COO (chief operating officer) and CEO (chief executive officer) of Spanish subsidiary ALSA, of Birmingham-based public transport operator Mobico (MCG) has bought 246,750 shares at €0.40 for a total value of €98,355 on 29 April.
Iglesias’ purchase comes after a slew of mixed news which has seen shares fall 62% year-to-date.
The COO could be taking advantage of a heavily discounted share price.
At the end of April, the company announced the sale of its North America school bus business to Squared Capital for $608 million which was seen at the time as a ‘significant milestone’ and a move which would strengthen its balance sheet.
The company also reported a 11.3% rise in annual adjusted operating profit to £187.7 million in line with market guidance.
Finally, Mobico announced that CEO Ignacio Garat was stepping down with ‘immediate effect’ on 29 April.
Phil White, chair designate will be taking on the role of executive chair for Mobico on an interim basis.
CANAL+ DIRECTOR BUYS 40,000 SHARES
Robert Bakish, non-executive director of Canal+ (CAN) has bought 40,000 shares at 168p for a total value of £67,200 on 7 May.
Bakish’s purchase comes several weeks after the French media group posted an in line first quarter trading update.
The company reported a 1.5% rise in group revenue to €1.54 billion and an 8.2% rise in content production, distribution, and other revenue thanks to box office hits such as Paddington in Peru, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy and We Live in Time.
Bakish could be pleased with the French media group’s progress since IPO last December.
