ASOS director reduces stake

Robert Bready, the Product Director of ASOS, the online clothes retailer, has slimmed down his stake in the firm with the sale of 44,299 shares.

The transaction, which was carried out on Monday, earned Bready £724,289 and reduced his holding to 143,125 ordinary shares, equal to 0.18% of the total issued share capital.

Just over a month ago, the company posted a leap in earnings following a strong year of expansion of its International business, which more than doubled sales.

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Total retail sales grew 49% to £481.6m (2011: £324.1m), with international operations now accounting for 59% of these (2011: 43%). International retail sales surged by 103% to £283.7m during the year, while UK sales grew 7% to £197.9m. Total group revenues were up 46% to £495m (2011: £339.7m).

Profit before tax and exceptional items was up 43% on the prior year at £40.9m (2011: £28.6m), above consensus estimates of £40.1m. Profit before tax, which includes one-off costs relating to the warehouse transition, increased £14.6m to £30.3m (2011: £15.7m).

On Monday the share price fell 1.31% to 1,641p by 13:36.

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Liontrust Asset Managament (LIO)

Director name: Mr Jonathan Hughes-Morgan

Amount purchased: 250,000 @ 90.00p

Value: £225,000

Polo Resources Ltd. (DI) (POL)

Director name: Mr Neil Lindsey Herbert

Amount purchased: 2,000,000 @ 2.58p

Value: £51,600

North Atlantic Smaller Companies Inv Trust (NAS)

Director name: Mr Christopher H B Mills

Amount purchased: 5,000 @ 1,030.00p

Value: £51,500

Ultimate Finance Group (UFG)

Director name: Mr Roger McDowell

Amount purchased: 185,900 @ 12.00p

Value: £22,308

Intertek Group (ITRK)

Director name: Mr Alan J Brown

Amount purchased: 847 @ 2,563.00p

Value: £21,709

Vatukoula Gold Mines (VGM)

Director name: Mr David Karl Paxton

Amount purchased: 50,000 @ 27.00p

Value: £13,500

Ultimate Finance Group (UFG)

Director name: Mr Jeremy Coombes

Amount purchased: 85,275 @ 12.00p

Value: £10,233

Top Director Sells

ASOS (ASC)

Director name: Mr Robert Bready

Amount sold: 44,299 @ 1,635.00p

Value: £724,289

Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK)

Director name: Mr Mazen Darwazah

Amount sold: 60,000 @ 669.00p

Value: £401,400