Randgold CEO and CFO up their stakes

A round-up of the biggest director buys today so far.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Africa-focused gold miner Randgold Resources have both made sizeable investments in the company just two weeks after the firm's first-quarter results.

Mark Bristow, CEO, bought 13,480 ordinary shares in Randgold on May 18th at a price of $76.55 (4,840.34p) for a total of £652,478.

Bristow has held the lead role in Randgold since its incorporation when it was founded on his exploration work in West Africa. Bristow "has played a significant part in promoting the emergence of a sustainable mining industry in Africa," the company's website said.

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Friday's purchase brought his total shareholding to 737,730 ordinary shares, equal to 0.8% of it's the company's current issued share capital.

Meanwhile, Randgold's CFO Graham Shuttleworth spent £142,209 on Friday also, buying 2,938 shares at the same price as Bristow, taking his shareholding to 30,938 ordinary shares (0.03% stake). Shuttleworth has been CFO since July 2007 but has been associated with the company since its inception.

The firm revealed on May 3rd that it put in a 'robust performance' in the first quarter of 2012 in spite of the challenges it has faced in Mali, as a military coup in the country saw the stock lose around a quarter of its value in the last two months.

Compared with the first three months of 2011, the firm achieved strong growth in profits (up 126% and $104m) and production (up 19% at 165,443 ounces). However, in line with guidance, both elements were significantly down on the fourth quarter's record results, -28% and -13%, respectively.

Revenues jumped from $185.6m to $271.3m year-on-year in the first quarter, but were under the $311.5m recorded in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Top Director Buys

Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS)

Director name: Dr D Mark Bristow

Amount purchased: 13,480 @ 4,840.34p

Value: £652,478

Reckitt Benckiser Group (RB.)

Director name: Ms Liz Doherty

Amount purchased: 7,000 @ 3,391.00p

Value: £237,370

Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS)

Director name: Mr Graham Shuttleworth

Amount purchased: 2,938 @ 4,840.34p

Value: £142,209

Origo Partners (OPP)

Director name: Mr Chris Andre Rynning

Amount purchased: 204,032 @ 23.92p

Value: £48,804

Lavendon Group (LVD)

Director name: Mr Don Kenny

Amount purchased: 28,552 @ 104.49p

Value: £29,834

North Atlantic Smaller Companies Inv Trust (NAS)

Director name: Mr Christopher H B Mills

Amount purchased: 2,500 @ 950.00p

Value: £23,750

Sierra Rutile Ltd (SRX)

Director name: Mr Jan Alex Castro

Amount purchased: 35,000 @ 57.93p

Value: £20,276

Lavendon Group (LVD)

Director name: Mr John Standen

Amount purchased: 17,500 @ 103.00p

Value: £18,025

Sphere Medical Holding (SPHR)

Director name: Dr Anthony Francis Martin

Amount purchased: 20,000 @ 79.00p

Value: £15,800

Sphere Medical Holding (SPHR)

Director name: Mr Stephen H Mahle

Amount purchased: 15,000 @ 79.00p

Value: £11,850

BC