Kate Swann, Chief Executive of WH Smith, the books and stationary retailer, has sold a sizeable chunk of her stake in the firm to raise capital to buy herself more property, according to a company spokesperson.
Swann, who is widely held responsible for turning the company around since her arrival in 2003, sold off 425,000 shares at 550.74p each, for a total of £2.34m.
The sale equates to 40% of her previously owned stake. She now holds 0.47% of the firm's shares and remains the largest single shareholder.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Get 6 issues free
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
The chain has done well in the past year, gaining 18% on its share price, although suffering a little of late. However, the firm most recently reported that its rate of decline has eased as sales in the final month of 2011 were not hit by fierce weather conditions like they were in 2010.
Swann said in the report that the company had put in a resilient performance in difficult trading conditions.
"Gross margin was in line with plan and costs were tightly controlled," she said.
Top Director Buys
Virgin Media Inc. (VMED)
Director name: Mr William Huff
Amount purchased: 187,500 @ 1,775.84p
Value: £3,329,700
Virgin Media Inc. (VMED)
Director name: Mr William Huff
Amount purchased: 62,500 @ 973.48p
Value: £608,425
Probability (PBTY)
Director name: Mr Mark Davies
Amount purchased: 32,894 @ 76.00p
Value: £24,999
Herald Inv Trust (HRI)
Director name: Mr Stewart Newton
Amount purchased: 5,000 @ 490.50p
Value: £24,525
Cranswick (CWK)
Director name: Mr Steven Esom
Amount purchased: 1,441 @ 793.00p
Value: £11,427
Top Director Sells
WH Smith (SMWH)
Director name: Ms Kate Swann
Amount sold: 425,000 @ 550.74p
Value: £2,340,645
Virgin Media Inc. (VMED)
Director name: Mr William Huff
Amount sold: 44,734 @ 1,922.15p
Value: £859,855
Babcock International Group (BAB)
Director name: Mr William (Bill) Tame
Amount sold: 60,531 @ 741.30p
Value: £448,716
Cranswick (CWK)
Director name: Mr Martin T P Davey
Amount sold: 25,000 @ 790.00p
Value: £197,500
Cranswick (CWK)
Director name: Mr Bernard Hoggarth
Amount sold: 25,000 @ 790.00p
Value: £197,500
Cranswick (CWK)
Director name: Mr Adam Couch
Amount sold: 25,000 @ 790.00p
Value: £197,500
Euromoney Institutional Investor (ERM)
Director name: Mr Peter Richard Ensor
Amount sold: 5,133 @ 685.00p
Value: £35,161
Euromoney Institutional Investor (ERM)
Director name: Mr Colin Robert Jones
Amount sold: 2,000 @ 685.00p
Value: £13,700
NR
How does the Lifetime ISA work? Key LISA rules
AJ Bell: a fine British fintech going cheap
