Premier Foods director spoons up more shares

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

Bob Spooner, group operations director of Premier Foods, has served himself £13,350 worth of shares, just days after the struggling firm was given a bit of breathing space by its bankers.

The bankers have agreed to defer the company's end-of-year loan covenant tests by three months, in a move which forms part of the company's discussions about longer term refinancing of the group's debt and confirms ongoing bank support for the business.

No doubt feeling relieved at this decision, Spooner pocketed 300,000 shares at 4.45p, his second purchase this fortnight, taking his total holding to 800,000 shares.

Subscribe to MoneyWeek

Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Get 6 issues free
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/mw70aro6gl1676370748.jpg

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

Sign up

In October the company, which has lost 71% on its share price in the past year, issued a profits-warning after struggling with rising raw material costs hit third quarter results.

Speaking at the time, Investec analyst Martin Deboo said it was a question of "whether this company can survive".

Investors appear to have kept their faith in the company, however, with shares soaring 69% in the past week.

Top Director Buys

Sterling Energy (SEY)

Director name: Mr Angus MacAskill

Amount purchased: 100,000 @ 41.88p

Value: £41,880

Sterling Energy (SEY)

Director name: Mr Malcolm Hood Pattinson

Amount purchased: 50,000 @ 42.75p

Value: £21,375

Tristel (TSTL)

Director name: Mr Francisco Angel Soler

Amount purchased: 50,000 @ 39.60p

Value: £19,800

Premier Foods (PFD)

Director name: Mr Bob Spooner

Amount purchased: 300,000 @ 4.45p

Value: £13,350

Top Director Sells

Medusa Mining Ltd. (DI) (MML)

Director name: Mr Geoffrey John Davis

Amount sold: 1,000,000 @ 428.16p

Value: £4,281,600

Victoria Oil & Gas (VOG)

Director name: Mr Grant C Manheim

Amount sold: 4,800,000 @ 4.12p

Value: £197,760