Admiral directors rally round

published 26 August 2011

Shares in Admiral won back some recent losses after the car insurance company announced some big director purchases.Chief operating officer David Stevens and his wife Heather bought 75,450 shares at 1,324p and now have 10.3m. Non-executive director John Sussens's wife Cheryl bought 22,000 at 1,320p and now has 22,000 shares in the company. Chairman Alastair Lyons bought 20,000 shares at 1,272p, taking his family's stake to 482,000.Shares in Admiral suffered big losses even after it said on Wednesday that turnover jumped 53% to £1.1bn from £720.5m the year before, prompting a jubilant chief executive officer Henry Engelhardt to comment that "it wasn't so long ago that we were pleased to report over £1bn turnover for a full year." Today's bout of director buying has helped firm up the share price though.Top Director BuysLookers (LOOK) Director name: Mr D C A BramallAmount purchased: 3,000,000 @ 50.50p Value: £1,515,000Admiral Group (ADM) Director name: Mr David StevensAmount purchased: 75,450 @ 1,324.00p Value: £998,958Admiral Group (ADM) Director name: Mr John SussensAmount purchased: 22,000 @ 1,320.00p Value: £290,400Admiral Group (ADM) Director name: Mr Alastair LyonsAmount purchased: 20,000 @ 1,272.00p Value: £254,400John Menzies (MNZS) Director name: Mr Paul B DollmanAmount purchased: 21,684 @ 492.00p Value: £106,685F&C Asset Management (FCAM) Director name: Mr Edward BramsonAmount purchased: 126,362 @ 66.52p Value: £84,056Banco Santander SA (BNC) Director name: Mr Francisco Luzon LopezAmount purchased: 8,265 @ 534.31p Value: £44,161Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) Director name: Mr Truett TateAmount purchased: 175,746 @ 28.45p Value: £50,000Premier Oil (PMO) Director name: Mr Michael W WeltonAmount purchased: 15,211 @ 328.70p Value: £49,999Banco Santander SA (BNC) Director name: Mr Francisco Luzon LopezAmount purchased: 8,195 @ 538.73p Value: £44,149Top Director SellsTesco (TSCO) Director name: Mr Andrew HigginsonAmount sold: 300,000 @ 371.90p Value: £1,115,700