His n' hers shares for Robert Walters and wife

published 16 August 2011

Robert Walters, chief executive of the recruitment company he named after himself, and his wife have together spent about £200,000 on shares in the firm. They purchased a combined total of 81,630 shares at 245p each. The transaction brings Robert Walters' total interest to 2,181,480 shares, equivalent to a 2.85% stake in the group. The company reported strong half yearly results and hiked its interim dividend with the group's stellar performance in UK, France and Australia offsetting slight weakness in New York.In a recent half year report for the period ending 30 June, the company boasted a net fee income increase of 23% to £89.1m, up from £72.3m in the year-ago period, and revenue jumped 25% to £241.6m, on a constant currency basis.The company said 74% of its net fee income now comes from outside of the UK, compared with 70% in 2010.The strong performance in Europe was underpinned by robust growth in junior clerical recruitment business in France, the company said, whereas recruitment activity in New York, which was muted in the financial services market during the first quarter, picked up in the second quarter. Walters, who used to work for rival Michael Page International, Robert Walters firm in 1985.Top Director BuysEmpyrean Energy (EME) Director name: Mr Thomas KellyAmount purchased: 10,954,911 @ 4.87p Value: £533,504North Atlantic Smaller Companies Inv Trust (NAS) Director name: Mr Christopher H B MillsAmount purchased: 40,000 @ 1,020.00p Value: £408,000Robert Walters (RWA) Director name: Mr Robert C WaltersAmount purchased: 81,630 @ 245.00p Value: £199,994Plant Impact (PIM) Director name: Dr David Jones Amount purchased: 250,000 @ 23.00p Value: £57,500Standard Life (SL.) Director name: Mr David Thomas NishAmount purchased: 25,000 @ 205.20p Value: £51,300F&C Asset Management (FCAM) Director name: Mr Edward BramsonAmount purchased: 56,884 @ 65.64p Value: £37,339ECR Minerals (ECR) Director name: Mr Stephen Clayson Amount purchased: 2,246,059 @ 1.62p Value: £36,386NCC Group (NCC) Director name: Mr Atul Patel Amount purchased: 5,000 @ 680.20p Value: £34,010Electra Private Equity (ELTA) Director name: Ms Kate Barker Amount purchased: 1,000 @ 1,515.00p Value: £15,150Greencore Group (GNC) Director name: Mr Eric Nicoli CBE Amount purchased: 17,000 @ €0.69 Value: €11,767Top Director SellsPace (PIC) Director name: Mr Stuart Andrew HallAmount sold: 81,024 @ 96.16p Value: £77,913