Rockhopper directors add to holdings

Shares in Falkland Islands oil and gas explorer Rockhopper Exploration have risen by 779% over the past year but two directors still believe they are worth buying.

Executive chairman Dr Pierre Jungels and non-executive director Chris Walton have both added to their shareholdings the week after Rockhopper confirmed its oil discovery at its Sea Lion prospect was a medium grade crude.

Dr Jungels invested £69,700 in 23,350 shares at 298.5p each, which takes his shareholding to 889,424 shares. This is the first purchase by Jungels since he bought 150,000 shares at 32p each in June 2009.

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

Sign up

Walton bought a further 8,300 shares at 297.625p each. His investment of £24,702 takes his shareholding to 32,109 shares. This is the first time that Walton has bought shares in more than two years.

A sample from the Sea Lion 14/10-2 oil discovery well in the North Falkland Basin was tested under reservoir conditions and found to be a medium grade crude. "These positive results, when combined with our knowledge of reservoir quality from logging data, give us further comfort that a flow test of the Sea Lion well will confirm a mobile crude oil," Sam Moody, Rockhopper's managing director, commented on the day of the announcement.

"The wax content is typical for a lacustrine sourced crude oil and significantly lower than many other producing oilfields worldwide. Furthermore the viscosity, gas oil ratio, FVF and sulphur are all better than we anticipated," he added.

Last month, Rockhopper upgraded its estimate of recoverable reserves at the Sea Lion prospect in the North Falkland Basin from 170m barrels to 242m barrels, adding it has "significant upside potential".

Dr Jungels was chief executive of Enterprise Oil between 1996 and 2001. Walton is a former finance director of easyJet.

Top Director Buys

TVC Holdings (TVCH) Director name: Mr Shane Reihill Amount purchased: 727,475 @ 45.79p Value: £333,111

Rockhopper Exploration (RKH) Director name: Dr Pierre H Jungels Amount purchased: 23,350 @ 298.50p Value: £69,700

Rockhopper Exploration (RKH) Director name: Mr J C Walton Amount purchased: 8,300 @ 297.62p Value: £24,702

Penna Consulting (PNA) Director name: Sir James Harvie-Watt Amount purchased: 17,000 @ 115.00p Value: £19,550

Mid Wynd International Inv Trust (MWY) Director name: Mr Russell Napier Amount purchased: 1,400 @ 963.50p Value: £13,489

MS International (MSI) Director name: Mr Michael J Bell Amount purchased: 10,000 @ 125.00p Value: £12,500

Top Director Sells

VT Group (VTG) Director name: Mr Paul J Lester Amount sold: 262,081 @ 792.00p Value: £2,075,682

VT Group (VTG) Director name: Mr Paul J Lester Amount sold: 83,942 @ 795.00p Value: £667,339

VT Group (VTG) Director name: Mr Philip Harrison Amount sold: 49,378 @ 795.00p Value: £392,555

VT Group (VTG) Director name: Mr Chris J Cundy Amount sold: 42,933 @ 795.00p Value: £341,317

General Electric (GEC) Director name: Mr John G. Rice Amount sold: 21,575 @ € 11.30 Value: € 243,703

General Electric (GEC) Director name: Mr Michael A. Neal Amount sold: 21,475 @ € 11.30 Value: € 242,573

VT Group (VTG) Director name: Mr Matthew Jowett Amount sold: 29,208 @ 795.00p Value: £232,204

VT Group (VTG) Director name: Mr Paul J Lester Amount sold: 20,180 @ 795.00p Value: £160,431

VT Group (VTG) Director name: Mr Chris J Cundy Amount sold: 19,481 @ 795.00p Value: £154,874

VT Group (VTG) Director name: Mr Chris J Cundy Amount sold: 12,708 @ 792.00p Value: £100,647