Chairman's wife sells Hiscox shares

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

The wife of specialist insurance firm Hiscox's chairman Robert Hiscox has pocketed more than £80,000 from the sale of shares in the company.

Julia Hiscox offloaded 20,000 at 411p a time. The announcement of the sale comes the week after the Bermuda-based company said Robert Hiscox sold 56,398 shares at just over 410.5p a time. Both sales were made on 3 May.

Hiscox has been hit hard by catastrophes in Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

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

The company, whose specialist areas include the art market, said claims estimates for the 2011 New Zealand earthquake and Queensland, Australia floods remained unchanged at £60m and £15m respectively.

This estimate is based on an insured market loss of US$10 billion for the New Zealand Earthquake and US$2.4bn for the floods in Queensland.

Hicox remains uncertain over costs resulting from the Japanese earthquake but estimates that based on an insured market loss of approximately US$24bn, it could incur net claims of between $60 million and $150m.

Robert Hiscox joined the company, which was founded by his father Ralph, in 1965. He has been chairman of the main holding company since 1973.

Top Director Buys

Symphony International Holdings Ltd. (SIHL) Director name: Mr Anil ThadaniAmount purchased: 300,000 @ $0.79 Value: $237,000

Symphony International Holdings Ltd. (SIHL) Director name: Mr Anil ThadaniAmount purchased: 300,000 @ $0.77 Value: $229,740

Paragon Diamonds (PRG) Director name: Mr Francesco (Frank) ScolaroAmount purchased: 250,000 @ 34.50p Value: £86,250

Meggitt (MGGT) Director name: Mr Paul HeidenAmount purchased: 5,500 @ 355.45p Value: £19,550

Rentokil Initial (RTO) Director name: Mr Jeremy TownsendAmount purchased: 20,000 @ 94.79p Value: £18,958

Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd. (CFU) Director name: Mr Jeff HardingAmount purchased: 150,000 @ 7.52p Value: £11,280

Associated British Foods (ABF) Director name: Mr Javier FerranAmount purchased: 1,000 @ 1,013.56p Value: £10,136

Top Director Sells

Director name: Mrs Julia Hiscox (HSX)Amount sold: 20,000 @ 4,11p Value: £82,200