Next executives add to stakes

All four of the Next executive directors have bought shares as part of the retailer's share matching plan.

Chief executive Simon Wolfson has invested £335,000 by acquiring 16,439 shares at 2038.45p a share. Wolfson owns 1.64m shares, which is 0.91% of Next.

Group product director Christo Angelides has bought 11,929 shares for a total of £243,000, while finance director David Keens has invested 10,975 shares for £224,000 and group property director Andrew Varley has spent £166,000 on 8,160 shares. All these shares were bought for 2038.45p each.

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Next reported a strong set of figures for the year to January 2011. Pre-tax profit was 9% higher at £551m. Cash generation was strong.

However, Next's sales and profit growth expectations for the year ahead point to pre-tax profit being -5% to +5% different to 2010-11.

Top Director Buys

Polo Resources Ltd. (DI) (POL) Director name: Mr Stephen R DattelsAmount purchased: 12,000,000 @ 5.25p Value: £630,000

Next (NXT) Director name: Mr Simon A WolfsonAmount purchased: 16,439 @ 2,038.45p Value: £335,101

Next (NXT) Director name: Mr C E AngelidesAmount purchased: 11,929 @ 2,038.45p Value: £243,167

Next (NXT) Director name: Mr David W KeensAmount purchased: 10,975 @ 2,038.45p Value: £223,720

Next (NXT) Director name: Mr Andrew John VarleyAmount purchased: 8,160 @ 2,038.45p Value: £166,338

Wolseley (WOS) Director name: Mr John W MartinAmount purchased: 4,726 @ 2,137.00p Value: £100,995

F&C Asset Management (FCAM) Director name: Mr Edward BramsonAmount purchased: 120,000 @ 76.94p Value: £92,328

Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) Director name: Mr Tim TookeyAmount purchased: 52,896 @ 60.48p Value: £31,992

Norseman Gold (NGL) Director name: Mr Barry CahillAmount purchased: 30,000 @ 45.48p Value: £13,644

Top Director Sells