Axis-Shield finance chief buys

Ronny Hermansen, the finance director of diagnostics firm Axis-Shield, has invested £31,000 in the company.

Hermansen has acquired 10,000 shares at 313.5p each, which takes his stake to 113,498 shares.

Axis announced a maiden dividend of 1p a share when it released its 2010 figures last week. The shares do not go ex-dividend until 11 May.

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Hermansen is a regular buyer of the shares. He bought 10,000 shares at 264p each last November, and 10,000 shares in May at 297.6p each.

Hermansen was finance director of Axis Biochemicals before its merger with Shield Diagnostics in 1999. He became group finance director in 2007.

Axis-Shield's revenue rose 5% to £101.7m in 2010, though underlying profit fell from £8.1m to £7.1m.

Trading so far in 2011 has started well and is in line with market expectations despite some "currency headwinds". The 2011 profit is expected to be around £9m.

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Kofax (KFX) Director name: Mr Greg LockAmount purchased: 49,000 @ 489.28p Value: £239,747

F&C Asset Management (FCAM) Director name: Mr Edward BramsonAmount purchased: 64,945 @ 78.80p Value: £51,177

Axis-Shield (ASD) Director name: Mr Ronny HermansenAmount purchased: 10,000 @ 313.50p Value: £31,350

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Ferrexpo (FXPO) Director name: Mr Christopher MaweAmount sold: 247,978 @ 421.00p Value: £1,043,987

Fairpoint Group (FRP) Director name: Mr Matthew PeacockAmount sold: 500,000 @ 78.26p Value: £391,300

Carillion (CLLN) Director name: Mr John McDonoughAmount sold: 86,437 @ 368.46p Value: £318,486

Spectris (SXS) Director name: Mr James C WebsterAmount sold: 16,851 @ 1,363.64p Value: £229,787

Carillion (CLLN) Director name: Mr Richard AdamAmount sold: 55,766 @ 368.46p Value: £205,475