SABMiller non-exec tops up

SABMiller non-executive Geoffrey Bible has taken more than £1.2m worth of shares in the brewing giant following its third quarter trading update.

Bible, who has been with the company since 2002, took 55,000 shares at 2,211p a time having previously had none.

The purchase came on the same day SABMiller, whose brands include Miller, Grolsch and Peroni, said strength in markets such as Britain, China and Africa helped offset declines in flood-hit Colombia.

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Organic lager volumes, which strip out the effects of acquisitions and disposals, rose 3% in the third quarter. They're up 2% for the first nine months, helped by better economic conditions in many of its emerging markets.

Lager volumes jumped 12% both in Africa, where price cuts in Zambia led to a 38% surge, and in Asia, led by a 16% increase in China against weak comparatives - heavy snow subdued last year's number. India disappointed though as regulatory issues continued to hurt volumes.

Bible, 73, used to be chief executive of Altria Group, the parent company of the US tobacco firm Philip Morris. He was also chairman of the board of the food giant Kraft.

Top Director Buys

SABMiller (SAB) Director name: Mr Geoffrey BibleAmount purchased: 55,000 @ 2,211.06p Value: £1,216,083

Polo Resources Ltd. (DI) (POL) Director name: Mr Bryan George SmithAmount purchased: 594,000 @ 5.26p Value: £31,244

Imperial Tobacco Group (IMT) Director name: Mr Iain NapierAmount purchased: 1,535 @ 1,904.87p Value: £29,240

Proximagen Group (PRX) Director name: Mr Michael AshtonAmount purchased: 15,000 @ 156.00p Value: £23,400

Top Director Sells

Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) Director name: Mr Darren M ShaplandAmount sold: 150,000 @ 380.50p Value: £570,750