Tullett execs top up holdings

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

Tullett Prebon boss Terry Smith and finance director Paul Mainwaring have increased their stakes in the interdealer broker following the breakdown of bid talks.

Chief executive Smith invested more than £1.2m. He bought 400,000 shares at 300.5p each. That takes his stake to 4.48%.

Mainwaring invested £293,000 in 97,656 shares, which were acquired at the same price as Smith's. Mainwaring owns 0.1% of Tullett.

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On 13 May Tullett Prebon said that bid talks had ended because the two sides could not agree on a price. Prior to this announcement the shares were trading at 462p. The share price has continued to fall since the announcement. The director share buying has sparked a small recovery.

Revenues fell 12% to £312m in the four months to April 2010 because of the effects of currency and broker defections. Even at constant exchange rates there was a 3% fall in revenues.

In March, Tullett won a claim against BGC Partners in the High Court, after it was found that BGC unlawfully poached Tullett's brokers in London.

Top Director Buys

Tullett Prebon (TLPR) Director name: Mr Terry SmithAmount purchased: 400,000 @ 300.50p Value: £1,202,000

Tullett Prebon (TLPR) Director name: Mr Paul MainwaringAmount purchased: 97,656 @ 300.50p Value: £293,456

Thomas Cook Group (TCG) Director name: Mr Manny Fontela-NovoaAmount purchased: 100,077 @ 198.50p Value: £198,653

Melrose Resources (MRS) Director name: Mr Robert F M AdairAmount purchased: 20,000 @ 258.86p Value: £51,772

Thomas Cook Group (TCG) Director name: Mr Paul HollingworthAmount purchased: 20,015 @ 198.50p Value: £39,730

Thomas Cook Group (TCG) Director name: Mr Sam WeihagenAmount purchased: 20,000 @ 198.50p Value: £39,700

Melrose Resources (MRS) Director name: Mr David Howard ThomasAmount purchased: 7,961 @ 264.41p Value: £21,050

Melrose Resources (MRS) Director name: Mr David Howard ThomasAmount purchased: 6,900 @ 264.12p Value: £18,224

Renovo Group (RNVO) Director name: Mr David BlainAmount purchased: 40,000 @ 25.45p Value: £10,180