Davis Service non-exec takes more shares

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

Per Utnegaard, a non-executive director at the laundry and workwear group Davis Service spent nearly £200,000 lifting his stake in the company.

He bought 50,000 shares at 399.64p a time and now has 150,000. His bought his first 100,000 shares just before Christmas, paying 394.8p a time.

In a trading update late last month, Davis, which operates the Sunlight linen hire and laundry brand in the UK, reported an improvement in margins as the effects of the cost cutting programme take effect.

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Profit before tax showed a modest year on year improvement in the first quarter despite higher interest payments following the refinancing of group debt last year.

The group is seeing little sign, however, of an upturn in its markets though there have been some bright sports.

In the Nordic region Norway has seen a substantial increase in profitability while Sweden has also made heady, but Denmark is still contracting.

Utnegaard, who joined Davis in 2005, is the president and chief executive of the cargo services group Swissport International.

Top Director Buys

Davis Service Group (DVSG) Director name: Mr Per UtnegaardAmount purchased: 50,000 @ 399.64p Value: £199,820

Standard Life (SL.) Director name: Mr David Thomas NishAmount purchased: 50,000 @ 188.44p Value: £94,220

Edinburgh Worldwide Inv Trust (EWI) Director name: Mr David E ReidAmount purchased: 20,000 @ 258.00p Value: £51,600

Digital Marketing (DIGI) Director name: Mr Stephen DavidsonAmount purchased: 166,667 @ 30.00p Value: £50,000

Thomas Cook Group (TCG) Director name: Mr Michael BeckettAmount purchased: 20,001 @ 216.00p Value: £43,202

Vertu Motors (VTU) Director name: Mr David Malcolm Forbes Amount purchased: 100,000 @ 36.50p Value: £36,500

Thomas Cook Group (TCG) Director name: Mrs Dawn AireyAmount purchased: 10,000 @ 219.00p Value: £21,900

Digital Marketing (DIGI) Director name: Mr Ian G RobinsonAmount purchased: 66,660 @ 30.00p Value: £19,998

Pinewood-Shepperton (PWS) Director name: Mr Ivan DunleavyAmount purchased: 10,000 @ 153.00p Value: £15,300

Pinewood-Shepperton (PWS) Director name: Mr Ivan DunleavyAmount purchased: 10,000 @ 139.25p Value: £13,925

Top Director Sells

Experian Group (EXPN) Director name: Mr Don RobertAmount sold: 239,699 @ 599.43p Value: £1,436,828

RPS Group (RPS) Director name: Mr Peter DowenAmount sold: 300,000 @ 202.57p Value: £607,710