Huntsworth non-exec buys again

Huntsworth non-executive director Eugene Beard has taken his spending on the marketing services company's shares in the past year to nearly £186,000.

Beard has bought a further 100,000 shares at 72.91p each. This is the highest price he has paid for the shares in the past year. The lowest buying price was 54.28p a share in June 2009.

Huntsworth has been buying back shares in recent weeks. It has acquired nearly 600,000 shares since the beginning of March. Since the beginning of January 2009, Huntsworth has spent around £4m on share buy backs.

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Beard is a former director of multinational marketing services company Interpublic Group and Mattel Inc. He joined the Huntsworth board in February 2004.

Huntsworth, which is run by Lord Chadlington the brother of former Conservative minister John Selwyn Gummer, has rationalised its 26 brands into four key brands - Citigate, Grayling, Huntsworth Health and Red - at a cost of £8.8m.

Revenues slipped back from £159.1m to £156.3m, while pre-tax profit dipped from £24m to £23.4m in 2009. Cash flow was strong but acquisitions led to an increase in net debt from £33.5m to £49m.

Profits are expected to recover to around £27m in 2010.

Top Director Buys

Huntsworth (HNT) Director name: Mr Eugene P. BeardAmount purchased: 100,000 @ 72.91p Value: £72,910

Flying Brands (FBDU) Director name: Mr Stephen CookAmount purchased: 35,000 @ 57.00p Value: £19,950

Flying Brands (FBDU) Director name: Mr John HenwoodAmount purchased: 30,000 @ 56.00p Value: £16,800

Flying Brands (FBDU) Director name: Mr Anthony GeeAmount purchased: 20,000 @ 59.00p Value: £11,800

HMV Group (HMV) Director name: Mr Andy DuncanAmount purchased: 12,000 @ 85.00p Value: £10,200

Top Director Sells

Skywest Airlines (SKYW) Director name: Mr Robert Jeffries ChatfieldAmount sold: 1,600,000 @ 21.02p Value: £336,320

Dairy Farm International (Singapore) (DFI) Director name: Mr Howard Leonard MowlemAmount sold: 25,200 @ $7.00 Value: $176,400

Skywest Airlines (SKYW) Director name: Mr John Leonard JostAmount sold: 400,000 @ 21.02p Value: £84,080

General Electric (GEC) Director name: Mr James I Cash JrAmount sold: 4,890 @ € 14.18 Value: € 69,337

KBC Advanced Technologies (KBC) Director name: Mr George BrightAmount sold: 56,813 @ 47.50p Value: £26,986