Lonhro bosses open accounts

Bosses at Lonhro opened their accounts in Africa-focused conglomerate today, spending a combined total of nearly more than £100,000.

Executive chairman David Lenigas and chief executive Geoffrey White took 200,000 shares each at 24.26p each, paying a total of £48,520 each.

Executive director Emma Priestly bought 40,712 shares at 24.2p each, paying £9,852.

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Lonhro said Friday that it remains "extremely" positive about its prospects in the continent despite growing losses.

The firm, which operates in 14 countries, reported a pre-tax loss of £4m for the sixth months to 31 March 2008, out from £3.3m in 2007, on turnover up to £17.8m from £4.6m last time.

It blamed the increased deficit on a £6.1m loss at SAILS, hit by the substantial costs of developing new routes in the shipping industry, and costs of £1.7m raked up by profitable Fly540 Kenya.

"The future of Lonrho lies in expanding existing businesses across the continent," said White.

Top Director Buys

North Atlantic Smaller Trust (NAS)

Director name: Mr Oliver R Grace Jr

Amount purchased: 50,000 @ 905.00p

Value: £452,500

Banco Santander Central Hispano (BNC)

Director name: Mr Antonio Escamez Torres

Amount purchased: 20,000 @ 935.08p

Value: £187,016

Banco Santander Central Hispano (BNC)

Director name: Mr Antonio Escamez Torres

Amount purchased: 20,000 @ 929.55p

Value: £185,910

Hansteen Holdings (HSTN)

Director name: Mr Ian Richard Watson

Amount purchased: 52,000 @ 95.00p

Value: £49,400

Hansteen Holdings (HSTN)

Director name: Mr Morgan Lewis Jones

Amount purchased: 52,000 @ 95.00p

Value: £49,400

Lonrho (LONR)

Director name: Mr David Anthony Lenigas

Amount purchased: 200,000 @ 24.30p

Value: £48,600

Lonrho (LONR)

Director name: Mr Geoffrey White

Amount purchased: 200,000 @ 24.30p

Value: £48,600

Management Consulting Group (MMC)

Director name: Mr Alan Barber

Amount purchased: 150,000 @ 29.00p

Value: £43,500

Bioquell (BQE)

Director name: Mr Simon Constantine

Amount purchased: 26,000 @ 150.50p

Value: £39,130

Huntsworth (HNT)

Director name: Mr Eugene P. Beard

Amount purchased: 50,000 @ 65.00p

Value: £32,500

Top Director Sells

Ferrexpo (FXPO)

Director name: Mr Lucio Genovese

Amount sold: 95,000 @ 392.60p

Value: £372,970

Ferrexpo (FXPO)

Director name: Mr Lucio Genovese

Amount sold: 50,000 @ 392.20p

Value: £196,100

Cattles (CTT)

Director name: Mr Ian S Cummine

Amount sold: 54,365 @ 134.00p

Value: £72,849

Cattles (CTT)

Director name: Mr Mark W G Collins

Amount sold: 52,546 @ 134.00p

Value: £70,412

Brammer (BRAM)

Director name: Mr Ian Fraser

Amount sold: 24,686 @ 269.90p

Value: £66,628

Brammer (BRAM)

Director name: Mr Paul Thwaite

Amount sold: 16,297 @ 269.90p

Value: £43,986

Cattles (CTT)

Director name: Mr James J Corr

Amount sold: 13,677 @ 134.00p

Value: £18,327