M&B's Brown opens tab

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

Aaron Brown, appointed a non-executive director at Mitchells and Butlers earlier this month, has opened his account at the pub group, spending nearly £100,000 on shares.

Brown, who is also a director of R20, the investment vehicle of billionaire property tycoon Robert Tchenguiz, bought 50,000 shares in the O'Neill's and Harvester owner at 199.7p a share.

News of the purchase, made Tuesday, comes on the same day Goldman Sachs upgraded its rating on the pub group to 'neutral' from 'sell' in light of heavy falls in its share price in recent months.

Subscribe to MoneyWeek

Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Get 6 issues free
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/mw70aro6gl1676370748.jpg

Sign up to Money Morning

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Sign up

M&B has lost almost 75% of its value in the past year, with the smoking ban and reduced consumer confidence hitting trade.

Goldman cut its six-month price target on the group to 220p from 290p.

Top Director Buys

Anglogold Ash (AGD)

Director name: Mr Russell P Edey

Amount purchased: 1,754 @ R23,350.00

Value: R40,955,900

Banco Santander Central Hispano (BNC)

Director name: Mr Abel Matutes Juan

Amount purchased: 506,000 @ 932.64p

Value: £4,719,158

Banco Santander Central Hispano (BNC)

Director name: Mr Abel Matutes Juan

Amount purchased: 506,000 @ 931.85p

Value: £4,715,161

New Century AIM VCT (NCA)

Director name: Mr Michael David Barnard

Amount purchased: 855,410 @ 103.20p

Value: £882,783

Dolphin Capital Investors (DCI)

Director name: Mr Miltos Kambourides

Amount purchased: 200,000 @ 106.00p

Value: £212,000

Mitchells & Butlers (MAB)

Director name: Mr Aaron Brown

Amount purchased: 50,000 @ 199.70p

Value: £99,850

Pinewood-Shepperton (PWS)

Director name: Mr Ivan Dunleavy

Amount purchased: 31,565 @ 230.00p

Value: £72,600

Findel (FDL)

Director name: Mr Philip Maudsley

Amount purchased: 40,000 @ 160.00p

Value: £64,000

Jubilee Platinum (JLP)

Director name: Mr Malcolm Burne

Amount purchased: 100,000 @ 54.00p

Value: £54,000

Findel (FDL)

Director name: Mr Patrick E Jolly

Amount purchased: 20,000 @ 161.00p

Value: £32,200

Top Director Sells

Carnival (CCL)

Director name: Mr Robert H Dickinson

Amount sold: 18,042 @ 1,760.67p

Value: £317,660

Halma (HLMA)

Director name: Mr Neil Quinn

Amount sold: 119,403 @ 199.50p

Value: £238,209

New Century AIM VCT (NCA)

Director name: Mr Geoffrey Charles Gamble

Amount sold: 39,000 @ 103.20p

Value: £40,248

New Century AIM VCT (NCA)

Director name: Mr Robin William Kirby

Amount sold: 35,000 @ 103.20p

Value: £36,120

New Century AIM VCT (NCA)

Director name: Mr Robin William Kirby

Amount sold: 10,000 @ 103.20p

Value: £10,320