LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - WPP chairman Roberto Quarta has forked out £623,405 to up his stake in advertising titan as it embarks on a new era post the departure of long-time driving force Martin Sorrell.
Quarta, WPP's chairman since June 2015, picked up a total of 10,000 WPP American Depositary Shares at a price of $85.8087 per share.

This week the FTSE 100 group reported flat like-for-like revenues during the first quarter of 2018, beating estimates that forecast a more significant slump.

WPP on Tuesday also acquired full ownership of Y&R and Wunderman agency assets across south-east Asia and Taiwan, as well as Dentsu Sudler and Hennessey in Japan, following a share swap transaction with Dentsu to increase its focus on south-east Asia.

However, WPP's problems are far from over, according to Berenberg, with the market's positive response this week understandable after 12 months in which WPP disappointed investors several times.

But profit estimates will get worse before they improve, analysts said, maintaining a 'hold' recommendation and 1,275p price target for WPP.

Joint chief operating officers Mark Read and Andrew Scott are carrying out a review of strategy for WPP and will come back to the board with recommendations, that Quarta said were looking to "move forward decisively to implement our vision for the group".



Top Director Buys

WPP (WPP)

Director name: Mr Roberto Quarta

Amount purchased: 50,000 @ 1,246.81p

Value: £623,405



Odyssean Investment Trust (OIT)

Director name: Mrs Jane Tufnell

Amount purchased: 500,000 @ 100.00p

Value: £500,000



Odyssean Investment Trust (OIT)

Director name: Mr Arabella Cecil

Amount purchased: 100,000 @ 100.00p

Value: £100,000



Interserve (IRV)

Director name: Mr Debbie White

Amount purchased: 56,364 @ 105.90p

Value: £59,689



Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS)

Director name: Mr Mike Rogers

Amount purchased: 20,000 @ 269.50p

Value: £53,900



Porta Communications (PTCM)

Director name: Mrs Emma Victoria Kane

Amount purchased: 1,538,462 @ 3.25p

Value: £50,000



Odyssean Investment Trust (OIT)

Director name: Mr Richard King

Amount purchased: 30,000 @ 100.00p

Value: £30,000



Interserve (IRV)

Director name: Mr Mark Whiteling

Amount purchased: 30,000 @ 93.75p

Value: £28,125



Faroe Petroleum (FPM)

Director name: Mr Graham Stewart

Amount purchased: 21,353 @ 131.60p

Value: £28,101



Faroe Petroleum (FPM)

Director name: Mr Helge Hammer

Amount purchased: 15,838 @ 131.60p

Value: £20,843



Top Director Sells

Moneysupermarket.com Group (MONY)

Director name: Mr Matthew Price

Amount sold: 59,610 @ 299.00p

Value: £178,234



Majestic Wine (WINE)

Director name: Mr James Crawford

Amount sold: 25,255 @ 437.00p

Value: £110,364



Moneysupermarket.com Group (MONY)

Director name: Mr Darren Drabble

Amount sold: 27,096 @ 299.00p

Value: £81,017



Lok'n Store Group (LOK)

Director name: Mr Neil Newman

Amount sold: 13,000 @ 420.50p

Value: £54,665

Email this article to a friend

or share it with one of these popular networks:

• DIGG
• FACEBOOK
• STUMBLEUPON
• MIXX
• YAHOO BUZZ
• DELICIOUS
• REDDIT
• NEWSVINE