LONDON (ShareCast) - John von Spreckelsen, Chairman of chocolate retailer Thorntons, has bought up 400,000 shares in the firm, one week after it reported that its pre-tax profit more than halved after heavy discounting.

Spreckelsen, who last year announced his intention to quit the firm before the end of September, bumped up his stake in the company to 2.77%, equivalent to more than 1.89m shares, with the £99,440 transaction.

The Chairman, who joined the firm midway through 2006, bought the shares over two days at an average price of 24.855p.

In its results announced on February 15th, the firm announced that it waived its interim dividend payment after profit before tax and exceptional items fell to £3.1m for the 28 weeks ended 7 January 2012 from £8.4m in 2010. Revenues for the period declined to £130m from £133.5m previously.

The group, which last year closed a string of its shops, said sales in its own stores dropped by 7.9% to £68.3m in the six-month period.

Net debt at period end was £16.2m compared to £14m the year before.

Top Director Buys

New City High Yield Fund Ltd. (NCYF)
Director name: Mr Gavin Breeze
Amount purchased: 320,000 @ 60.16p
Value: £192,512

Thorntons (THT)
Director name: Mr John Von Spreckelsen
Amount purchased: 400,000 @ 24.86p
Value: £99,440

New City High Yield Fund Ltd. (NCYF)
Director name: Mr Gavin Breeze
Amount purchased: 100,000 @ 59.40p
Value: £59,400

SEGRO (SGRO)
Director name: Mr Nigel Rich
Amount purchased: 10,000 @ 232.99p
Value: £23,299

FFastFill (FFA)
Director name: Mr Hamish Purdey
Amount purchased: 150,000 @ 10.75p
Value: £16,125

Pinnacle Telecom Group (PINN)
Director name: Mr Alan J Bonner
Amount purchased: 3,670,659 @ 0.38p
Value: £13,949

1pm (OPM)
Director name: Mr Ronald Russell
Amount purchased: 10,000,000 @ 0.100p
Value: £10,000


Top Director Sells

Energy XXI (Bermuda) (Di) (EXXI)
Director name: Mr William Colvin
Amount sold: 7,000 @ $38.62
Value: $270,340

Rathbone Brothers (RAT)
Director name: Mr Richard P Lanyon
Amount sold: 3,000 @ 1,275.00p
Value: £38,250

SThree (STHR)
Director name: Mr Russell Clements
Amount sold: 5,660 @ 294.50p
Value: £16,669

FFastFill (FFA)
Director name: Mr Hamish Purdey
Amount sold: 150,000 @ 10.75p
Value: £16,125

Rathbone Brothers (RAT)
Director name: Mr Richard Loader
Amount sold: 1,000 @ 1,275.00p
Value: £12,750

Rathbone Brothers (RAT)
Director name: Mr Richard I Smeeton
Amount sold: 1,000 @ 1,275.00p
Value: £12,750

SThree (STHR)
Director name: Mr Alex Smith
Amount sold: 4,203 @ 294.50p
Value: £12,378

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