LONDON (ShareCast) - Paul Hampden Smith, the Finance Director at building merchant Travis Perkins, has sold 51,994 shares at 1,061.00p in the name of his wife, Sarah.

The sale, which earned the director a tidy £551,656 and leaves him with a beneficial interest of 264,698 shares, came less than a fortnight after the firm said pre-tax profit rose 25% in the last six months despite construction being hampered by the wettest three months since records began.

Reported pre-tax profit after exceptional items rose to £162m for the six months ended June 30th compared to £129.2m the same time a year earlier. Group revenue climbed 2.7% to £2.41bn and was down 0.7% on a like-for-like basis.

Travis Perkins said it was confident that it would meet full-year expectations for the 2012 financial performance.

Shares have gained over 47% in the past year, equal to 343.50p, and eight per cent, or 79.50p, in the last month.


Top Director Buys

Mithras Inv Trust (MTH)
Director name: Ms Miriam Greenwood
Amount purchased: 25,000 @ 101.00p
Value: £25,250

Tomco Energy (TOM)
Director name: Mr Paul Rankine
Amount purchased: 1,295,301 @ 1.54p
Value: £19,948

Synectics (SNX)
Director name: Mr John Shepherd
Amount purchased: 5,172 @ 290.00p
Value: £14,999

Alliance Trust (ATST)
Director name: Ms Susan Noble
Amount purchased: 4,074 @ 365.35p
Value: £14,884


Top Director Sells

Travis Perkins (TPK)
Director name: Mr Paul N Hampden Smith
Amount sold: 51,994 @ 1,061.00p
Value: £551,656

NR

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