LONDON (ShareCast) - Michael Sharp, the Chief Executive Officer of department store chain Debenhams, has added 100,000 shares to his stake in the company on the same day it posted a 2.3 per cent rise in like-for-like sales during a year of 'challenging trading conditions'.

The transaction saw Sharp buy the shares at 114.92p each for a total of £114,920, taking his shareholding to 6.05m.

The firm said that its strong performance and its confidence in "strategic delivery" has enabled it to raise its medium-term target for online sales from £500m to £600m.

Meanwhile, following the £20m share repurchase programme completed over the last six months, the company said that it intends to buy-back a further £40m of shares over the next year in an effort to return surplus cash to shareholders.

The company's Financial Director, Simon Herrick, also topped up his stake, buying 8,650 shares at a price of 113.85p. Herrick now holds 34,900 shares in the firm.


Top Director Buys

HydroDec Group (HYR)
Director name: Lord Colin Moynihan
Amount purchased: 2,210,326 @ 9.00p
Value: £198,929

Debenhams (DEB)
Director name: Mr Michael Sharp
Amount purchased: 100,000 @ 114.92p
Value: £114,920

Alkane Energy (ALK)
Director name: Mr Roger McDowell
Amount purchased: 265,000 @ 22.67p
Value: £60,076

Gasol (GAS)
Director name: Mr Alan Buxton
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Value: £59,500

Real Estate Investors (RLE)
Director name: Mr Marcus Daly
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Value: £21,000

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Director name: Mr Paul Bassi
Amount purchased: 50,000 @ 42.00p
Value: £21,000

CLS Holdings (CLI)
Director name: Mr John Whiteley
Amount purchased: 2,227 @ 715.50p
Value: £15,934

Maven Income & Growth 3 VCT (MIG3)
Director name: Mr Bill Nixon
Amount purchased: 15,343 @ 68.50p
Value: £10,510


Top Director Sells

Ashtead Group (AHT)
Director name: Mr Sat Dhaiwal
Amount sold: 372,731 @ 350.24p
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Director name: Mr John Jack
Amount sold: 50,000 @ 42.00p
Value: £21,000

Real Estate Investors (RLE)
Director name: Mr John Jack
Amount sold: 50,000 @ 42.00p
Value: £21,000

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