LONDON (ShareCast) - The wife of the out-going Chief Executive of Travis Perkins on Thursday sold 50,000 shares on the same day the FTSE 100 builders merchant reported 'encouraging' sales momentum in the third quarter despite challenging conditions in retail markets.

The transaction reduced Geoff Cooper's stake in the group to 81,206 shares, equal to less than 0.1% of the issued share capital.

The shares were disposed of in three tranches, with 10,000 sold for 1,746.34p, 20,000 at 1,743.06p and the final 20,000 for 1,718.62p. Cooper pocketed at total of £866,970.

The group revealed on Thursday that total sales improved by 8.6% in the three months to September 30th, with like-for-like (LFL) sales growing 6.3%. This represented a decent pick-up from the 1.6% top-line growth (+0.9% LFL) in the first half.

The General and Specialist Merchanting divisions reported strong LFL growth of 10.7% and 10.6%, respectively, while the Plumbing & Heating unit increased LFL sales by 5%.

However, LFL sales in the Consumer division were flat on last year, well below the 8.6% growth recorded in the two months to June 30th. The company said that its Wickes and Tile Giant chains received "little benefit" from the warmer summer weather given their "limited range in outdoor categories".

Nevertheless, the company still maintained its guidance for full-year earnings per share of around 100p, slightly below the 108.9p earned in 2012.


Top Director Buys

Jupiter Primadona Growth Trust (JPG)
Director name: Mr Thomas H Bartlam
Amount purchased: 7,500 @ 1,346.50p
Value: £100,988

Plus500 Ltd (DI) (PLUS)
Director name: Mr Michael (Mark) Charles Fairbairn
Amount purchased: 50,000 @ 148.00p
Value: £74,000

Modern Water (MWG)
Director name: Mr Robert Clarke
Amount purchased: 200,000 @ 31.25p
Value: £62,500

Jupiter Primadona Growth Trust (JPG)
Director name: Mr Graham Fuller
Amount purchased: 3,500 @ 1,346.00p
Value: £47,110

Man Group (EMG)
Director name: Mr Andrew Horton
Amount purchased: 50,000 @ 86.95p
Value: £43,475

Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd. (DI) (TLDH)
Director name: Mr Guy Elliott
Amount purchased: 639,918 @ 5.68p
Value: £36,347

Arbuthnot Banking Group (ARBB)
Director name: Mr Henry Angest
Amount purchased: 1,000 @ 1,000.00p
Value: £10,000


Top Director Sells

Travis Perkins (TPK)
Director name: Mr Geoff Cooper
Amount sold: 20,000 @ 1,743.06p
Value: £348,612

Travis Perkins (TPK)
Director name: Mr Geoff Cooper
Amount sold: 20,000 @ 1,718.62p
Value: £343,724

Legal & General Group (LGEN)
Director name: Dr Nigel Wilson
Amount sold: 119,216 @ 201.90p
Value: £240,697

Travis Perkins (TPK)
Director name: Mr Geoff Cooper
Amount sold: 10,000 @ 1,746.34p
Value: £174,634

Next (NXT)
Director name: Mr Francis Salway
Amount sold: 1,468 @ 5,155.00p
Value: £75,675

Stadium Group (SDM)
Director name: Mr Antony Inskip
Amount sold: 42,820 @ 50.00p
Value: £21,410

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