Soon-to-be-Chairman at Thorntons shows his support
Fri 14 Sep 2012
LONDON (SHARECAST) - Paul Wilkinson, a Senior Independent Director of chocolate maker Thorntons, has put his money where his mouth is after the firm said full-year profit before tax and exceptional items fell sharply in the face of continued tough trading conditions.
Wilkinson, who was this week unveiled as the company's new chairman, purchased 665,503 shares at 29.748p each on Thursday, costing him a total of £197,987.
He will take up his new role when current chairman, John von Spreckelsen, retires on February 1st next year.
The company posted a decline in adjusted pre-tax profit to £0.9m for the 53 weeks ended June 30 2012 from £4.3m the same time a year earlier. Pre-tax losses widened to £2.21m during the period compared to £1.071m in 2011. Revenues slipped to £217.1m from £218.3m previously.
As a result of the poor results, Thorntons opted to cancel its final dividend payment, having paid a 2.20p payment in 2011.
Top Director Buys
Man Group (EMG)
Director name: Mr Jonathan Sorrell
Amount purchased: 304,878 @ 82.00p
Value: £250,000
Experian (EXPN)
Director name: Mr George Rose
Amount purchased: 20,000 @ 1,018.88p
Value: £203,776
Thorntons (THT)
Director name: Mr Paul N Wilkinson
Amount purchased: 665,503 @ 29.75p
Value: £197,987
Avesco Group (AVS)
Director name: Mr Richard A Murray-Obodynski
Amount purchased: 30,000 @ 155.00p
Value: £46,500
Avesco Group (AVS)
Director name: Mr Richard A Murray-Obodynski
Amount purchased: 20,000 @ 152.00p
Value: £30,400
Thorntons (THT)
Director name: Mr Keith Edelman
Amount purchased: 66,547 @ 29.75p
Value: £19,798
Top Director Sells
Moneysupermarket.com Group (MONY)
Director name: Mr Simon Justin Nixon
Amount sold: 7,461,891 @ 134.42p
Value: £10,030,274
Wood Group (John) (WG.)
Director name: Mr Alan G Semple
Amount sold: 250,000 @ 841.00p
Value: £2,102,500
Alternative Networks (AN.)
Director name: Mr Edward Spurrier
Amount sold: 50,000 @ 248.00p
Value: £124,000
Alternative Networks (AN.)
Director name: Mr Benjamin Marnham
Amount sold: 50,000 @ 248.00p
Value: £124,000
LONDON (SHARECAST) - Paul Wilkinson, a Senior Independent Director of chocolate maker Thorntons, has put his money where his mouth is after the firm said full-year profit before tax and exceptional items fell sharply in the face of continued tough trading conditions.
