Director dealings: Hastings chairman lowers stake

Hastings Group chairman Gary Hoffman disposed of 545,187 ordinary shares in the firm on Thursday.

Hoffman, who had been Hastings' chief executive since 2012 before taking over the role of chairman back in May, sold the shares at an average price of 269p per share for a total value of £1.46m.

Back in August, Hastings told investors that first-half pre-tax profits had risen throughout the first of half of its trading year as gross written premiums and net revenue grew despite adverse weather claims.

In the six months to 30 June, pre-tax profit increased to £86.8m from £68.9m the year before as gross written premiums rose 5% to £485.6m and live customer policies jumped 6% to 2.70m.

Operating profit was 22% higher at £105.1m after including £14.6m of prior year VAT recovery and a £7m impact from adverse weather in the first quarter. Excluding those two factors, operating profit was up 13% to £97.5m.

The insurer said it remains on track to deliver on its 2019 targets.

As of 1630 BST, Hastings shares had dipped 0.68% to 261.40p.

Top Director Buys

Imperial Brands (IMB)
Director name: Tant,Oliver
Amount purchased: 5,386 @ 2,586.00p
Value: £139,281.96

Walker Crips Group (WCW)
Director name: Min,Lim Hua
Amount purchased: 295,475 @ 37.50p
Value: £110,803.13

Udg Healthcare Public Limited Company (UDG)
Director name: Gray,Peter
Amount purchased: 14,000 @ 631.00p
Value: £88,340.00

Be Heard Group (BHRD)
Director name: Pyper,Simon
Amount purchased: 3,110,688 @ 1.20p
Value: £37,328.26

3i Infrastructure (3IN)
Director name: Jennings,Robert
Amount purchased: 11,000 @ 245.79p
Value: £27,037.35

1spatial (SPA)
Director name: Massey,Peter
Amount purchased: 48,295 @ 41.00p
Value: £19,800.95

Flowtech Fluidpower (FLO)
Director name: Wilson,Bill
Amount purchased: 12,500 @ 123.90p
Value: £15,487.50

F & C Uk High Income Trust (FHI)
Director name: Williams,James
Amount purchased: 7,500 @ 101.48p
Value: £7,611.00

F & C Uk High Income Trust (FHI)
Director name: Williams,James
Amount purchased: 7,500 @ 101.48p
Value: £7,611.00

British Smaller Companies Vct (BSV)
Director name: Cook,Rupert
Amount purchased: 7,750 @ 74.00p
Value: £5,735.00

Flowtech Fluidpower (FLO)
Director name: Wilson,Bill
Amount purchased: 4,000 @ 121.50p
Value: £4,860.00

Helical (HLCL)
Director name: Murphy,Tim
Amount purchased: 405 @ 334.50p
Value: £1,354.73

Helical (HLCL)
Director name: Kaye,Gerald A
Amount purchased: 402 @ 334.50p
Value: £1,344.69

Helical (HLCL)
Director name: Bonning-Snook,Matthew
Amount purchased: 402 @ 334.50p
Value: £1,344.69

Amur Minerals Corporation Npv (AMC)
Director name: Young,Robin Jay
Amount purchased: 14,688 @ 4.19p
Value: £615.43

Amur Minerals Corporation Npv (AMC)
Director name: McKay,Paul
Amount purchased: 14,688 @ 4.19p
Value: £615.43

Amur Minerals Corporation Npv (AMC)
Director name: Swanson,Jack
Amount purchased: 14,688 @ 4.19p
Value: £615.43

Amur Minerals Corporation Npv (AMC)
Director name: Naumovski,Ljupco
Amount purchased: 14,687 @ 4.19p
Value: £615.39

Amur Minerals Corporation Npv (AMC)
Director name: Schafer,Robert William
Amount purchased: 14,687 @ 4.19p
Value: £615.39

Amur Minerals Corporation Npv (AMC)
Director name: Savage,Brian Charles
Amount purchased: 14,687 @ 4.19p
Value: £615.39

Amur Minerals Corporation Npv (AMC)
Director name: Gazzard,Paul
Amount purchased: 14,687 @ 4.19p
Value: £615.39

Top Director Sells

Hastings Group Holdings (HSTG)
Director name: Hoffman,Gary
Amount sold: 545,187 @ 269.00p
Value: £1,466,553.06

Dalata Hotel Group (DAL)
Director name: McKeon,Seán
Amount sold: 80,000 @ 6.96
Value: 507,612.83