AGA.L Share News (AGA)

Shaun Smith, the Finance Director of cooker maker Aga Rangemaster, has bought 16,090 shares in the firm, on the same day the company revealed a rise in operating profits despite falling revenue. Smith purchased the shares at 87.00p each for a total of £13,998. The Chief Executive, William McGrath, also stocked up, buying himself 28,045 shares at the same price for a total of £24,399. A Non-Executive Director, Jonathan Carling, made his first purchase of shares in the company, buying up 5,000 shares. Revenue dropped from £259.1m to £250.9m, with operating costs lower at £244.8m (2010: £254m). Second half revenues of £129.5m were down 4.5% year-on-year, compared with the first half when revenues fell 1.6% to £121.4m. The proportion of total revenues from outside the UK was flat at 37%.The operating profit for the year was £6.1m, up from the £5.1m reported in 2010, as the group benefitted more fully from the operational efficiencies implemented in 2008 to 2010."The product introductions and strengthened business processes enabled us to improve margins and provide a continuing optimism that the groundwork is in place to restore profits to levels achieved prior to the economic downturn," the firm said."We went into 2012 expecting markets to remain tough and we have already undertaken further steps to improve efficiencies and lower the cost base, building on programmes of the last four years. We now have a single set of focused business processes across the UK manufacturing units."Cash dropped from £51.7m to £48.1m, slightly lower than expected. The final dividend is 1.1p, bringing the total dividend for the year to 1.9p compared with 1.7p the previous year.Top Director BuysRobert Walters (RWA) Director name: Mr Robert C WaltersAmount purchased: 56,505 @ 237.50p Value: £134,199Robert Walters (RWA) Director name: Mr Giles P DaubeneyAmount purchased: 47,110 @ 237.50p Value: £111,886Norcros (NXR) Director name: Mr Martin TowersAmount purchased: 100,000 @ 98.80p Value: £98,800Robert Walters (RWA) Director name: Mr Alan BannatyneAmount purchased: 34,500 @ 237.50p Value: £81,938Aga Rangemaster Group (AGA) Director name: Mr William B McGrathAmount purchased: 28,045 @ 87.00p Value: £24,399Britvic (BVIC) Director name: Mr Joanne AverissAmount purchased: 6,000 @ 381.00p Value: £22,860Norcros (NXR) Director name: Mr Martin TowersAmount purchased: 200,000 @ 10.55p Value: £21,100WYG (WYG) Director name: Mr Paul HamerAmount purchased: 37,500 @ 52.00p Value: £19,500Access Intelligence (ACC) Director name: Mr Michael JacksonAmount purchased: 500,000 @ 3.25p Value: £16,250Aga Rangemaster Group (AGA) Director name: Mr Shaun M SmithAmount purchased: 16,090 @ 87.00p Value: £13,998Top Director SellsRobert Walters (RWA) Director name: Mr Robert C WaltersAmount sold: 175,407 @ 237.50p Value: £416,592Robert Walters (RWA) Director name: Mr Alan BannatyneAmount sold: 129,782 @ 237.50p Value: £308,232Robert Walters (RWA) Director name: Mr Giles P DaubeneyAmount sold: 114,951 @ 237.50p Value: £273,009Independent Inv Trust (IIT) Director name: Mr Maxwell C B WardAmount sold: 100,000 @ 203.00p Value: £203,000British Polythene Industries (BPI) Director name: Mr David HarrisAmount sold: 27,500 @ 365.00p Value: £100,375British Polythene Industries (BPI) Director name: Mr John T LanglandsAmount sold: 15,940 @ 365.00p Value: £58,181Independent Inv Trust (IIT) Director name: Mr Maxwell C B WardAmount sold: 20,000 @ 203.00p Value: £40,600RPC Group (RPC) Director name: Mr Petrus R M VervaatAmount sold: 8,966 @ 373.70p Value: £33,506