BP Share News (BP.)

LONDON (Alliance News) - The following is a summary of director dealings reported in London on Monday.
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BP said the former head of the UK intelligence service and newly appointed Non-Executive Director John Sawers bought shares in the oil and gas major.

Sawers bought 13,528 shares at a price of 369 pence per share last Thursday. His total shareholding was undisclosed.

Sawers was appointed to the board in May and had spent 36 years in public service in the UK, most notably as the chief executive of MI6 from 2009-2014. Some of his previous roles also included serving as the UK's Ambassador to the United Nations and Political Director of the Foreign Office. He also was a foreign policy adviser to then UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Crude prices were again under pressure on Monday after plunging on Friday following the decision of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries to maintain production levels despite an oversupplied market and low prices, hurting oil stocks.

Brent oil was priced at USD41.22 a barrel at the London close, trading near seven-year lows and down from USD43.04 at the London equities close on Friday.

BP closed down 2.5% at 350.90p Monday, one of the worst performers in the FTSE 100.
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BT Group said Graham Sutherland, chief executive of the BT business division, sold 35,372 shares at a price of 494 pence per share on Thursday. Following this transaction, Sutherland holds 120,552 shares. The stock closed up 0.2% at 480.50p Monday.
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OptiBiotix Health said that it has raised GBP1.5 million through a placing of 2 million shares at a price of 75p each.

Chief Executive Officer Stephen O'Hara bought 53,333 shares in the placing, taking his total holding to 10.1 million shares or a 13.3% stake in the company. Executive Chairman Adam Reynolds and Co-Chairman David Evans bought 1.0 million and 3.5 million shares in the placing respectively. This left Reynolds with 1.1 million shares in the company or a 1.4% stake, and Evans with 3.5 million shares, which is a 4.6% stake.

Commercial Director Jim Laird also bought his first stake in the company in the placing, buying 13.3 million shares, resulting in a less than a 1.0% stake in OptiBiotix.

Shares closed up 1.3% at 79.50p Monday.
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Oil and gas company Northern Petroleum said it has raised GBP395,391 from its open offer of shares, significantly less than expected. The company said it had received valid acceptances for 13.2 million shares it issued under the open offer at 3.0p per share. It had been seeking to raise GBP1.2 million, with 40.0 million shares made available under the open offer.

Under the open offer, a series of company directors subscribed for shares, split between the open offer shares and the 4.0 million excess shares the company also was issue.

The largest acquisition of shares was made by Jon Murphy, the company's chairman, who subscribed for a total of 1.0 million shares, taking his total holding to 1.4 million shares, or just under 1.0% of the company's issued share capital.

Chief Executive Keith Bush applied for 330,000 shares in total, taking his shareholding to 450,000 shares, while Finance Director Nick Morgan applied for 333,118 shares, taking his holding up to 448,000.

Senior Non-Executive Director Iain Lanaghan applied for 167,000 shares, taking his holding up to 217,000.

Northern Petroleum shares closed flat at 2.75p Monday.
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Computacenter said Neil Hall, a senior manager, sold 4,921 shares at a price of 825 pence per share Monday. Shares in the infrastructure services provider closed up 0.7% at 829.50p Monday.
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Hydrodec Group said Chairman Colin Moynihan bought 370,583 shares at a price of 4.25 pence per share between last Friday and Monday. Following this transaction, Moynihan holds 10.6 million shares, which represents 1.4% stake in the firm. Shares in the oil re-refiner closed up 0.1% at 4.13p Monday.
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Recruiter Matchtech Group said Non-Executive Director George Materna purchased 100,000 shares at a price of 515p per share Monday. Following this transaction, Materna holds 7.9 million shares, which represents a 25.55% stake in the firm. The stock closed up 5.1% at 552.00p Monday.
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GLI Finance said Non-Executive Director James Carthew bought 37,500 shares at a price of 33.98p per share Monday. Following this transaction, Carthew holds 300,000 shares, which represents an 0.14% stake in the firm. The stock closed down 1.1% at 34.00p Monday.
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TechFinancials said Chief Executive Officer Asaf Lahav bought 10,000 shares at a price of 14.5 pence per share on Thursday last week. Following this transaction, Lahav holds 9.1 million shares, which represents 13.26% stake. Shares in the financial software developer closed up 1.8% at 14.24p Monday.
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Connect Group said Non-Executive Director Denise Collis bought 14,864 shares at 167.25p each on Monday, her only holding. Shares closed down 2.3% at 162.75p Monday.
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Wynnstay Properties said Finance Director Toby Parker bought 1,000 shares at a price of 470p per share Monday. Following this transaction, Parker has a beneficial interest in 10,250 ordinary shares, representing 0.38% of issued shares. The stock closed was untraded Monday at 497.50p.
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By Arvind Bhunjun; arvindbhunjun@alliancenews.com; @ArvindBhunjun

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