Merlin Entertainments Share News (MERL)

LONDON (Alliance News) - The following is a summary of director dealings reported in London on Tuesday.
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Merlin Entertainments said Chief New Openings Officer John Jakobsen sold 285,000 shares at a price of 431.8577 pence per share last Thursday.

The deal is worth about GBP1.2 million gross. Following this transaction, Jakobsen holds 871,823 shares, which equals a 0.086% stake.

Last May, Merlin created a new team, the New Openings Group, with Jakobsen in charge. The purpose of the group is to oversee the opening and integration of all of Merlin's new attractions across the business.

Merlin will hold its AGM and release a trading statement on Thursday.

Shares in the theme park and attractions operator closed up 0.2% at 428.40p Tuesday.
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Inspirit Energy Holdings said it has raised GBP750,000 via a share placing to back the continued development of its micro combined heat and power boilers. Inspirit has issued 150.0 million shares at 0.5p per share. It also will issue one warrant for every two placing shares subscribed, valid for 12 months and exercisable at 0.5p. The funds will allow Inspirit to finalise the accreditation process for its boilers and start field trials with partners, in addition to providing working capital.

As part of the placing, John Gunn, Inspirit's chairman and chief executive, will invest GBP50,000 through another company in which he is involved. Gunn is also the chief executive of Octagonal, an AIM-listed firm which generates the bulk of its revenue from its GIS global settlement and safe custody services subsidiary. He also owns a 52% stake in Octagonal. The GIS subsidiary will invest GBP50,000 in the placing, meaning Gunn's total beneficial holding in Inspirit will rise to 39.5%. Inspirit Energy shares closed down 12% to 0.50p Tuesday.
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Alecto Minerals launched a substantial share placing priced at a discount. The miner said it plans to increase its share capital by 18.6% by conducting the placing, a 23% discount to the stock's closing share price on Monday. The company plans to issue 831.3 million new shares priced at 0.08 pence each to new and existing shareholders, which will raise GBP665,000 to allow work to continue at the Matala gold project in Zambia.

Importantly, Alecto is currently in the close period under AIM rules, meaning directors are not allowed to participate in any placings. Alecto said Chief Executive Mark Jones plan to buy 12.5 million new shares made available under the placing once he is allowed, investing a total of GBP10,000 in the company. Alecto shares closed down 17% to 0.08p on Tuesday.
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Recruiter Michael Page International said Michele Lowden, wife of Chairman David Lowden, bought 10,000 shares at a price of 386.3p per share on Monday. Lowden's total interest following the purchase wasn't disclosed. The stock closed up 1.1% at 392.90p Tuesday.
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John Laing Group said Non-Executive Director Toby Hiscock bought 10,244 shares at 215.56p each and now holds 20,500 shares. The stock closed up 0.6% at 216.30p Tuesday.
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TT Electronics said Chairman Neil Carson bought 50,000 shares at a price of 134.36p per share on Monday. Following this transaction, Carson now holds 150,000 shares. Shares in the electrical components maker closed up 5.1% at 135.50p Tuesday.
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Dunedin Enterprise Investment Trust said Chairman Duncan Budge bought 10,000 shares at a price of 327.7p per share Monday. Following this transaction, Budge now holds 45,900 shares, which represents 0.22% stake in the trust. The company also said Angela Lane, a director, bought 15,000 shares at 320.2p each, which is her only holding. The stock closed up 4.1% at 332.00p Tuesday.
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U&I Group said Deputy Chief Executive Richard Upton acquired 25,975 shares on Monday. The shares were purchased at GBP1.885 each. Upton now owns 2.9 million shares in the company, equivalent to a 2.315% stake. Shares in the property regeneration company closed down 0.1% at 187.25p Tuesday.
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Engineer TP Group said Chief Financial Officer Derren Stroud bought 300,000 shares at a price of 3.46p per share on Tuesday. The purchase is Stroud's only holding after being appointed in March. The stock closed up 11% at 3.73p Tuesday.
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By Arvind Bhunjun; arvindbhunjun@alliancenews.com; @ArvindBhunjun

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