Aviva Non-Exec makes first investment

British insurance company Aviva on Monday said recently appointed Non-Executive Director Michael Mire had bought 7,500 at 439.89p each, his only holding in the group.Mire joined the company in mid-September as part of its ongoing programme to refresh the board. The company said on his appointment that he has a "considerable strategic perspective and an in-depth understanding of the financial services sector". The £32,992-spend was made just a couple of days after the firm reported a "satisfactory" performance in the first nine months of 2013 and said that in line with its investment thesis of 'cash flow plus growth', operating capital generation was "stable" and it has increased the value of new business. Aviva also reported a 14% climb in the value of new business to £571m in the nine months through September, which it said was driven by growth in France, Turkey, Poland and Asia. The firm said it delivered operating capital generation of £1.3bn, in line with the prior year, as it focused on improving remittance ratios. Operating expenses were 10% below the 2011 baseline expense level and 7% lower year-on-year.Top Director BuysLancashire Holdings Limited (LRE) Director name: Mr Robert Alan SpassAmount purchased: 153,679 @ 814.49p Value: £1,251,700Kofax (KFX) Director name: Mr Greg LockAmount purchased: 30,000 @ 366.00p Value: £109,800Kofax (KFX) Director name: Mr Christopher J ConwayAmount purchased: 15,000 @ 367.00p Value: £55,050Asian Plantation Ltd. (DI) (PALM) Director name: Mr Dennis MelkaAmount purchased: 25,000 @ 200.00p Value: £50,000Kerry Group 'A' Shares (KYGA) Director name: Ms Joan GarahyAmount purchased: 1,050 @ € 47.08 Value: € 49,434Aviva (AV.) Director name: Mr Michael MireAmount purchased: 7,500 @ 439.89p Value: £32,992Shanta Gold Ltd. (SHG) Director name: Mr Mike HoustonAmount purchased: 200,000 @ 13.75p Value: £27,500Shanta Gold Ltd. (SHG) Director name: Mr Anthony DurrantAmount purchased: 200,000 @ 13.50p Value: £27,000Frenkel Topping Group (FEN) Director name: Mr Richard FraserAmount purchased: 78,525 @ 29.90p Value: £23,479BlackRock Commodities Income Inv Trust (BRCI) Director name: Mr Ed WarnerAmount purchased: 20,000 @ 111.50p Value: £22,300Top Director SellsSThree (STHR) Director name: Mr Gary EldenAmount sold: 15,149 @ 335.00p Value: £50,749Personal Group Holdings (PGH) Director name: Dr J P BarberAmount sold: 3,000 @ 451.00p Value: £13,530NR