Spectris director trims stake

Roger Stephens, Head of Commercial and Company Secretary of Spectris, the FTSE 250 high-flying instrumentation and controls group, has sold a stack of shares in the firm less than a month after the firm unveiled better-than-expected profits before tax and hike in the dividend. Stephens, who joined the firm in 1997, sold 38,343 at 1,763.55p each for a total of £676,194. Having been awarded the shares in 2009, the director was eligible to sell the shares from the 25th of last month. He now holds a total of 69,023. Adjusted profit before tax rose 45% to £191.6m from £132.3m the year before. Statutory profit before tax rose 38% to £166.0m from £119.9m in 2010. Market expectations were for headline profit before tax of £185.5m.Sales broke through the billion pounds barrier, rising 23% to £1,106.2m in 2011 from £901.9m in 2010. Acquisitions contributed 7% to sales and currency had a positive impact of 1%, so with these stripped out sales growth was 15%. The adjusted return on sales - i.e. the operating margin - improved to 18.2% from 15.8% in 2010. Top Director BuysPorta Communications (PTCM) Director name: Mr David E WrightAmount purchased: 536,000 @ 6.75p Value: £36,180STV Group (STVG) Director name: Mr David J B ShearerAmount purchased: 25,000 @ 111.50p Value: £27,875Mckay Securities (MCKS) Director name: Mr Giles SalmonAmount purchased: 15,000 @ 131.00p Value: £19,650Blackrock Frontiers Investment Trust (BRFI) Director name: Mr Sarmad N. ZokAmount purchased: 20,000 @ 79.45p Value: £15,8901pm (OPM) Director name: Mr Ronald RussellAmount purchased: 10,000,000 @ 0.100p Value: £10,000Mytrah Energy Ltd (MYT) Director name: Mr Peter Neville Amount purchased: 10,000 @ 100.00p Value: £10,000Mytrah Energy Ltd (MYT) Director name: Mr Vikram KailasAmount purchased: 10,000 @ 100.00p Value: £10,000Top Director SellsMorgan Crucible Co (MGCR) Director name: Mr Mark RobertshawAmount sold: 489,705 @ 353.36p Value: £1,730,422Morgan Crucible Co (MGCR) Director name: Mr Mark RobertshawAmount sold: 283,806 @ 353.36p Value: £1,002,857Morgan Crucible Co (MGCR) Director name: Mr Kevin DangerfiledAmount sold: 283,806 @ 353.36p Value: £1,002,857Morgan Crucible Co (MGCR) Director name: Mr Andrew HostyAmount sold: 267,111 @ 353.36p Value: £943,863Henderson Group (HGG) Director name: Mr Andrew FormicaAmount sold: 729,596 @ 120.17p Value: £876,683Spectris (SXS) Director name: Mr Roger StephensAmount sold: 38,343 @ 1,763.55p Value: £676,194Morgan Crucible Co (MGCR) Director name: Mr Paul Andrew BoultonAmount sold: 111,296 @ 353.36p Value: £393,276Henderson Group (HGG) Director name: Mr Shirley Garrood Amount sold: 91,000 @ 120.17p Value: £109,346Henderson Group (HGG) Director name: Mr David JacobAmount sold: 11,152 @ 120.17p Value: £13,400NR