Travis Perkins CEO sells 50,000 shares ahead of next year's departure

The wife of the out-going Chief Executive of Travis Perkins on Thursday sold 50,000 shares on the same day the FTSE 100 builders merchant reported 'encouraging' sales momentum in the third quarter despite challenging conditions in retail markets. The transaction reduced Geoff Cooper's stake in the group to 81,206 shares, equal to less than 0.1% of the issued share capital. The shares were disposed of in three tranches, with 10,000 sold for 1,746.34p, 20,000 at 1,743.06p and the final 20,000 for 1,718.62p. Cooper pocketed at total of £866,970. The group revealed on Thursday that total sales improved by 8.6% in the three months to September 30th, with like-for-like (LFL) sales growing 6.3%. This represented a decent pick-up from the 1.6% top-line growth (+0.9% LFL) in the first half.The General and Specialist Merchanting divisions reported strong LFL growth of 10.7% and 10.6%, respectively, while the Plumbing & Heating unit increased LFL sales by 5%.However, LFL sales in the Consumer division were flat on last year, well below the 8.6% growth recorded in the two months to June 30th. The company said that its Wickes and Tile Giant chains received "little benefit" from the warmer summer weather given their "limited range in outdoor categories".Nevertheless, the company still maintained its guidance for full-year earnings per share of around 100p, slightly below the 108.9p earned in 2012.Top Director BuysJupiter Primadona Growth Trust (JPG) Director name: Mr Thomas H BartlamAmount purchased: 7,500 @ 1,346.50p Value: £100,988Plus500 Ltd (DI) (PLUS) Director name: Mr Michael (Mark) Charles FairbairnAmount purchased: 50,000 @ 148.00p Value: £74,000Modern Water (MWG) Director name: Mr Robert Clarke Amount purchased: 200,000 @ 31.25p Value: £62,500Jupiter Primadona Growth Trust (JPG) Director name: Mr Graham FullerAmount purchased: 3,500 @ 1,346.00p Value: £47,110Man Group (EMG) Director name: Mr Andrew HortonAmount purchased: 50,000 @ 86.95p Value: £43,475Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd. (DI) (TLDH) Director name: Mr Guy ElliottAmount purchased: 639,918 @ 5.68p Value: £36,347Arbuthnot Banking Group (ARBB) Director name: Mr Henry AngestAmount purchased: 1,000 @ 1,000.00p Value: £10,000Top Director SellsTravis Perkins (TPK) Director name: Mr Geoff CooperAmount sold: 20,000 @ 1,743.06p Value: £348,612Travis Perkins (TPK) Director name: Mr Geoff CooperAmount sold: 20,000 @ 1,718.62p Value: £343,724Legal & General Group (LGEN) Director name: Dr Nigel WilsonAmount sold: 119,216 @ 201.90p Value: £240,697Travis Perkins (TPK) Director name: Mr Geoff CooperAmount sold: 10,000 @ 1,746.34p Value: £174,634Next (NXT) Director name: Mr Francis SalwayAmount sold: 1,468 @ 5,155.00p Value: £75,675Stadium Group (SDM) Director name: Mr Antony Inskip Amount sold: 42,820 @ 50.00p Value: £21,410