Two Optimal Payments execs reduce stakes

Two executives at online global payment provider Optimal Payments reduced their stakes in the AIM-listed company last week, the firm revealed on Tuesday.The transactions came in the aftermath of a bullish trading update in which the company upped its guidance for the full year.Optimal Payments, which specialises in safe payment and money-transfer services, said that President and Chief Executive officer Joel Leonoff sold 346,500 shares at an average price of 175.35p each on May 24th for around £608,000. The transaction took his interest down to just over 2.5m shares, equal to a 1.69% stake.Two days earlier, Chief Financial Offer Keith Butcher exercised 245,000 share options under the firm's 2011 long-term incentive plan and subsequently sold 200,000 shares for 175.35p each. The group said that the £350,700 transaction was to satisfy tax obligations and option exercise costs. The 45,000 shares retained lifted his holding to nearly 180,000 shares, which equates to a 0.12% interest.The stock has advanced strongly since the start of the year rising over 50%. The company reported in March that revenues surged 40% in 2012 driven mainly by its NETBANX Straight Through Processing (STP) division which delivered organic growth of 60%. This unit now accounted for over three quarters of group revenues last year.On May 22nd, the company then revealed that given a strong start to the current financial year, revenues are now forecast to be ahead of expectations. Meanwhile, due to operating gearing, the board now expects earnings "will now significantly exceed its original expectations". Top Director BuysVirgin Media Inc. (VMED) Director name: Mr Neil BerkettAmount purchased: 37,594 @ 1,675.32p Value: £629,820Virgin Media Inc. (VMED) Director name: Mr Neil BerkettAmount purchased: 37,594 @ 1,675.32p Value: £629,820Symphony International Holdings Ltd. (SIHL) Director name: Mr Anil ThadaniAmount purchased: 250,000 @ $0.80 Value: $199,550Steppe Cement Ltd (STCM) Director name: Mr Malcolm Ronald BrownAmount purchased: 252,880 @ 31.50p Value: £79,657Sierra Rutile Ltd (SRX) Director name: Mr Richard Lloyd Lister Amount purchased: 110,000 @ 50.00p Value: £55,000Virgin Media Inc. (VMED) Director name: Mr Neil BerkettAmount purchased: 2,486 @ 1,234.48p Value: £30,689Virgin Media Inc. (VMED) Director name: Mr Neil BerkettAmount purchased: 2,486 @ 1,234.48p Value: £30,689Avanti Communications Group (AVN) Director name: Mr Paul S WalshAmount purchased: 12,572 @ 261.00p Value: £32,813Avanti Communications Group (AVN) Director name: Mr Paul S WalshAmount purchased: 12,572 @ 261.00p Value: £32,813Greencore Group (GNC) Director name: Mr John J. MoloneyAmount purchased: 25,000 @ 125.00p Value: £31,250Top Director SellsVirgin Media Inc. (VMED) Director name: Mr Neil BerkettAmount sold: 40,080 @ 3,302.24p Value: £1,323,538Virgin Media Inc. (VMED) Director name: Mr Neil BerkettAmount sold: 40,080 @ 3,302.24p Value: £1,323,538Optimal Pay (OPAY) Director name: Mr Joel Leonoff Amount sold: 346,500 @ 175.35p Value: £607,588Optimal Pay (OPAY) Director name: Mr Keith ButcherAmount sold: 200,000 @ 175.35p Value: £350,700