VP exec raises stake after first-half results

Neil Stothard, the Managing Director of equipment rental firm VP, made nearly half a million pounds through the partial sale of shares awarded under the group's long-term incentive plan (LTIP), taking advantage of a strong surge in the stock over the last year.Stothard, who has been on the board since 1997, exercised 175,935 LTIP shares on Monday and subsequently sold 82,689 of them at a price of 559.5p each for a total of £462,645.The remaining shares boosted his stake to 776,116, equal to a 1.93% stake in VP.The transaction came three weeks after the firm impressed the market with its half-yearly results, as it reported a 17% jump in first-half profits on revenues which rose 9%.The stock is currently trading at an all-time high, up 82% since the start of the year.Top Director BuysMedgenics Inc. (Reg S) (MEDG) Director name: Sol J. BarerAmount purchased: 20,000 @ 329.52p Value: £65,906Micro Focus International (MCRO) Director name: Mr Kevin LoosemoreAmount purchased: 7,950 @ 778.50p Value: £61,891Planet Payment Inc. (PPT) Director name: Mr Carl Joseph WilliamsAmount purchased: 25,000 @ 142.95p Value: £35,737Arcontech Group (ARC) Director name: Mr Richard LastAmount purchased: 51,000,000 @ 0.11p Value: £56,100London Mining (LOND) Director name: Mr Michael MilesAmount purchased: 50,000 @ 102.33p Value: £51,165Arcontech Group (ARC) Director name: Mr Matthew Jeffs Amount purchased: 19,000,000 @ 0.11p Value: £20,900BG Group (BG.) Director name: Mr Patrick W. ThomasAmount purchased: 995 @ 1,221.40p Value: £12,153Avingtrans (AVG) Director name: Mr Stephen KingAmount purchased: 8,052 @ 145.00p Value: £11,675BG Group (BG.) Director name: Mr Haw-Kuang LimAmount purchased: 899 @ 1,221.40p Value: £10,980BCTop Director SellsVP (VP.) Director name: Mr Neil A StothardAmount sold: 82,689 @ 559.50p Value: £462,645BC