Member Info for jange

Andes Energia (AEN) Director name: Mr Rudolph Berends Amount purchased: 179,628 @ 31.13p Value: £55,918

Mothercare (MTC) Director name: Mr Simon Calver Amount purchased: 18,310 @ 325.25p Value: £59,553

Top Director Buys Rotala (ROL) Director name: Mr John Gunn Amount purchased: 250,000 @ 43.00p Value: £107,500

Sierra Rutile Ltd (SRX) Director name: Mr Jan Alex Castro Amount purchased: 113,750 @ 60.00p Value: £68,250

Jan Castro, the non-Executive Chairman of Sierra Rutile, an AIM-listed producer of titanium feedstock industrial minerals, bought 113,750 ordinary shares just two weeks after the group posted a 39 per cent increase in total rutile production for the year. The shares, which were of no par value, were priced at 60p each, costing the director £68,250 in total. It followed a similar transaction on January 11th when he purchased 460,000 shares at 53p per share. He currently holds 1.46m shares in the group, equal to 0.28% of the issued share capital. Fourth quarter rutile production totalled 25,502 tonnes, giving a full-year figure of 94,493 tonnes, while ilmenite production came in at 6,378 tonnes in the fourth quarter and 22,008 tonnes for the full year. The company's share price has risen more than 21% in the past month, equal to 12p.

Rotala announced that the acquisition would enable the company to expand and consolidate its position in the areas of Worcestershire, which were contiguous to its main areas of operation in the Birmingham conurbation. By integrating the acquired depots into its current depot network, it stated that it would be able to take advantage of operating efficiencies generated by the acquisition.

Rotala has acquired certain of First Group's bus operations in Worcestershire for a cash consideration of 1.5m pounds, according to a trading update posted on Thursday. The company will acquire two freehold depots, one in Kidderminster and the other in Redditch, 36 vehicles, and various items of plant and equipment and will continue to run the services that First currently operates from these depots. The Kidderminster depot comprises a site of two acres which can accommodate up to 60 vehicles, while the Redditch depot, built about 35 years ago, can accommodate about 50 vehicles. In the year ending June 30th 2012, the depots reported combined revenues of approximately £5.2m and an operating loss of £0.27m. They employ about 120 staff collectively.

Judges Scientific gained three per cent Thursday after the group said it maintained momentum in sales, profit and cash flow last year. In a trading update, the manufacturer of scientific instruments estimated that adjusted earnings per share for the financial year to December 31st would meet market expectations. Results were buoyed by an active year with two acquisitions and a £3.0m placing. The group purchased Global Digital Systems and KE Developments during the period as the businesses strengthened its position and expanded its product offering. "The group's order book at December 31st represents almost eleven weeks' sales. This is higher than at the previous year-end but the figure is flattered by the inclusion, for the first time, of Global Digital Systems," the company said in a statement. The organisation forecast another year of progress ahead following turbulent global economic conditions in 2012.

Sean Riddell, EMIS Group Chief Executive Officer, said: "2012 was a very busy year for EMIS Group. We accelerated the roll-out to GPs of EMIS Web, our transformational healthcare system, and RX Systems continued to grow its estate. "EMIS enables an increasing number of healthcare professionals to use and share patient data in a secure, time efficient and cost-effective manner and we are excellently placed to play an integral part in delivering the IT strategy of the NHS." The group's share price had fallen 12.78% to 785p at 11:07 on Thursday morning.

Shares in clinical software provider Emis Group fell sharply after the company announced that its group adjusted operating profit was forecast to fall short of expectations. The company, which supplies services to GP surgeries and other healthcare practitioners, stated that group adjusted operating profit was expected to be marginally below the analysts' expectations. This was largely a result of accelerated staff and recruitment costs associated with the Emis roll out and slight revenue shortfalls, the company stated. Group revenues were expected to be at least �86m, up from �73.2m in 2011, but the group said that this had been partially offset by lower-than-planned revenues from the Australian defence contracts, training and integrated care service. During the year, the roll-out of EMIS Web for GPs transitioned from controlled to accelerated status, the group reported. By the end of the year 1,676 EMIS Web GP installations had been completed of which 901 were in the second half of 2012. This compared to 406 in the first half of 2012. After taking into account practice mergers and closures, there were 1,635 live by the end of 2012.

During the fourth quarter, Petro-SIM Production was launched. It incorporates Infochem's intellectual property in its platform which is to be used in the upstream market. Several trials are underway with major independents, national oil companies and engineering contractors. "We enter 2013 with a strong order book, new products and a business that is better able to deliver profitable growth from both its consulting and software operations," the firm added. KBC is currently restructuring its consultancy business and will release an update in the full results when released in March.

KBC Advanced Technologies advanced over six per cent Thursday after the consultancy and software company forecast strong annual results. The group expects a cash balance above £9.0m for the year to December 31st, exceeding market expectations. Net cash at the year-end was pegged at £1.0m. The last quarter of 2012 showed recovery culminating the award of the $100m consulting and software contract with EP Petroecuador (EPP). Software applications and training materials were delivered to EPP last month. A delivery of consulting services milestones will take place over the next four years. The company performed particularly well in its software business, including Infochem which was acquired in June. "Significant progress has been made in developing an enhanced range of products for the downstream, upstream and gas production markets," the company said.

Specialist packaging company API Group has issued a trading update relating to its formal sale process, addressing recent share price movement. The company said that interested parties had been provided with access to management and due diligence information about API, but it acknowledged that to date indicative proposals had been below the closing mid-market price of API shares of 90p. A statement from the company read: "The board wishes to emphasize that there can be no certainty that any formal offer will be made for the company, or even proposed, or as to the level of any proposal or offer that may be made." "The board reserves the right to alter any aspect of the formal sale process or to terminate it at any time and in such cases will make an announcement as appropriate. The board also reserves the right to reject any approach or terminate discussions with any interested party or participant at any time."

The group stated that the decision to extend the agency's presence was part of a growth strategy aimed at replicating its success in Leicester in the West Midlands, as well as being able to attract new talent in the Birmingham area.

The Mission Marketing Group has won a contract with motorcycle brand Harley Davidson via its subsidiary, Leicester-based 'Big' group, which is preparing to undertake expansion. The group stated that Big intended to expand its operations with the opening of a full-service office in the West Midlands. It stated that this is would be headed up by Jamie Heath and Stu Perry. The company stated that a new account team was also being put together which would be dedicated to supporting Harley Davidsom EMEA. Dylan Bogg, Chief Executive Officer of Big, described Harley-Davidson as "an iconic global brand" and explained that the agency would help celebrate its 110 years as a result of the appointment. "Under Jamie, we've put together a new account team dedicated to support Harley-Davidson which has a wealth of experience in producing work across global markets and working in multiple languages. To say it's created a real buzz around the agency is an understatement."

Insurance broker Brightside Group said Friday it expects to report 'significant growth' in turnover and profit in line with market forecasts. Shares jumped 6.21% to 23.50p at 8:40 after the company projected a 5.0% increase in total policy sales to 4.6m for the year to December 31st, including discontinued and marginal lines. Results were driven by the group's lead generation business which focused on producing high converting, and profitable lead sources for use within broking units. Online car insurance service eCar was also a big contributor to revenues, delivering a 13% increase in annual policy sales. The total value of premium finance loans generated £167.0m, a 23% increase from the previous year. "Through increased policy sales, combined with strong performances from the group's non broking divisions the board expects to report results for the year in line with market expectations," Brightside said in a statement. The company expects a record year and an increase in earnings per share. A strong balance sheet, supported by operational cash flows, allowed the group to declare its maiden interim dividend in October of 0.22p per share. Brightside posted a circular to all shareholders requesting approval to buy back up to a total of 10% of the current issued share capital.

Speciality, salt and biochemical divisions all recorded volume gains but prices fell in 2012. HaiKe's gross margin halved in 2012 compared to the previous year as selling, general and administrative expenses surged due to enhanced marketing efforts. "[Last year] was a difficult year for the refinery industry in China," said Xiaohong Yang, Executive Chairman. "Despite the anticipated easing of the pricing mechanism, we expect the operating environment and domestic economy to remain challenging for refineries in the current year. "The speciality/salt and biochemicals divisions, our core growth businesses, delivered a profitable performance and looking forward, the board remains focused on the company's long term growth by continuing to develop and expand its higher margin speciality chemicals which we believe will improve the profitability of the group."

HaiKe Chemical Group said Friday it was likely to report an annual loss as weakened demand presented challenges for Chinese operations last year. The China-based chemical and biochemical business said oil refineries were impacted by a sluggish economy for the year to December 31st. A deterioration in market conditions affected trading in the last quarter, particularly in December, despite a strong start to the first half. Tighter margins and lower utilisation rates in the refinery division also pushed down results. The group's subsidiary Hebang was expected to report losses following a lower than forecast utilisation rate as a result of the change in the market for its first product Trichloroethylene, which suffered price drop and cost rise. The second phase of construction at Hebang is ongoing and is expected to complete in March after which it will produce new products, namely caustic soda and epichlorohydrin, which are used to produce aluminium and epoxy resin respectively. However, the company improved sales and marketing efforts in refined oil products, which helped HaiKe achieve record high group turnover.

AIM-listed Lupus Capital is changing its name to Tyman on February 1st, according to an announcement issued by the company on Friday morning. The company felt that the name Lupus Capital did not clearly represent the operations of the group as it implied the group was a financial institution, rather than a building products manufacturing business. It stated that this had caused confusion among potential investors, customers and suppliers. With effect from February 4th 2013, the group's London Stock Exchange Tradable Instrument Display Mnemonic will change from LUP.L to TYMN.L. Tyman shares will continue to be traded on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange and Lupus Capital stated that shareholdings would be unaffected by the name change. It added that existing share certificates should be retained as they would remain valid for all purposes. After February 2013, new share certificates issued will bear the name Tyman PLC.

Geong International plunged 30 per cent after the China-focused software group announced it missed an interest payment last year. The payment, in relation to a £2.5mn convertible unsecured loan stock (CULS), was due on December 31st. However it wasn't made until January 15th following unexpected delays in State approval of the transfer of funds. The group said it was working with creditor Hanafin Investments to reach agreement on the repayment. "As a result of the late payment which represents a default under the terms of the CULS, the holders, Hanafin Investments have requested immediate repayment of the CULS. "Whilst the company has adequate resources to make the repayment it will not be able to secure the necessary approvals from [the State Administration Of Foreign Exchange of China] to do so in the short term. "Accordingly, the Company is seeking to reach an understanding with Hanafin as to an acceptable and achievable timetable for the repayment."