BAE Systems's heir presumptive picks up shares

BAE's heir presumptive to its current chief, Ian King, picked up a sizeable number of shares the day after being assigned responsibility for the aerospace engineer's UK defence and cyber units.

Charles Woodburn was now widely-tipped to replace Kind when he stepped down from the helm of the company, possibly in 2017.

Woodburn picked up 26,498 shares at an individual price of 536p for a total consideration of £142,029.28 on 22 September, the company said in a statement.

On 16 September, ratings agency S&P downgraded the aerospace group's long-term dent rating from BBB+ to BBB, assigning a 'neutral' outlook to the same.

S&P analysts referenced the company's weak debt metrics in the face of a substantial shortfall in its pensions as their chief concern.

Top Director Buys

Bae Systems (BA.)
Director name: Woodburn,Charles
Amount purchased: 26,498 @ 536.00p
Value: £142,029.28

Smart Metering Systems (SMS)
Director name: Greenwood,Miriam
Amount purchased: 4,650 @ 545.50p
Value: £25,365.75

Highcroft Investment (HCFT)
Director name: Hewitt,John
Amount purchased: 2,000 @ 883.50p
Value: £17,670.00

Northern Bear (NTBR)
Director name: Roy Jennings,Graham
Amount purchased: 22,222 @ 45.00p
Value: £9,999.90

Puricore (PURI)
Director name: Spicer,Charles
Amount purchased: 17,319 @ 28.87p
Value: £5,000.00

Puricore (PURI)
Director name: Spicer,Charles
Amount purchased: 17,482 @ 28.60p
Value: £4,999.85

Johnson Matthey (JMAT)
Director name: Garner,Nicholas
Amount purchased: 12 @ 3,287.00p
Value: £394.44

Johnson Matthey (JMAT)
Director name: Kelleher,Annette
Amount purchased: 12 @ 3,287.00p
Value: £394.44

Johnson Matthey (JMAT)
Director name: Garner,Nicholas
Amount purchased: 12 @ 3,287.00p
Value: £394.44

Johnson Matthey (JMAT)
Director name: Farrant,Simon
Amount purchased: 12 @ 3,287.00p
Value: £394.44

Johnson Matthey (JMAT)
Director name: Walker,John
Amount purchased: 9 @ 3,287.00p
Value: £295.83

Johnson Matthey (JMAT)
Director name: MacLeod,Robert
Amount purchased: 9 @ 3,287.00p
Value: £295.83

Law Debenture Corp. (LWDB)
Director name: Adams,Michael
Amount purchased: 29 @ 505.50p
Value: £146.59

Fidessa Group (FDSA)
Director name: Skelton ,Andy
Amount purchased: 5 @ 2,476.00p
Value: £123.80

Fidessa Group (FDSA)
Director name: Aspinwall,Chris
Amount purchased: 5 @ 2,476.00p
Value: £123.80

Fidessa Group (FDSA)
Director name: Hamer,John
Amount purchased: 5 @ 2,476.00p
Value: £123.80

Top Director Sells

Alliance Pharma (APH)
Director name: Dawson,John
Amount sold: 3,000,000 @ 45.25p
Value: £1,357,499.96

Fisher (james) & Sons (FSJ)
Director name: Henry,Nick
Amount sold: 7,989 @ 1,628.00p
Value: £130,060.93

Globaldata (DATA)
Director name: Pyper,Simon
Amount sold: 18,000 @ 375.00p
Value: £67,500.00

Fisher (james) & Sons (FSJ)
Director name: Henry,Nick
Amount sold: 3,940 @ 1,650.00p
Value: £65,010.00