Director dealings: AO World founder ups stake

AO World said on Friday that chief executive and founder John Roberts had purchased 154,495 ordinary shares in the FTSE 250-listed online household appliance retailer.

Roberts, who set up AO in 2000, purchased the shares on Tuesday at an average price of 143.97p each, for a total value of £222,426.45.

Also on Tuesday, AO World said it had experienced strong demand during the Covid-19 crisis but was cautious about the outlook as it reported a smaller annual loss.

AO's operating loss for the year ended 31 March narrowed to £3.8m from £13m as total revenue rose 15.9% to £1.05bn.

The group said the crisis had converted many customers to online shopping but warned that shrinking economies, fewer housing transactions and a hard Brexit could hit sales.

As of 1635 BST, AO World shares were up 6.24% at 149.80p.

Top Director Buys

Ao World (AO.)
Director name: Roberts,John
Amount purchased: 154,495 @ 143.97p
Value: £222,426.45

Stenprop Limited (STP)
Director name: Beaumont ,James
Amount purchased: 16,534 @ 120.96p
Value: £19,999.53

Contango Holdings (CGO)
Director name: Stansfield,Oliver
Amount purchased: 300,000 @ 4.50p
Value: £13,500.00

Brand Architekts Group (BAR)
Director name: McDowell,Roger
Amount purchased: 10,000 @ 120.00p
Value: £12,000.00

Wood Group (john) (WG.)
Director name: Watson,Robin
Amount purchased: 2,974 @ 220.00p
Value: £6,542.80

Wood Group (john) (WG.)
Director name: Kemp,David
Amount purchased: 1,883 @ 220.00p
Value: £4,142.60

Cobra Resources (COBR)
Director name: Maling,Daniel
Amount purchased: 250,000 @ 1.57p
Value: £3,922.50

Cobra Resources (COBR)
Director name: Maling,Daniel
Amount purchased: 75,000 @ 1.58p
Value: £1,182.75

Johnson Matthey (JMAT)
Director name: MacLeod,Robert
Amount purchased: 18 @ 2,302.22p
Value: £414.40

Johnson Matthey (JMAT)
Director name: Manz,Anna
Amount purchased: 15 @ 2,302.22p
Value: £345.33

Severfield (SFR)
Director name: Cochrane,Ian
Amount purchased: 199 @ 62.82p
Value: £125.01

Severfield (SFR)
Director name: Dunsmore,Alan
Amount purchased: 199 @ 62.82p
Value: £125.01

Top Director Sells

Honye Financial Services Limited (di) (HOYE)
Director name: Xu,Wanbao
Amount sold: 5,627,000 @ 35.00p
Value: £1,969,449.97

Halma (HLMA)
Director name: Meyers,Adam
Amount sold: 47,813 @ 2,219.19p
Value: £1,061,061.33

Instem (INS)
Director name: Reason,Phil
Amount sold: 142,000 @ 435.00p
Value: £617,699.99

Halma (HLMA)
Director name: Meyers,Adam
Amount sold: 25,441 @ 2,219.00p
Value: £564,535.80

Halma (HLMA)
Director name: Meyers,Adam
Amount sold: 22,454 @ 2,187.00p
Value: £491,069.00

Halma (HLMA)
Director name: Ward,Jennifer
Amount sold: 21,368 @ 2,187.00p
Value: £467,318.18

Halma (HLMA)
Director name: Williams,Andrew
Amount sold: 14,695 @ 2,219.19p
Value: £326,109.97

Halma (HLMA)
Director name: Williams,Andrew
Amount sold: 9,560 @ 2,219.19p
Value: £212,154.57

Instem (INS)
Director name: Gare,David
Amount sold: 40,000 @ 435.00p
Value: £174,000.00

Halma (HLMA)
Director name: Ronchetti,Marc
Amount sold: 7,192 @ 2,187.00p
Value: £157,289.05

Stenprop Limited (STP)
Director name: Beaumont ,James
Amount sold: 16,667 @ 120.00p
Value: £20,000.40