Director dealings: Intertek boss backs strategy with £3.2m investment

Not quite a year after being appointed chief executive of Intertek, André Lacroix has splashed out on £3.27m shares as a sizeable vote of confidence in the direction he is taking the testing and safety specialist.

The ex-Inchape, Euro Disney and Burger King boss bought 100,000 shares at a price of 3,271.55p apiece.

In early March, Lacroix, who began in the role last May, reported solid full year results and delivered a strategic vision for the FTSE 100 company.

Seeing attractive growth opportunities in the $250bn quality assurance market as corporations seek to reduce risk in their increasingly complex operations and supply chains, he said he aimed to "move the centre of gravity of the company towards the attractive growth and margin areas in the industry".

"This strategy will see us pursue a disciplined approach to performance management and capital allocation as we invest organically and make value enhancing acquisitions to strengthen our portfolio."

As part of the strategy, Investec will invest circa 5% of revenue in capital expenditure and yet target progressive dividends with a dividend payout ratio of circa 40% of earnings.

Top Director Buys

Intertek Group (ITRK)
Director name: Lacroix,Andre
Amount purchased: 100,000 @ 3,271.55p
Value: £3,271,550.75

F&c Global Smaller Companies (FCS)
Director name: Dixon,Josephine
Amount purchased: 2,000 @ 1,018.00p
Value: £20,360.00

Best Of The Best (BOTB)
Director name: Hargrave,Colin
Amount purchased: 6,030 @ 227.00p
Value: £13,688.10

Firstgroup (FGP)
Director name: O'Toole,Tim
Amount purchased: 8,069 @ 98.00p
Value: £7,907.62

Oxford Biomedica (OXB)
Director name: Tallarigo ,Lorenzo
Amount purchased: 41,083 @ 6.43p
Value: £2,639.58

Firstgroup (FGP)
Director name: Barker,Mick
Amount purchased: 593 @ 98.00p
Value: £581.14

Aberdeen Asian Income Fund Ltd. (AAIF)
Director name: Arthur,Peter
Amount purchased: 290 @ 172.75p
Value: £500.97

Sse (SSE)
Director name: Alexander,Gregor
Amount purchased: 18 @ 1,489.00p
Value: £268.02

Wetherspoon (j.d.) (JDW)
Director name: Hutson,John
Amount purchased: 21 @ 695.95p
Value: £146.15

Paypoint (PAY)
Director name: Earle,George
Amount purchased: 15 @ 862.50p
Value: £129.38

Paypoint (PAY)
Director name: Watkin-Rees,Tim
Amount purchased: 15 @ 862.50p
Value: £129.38

Wetherspoon (j.d.) (JDW)
Director name: Cacioppo,Su
Amount purchased: 18 @ 695.95p
Value: £125.27

Fidessa Group (FDSA)
Director name: Hamer,John
Amount purchased: 5 @ 2,487.40p
Value: £124.37

Fidessa Group (FDSA)
Director name: Skelton ,Andy
Amount purchased: 5 @ 2,487.40p
Value: £124.37

Fidessa Group (FDSA)
Director name: Aspinwall,Chris
Amount purchased: 5 @ 2,487.40p
Value: £124.37

Paypoint (PAY)
Director name: Taylor,Dominic
Amount purchased: 14 @ 862.50p
Value: £120.75

Top Director Sells

Henry Boot (BHY)
Director name: Sutcliffe,John T
Amount purchased: 7,100 @ 213.00p
Value: £15,123.00

Best Of The Best (BOTB)
Director name: Hargrave,Colin
Amount purchased: 6,030 @ 226.00p
Value: £13,627.80