Director dealings: Morgan Sindall founder backs company's regeneration

Morgan Sindall's co-founder and chief executive, John Morgan, has swooped into the market with a £3.2m purchase of shares to show his confidence in the construction and regeneration group as its shares began to bounce off last month's three-year low.

Morgan, who co-founded Morgan Lovell in 1977 and then reversed it into William Sindall Plc in 1994, lifted his stake above 10% in the company by buying 500,000 shares at a price of 640p.

In July, Morgan Sindall stock hit 560p, a level not seen since summer 2013, but half-year results this month helped put the shares back on a more even keel, with strong growth as group adjusted profit before tax rose 21%.

The firm reported improved cash management, with a continued recovery in Construction & Infrastructure and further growth in Fit Out helping lift profits 21% and cut net debt by almost a third.

Top Director Buys

Morgan Sindall Group (MGNS)
Director name: Morgan,John Christopher
Amount purchased: 500,000 @ 640.00p
Value: £3,200,000.05

Matchtech Group (MTEC)
Director name: Wilkinson,Brian
Amount purchased: 47,722 @ 357.00p
Value: £170,367.54

Ssp Group (SSPG)
Director name: Swann,Kate
Amount purchased: 38 @ 12,492.00p
Value: £4,746.96

Ssp Group (SSPG)
Director name: Davies,Jonathan
Amount purchased: 38 @ 12,492.00p
Value: £4,746.96

Foreign And Colonial Inv Trust (FRCL)
Director name: Moakes,Nicholas
Amount purchased: 348 @ 498.99p
Value: £1,736.49

Schroders (SDR)
Director name: Tosato,Massimo
Amount purchased: 10 @ 2,702.00p
Value: £270.20

Schroders (SDR)
Director name: Keers,Richard
Amount purchased: 8 @ 2,702.00p
Value: £216.16

Schroders (SDR)
Director name: Harrison ,Peter
Amount purchased: 7 @ 2,702.00p
Value: £189.14

Croda International (CRDA)
Director name: Foots,Steve
Amount purchased: 4 @ 3,370.00p
Value: £134.80

Croda International (CRDA)
Director name: Layden ,Keith
Amount purchased: 4 @ 3,370.00p
Value: £134.80

Meggitt (MGGT)
Director name: Young,Stephen G
Amount purchased: 27 @ 462.30p
Value: £124.82

Meggitt (MGGT)
Director name: Webb,Doug
Amount purchased: 27 @ 462.30p
Value: £124.82

Meggitt (MGGT)
Director name: Green,Philip Ernest
Amount purchased: 27 @ 462.30p
Value: £124.82

Sainsbury (j) (SBRY)
Director name: Rogers,John
Amount purchased: 50 @ 234.00p
Value: £117.00

Firstgroup (FGP)
Director name: Barker,Mick
Amount purchased: 113 @ 102.15p
Value: £115.43

Top Director Sells

Schroders (SDR)
Director name: Tosato,Massimo
Amount sold: 58,873 @ 2,703.00p
Value: £1,591,337.23

Scapa Group (SCPA)
Director name: Davin,Joseph
Amount sold: 202,500 @ 255.00p
Value: £516,374.99

Schroders (SDR)
Director name: Tosato,Massimo
Amount sold: 6,410 @ 2,703.00p
Value: £173,262.30

Matchtech Group (MTEC)
Director name: Lewis,Keith
Amount sold: 14,822 @ 346.00p
Value: £51,284.12

Matchtech Group (MTEC)
Director name: Dyer,Tony
Amount sold: 11,895 @ 346.00p
Value: £41,156.70

Mckay Securities (MCKS)
Director name: Salmon,Giles
Amount sold: 21,012 @ 187.00p
Value: £39,292.44

Mckay Securities (MCKS)
Director name: Perkins,Simon C
Amount sold: 15,208 @ 187.00p
Value: £28,438.96

Mckay Securities (MCKS)
Director name: Mew,Steven R
Amount sold: 10,827 @ 187.00p
Value: £20,246.49