Director dealings: Poundland's new CEO buys in as company kicked out of 250

The day after his appointment as new chief executive of Poundland, Kevin O'Byrne bought shares costing the equivalent of 547,781 Charlie Dimmock-branded wooden-handled trowels, or 547,781 Messy Mutts small microfibre towel, or 547,781 tubs of Lyles Golden Syrup in the single-priced retailer's stores.

The Irishman, who will replace chief executive Jim McCarthy when he retires in July, will begin work as CEO designate on 4 April with £574,781.52 of shares in his name.

A former divisional CEO role at B&Q and well known to the City from finance director roles at Dixons and Kingfisher, O'Byrne picked up 321,107 shares at a price of 179p apiece.

A little of its lustre was also take off O'Byrne's appointment as Wednesday night’s quarterly index review saw the discounter ejected from the FTSE 250 index.

This was behind a 2.65% fall in the shares to 165.5p by the close on Thursday.

Top Director Buys

Poundland Group (PLND)
Director name: O'Byrne,Kevin
Amount purchased: 321,107 @ 179.00p
Value: £574,781.52

Coats Group (COA)
Director name: Forman,Paul
Amount purchased: 500,000 @ 26.91p
Value: £134,550.01

Titon Holdings (TON)
Director name: Howlett,Nicholas C
Amount purchased: 25,000 @ 98.00p
Value: £24,500.00

Top Director Sells

Glanbia (GLB)
Director name: Doheny,Jeremiah
Amount purchased: 1,000 @ € 18.75
Value: € 18,750.00

Isg (ISG)
Director name: Lawther,S David
Amount purchased: 6,470 @ 171.00p
Value: £11,063.70

Isg (ISG)
Director name: Houlton,Jonathan
Amount purchased: 5,513 @ 171.00p
Value: £9,427.23

Isg (ISG)
Director name: Aldridge,Greg
Amount purchased: 1,189 @ 171.00p
Value: £2,033.19