Directors deals: Pearson chairman picks up 50,000 ADRs

Pearson’s newly-appointed chairman stepped in at the end of the week to scoop up a large chunk of shares.

On 2 March, Sidney Taurel picked up 50,000 American Depositary Receipts in the global education publisher at an individual price of $12.10 apiece, for a total of $600,500 (£422,292).

His buying spree came as the firm’s stock had nearly retraced their drop following the release of the company’s half-year targets.

Taurel replaced Glen Moreno, who had held that post for a decade, on 1 January 2016.

“We are not bulls, but shares still look interesting given the post 9M capitulation/downgrades and FY update ‘new plan’,”
Investec analyst Steve Liechti said in a research report sent to clients.

In the same note, Liechti reiterated his ‘add’ recommendation.

Shares in Pearson finished higher by 1.69% to 871.50p on Friday.

Top Director Buys

Pearson (PSON)
Director name: Taurel,Sidney
Amount purchased: 50,000 @ $12.01
Value: $600,500

Lancashire Holdings Limited (LRE)
Director name: Whelan,Elaine
Amount purchased: 29,500 @ 561.25p
Value: £165,568.76

Rps Group (RPS)
Director name: Bakewell ,Robert Miller
Amount purchased: 5,000 @ 1,892.50p
Value: £94,625.00

Mandarin Oriental International (singapore) (MDO)
Director name: Dickie,Stuart
Amount purchased: 50,000 @ $1.32
Value: $66,082.00

Lancashire Holdings Limited (LRE)
Director name: Whelan,Elaine
Amount purchased: 8,990 @ 555.19p
Value: £49,911.86

Jpmorgan Emerging Markets Inv Trust (JMG)
Director name: Kaletsky,Anatole
Amount purchased: 8,090 @ 552.00p
Value: £44,656.80

Bba Aviation (BBA)
Director name: Rudd,Nigel
Amount purchased: 13,250 @ 202.47p
Value: £26,827.94

Aberdeen Smaller Companies High Income Trust (ASCH)
Director name: Rose,Barry M
Amount purchased: 2,500 @ 193.76p
Value: £4,844.00

Bunzl (BNZL)
Director name: Larmon,Patrick
Amount purchased: 155 @ $22.85
Value: $2,568.16

Marshalls (MSLH)
Director name: Clarke,Jack
Amount purchased: 51 @ 2,941.00p
Value: £1,499.91

British American Tobacco (BATS)
Director name: Stevens,Ben
Amount purchased: 4 @ 3,990.00p
Value: £159.60

British American Tobacco (BATS)
Director name: Durante,Nicandro
Amount purchased: 4 @ 3,990.00p
Value: £159.60

Marshalls (MSLH)
Director name: Coffey,Martyn
Amount purchased: 51 @ 294.10p
Value: £149.99

Rps Group (RPS)
Director name: Hearne,Alan
Amount purchased: 72 @ 175.00p
Value: £126.00

Rps Group (RPS)
Director name: Williams,Phil
Amount purchased: 71 @ 175.00p
Value: £124.25

Rps Group (RPS)
Director name: Young,Gary
Amount purchased: 71 @ 175.00p
Value: £124.25

Top Director Sells

Merlin Entertainments (MERL)
Director name: Carr ,Andrew
Amount sold: 750,000 @ 456.34p
Value: £3,422,549.84

Jpmorgan Emerging Markets Inv Trust (JMG)
Director name: Kaletsky,Anatole
Amount sold: 4,203 @ 548.00p
Value: £23,032.44