By Rory Gallivan
Date: Wednesday 16 Apr 2008
LONDON (ShareCast) - Hilton Food chief executive Robert Watson topped up his holding in the meatpacker yesterday after it reported strong full year results, the company confirmed today.
Watson, who received an OBE in 2000 for services to the meat industry, bought 40,000 shares for 180p each, or a total of £72,000, lifting his stake to just over 2.9m shares, around 4.2% of the company.
Shares in the Huntingdon-based company jumped yesterday after it reported higher 2007 revenues even after the poor summer weather slowed sales of meat for barbecues.
Revenues in the year to December rose to £577.7m from £526.7m in 2006, while operating profit before LSE flotation costs climbed to £17.4m from £15.7m.
However, pre-tax profits fell to £13.7m from £15.5m due to £1.8m in costs associated with listing the company in May last year.
Turnover at Hiltons operations in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and Sweden rose to £551.8m from £517.9m. Central European turnover rose to £25.9m from £8.8m.
I am very pleased to report that 2007 has seen continuing progress, in line with the board's expectations, with strong volume growth across all territories, the completion of two key capacity expansion projects, developing opportunities in Central Europe and continued strong cash generation, Watson said.
Top Director Buys
General Electric (GEC)
Director name: Mr Ralph S Larsen
Amount purchased: 7,500 @ 20.04
Value: 150,300
General Electric (GEC)
Director name: Mr Ralph S Larsen
Amount purchased: 7,500 @ 19.97
Value: 149,775
Hilton Food (HFG)
Director name: Mr Robert Watson
Amount purchased: 40,000 @ 180.00p
Value: £72,000
Telit Communications (TCM)
Director name: Mr Oozi Cats
Amount purchased: 50,000 @ 76.50p
Value: £38,250
Telit Communications (TCM)
Director name: Mr Giovanni Stella
Amount purchased: 50,000 @ 76.50p
Value: £38,250
Quayle Munro (QYM)
Director name: Mr Peter M R Norris
Amount purchased: 2,000 @ 1,025.00p
Value: £20,500
Quayle Munro (QYM)
Director name: Mr Ian Q Jones
Amount purchased: 2,000 @ 1,025.00p
Value: £20,500
General Electric (GEC)
Director name: Mr Robert J Swieringa
Amount purchased: 1,000 @ 20.05
Value: 20,050
F&C Managed Portfolio Trust Growth Shares (FMPG)
Director name: Mr Alistair Stewart
Amount purchased: 10,000 @ 100.00p
Value: £10,000
Top Director Sells
Banco Santander Central Hispano (BNC)
Director name: Mr Manuel Soto Serrano
Amount sold: 93,270 @ 1,052.59p
Value: £981,751
JKX Oil & Gas (JKX)
Director name: Dr Dr Paul Davies
Amount sold: 170,000 @ 492.30p
Value: £836,910
Dignity (DTY)
Director name: Mr Mike McCollum
Amount sold: 68,198 @ 735.00p
Value: £501,255
Dignity (DTY)
Director name: Mr Andrew Davies
Amount sold: 51,470 @ 735.00p
Value: £378,304
Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group (RSA)
Director name: Mr Simon P G Lee
Amount sold: 157,891 @ 127.80p
Value: £201,785
Low and Bonar (LWB)
Director name: Mr Paul Forman
Amount sold: 157,690 @ 107.60p
Value: £169,674
BATM Advanced (BVC)
Director name: Mr Koti Gavish
Amount sold: 150,000 @ 42.00p
Value: £63,000
Aukett Fitzroy Robinson Group (AUK)
Director name: Mr Raul Curiel
Amount sold: 618,847 @ 8.50p
Value: £52,602
Capita Group (CPI)
Director name: Mr Kevin Dady
Amount sold: 3,000 @ 683.00p
Value: £20,490
