News

Troubled support services group PKL Holdings was given a helping hand by its own management today as dealings in its shares inspired a rally.

The company announced that the wife of Paul Rogers, PKL's chief executive, has snapped up 1.96m shares at 20p per share for £393,300.

The purchase takes the aggregate shareholding of Paul Rogers and his wife to 8.02m shares or 22.2% of the existing share capital.

Shares in the group slumped yesterday when the group warned budget constraints in the NHS have had a significant impact on the Healthcare business and would lead to substantially lower revenues in the current year.

PKL axed its dividend and said its short-term outlook remains challenging.

It does not expect an improvement in its Healthcare business until the financial issues within the NHS improve. "Subject to an improvement in NHS spending, the board is confident of a recovery in the medium to longer-term."

Top Director Buys

PKL Holdings (PKL)
Director name: Mr Paul Rogers
Amount purchased: 1,966,500 @ 20.00p
Value: £393,300

Northgate (NTG)
Director name: Mr M Ballinger
Amount purchased: 10,000 @ 950.00p
Value: £95,000

Bankers Investment Trust (BNKR)
Director name: Mr R W Killingbeck
Amount purchased: 25,000 @ 364.00p
Value: £91,000

Carclo (CAR)
Director name: Mr Ian Williamson
Amount purchased: 130,000 @ 67.00p
Value: £87,100

Superscape Group (SPS)
Director name: Mr Kevin J Roberts
Amount purchased: 400,000 @ 11.00p
Value: £44,000

Havelock Europa (HVE)
Director name: Mr Grant Findlay
Amount purchased: 20,000 @ 137.00p
Value: £27,400

Zetar (ZTR)
Director name: Marion Sears
Amount purchased: 5,000 @ 463.00p
Value: £23,150

Sarantel A (SLG)
Director name: Mr John Uttley
Amount purchased: 200,000 @ 11.50p
Value: £23,000

Avesco (ASO)
Director name: Mr Michael Gibbins
Amount purchased: 20,000 @ 92.00p
Value: £18,400

easyJet (EZJ)
Director name: Mr David M C Michels
Amount purchased: 3,500 @ 440.75p
Value: £15,426
Top Director Sells

Accuma (ACG)
Director name: Mr Charles Taylor
Amount sold: 165,000 @ 291.30p
Value: £480,645

Carclo (CAR)
Director name: Mr Ian Williamson
Amount sold: 118,500 @ 67.00p
Value: £79,395

Bankers Investment Trust (BNKR)
Director name: Mr R W Killingbeck
Amount sold: 4,000 @ 363.80p
Value: £14,552

British American Tobacco (BATS)
Director name: Mr Paul A Rayner
Amount sold: 966 @ 1,410.40p
Value: £13,624

British American Tobacco (BATS)
Director name: Mr Paul A Rayner
Amount sold: 966 @ 1,410.40p
Value: £13,624