CEO at Travis Perkins sells more than 50,000 shares

15th Aug 2012 16:06

Geoff Cooper, the Chief Executive of builders' merchant Travis Perkins, has sold a chunk of shares just a week after the firm's Finance Director ditched a similar sized stake. CEO Cooper, who joined the company in February 2005 and was appointed Chief Executive a month later, sold 51,776 at 1,091.93p a pop, pocketing a total of £565,358. Having sold 14,465 shares in his own name and the rest in his wife's, Copper now holds a beneficial interest of 132,190 shares. The week previously, Finance Director Paul Hampden Smith traded in 51,994 shares at 1,061.00p in the name of his wife, Sarah. Three weeks ago the company posted a 25% rise in pre-tax profits in the first half of the year, despite construction being hampered by the wettest three months since records began. Reported pre-tax profit after exceptional items rose to £162m for the six months ended June 30th compared to £129.2m the same time a year earlier. Group revenue climbed 2.7% to £2.41bn and was down 0.7% on a like-for-like basis. On the day Cooper's sale was announced, the share price dropped 2.47% to 1,067p. Over the past year it has risen over 31%, equal to 256p. Top Director BuysCanaccord Financial Inc. (CF.) Director name: Mr Paul ReynoldsAmount purchased: 5,000 @ 303.42p Value: £15,171Top Director SellsTravis Perkins (TPK) Director name: Mr Geoff CooperAmount sold: 51,776 @ 1,091.93p Value: £565,358