(Sharecast News) - Ascential revealed on Monday that chief executive Duncan Painter had sold 300,000 ordinary shares in the FTSE 250-listed business-to-business media firm.

Painter, who took over as CEO in 2011, offloaded the shares on Friday at an average price of 280.07p each, for a total value of £840,197.97.

Ascential said earlier in the month that it had agreed to sell its digital commerce business and its product design business, WGSN, for a combined £1.4bn. The digital commerce business will be sold to Omnicom for around £741.0m, while WGSN will be sold to Apax Partners for up to £700.0m.

As of 1625 GMT, Ascential shares were down 2.06% at 275.40p.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com

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Director name: Brand,Martin

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