Director dealings: 3i execs buy the dip, AstraZeneca CFO offloads shares

(Sharecast News) - London-listed companies 3i Group and AstraZeneca disclosed fresh director dealings on Wednesday, with senior executives at the private equity group adding to their holdings while AstraZeneca's finance chief sold American Depositary Shares. 3i Group said chief executive Simon Borrows purchased 30,000 shares at 3,366.7p each on the London Stock Exchange on 13 November.

Peter Wirtz, another senior manager, bought 25,000 shares at 3,415.53p on the same day.

A further transaction was reported on 14 November, when Karen McKellar, the wife of director Peter McKellar, acquired 4,000 shares at 3,344.6736p.

All three purchases were notified to the company this week.

The transactions followed a sharp fall in 3i's share price on Wednesday, when the stock slid 11.4% to 3,606p after the FTSE 100 group flagged a tougher investment environment despite reporting a stronger second quarter.

Borrows said at the time that the private equity portfolio had "maintained good momentum" but warned that the transaction market and wider backdrop would remain challenging into the second half of the financial year.

The update highlighted continued strong growth at discount retailer Action, which drove a 13% total return and lifted net asset value to 2,857p per share.

AstraZeneca meanwhile reported that chief financial officer Aradhana Sarin sold 15,000 American Depositary Shares on 12 November at a price equivalent to $88.6345 per ordinary share.

The sale was executed on the Nasdaq, and disclosed to the company a day later.

Two ADSs represent one AstraZeneca share.

It came as AstraZeneca's shares traded near record highs, buoyed by stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings and a US drug-pricing agreement reached in October.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.

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Resolute Mining Limited Npv (di) (RSG) Director name: Parker ,Adrienne Amount purchased: 5,263 @ $4,894.59 Value: $21,242,043.66

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