Director dealings: Greencore, Unilever insiders buy up shares

(Sharecast News) - Director dealings at Greencore Group and Unilever were disclosed to the market in London on Wednesday. Greencore said its non-executive chair, Leslie van de Walle, together with a person closely associated, purchased 40,000 shares in the convenience food manufacturer at 236.2p per share on 19 November.

The transaction came as the company continued efforts to secure approval for its planned takeover of Bakkavor Group, which remained under scrutiny by the Competition and Markets Authority.

The CMA this week launched a consultation on Greencore's proposed undertakings to address competition concerns, including the planned divestment of its chilled soups and sauces facility in Bristol.

The regulator has until 12 January to decide whether the undertakings are sufficient to avoid a phase two inquiry.

Unilever separately reported that non-executive director Zoe Yujnovich bought 1,610 shares at 4,466p on 18 November.

The disclosure followed news that the consumer goods group was proposing to cut around 50 roles at its long-standing Port Sunlight site in Wirral as part of a drive to improve efficiencies in its liquid operations.

It has begun a consultation with staff and said it would seek to avoid compulsory redundancies, with redeployment and voluntary exit options under review.

The cuts came amid a broader effort to streamline operations across the group's UK footprint.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.

Top Director Buys

Metlen Energy & Metals (MTLN) Director name: Mytilineos,Evangelos Amount purchased: 15,000 @ 40.35 Value: 605,200.48

Metlen Energy & Metals (MTLN) Director name: Mytilineos,Evangelos Amount purchased: 5,000 @ 40.94 Value: 204,699.99

Greencore Group (cdi) (GNC) Director name: Walle,Leslie Van de Amount purchased: 40,000 @ 236.20p Value: £94,480.00

Unilever (ULVR) Director name: Yujnovich,Zoe Amount purchased: 1,610 @ 4,466.00p Value: £71,902.60

Touchstone Exploration Inc Npv (di) (TXP) Director name: McKinnon,Kenneth R. Amount purchased: 865,000 @ $0.12 Value: $58,850.50

B&m European Value Retail S.a. (di) (BME) Director name: Jegen ,Tjeerd Amount purchased: 31,450 @ 157.87p Value: £49,649.17

Vodafone Group (VOD) Director name: Carter,Stephen A Amount purchased: 52,770 @ 94.04p Value: £49,626.12

Diploma (DPLM) Director name: Huse,Geraldine Amount purchased: 750 @ 3,997.00p Value: £29,977.50

Firstgroup (FGP) Director name: Wilson CBE,Lena Amount purchased: 11,000 @ 178.50p Value: £19,635.00

Animalcare Group (ANCR) Director name: Hutchens,Douglas Amount purchased: 7,500 @ 249.00p Value: £18,675.00

Aeorema Communications (AEO) Director name: Owen,Richard Amount purchased: 25,000 @ 66.00p Value: £16,500.00

Barratt Redrow (BTRW) Director name: Bickerstaffe,Katie Amount purchased: 2,913 @ 375.40p Value: £10,935.40

Rightmove (RMV) Director name: Hook,Ruaridh Amount purchased: 1,195 @ 482.00p Value: £5,759.90

Likewise Group (LIKE) Director name: Simpson,Andrew Amount purchased: 16,250 @ 27.00p Value: £4,387.50

Cambridge Nutritional Science (CNSL) Director name: Millard ,Jeremy Amount purchased: 168,776 @ 2.37p Value: £3,999.99

Cambridge Nutritional Science (CNSL) Director name: Rand,Carolyn Amount purchased: 100,000 @ 2.30p Value: £2,300.00

Aviva (AV.) Director name: Lambert,Pippa Amount purchased: 229 @ 642.00p Value: £1,470.18

Cambridge Nutritional Science (CNSL) Director name: Rand,Carolyn Amount purchased: 50,000 @ 2.37p Value: £1,182.50

Touchstone Exploration Inc Npv (di) (TXP) Director name: McKinnon,Kenneth R. Amount purchased: 5,000 @ $0.12 Value: $340.18

Activeops (AOM) Director name: Jeffery,Richard John Amount purchased: 60 @ 250.00p Value: £150.00

Mitie Group (MTO) Director name: Bentley,Phillip Amount purchased: 90 @ 166.00p Value: £149.40

Top Director Sells

Associated British Foods (ABF) Director name: Weston,George G Amount sold: 43,660 @ 2,103.00p Value: £918,169.83

Associated British Foods (ABF) Director name: Tonge,Eoin Amount sold: 34,818 @ 2,103.00p Value: £732,222.56

Law Debenture Corp. (LWDB) Director name: Jackson,Denis Amount sold: 67,485 @ 1,022.00p Value: £689,696.72