Director dealings: Lords Group, National Grid insiders buy shares

(Sharecast News) - Directors at Lords Group Trading and National Grid disclosed share purchases on Tuesday,

Lords Group Trading said chief executive Shanker Patel bought 1.4 million shares at 21.02p each on Monday, increasing his total interest - including holdings of his children, related entities and trusts - to 55.22 million shares, or 33.22% of the company.

The broader Lords concert party now controlled 86.48 million shares, representing 52.02% of the issued share capital.

It also reported that Nilesh Patel acquired 445,993 shares and Rajen Patel 94,562 shares on 14 November.

The transactions came days after Lords' stock fell heavily following a mixed trading update for the four months ended 31 October.

Shares dropped on 13 November after the group said overall revenue rose 9.6% year on year but demand in its core construction markets had weakened since late summer.

Like-for-like sales fell 1.8% in its merchanting division and 8.3% in plumbing and heating.

Patel said at the time that recovery in core markets was "taking longer than expected" but stressed the group remained well positioned to deliver operational leverage and continue its strategy of organic and acquisitive growth.

Lords reaffirmed expectations for full-year revenue of £480m rto £485m and adjusted EBITDA of £20m to £21m.

Separately, National Grid said non-executive director Iain Mackay purchased 4,500 shares, according to a notification received on 17 November.

The disclosure followed the company's release of new details about its proposed Weston Marsh A and B substations near Spalding, part of the 140 kilometre Grimsby-to-Walpole network upgrade.

The facilities, each covering an area roughly equivalent to 10 football pitches, would link into the planned pylon route and connect with incoming power from the Outer Dowsing Offshore Windfarm.

National Grid said the substations were intended to ease pressure on the electricity network in Lincolnshire, where demand was forecast to double by 2050.

A fresh round of public consultation was underway, with in-person events scheduled later this month and an online webinar on 3 December.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.

Top Director Buys

Lords Group Trading (LORD) Director name: Patel,Shanker Bhupendrabhai Amount purchased: 1,400,000 @ 21.02p Value: £294,280.00

National Grid (NG.) Director name: Mackay ,Iain Amount purchased: 4,500 @ 1,173.53p Value: £52,808.78

B&m European Value Retail S.a. (di) (BME) Director name: Jegen ,Tjeerd Amount purchased: 31,650 @ 161.00p Value: £50,954.98

Ecora Resources (ECOR) Director name: Coignard,Christine Amount purchased: 11,400 @ 92.19p Value: £10,509.66

Shearwater Group (SWG) Director name: Higgins,Phil Amount purchased: 10,000 @ 48.70p Value: £4,870.00

Shearwater Group (SWG) Director name: Hall,Jonathan David Amount purchased: 10,000 @ 48.50p Value: £4,850.00

Top Director Sells

Goodwin Plc (GDWN) Director name: Goodwin,Matthew Stanley Amount sold: 22,908 @ 19,000.00p Value: £4,352,520.00

Goodwin Plc (GDWN) Director name: Goodwin,Simon R. Amount sold: 22,908 @ 19,000.00p Value: £4,352,520.00