Director dealings: New Afentra appointee invests, Dunelm insider covers tax bill

(Sharecast News) - Two London-listed companies, Afentra and Dunelm Group, were among those reporting director and senior management share transactions on Tuesday, following recent board and market developments at both firms. Afentra, the AIM-listed upstream oil and gas company focused on West Africa, reported that Acorn Investment Management, a person closely associated with newly appointed non-executive director Andrew Osborne, purchased 225,000 ordinary shares in the company at an average price of 47.11p per share.

The transaction, valued at around £106,000, was made on 10 November.

It followed Afentra's announcement on Monday of Osborne's appointment as an independent non-executive director and chair of the audit committee.

Afentra said Osborne, a former Harbour Energy executive, was bringing more than three decades of senior leadership experience in oil and gas, capital markets, and mergers and acquisitions.

His addition to the board was welcomed by Afentra chairman Thierry Tanoh, who highlighted Osborne's "deep financial, transaction and governance experience" as enhancing the company's oversight and capital discipline.

Separately, homeware retailer Dunelm Group disclosed that group general counsel and company secretary Luisa Wright exercised 4,787 nil-cost options under the company's long-term incentive plan, and subsequently sold 2,257 shares at 1,121p each to cover tax and National Insurance liabilities arising from the exercise.

Both transactions took place on 10 November, with the sale conducted on the London Stock Exchange.

The disclosure came as Dunelm's shares recovered from a recent drop following an upgrade last week from RBC Capital Markets, which lifted its rating to "outperform" and raised its price target to 1,300p.

At the time, the bank cited stronger gross margin momentum, robust cash generation and expanding market share as reasons for its improved outlook.

RBC forecast 2026 revenue growth of just over 5%, and said it saw potential for further shareholder returns, including a special dividend early next year.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.

Top Director Buys

Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) Director name: Darwazah,Said Amount purchased: 100,000 @ 1,616.00p Value: £1,615,999.98

Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) Director name: Darwazah,Said Amount purchased: 100,000 @ 1,605.00p Value: £1,604,999.92

Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) Director name: Darwazah,Said Amount purchased: 100,000 @ 1,592.00p Value: £1,592,000.01

Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) Director name: Darwazah,Said Amount purchased: 100,000 @ 1,525.00p Value: £1,525,000.00

Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) Director name: Darwazah,Said Amount purchased: 70,000 @ 1,541.00p Value: £1,078,699.99

Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) Director name: Darwazah,Said Amount purchased: 60,000 @ 1,589.00p Value: £953,400.02

Metlen Energy & Metals (MTLN) Director name: Mytilineos,Evangelos Amount purchased: 10,000 @ 42.15 Value: 421,525.00

Afentra (AET) Director name: Osborne,Andrew Amount purchased: 225,000 @ 47.11p Value: £105,995.92

Mercantile Investment Trust (the) (MRC) Director name: Beagles,Rachel Amount purchased: 30,000 @ 246.73p Value: £74,019.00

Mercantile Investment Trust (the) (MRC) Director name: Beagles,Rachel Amount purchased: 10,771 @ 247.04p Value: £26,608.45

Hays (HAS) Director name: Kirby,Anthony Amount purchased: 10,000 @ 58.28p Value: £5,827.91

F&c Investment Trust (FCIT) Director name: Smith,Rain Newton Amount purchased: 81 @ 1,217.96p Value: £986.55

F&c Investment Trust (FCIT) Director name: Hollond,Beatrice Amount purchased: 81 @ 1,217.96p Value: £986.55

Judges Scientific (JDG) Director name: Ormsby,Bradley Leonard Amount purchased: 3 @ 5,540.00p Value: £166.20

Judges Scientific (JDG) Director name: Cicurel,David Amount purchased: 3 @ 5,540.00p Value: £166.20

Taylor Wimpey (TW.) Director name: Daly,Jennie Amount purchased: 142 @ 105.49p Value: £149.80

Taylor Wimpey (TW.) Director name: Carney,Chris Amount purchased: 142 @ 105.49p Value: £149.80

Spectris (SXS) Director name: Noon,Angela Amount purchased: 3 @ 4,108.67p Value: £123.26

Spectris (SXS) Director name: Heath ,Andrew Amount purchased: 3 @ 4,108.67p Value: £123.26

Spectris (SXS) Director name: Harding ,Derek Amount purchased: 3 @ 4,108.67p Value: £123.26

Top Director Sells

Dunelm Group (DNLM) Director name: Wright,Luisa Amount sold: 2,257 @ 1,121.00p Value: £25,300.97

Staffline Group (STAF) Director name: Spain,Thomas Amount sold: 43,036 @ 45.50p Value: £19,581.38