Monday 7th July 2008
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Lonmin chief executive tops up holding

Lonmin chief executive tops up holding

14.05.2008

This genius investor does dizzying levels of research to uncover...Half Price Shares!

Lonmin's chief executive Brad Mills spent the equivalent of £350,000 on shares in the platinum miner, the company announced today.

Mills - a US national who has previously held senior roles with the mining company BHP, helping to bring about its merger with Billiton - bought 10,000 shares at $67.36 each.

Last week, Lonmin, which mines for platinum in South Africa, reported a strong rise in half year profits, helped by surging prices for the precious metal.

Pre-tax profit rose to $396m for the six months ended 31 March 2008, from $132m the year before, on strong platinum prices. Sales for the period rose to $907m from $631m.

"Financial results for the first six months were at record levels on the back of strong platinum group metals price appreciation," Mills said.

Platinum prices rose an average of 43% over the last 12 months to $1,578 per ounce.

While power outages in South Africa have curbed Lonmin's platinum output - figures for last month show the company's platinum production dropped 22% to 346,892 ounces - they have also been instrumental in pushing up prices for the metal.

Top Director Buys

Jardine Matheson (Singapore) (JAR)

Director name: Mr Henry Keswick

Amount purchased: 123,074 @ $31.55

Value: $3,882,739

Jardine Matheson (Singapore) (JAR)

Director name: Mr Benjamin William Keswick

Amount purchased: 78,679 @ $31.55

Value: $2,482,165

Jardine Matheson (Singapore) (JAR)

Director name: Mr Simon L Keswick

Amount purchased: 78,679 @ $31.55

Value: $2,482,165

Jardine Matheson (Singapore) (JAR)

Director name: Mr E P K Weatherall

Amount purchased: 52,390 @ $31.55

Value: $1,652,800

Jardine Matheson (Singapore) (JAR)

Director name: Mr Benjamin William Keswick

Amount purchased: 32,183 @ $31.55

Value: $1,015,309

Jardine Matheson (Singapore) (JAR)

Director name: Mr Adam Phillip Charles Keswick

Amount purchased: 23,883 @ $31.55

Value: $753,461

Lonmin (LMI)

Director name: Mr Bradford Mills

Amount purchased: 10,000 @ 3,439.33p

Value: £343,933

Jardine Matheson (Singapore) (JAR)

Director name: Lord Leach of Fairford

Amount purchased: 13,960 @ $31.55

Value: $440,410

Jardine Matheson (Singapore) (JAR)

Director name: Mr Henry Keswick

Amount purchased: 12,635 @ $31.55

Value: $398,609

Empresaria Group (EMR)

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Director name: Mr Tony Martin

Amount purchased: 400,000 @ 96.00p

Value: £384,000

Top Director Sells

TUI Travel (TT.)

Director name: Mr Peter James Long

Amount sold: 828,096 @ 259.30p

Value: £2,147,253

Addax Petroleum (AXC)

Director name: Mr Jean Claude Gandur

Amount sold: 20,000 @ 2,559.19p

Value: £511,838

Addax Petroleum (AXC)

Director name: Mr Jean Claude Gandur

Amount sold: 20,000 @ 2,553.13p

Value: £510,626

Addax Petroleum (AXC)

Director name: Mr Jean Claude Gandur

Amount sold: 20,000 @ 2,553.03p

Value: £510,606

WH Smith (SMWH)

Director name: Ms Kate Swann

Amount sold: 230,000 @ 435.90p

Value: £1,002,570

Addax Petroleum (AXC)

Director name: Mr Jean Claude Gandur

Amount sold: 20,000 @ 2,547.32p

Value: £509,464

Addax Petroleum (AXC)

Director name: Mr Jean Claude Gandur

Amount sold: 20,000 @ 2,544.01p

Value: £508,802

Addax Petroleum (AXC)

Director name: Mr Stephen Paul de Heinrich

Amount sold: 10,000 @ 2,558.42p

Value: £255,842

Addax Petroleum (AXC)

Director name: Mr Stephen Paul de Heinrich

Amount sold: 10,000 @ 2,551.30p

Value: £255,130

James Halstead (JHD)

Director name: Mr Mark Halstead

Amount sold: 30,000 @ 555.00p

Value: £166,500



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FTSE 100 - 07 Jul 08