Phillip Meeson caught investors on the hop over the past week after adding to his stake in package holidays and budget flyer Jet2 (JET). This is a surprising move considering that Meeson, executive chairman and architect-in-chief of Jet2’s transformation over several decades, is planning his retirement.
The outgoing boss added 13,000 shares in a deal worth £146,120, bolstering his 18.3% stake in the business.
The former RAF pilot and aerobatics champion developed the business from a small cargo-carrier in the 1980’s into the UK’s biggest package holidays company and third largest budget airline. He plans to step down from the board on 6 July, moving to a non-executive chairman position, although he'll remain hands-on until a suitable successor is found.
Market is too negative on Meeson’s Jet2 departure, creating a new buying opportunity
Meeson has created enormous value for investors. Morningstar data shows 18.4% annualised total returns (share price gain/loss plus dividends) over the last decade versus a little more than 5% for the FTSE 100.
CENTRALNIC DIRECTOR LOADS UP
Internet domain name and online marketing company CentralNic (CNIC:AIM) announced (12 July) that non-executive director Horst Siffrin has bagged a cool £2.75 million after selling 2.4 million shares between 5 July and 7 July at an average price of 114.8p per share.
The sale was conducted through a company associated with Siffrin. As a result of the sale Siffrin owns 32 million shares which represents just over 11% of the company’s issued share capital.
The company announced a ‘material’ £30 million increase in its second share buyback programme on 3 July. The board thinks this is in shareholders' best interest given the cash generative nature of the business, and the soggy share price this year.
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The shares have lost around 20% of their value since the start of the year.
LOUNGERS CHAIR SETTLES TAX BILL
Chairman and co-founder Alex Reilley of all-day dining operator Loungers (LGRS:AIM) sold 200,000 shares at 190p on 12 July netting £380,000.
Following the sale Reilley is holds 6.75 million shares representing 6.5% of the company’s issued share capital. The transaction was made to settle a tax bill.
The sale was made on the day of the company’s annual results which showed like for like sales growth of 7.4% for the year to 16 April as revenues increased 19% to £283.5 million. The group has delivered industry leading 17.6% like for like sales growth over the last three years.
Loungers plans to up the pace of new openings with 34 expected to open in 2024 compared with 29 in 2023. The company believes there is scope for ‘at least’ 600 loungers across the UK, a whopping 50% upgrade on prior expectations.
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