Bostock reduces stake in Marks and Spencer before exit

Kate Bostock, who is quitting her role as Executive Director of General Merchandise at Marks and Spencer, has taken advantage of the recent rise in the retailer's share price with a double sale of shares late on Thursday. Bostock, who announced her exit in July but will stay on until October, sold a total of 244,877 shares, taking her stake in the company to just 64,526 shares. 122,160 of the shares were sold post exercise for 356p a pop, while the remaining 122,717 shares were traded in for 359.40p. In total Bostock pocketed £875,934 from the transaction. The director is leaving M&S "by mutual consent to pursue other interests" following a disappointing set of second-quarter results which saw a 2.8% decline in like-for-like UK sales. M&S's share price was given a boost earlier this month after it was reported that financiers were considering making a £6bn bid for the group. The stock has gained over 11% in the past month. Top Director Buys LSL Property Services (LSL) Director name: Mr Simon Embley Amount purchased: 180,000 @ 200.00p Value: £360,000 LSL Property Services (LSL) Director name: Mr David Newnes Amount purchased: 50,000 @ 200.00p Value: £100,000 North Atlantic Smaller Companies Inv Trust (NAS) Director name: Mr Christopher H B Mills Amount purchased: 3,500 @ 1,020.00p Value: £35,700 The Real Good Food Company (RGD) Director name: Mr Peter Cecil Salter Amount purchased: 50,000 @ 42.50p Value: £21,250 Media Corporation (MDC) Director name: Mr Mark Andrew Butt Amount purchased: 3,000,000 @ 0.60p Value: £18,000 F&C Asset Management (FCAM) Director name: Mr Edward Bramson Amount purchased: 17,000 @ 89.97p Value: £15,295 Top Director Sells News Corp. 'A' Shares (NCRA) Director name: Mr Rupert Murdoch Amount sold: 182,539 @ $23.30 Value: $4,253,159 News Corp. 'A' Shares (NCRA) Director name: Mr Chase Carey Amount sold: 77,290 @ $23.30 Value: $1,800,857 News Corp. 'A' Shares (NCRA) Director name: Mr Arthur Siskind Amount sold: 73,491 @ $23.30 Value: $1,712,340 News Corp. 'A' Shares (NCRA) Director name: Mr James Murdoch Amount sold: 71,358 @ $23.30 Value: $1,662,641 News Corp. 'A' Shares (NCRA) Director name: Mr David DeVoe Amount sold: 64,310 @ $23.30 Value: $1,498,423 News Corp. 'A' Shares (NCRA) Director name: Mr Rupert Murdoch Amount sold: 55,066 @ $23.30 Value: $1,283,038 News Corp. 'A' Shares (NCRA) Director name: Mr Rupert Murdoch Amount sold: 50,183 @ $23.30 Value: $1,169,264 News Corp. 'A' Shares (NCRA) Director name: Mr Chase Carey Amount sold: 43,476 @ $23.30 Value: $1,012,991 News Corp. 'A' Shares (NCRA) Director name: Mr Rupert Murdoch Amount sold: 40,438 @ $23.30 Value: $942,205 News Corp. 'A' Shares (NCRA) Director name: Mr Rupert Murdoch Amount sold: 36,852 @ $23.30 Value: $858,652