Don Robert, the chief executive of credit checking firm Experian, has raised more than £4m from a share sale the day after the company reported higher interim profits despite tough market conditions.

US division boss Chris Callero made a £164,000 profit on 120,150 options he took up on 18 November. He also raised another £2.78m from the sale of other shares.

Finance director Paul Brooks cashed in £1.99m worth of shares.

All three men raised significant amounts of cash from option sales in October. They have subsequently sold nearly all the option shares they retained at that time - Brooks sold exactly the same number as he retained.

Reported profit before tax in the six months to September 2009 rose to $351m from $318m a year earlier.

Benchmark pre-tax profit, which excludes exceptional items, rose 5% to $437m. Broker Charles Stanley had forecast underlying pre-tax profit of $425m.

Revenue dipped to $1,874m from $2,017m, but was 1% higher at constant exchange rates, driven by a strong performance in Latin America. Year on year organic revenue growth was 1% for the group as a whole.

Net debt at the end of September was $2,048m, down $62m over the six month period.

Robert was upbeat in the trading statement: 'In the second half, we continue to expect modest organic revenue growth and, for the year as a whole, remain on track to grow profits at constant currency and deliver strong free cash flow'.


Top Director Buys
Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS)
Director name: Mr Philip R Hampton
Amount purchased: 250,000 @ 36.85p
Value: £92,125

Globus Maritime (GLBS)
Director name: Mr George Karageorgiou
Amount purchased: 71,000 @ 62.67p
Value: £44,496

FBD Holdings (FBH)
Director name: Mr Andrew Langford
Amount purchased: 3,000 @ € 6.80
Value: € 20,400

Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS)
Director name: Mr John McFarlane
Amount purchased: 50,000 @ 37.77p
Value: £18,885


Top Director Sells

Experian Group (EXPN)
Director name: Mr Don Robert
Amount sold: 700,000 @ 592.60p
Value: £4,148,200

Experian Group (EXPN)
Director name: Mr Chris Callero
Amount sold: 475,000 @ 585.00p
Value: £2,778,750

Experian Group (EXPN)
Director name: Mr Paul Brooks
Amount sold: 337,645 @ 588.32p
Value: £1,986,433

Experian Group (EXPN)
Director name: Mr Chris Callero
Amount sold: 120,150 @ 592.29p
Value: £711,636

Petmin (PTMN)
Director name: Mr Lebogang A K Mogotsi
Amount sold: 500,000 @ 14.00p
Value: £70,000

Petmin (PTMN)
Director name: Mr Lebogang A K Mogotsi
Amount sold: 500,000 @ 14.00p
Value: £70,000

Related share prices
Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) share price
FBD Holdings (FBH) share price
Experian (EXPN) share price
Petmin Ltd. (DI) (PTMN) share price
Globus Maritime Ltd. (GLBS) share price