Director Deeds: A quiet fortnight for ASX 200 directors
It’s been a relatively quiet fortnight in the world of Director Deeds following a few weeks of elevated action.
Between January 6 and January 19, there were 110 buys recorded and just 15 sells, with a noticeable absence of involvement from ASX 200 directors.
It means this fortnight’s edition focuses on some of the small to medium-sized companies on the ASX.
It’s been an outstanding start to 2021 for Galan Lithium (ASX: GLN) with its share price up 67 per cent year to date. The Australian-based mineral exploration company with lithium exploration exposure in Argentina saw a significant sale by non-executive director Christopher Chalwell between January 6 and 11. Chalwell sold 1.5 million shares at an average price of around 42.2 cents. The $632,520 sale would have been worth quite a bit more had Chalwell waited another week as Galan’s share price is now around 60 cents (at time of writing). In the change of director’s interest announcement on the ASX, Galan Lithium noted Chalwell’s sale was due to a “change in family situation”.
There was also a major selldown at Harvest Technology Group (ASX: HTG) by its managing director Paul Guilfoyle. Between December 30 and January 5, Guilfoyle sold 500 indirect shares at an average price of 32.19 cents and 1.5 million direct shares at 30.64 cents. It means the combined sales are worth just over $620,000. Gulifoyle still holds over 12 million direct shares and over 20 million indirect shares and a bunch of performance rights in the company.
Diversified energy company New Hope Corporation (ASX: NHC) saw one of its non-executive directors, Ian Williams, sell his whole stake in the company on January 8. Williams sold 38,087 shares at around $1.40 a pop. The $53,458 sale means that he no longer holds any shares in New Hope.
There’s been some major sales at Strategic Elements (ASX: SOR) which is registered under the Federal Government’s pooled development program (PDF). In the early part of January, managing director Charles Murphy sold around 1.75 million shares at 24 cents – a sale worth nearly $420,000. Around the same time, director Elliot Nicholls sold 600,000 shares at that same 24 cent price, bringing him $143,342.
Onto the buys and there was a significant purchase at commercial explosives and blasting systems provider Orica (ASX: ORI) following what was a disappointing year last year. On January 14, CEO Alberto Calderon purchased 6,900 indirect shares at around $14.60, equating to an investment which was valued at a touch above $100,000.
Australian software company Technology One (ASX: TNE) also saw one of its non-executive directors, Peter Ball, top up his stake recently. On January 13, Ball purchased 3,900 at around $7.73. The $30,179 investment means that Ball now holds 21,900 shares in the company.
There was a large transaction by a non-executive director at oil and gas explorer Strike Energy (ASX: STX). Neville Power purchased 1 million shares at 27 cents a share on January 6. The $270,000 investment means Power now holds 13.6 million shares and 6 million unlisted options which are exercisable at 35 cents each before September 25, 2022.
Almond grower and processor Select Harvests (ASX: SHV) had one of its non-executive directors top up their stake on January 5. Guy Kingwill bought 10,000 shares at an average price of $5.40. The $53,981 transaction means Kingwill now holds 16,212 shares in the company.
While not quite as large in value, non-executive director at United Malt Group (ASX: UMG), Barbara Gibson also saw the early part of January as the time to top up her stake. Gibson purchased 5,000 shares at $4 per share. The $20,000 investment brings her total holding in the company to 34,895 shares.
Two non-executive directors at junior gold exploration and development company Vango Mining (ASX: VAN) have topped up their stakes in the new year. Craig Wallace purchased 262,919 shares at a trade price of 7.6 cents on January 11. The near $20,000 investment takes Wallace’s total holding in the company to 277,749. Fellow non-executive director Yan Chao Guo joined Wallace across January 11 to January 12, buying 1.2 million shares at 7.7 cents per share. The purchase, which is valued at $92,400, takes Guo’s total holding to a touch over 163 million shares.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Between January 6 and January 19 the Director Deeds activity was skewed heavily to buying: the fortnight recorded 110 buys and just 15 sells. The coverage noted a noticeable absence of ASX 200 directors, meaning most activity came from small-to-medium Australian-listed companies rather than large-cap ASX 200 names.
Several large director sell-downs were reported: Galan Lithium (ASX: GLN) non-executive director Christopher Chalwell sold 1.5 million shares at an average ~42.2¢ (about $632,520) citing a “change in family situation”; Strategic Elements (ASX: SOR) managing director Charles Murphy sold ~1.75 million shares at 24¢ (nearly $420,000) and director Elliot Nicholls sold 600,000 shares at 24¢ (about $143,342); Harvest Technology Group (ASX: HTG) managing director Paul Guilfoyle sold 500 indirect shares at 32.19¢ and 1.5 million direct shares at 30.64¢ (combined just over $620,000); and New Hope Corporation (ASX: NHC) non-executive director Ian Williams sold his entire holding of 38,087 shares at about $1.40 (roughly $53,458).
Notable buys in the period included: Orica (ASX: ORI) CEO Alberto Calderon purchasing 6,900 indirect shares at ~A$14.60 (an investment a touch above $100,000); Strike Energy (ASX: STX) non-executive Neville Power buying 1 million shares at 27¢ (about $270,000), leaving him with 13.6 million shares plus 6 million unlisted options exercisable at 35¢ before 25 Sep 2022; Technology One (ASX: TNE) non-executive Peter Ball buying 3,900 shares at ~A$7.73 (around $30,179), taking his holding to 21,900; Select Harvests (ASX: SHV) non-executive Guy Kingwill buying 10,000 shares at ~$5.40 (about $53,981); and United Malt Group (ASX: UMG) non-executive Barbara Gibson buying 5,000 shares at $4 (about $20,000). These transactions show directors actively top‑grading stakes in several small and mid-cap ASX companies during the fortnight.
Galan Lithium (ASX: GLN) had an exceptional start to 2021, up about 67% year-to-date at the time of writing. Christopher Chalwell sold 1.5 million shares between January 6 and 11 at an average price of ~42.2¢ (about $632,520). The article notes that Chalwell’s sale would have been worth noticeably more had he held the shares a week longer, since Galan’s share price was around 60¢ at the time of writing.
Key takeaways from the fortnight: director deals were dominated by buys over sells (110 buys vs 15 sells), activity was concentrated in smaller and mid‑cap ASX names rather than ASX 200 directors, and there were a mix of sizeable insider purchases and large sell‑downs—some sales had listed personal reasons (for example, Galan’s sale due to a family situation). As always, investors should view director transactions as one piece of information—useful for spotting confidence or personal liquidity events—but consider broader company fundamentals and context before making investment decisions.
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