Sharewatch: Options for Riley; Optare directors build stakes

ANTHONY Riley, chief financial officer at the Lancashire telecoms company Daisy Group, has been awarded share options worth some £31,000.

Mr Riley has been granted nil cost options – an option that can be exercised without payment – over 36,430 shares in the company which closed at 86p each yesterday.

The options are conditional on Mr Riley committing to maintain a minimum investment in Daisy shares until March 31, 2013. A number of other senior executives also benefited from the incentive.

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FOLLOWING a deal for the Indian vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland to buy 25% of Darwen-based bus maker Optare, the company has declared two directors bought a large number of shares in January.

Chairman John Fickling and chief executive Jim Sumner both spent £10,000 each on 180,000 shares in January. At the time the shares were trading at 5.75p.

Following the trade Mr Fickling holds 0.9% of the business while Mr Sumner has 0.49%.