Director Shareholding

RNS Number : 0181H

Watkin Jones plc

07 March 2018

 

For immediate release

7 March 2018

Watkin Jones plc

('Watkin Jones', the 'Group' or the 'Company')

Director Shareholding

Watkin Jones plc (AIM:WJG), a leading UK developer and constructor of multi occupancy property assets, with a focus on the student accommodation and build to rent sectors, announces that Mark Watkin Jones (CEO) has today sold 3,825,000 ordinary shares of one penny each in the Company, representing approximately 1.5% of the issued share capital, in order to facilitate final settlement of divorce proceedings. Following the trade, Mark Watkin Jones holds 3,825,000 ordinary shares, which are subject to a lock-up expiring in 180 days from today, and the Watkin Jones Family* continue to hold, in total, 70,584,407 ordinary shares representing 27.64% of the issued share capital.

* Comprising the ordinary shares held by Mark Watkin Jones, together with 38,901,422 ordinary shares held by the G&J Watkin Jones 1992 Settlement Trust and 27,857,985 ordinary shares held by the Watkin Jones Will Trust, in both of which Mark Watkin Jones holds an interest as a potential beneficiary.

Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them.

1	Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated
a)	Name	Mark Watkin Jones
2	Reason for the notification
a)	Position/status	Chief Executive Officer
b)	Initial notification /Amendment	Initial notification
3	Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor
a)	Name	Watkin Jones plc
b)	LEI	2138009X19O21NU5SG79
4	Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted
a)	Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument Identification code	Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each ISIN: GB00BD6RF223
b)	Nature of the transaction	Sale of ordinary shares
c)	Price(s) and volume(s)	Price      Shareholder No. of shares       195p Mark Watkin Jones 3,825,000
d)	Aggregated information - Aggregated      volume - Price	Volume: 3,825,000 Weighted average price: 195p
e)	Date of the transaction	7 March 2018
f)	Place of the transaction	London Stock Exchange, AIM

- Ends -

For further information:

Watkin Jones plc
Mark Watkin Jones, Chief Executive Officer	Tel: [phone]
Phil Byrom, Chief Financial Officer	www.watkinjonesplc.com
Peel Hunt LLP (Nominated Advisor & Joint Broker)		Tel: [phone]
Mike Bell / Justin Jones		www.peelhunt.com
Jefferies Hoare Govett (Joint Broker)		Tel: [phone]
Max Jones / Will Soutar		www.jefferies.com

Media enquiries:

Buchanan
Henry Harrison-Topham / Richard Oldworth Jamie Hooper / Steph Watson	Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]	www.buchanan.uk.com

Notes to Editors

Watkin Jones is a leading UK developer and constructor of multi occupancy property assets, with a focus on the student accommodation and build to rent sectors.  The Group has strong relationships with institutional investors, and a reputation for successful, on-time-delivery of high quality developments.  Since 1999, Watkin Jones has delivered more than 34,500 student beds across 107 sites.  In addition, Fresh Property Group, the Group's specialist accommodation management company, manages more than 16,000 student beds on behalf of its institutional clients.  Watkin Jones has also been responsible for over 50 residential developments, ranging from starter homes to executive housing and apartments.  The Group is now expanding its development and management operations into the build to rent sector.

The Group's competitive advantage lies in its experienced management team and business model, which enables it to offer an end-to-end solution for investors, delivered entirely in-house with minimal reliance on third parties, across the entire life cycle of an asset.

Watkin Jones was admitted to trading on AIM in March 2016 with the ticker WJG.L.  For additional information please visit: www.watkinjonesplc.com

 

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