(Sharecast News) - Challenger Energy revealed on Monday that chair Iain McKendrick had acquired 35.45m ordinary shares in the AIM-listed oil and gas company.

McKendrick, who formerly served as the chairman of Iona Energy, purchased the shares on Friday at an average price of 0.14p each, for a total value of £49,750.24.

Following the transaction, McKendrick holds a total of 84.45m ordinary Challenger shares, representing approximately 0.8% of the company's issued share capital.

As of 1600 BST, Challenger shares were down 0.36% at 0.14p.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com

Top Director Buys

Pearson (PSON)

Director name: Kordestani,Omid

Amount purchased: 7,259 @ $12.47

Value: $74,642.54

Challenger Energy Group (CEG)

Director name: McKendrick,Iain

Amount purchased: 35,459,904 @ 0.14p

Value: £49,750.24

(ART)

Director name: Hunter,Mark Roderick

Amount purchased: 124,260 @ 38.50p

Value: £47,840.10

Pearson (PSON)

Director name: Pitkethly,Graeme

Amount purchased: 1,611 @ 985.20p

Value: £15,871.57

Pearson (PSON)

Director name: Coutu,Sherry

Amount purchased: 957 @ 985.20p

Value: £9,428.36

Pristine Capital (PRIS)

Director name: Sinclair,Neil

Amount purchased: 800,000 @ 0.55p

Value: £4,400.00

Pearson (PSON)

Director name: Wallen,Lincoln

Amount purchased: 430 @ 985.20p

Value: £4,236.36

Pearson (PSON)

Director name: Lee,Esther

Amount purchased: 389 @ $12.47

Value: $3,999.99

Pearson (PSON)

Director name: Thomas,Annette

Amount purchased: 383 @ 985.20p

Value: £3,773.32

Pearson (PSON)

Director name: Hardiman ,Alex

Amount purchased: 323 @ $12.47

Value: $3,321.33

Pearson (PSON)

Director name: Dolan,Alison

Amount purchased: 298 @ 985.20p

Value: £2,935.90

Mortgage Advice Bureau (holdings) (MAB1)

Director name: Imlach,Nathan James McLean

Amount purchased: 254 @ 835.00p

Value: £2,120.90

Top Director Sells

Halma (HLMA)

Director name: Ronchetti,Marc

Amount sold: 7,162 @ 2,680.00p

Value: £191,941.59

Halma (HLMA)

Director name: Ward,Jennifer

Amount sold: 5,738 @ 2,680.00p

Value: £153,778.40