According to ASX filings, directors of ASX 200 shares were busy last week, with six names adding to their holdings.
The companies include Santos Ltd (ASX: STO), Technology One Ltd (ASX: TNE), AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP), Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN), ASX Ltd (ASX: ASX), and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP).
Let's take a closer look.
Regulatory filings revealed purchases across a range of ASX 200 shares, from energy and banking to technology and mining.
At Santos, director Vickki McFadden increased her indirect holdings, acquiring 24,000 shares at an average price of $6.58 apiece.
Fellow director John Gerard Lydon also increased his position by purchasing 29,684 shares at an average price of $6.73.
At Technology One, director Patrick O'Sullivan bought another 3,174 shares for his position. He completed the purchase in an on-market transaction for $99,709.
Meanwhile, over at AMP, director Kathleen Anne Bailey-Lord acquired 28,571 shares at $1.40 apiece through a trustee for her vehicle, The Bailey-Lord Superannuation Fund.
Andrew Hamilton Best also added 34,288 units at $1.43 each to his holding, bringing his position to 232,000 shares in the financial services company.
Directors of the ASX itself, David Clarke and Wayne Byres, nabbed stakes up the ASX 200 share.
Clarke acquired 1,500 shares through two separate transactions on 17 and 20 February, whereas Byres bought 2,500 shares in on-market trade.
Two Bendigo Bank directors were busy increasing their stakes last week.
Vicki Anne Carter increased her indirect interest in the ASX 200 share by purchasing 9,066 units at $11.08 each, while Patricia Margaret Payn acquired 2,500 shares at $11.19 apiece through her super fund.
Finally, BHP Group saw three directors increase their stakes. Ross McEwan, former CEO of National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), purchased 25,000 shares at $40.53.
This brings McEwan's total indirect holdings to 35,000 shares.
Dion Weisler (the former CEO of HP) acquired 2,500 BHP shares at an average price of $40.48 apiece, and Christine O'Reilly increased her holdings by 1,200 BHP shares at $41.03 per share.
A full list of the transactions and their value is seen in the table below.
| Director | Company | Shares Purchased | Total Spend |
| Vickki McFadden | STO | 24,000 | $157,920 |
| John Gerard Lydon | STO | 29,684 | $199,996 |
| Patrick O'Sullivan | TNE | 3,174 | $99,709 |
| Kathleen Anne Bailey-Lord | AMP | 28,571 | $40,084 |
| Andrew Hamilton Best | AMP | 34,288 | $49,032 |
| Vicki Anne Carter | BEN | 9,066 | $100,517 |
| Patricia Margaret Payn | BEN | 2,500 | $27,975 |
| David Clarence Clarke | ASX | 1,500 | $102,000 |
| Wayne Stephen Byres | ASX | 500 | $16,810 |
| Ross McEwan | BHP | 25,000 | $1,013,250 |
| Dion Weisler | BHP | 2,500 | $101,200 |
| Christine O'Reilly | BHP | 1,200 | $49,236 |
Several directors, including those in energy, mining, financial services, and technology, increased their holdings in ASX 200 shares last week.
I'd stress that while this kind of activity is often seen as a vote of confidence, it's also important to remember that insider transactions can be related to personal wealth and estate planning and can often be pre-determined well ahead of time.
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