3i's chairman Sir Adrian Montague has splashed out on shares in the private equity company, taking 20,000 shares at 291.71p a time, nearly £60,000-worth.

Sir Adrian was appointed chairman of the company in May last year.

3i last week announced it took a £198m hit on its investment in Enterprise, the provider of government services, due to tough economic conditions in Britain. Gross return in the year to 31 March fell to £601m from £843m.

Sir Adrian hailed a rise in the company's investments over the period.

"High quality new investment has always been central to future value growth for our shareholders," he said.

3i, which earlier this month announced an investment in camping equipment retailer Go Outdoors, described the environment as "generally improving but somewhat fragile."

"Significant regional differences are evident and it is a little early to assess the longer term effects of the geopolitical developments in the Middle East, the natural disaster in Japan, and increased energy and other commodity prices," the company said.

Top Director Buys

Symphony International Holdings Ltd. (SIHL)
Director name: Mr Anil Thadani
Amount purchased: 160,000 @ $0.75
Value: $120,000

3i Group (III)
Director name: Sir Adrian Montague CBE
Amount purchased: 20,000 @ 291.71p
Value: £58,342

Anite (AIE)
Director name: Mr Christopher Humphrey
Amount purchased: 342 @ 7,285.00p
Value: £24,915

Amati VCT (ATI)
Director name: Mr Peter Lawrence
Amount purchased: 22,298 @ 92.83p
Value: £20,699

UK Mail Group (UKM)
Director name: Mr Guy Buswell
Amount purchased: 5,300 @ 283.00p
Value: £14,999

Brightside Group (BRT)
Director name: Dr Dr Chris E Fay
Amount purchased: 50,000 @ 28.50p
Value: £14,250

Top Director Sells

Bankers Petroleum Ltd. (BNK)
Director name: Mr Jonathan P Harris
Amount sold: 15,000 @ 6,953,324.31p
Value: £1,042,998,646

Bankers Petroleum Ltd. (BNK)
Director name: Mr Suneel Gupta
Amount sold: 30,000 @ 463.91p
Value: £139,173

Related share prices
3i Group (III) share price
Anite (AIE) share price
UK Mail Group (UKM) share price
Bankers Petroleum Ltd.(CDI) (BNK) share price
Brightside Group (BRT) share price
Symphony International Holdings Ltd. (SIHL) share price
Amati VCT (ATI) share price