Billionaire property investor John Whittaker has bought another round of shares in Capital Shopping Centres (CSC), bringing his total stake to more than 20%.

He took 100,000 shares at 317.6p a time, the company announced today..

Following the purchases, Whittaker now has nearly 172.5m shares or about 20.07% of the company.

The 69-year-old was appointed to his position at the start of this year following a controversial acquisition by CSC of Manchester's Trafford Centre from the Peel Group, which Whittaker founded in 1971 and has directed ever since.

The acquisition contributed to sharp growth in the CSC's underlying earnings in the first half of 2011.

Net rental income from continuing operations in the six months to 30 June was up 32% to £178, from £135m in the first half of last year, while underlying earnings surged 53% to £66m from £43m. Underlying earnings per share (EPS) climbed 14% to 8.0p from 7.0p.

Adjusted net asset value (NAV) per share on a diluted basis edged up to 391p from 390p at the end of 2010.

CSC, which recently maintained its interim dividend at 5p, owns numerous other shopping centres including Gateshead Metrocentre.


Top Director Buys

Capital Shopping Centres Group (CSCG)
Director name: Mr John Whittaker
Amount purchased: 100,000 @ 317.60p
Value: £317,600

RPC Group (RPC)
Director name: Mr Ron Marsh
Amount purchased: 71,487 @ 321.50p
Value: £229,831

RPC Group (RPC)
Director name: Mr Petrus R M Vervaat
Amount purchased: 67,142 @ 321.50p
Value: £215,862

William Hill (WMH)
Director name: Mr Gareth Davis
Amount purchased: 94,000 @ 212.00p
Value: £199,280

Royal Dutch Shell 'A' (RDSA)
Director name: Mr Jeroen van der Veer
Amount purchased: 5,000 @ 1,874.05p
Value: £93,702

F&C Asset Management (FCAM)
Director name: Mr Edward Bramson
Amount purchased: 78,983 @ 65.65p
Value: £51,852

Banco Santander SA (BNC)
Director name: Mr Francisco Luzon Lopez
Amount purchased: 8,200 @ 529.35p
Value: £43,407

Banco Santander SA (BNC)
Director name: Mr Francisco Luzon Lopez
Amount purchased: 8,065 @ 538.03p
Value: £43,392

CLS Holdings (CLI)
Director name: Mr Sten A Mortstedt
Amount purchased: 5,157 @ 590.00p
Value: £30,426

Thomas Cook Group (TCG)
Director name: Mr Roger Burnell
Amount purchased: 50,000 @ 44.40p
Value: £22,200


Top Director Sells

Meggitt (MGGT)
Director name: Mr Terence Twigger
Amount sold: 136,104 @ 325.01p
Value: £442,352

Meggitt (MGGT)
Director name: Mr Stephen G Young
Amount sold: 81,662 @ 325.01p
Value: £265,410

Meggitt (MGGT)
Director name: Mr Philip Ernest Green
Amount sold: 62,381 @ 325.01p
Value: £202,744

Related share prices
Meggitt (MGGT) share price
CLS Holdings (CLI) share price
F&C Asset Management (FCAM) share price
RPC Group (RPC) share price
Capital Shopping Centres Group (CSCG) share price
William Hill (WMH) share price
Banco Santander SA (BNC) share price
Royal Dutch Shell 'A' (RDSA) share price
Thomas Cook Group (TCG) share price