(ShareCast News) - Debenhams' chief financial officer is backing the company after a solid set of Christmas results.On Friday, Matt Smith purchased 25,000 for just over £19,000, taking the total number of shares he has an interest in to 53,000, a 0.004% stake.It followed solid Christmas trading which beat analysts' expectations announced earlier in the week.For the 19 weeks to 9 January, like-for-like sales were up 1.9%, comfortably beating expectations for a 0.1% drop and better than last year's 0.8% decline.Group transaction value rose by 2.5% and online sales were up 12.1%.Debenhams said the growth in Online reflects increasing customer confidence in its service as well as later cut-off times and more competitive premium delivery charges.Top Director BuysAdamas Finance Asia Limited (DI) (ADAM) Director name: Mr Conor MacNamaraAmount purchased: 195,000 @ $0.91 Value: $177,470Big Yellow Group (BYG) Director name: Mr Richard Cotton Amount purchased: 5,000 @ 751.00p Value: £37,550Braveheart Investment Group (BRH) Director name: Mr Trevor Brown Amount purchased: 265,701 @ 7.50p Value: £19,928Debenhams (DEB) Director name: Mr Matt Smith Amount purchased: 25,000 @ 77.28p Value: £19,320Titon Holdings (TON) Director name: Mr Nicholas C HowlettAmount purchased: 35,000 @ 48.00p Value: £16,800M&C Saatchi (SAA) Director name: Mr Lloyd M DorfmanAmount purchased: 4,850 @ 310.00p Value: £15,035Top Director SellsBraveheart Investment Group (BRH) Director name: Mr Andrew BurtonAmount sold: 265,701 @ 7.50p Value: £19,928Henry Boot (BHY) Director name: Mr John T SutcliffeAmount sold: 5,000 @ 215.25p Value: £10,762