Edward Bonham Carter, the Group Chief Executive of Jupiter Fund Management, has traded in 2.65m pounds-worth of shares just a few weeks since the group boosted its total dividend for 2012 by 13 per cent. Bonham Carter sold 750,000 shares at 350.75p a time, making a modest dent in his stake which now totals 13m shares, equal to 2.84%. At the end of February the group posted a five per cent increase in profit before tax at £73.6m compared to £70.3m for the previous twelve months, driven by a reduction in finance expense and the recognition of exceptional income in 2012, partially offset by reduced operating earnings. Assets under management rose 15.4% to £26.3bn from £22.8bn in the previous year. Underlying earnings per share rose to 8.8p from 7.8p a year earlier. Top Director BuysSerica Energy (SQZ) Director name: Mr Peter David SadlerAmount purchased: 1,377 @ 2,725.00p Value: £37,523Alpha Pyrenees Trust Ltd. (ALPH) Director name: Mr Richard KingstonAmount purchased: 511,491 @ 5.90p Value: £30,178Meggitt (MGGT) Director name: Mr Philip CoxAmount purchased: 6,000 @ 476.60p Value: £28,596Electrocomponents (ECM) Director name: Mr John Pattullo Amount purchased: 10,000 @ 257.07p Value: £25,707Big Yellow Group (BYG) Director name: Mr Nicholas VetchAmount purchased: 4,000 @ 370.75p Value: £14,830Meggitt (MGGT) Director name: Mr Guy BerruyerAmount purchased: 3,000 @ 476.60p Value: £14,298Top Director SellsJupiter Fund Management (JUP) Director name: Mr Edward Bonham CarterAmount sold: 750,000 @ 350.75p Value: £2,630,625Hardy Oil & Gas (HDY) Director name: Mr Yogeshwar SharmaAmount sold: 1,000,000 @ 120.00p Value: £1,200,000Goals Soccer Centres (GOAL) Director name: Mr Bill GowAmount sold: 311,290 @ 137.00p Value: £426,467Goals Soccer Centres (GOAL) Director name: Mr Keith RogersAmount sold: 161,290 @ 137.00p Value: £220,967News Corp. 'A' Shares (NCRA) Director name: Mr David DeVoeAmount sold: 4,080 @ $45.97 Value: $187,550Hardy Oil & Gas (HDY) Director name: Mr Ian MacKenzieAmount sold: 102,969 @ 120.40p Value: £123,975Hardy Oil & Gas (HDY) Director name: Mr Peter MilneAmount sold: 100,000 @ 120.00p Value: £120,000Mwana Africa (MWA) Director name: Mr Oliver BaringAmount sold: 500,000 @ 5.01p Value: £25,050Goals Soccer Centres (GOAL) Director name: Mr Morris PaytonAmount sold: 14,500 @ 135.00p Value: £19,575Goals Soccer Centres (GOAL) Director name: Mr Morris PaytonAmount sold: 14,500 @ 135.00p Value: £19,575NR
