Capital deputy chairman goes shopping again

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 BuysCapital Shopping Centres Group (CSCG) Director name: Mr John Whittaker Amount purchased: 100,000 @ 317.60p Value: £317,600RPC Group (RPC) Director name: Mr Ron MarshAmount purchased: 71,487 @ 321.50p Value: £229,831RPC Group (RPC) Director name: Mr Petrus R M VervaatAmount purchased: 67,142 @ 321.50p Value: £215,862William Hill (WMH) Director name: Mr Gareth DavisAmount purchased: 94,000 @ 212.00p Value: £199,280Royal Dutch Shell 'A' (RDSA) Director name: Mr Jeroen van der VeerAmount purchased: 5,000 @ 1,874.05p Value: £93,702F&C Asset Management (FCAM) Director name: Mr Edward BramsonAmount purchased: 78,983 @ 65.65p Value: £51,852Banco Santander SA (BNC) Director name: Mr Francisco Luzon LopezAmount purchased: 8,200 @ 529.35p Value: £43,407Banco Santander SA (BNC) Director name: Mr Francisco Luzon LopezAmount purchased: 8,065 @ 538.03p Value: £43,392CLS Holdings (CLI) Director name: Mr Sten A MortstedtAmount purchased: 5,157 @ 590.00p Value: £30,426Thomas Cook Group (TCG) Director name: Mr Roger BurnellAmount purchased: 50,000 @ 44.40p Value: £22,200Top Director SellsMeggitt (MGGT) Director name: Mr Terence TwiggerAmount sold: 136,104 @ 325.01p Value: £442,352Meggitt (MGGT) Director name: Mr Stephen G YoungAmount sold: 81,662 @ 325.01p Value: £265,410Meggitt (MGGT) Director name: Mr Philip Ernest GreenAmount sold: 62,381 @ 325.01p Value: £202,744