Director Dealings: Cragg increases his stake in marketing group

LATEST figures from marketing group Progressive Digital Media Group showed good growth across a number of its sectors during the first half of the year.

The company, which began life in the 1990s as an e-mail marketing specialist, has since moved into publishing and market research with interests across the world.

It recently bought Canadean, a market research business specialising in the beverage industry, for 9 million. Although it hasn't updated the market on trading since its interim results, last week's purchase of shares by Bernard Cragg, a non-executive director, may suggest the full-year figures won't disappoint. He bought a total of 840,000 shares at around 14.75p to lift his stake to one million shares.

n Andrew Thomas, chief executive of Isle of Man-based retailer Shoprite Group, has upped his stake with two purchases. He bought a total of 75,000 shares at 9.5p and now holds 150,000 shares.

n Dr Christopher Fay, chairman of financial services group Brightside Group has topped up his holding with the purchase of 30,000 shares at 30p each. He now holds 2.16 million shares.

n Michael Tobin, chief executive of hosting group Telecity, bought 3,700 shares at 490p each to take his stake up to 588,530 shares.

n Neil Ritson, a director at Solo Oil, has taken his first stake in the company, a total of 17 million shares at 0.39p.

n Solomon Trujillo, a director at advertising group WPP, has bought 2,000 American Depositary Receipt at 3,800p. The purchase represents his first holding.

n Paul Pindar, chairman of outsourcer Capita, has bought 150,000 shares at 640p a time and now has more than 1.6 million shares.

n Tony Thorne, a non-executive director at power station operator Drax, has bought 7,500 shares at 379p. This represents his first purchase since joining the board during the summer.

n Andy Stewart, founder of broking group Cenkos Securities has sold 7.64 million shares at 107.5p a share, but retains 8.53 million shares.

n Wolfgang Baertz, a non-executive director at investment company Blackstar Group, has increased his holding with the purchase of 13,158 shares at 76p. He now holds 183,158.

n Vaughan Williams, a non-executive director, of mining group ATH Resources, bought 8,134 shares at 59.7p each. He now holds 10,000 shares.

n Godfrey David, chairman and chief executive of Mulberry Group plc sold 650,000 ordinary shares at 850p each.

n Graame Duncan, a director of resources group Archipelago, has bought his first stake in the company, with 50,000 shares at 50p each.