Director dealings: Returns are flying high at aviation group Air Partners

EARLY investors in aviation group Air Partner will have enjoyed a handsome return on their investments with shares rising more than 1,500 per cent over the past two decades.

Figures released last week show the company, which provides private aviation services to companies and individuals, is also seeing the benefits of a recent restructuring of its core business with sales in its last financial year rising to 237 million from 187m the year before.

Although the company said current trading "remains challenging," it added that there were grounds for cautious optimism. Shares have risen strongly from July when they hit a year low of 273p but two directors who went into the market following the results appear to believe they still offer good value.

Chairman Aubrey Adams bought 30,000 shares at 408p each, taking his stake to 50,000 shares and non-executive director Richard Everitt bought 5,000 shares at 428p, his first purchase.

• James Tuckey, a non-executive director of Forth Ports, has sold 450 shares at 1116p per share. He now holds 7,895 shares.

• Several directors at Fife-based shopfitting group Havelock Europa have increased their holdings in the group.

• Chairman Malcolm Gourlay bought 70,000 shares at 8p each to take his stake up to 570,000, and chief executive Eric Prescott bought 70,000 at the same price for his first stake in the company. Non-executives David MacLellan and Richard Sweetman bought 100,000 and 125,000 shares respectively.

• Dr David Williams, senior director of strategic alliances at drug discovery company Summit, has bought 150,000 shares at 2.8p each. He now holds 250,000 shares.

• Brian Collie, newly appointed non-executive director at online electronics retailer eXpansys, has bought 400,000 shares at 6.75p each. It represents his first stake in the company.

• Several directors at internet betting group Sportingbet have reduced their stakes in the company. The biggest seller was chief executive Andrew McIver who sold 1.4 million shares at 73.75p.

• Two non-executives of gaming and bingo group Praesepe have bought shares. Chairman David Williams bought 655,000 shares at 5.5p each and non-executive director Simon Thomas bought 500,000 shares at 7.5p each.

• Michael Kayser, a non-executive director at plastics group Biome Technologies, has bought his first stake with the purchase of 10 million shares at 0.12p each.