MacDonald raises stake in Helius

SHARES in Helius Energy closed up 18 per cent yesterday after Scots entrepreneur and non-executive director Angus MacDonald raised his stake in the Aim-quoted developer of biomass energy plants to 23 per cent from 19 per cent.

After a working capital review at Helius - which is building a biomass plant at the Rothes distillery on Speyside - the firm issued MacDonald with shares worth 697,707.

The director is providing an unsecured loan of 302,300 to the company. Keith Henry stepped down as chairman to be replaced by John Seed.