Fairpoint chairman raises interest

Fairpoint non-executive chairman Matthew Peacock has added to his interest in the debt management business formerly known as Debt Free Direct.

Peacock is a partner in Hanover Investors Management and Hanover Investors Management (Cayman) has acquired 181,720 shares at 55p a share. This takes the total shareholding interests relating to Peacock to 24.53%. This is by far the largest stake in the company. Goldman Sachs is the next biggest shareholder with 7%.

Peacock has been adding to his interest in Fairpoint throughout the year. He has bought an additional 423,907 shares in 2009, prior to this latest purchase. The buying prices range from 48.5p a share to 61p a share.

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Fairpoint's interim figures showed a swing from a loss of £1.17m to a profit of £2.18m. Revenues were flat at £13.8m in the six months to June 2009. Analysts forecast a full year profit of around £6m. The shares are trading on less than six times prospective 2009 earnings.

Top Director BuysSymphony International Holdings (SIHL) Director name: Mr Anil ThadaniAmount purchased: 250,000 @ $0.60 Value: $149,800

Fairpoint Group (FRP) Director name: Mr Matthew PeacockAmount purchased: 181,720 @ 55.00p Value: £99,946

Develica Deutschland (DDE) Director name: Mr Grant N TromansAmount purchased: 2,250,500 @ € 0.03 Value: € 67,515

Jubilee Platinum (JLP) Director name: Mr Colin BirdAmount purchased: 185,000 @ 26.85p Value: £49,672

Associated British Foods (ABF) Director name: Mr Charles J F SinclairAmount purchased: 6,020 @ 823.50p Value: £49,575

Symphony International Holdings (SIHL) Director name: Mr Pierangelo BottinelliAmount purchased: 72,000 @ $0.55 Value: $39,600

Staffline Group (STAF) Director name: Mr Nicholas F KeeganAmount purchased: 15,000 @ 76.00p Value: £11,400

Top Director Sells

Digital Marketing (DIGI) Director name: Mr Ben LangdonAmount sold: 2,327,563 @ 43.00p Value: £1,000,852

Diageo (DGE) Director name: Mr Paul S WalshAmount sold: 92,281 @ 1,070.00p Value: £987,407

Halma (HLMA) Director name: Mr Adam MeyersAmount sold: 22,749 @ 244.80p Value: £55,690