Holding now stands at 23.16%
DNATA Group, a member of the Emirates Group, has again increased its stake in the UK-based global travel management company Hogg Robinson Group (HRG).
The company bought just under 10m voting shares to raise its stake from 20.15% to 23.16%.
The move comes just over a week after its bought 645,277 ordinary voting shares to increase its holdings from 19.99%.
Its latest purchase strengthens its position as HRG's major shareholder over rival Beverweerd Investments which owns 19.02% of the TMC.
Beverweerd, a private company owned by the family of John Fentener van Vlissingen, chairman of BCD Holdings, raised its stake to 19.02% earlier this year with the purchase of 3% ordinary voting shares.
BCD Holdings owns BCD Travel, also a global TMC and rival to HRG.
The share dealing by DNATA and Beverweerd has intensified speculation that one will launch a take over bid for HRG.
HRG directors David Radcliffe, the ceo, Julian Steadman, the chief financial officer and John Coombe, the chairman, all increased their holding in the plc.
In December Mr Radcliffe bought 281,198 ordinary shares at between 11.3855p and 10.9235p and later a further 248,831 at 4.035p per share.
The two purchases give him a 0.74% stake in the company.
Mr Steadman bought 344,945 ordinary shares at prices between 11.3607p and 10.8413p in December and later bought an additional 246,106 at 4.035p per share.
His stake in the company is 0.27%.
Mr Coombe, also in December, bought 150,375 ordinary shares at 6.65p each and last week he bought a further 185,925 ordinary 1p shares at 5.3785p per share.
He now holds 719,583 ordinary shares, about 0.23% of the company's voting rights.
Shares in HRG have been falling slightly in the last two weeks and stood at 12p this morning (January 21).
www.hrgworldwide.com