Cash flow

For the year ended 31 December 2022

	2022 £m	2021 £m
Net cash generated from operating activities	142.9	144.3
Investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(57.2)	(45.1)
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets	4.7	11.7
Purchases of other intangible assets	(9.8)	(6.9)
Proceeds from disposal of investment in an associate	–	1.5
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	–	(66.0)
Interest received	0.4	0.3
Net cash used in investing activities	(61.9)	(104.5)
Financing activities
Interest paid	(6.2)	(5.5)
Dividends paid	(38.5)	(49.0)
Principal elements of lease payments	(13.8)	(14.4)
Drawdown of bank loans	50.7	155.5
Repayments of bank loans	(75.0)	(116.9)

Net cash used in financing activities	(82.8)	(30.3)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(1.8)	9.5
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	37.9	29.2
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes	0.1	(0.8)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	36.2	37.9

For the year ended 31 December 2022

	2022 £m	2021 £m
Net cash generated from operating activities	142.9	144.3
Investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(57.2)	(45.1)
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets	4.7	11.7
Purchases of other intangible assets	(9.8)	(6.9)
Proceeds from disposal of investment in an associate	–	1.5
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	–	(66.0)
Interest received	0.4	0.3
Net cash used in investing activities	(61.9)	(104.5)
Financing activities
Interest paid	(6.2)	(5.5)
Dividends paid	(38.5)	(49.0)
Principal elements of lease payments	(13.8)	(14.4)
Drawdown of bank loans	50.7	155.5
Repayments of bank loans	(75.0)	(116.9)

Net cash used in financing activities	(82.8)	(30.3)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(1.8)	9.5
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	37.9	29.2
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes	0.1	(0.8)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	36.2	37.9