Cash flow

For the year ended 31 December 2021

	Note	2021 £m	2020 £m
Net cash generated from operating activities	9	144.3	139.1
Investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment		(45.1)	(57.8)
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets		11.7	1.9
Purchases of other intangible assets		(6.9)	(2.1)
Proceeds from disposal of investment in an associate		1.5	–
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	8	(66.0)	(66.7)
Interest received¹		0.3	0.3

Net cash used in investing activities		(104.5)	(124.4)
Financing activities
Interest paid		(5.5)	(5.0)
Dividends paid	5	(49.0)	(25.1)
Principal elements of lease payments		(14.4)	(15.5)
Drawdown of bank loans		155.5	101.9
Repayments of bank loans		(116.9)	(62.1)
Own shares purchased		–	(0.5)

Net cash used in financing activities		(30.3)	(6.3)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		9.5	8.4
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		29.2	20.9
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes		(0.8)	(0.1)

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	9	37.9	29.2

For the year ended 31 December 2021

	Note	2021 £m	2020 £m
Net cash generated from operating activities	9	144.3	139.1
Investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment		(45.1)	(57.8)
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets		11.7	1.9
Purchases of other intangible assets		(6.9)	(2.1)
Proceeds from disposal of investment in an associate		1.5	–
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	8	(66.0)	(66.7)
Interest received¹		0.3	0.3

Net cash used in investing activities		(104.5)	(124.4)
Financing activities
Interest paid		(5.5)	(5.0)
Dividends paid	5	(49.0)	(25.1)
Principal elements of lease payments		(14.4)	(15.5)
Drawdown of bank loans		155.5	101.9
Repayments of bank loans		(116.9)	(62.1)
Own shares purchased		–	(0.5)

Net cash used in financing activities		(30.3)	(6.3)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		9.5	8.4
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		29.2	20.9
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes		(0.8)	(0.1)

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	9	37.9	29.2