Note2018
£m
2017
£m
Net cash from operating activities25173.3159.9
Investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment(82.4)(73.3)
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets10.23.7
Purchases of intangible fixed assets(1.8)(5.2)
Acquisition of businesses(8.3)(14.2)
Disposal of businesses0.7
Net cash used in investing activities(81.6)(89.0)
Financing activities
Interest received0.20.1
Interest paid(1.9)(2.1)
Dividends paid7(81.8)(30.6)
Repayments of bank loans(40.7)(5.0)
Payments of obligations under finance leases(0.1)
New bank loans raised40.0
Own shares purchased/settlement of share options(10.6)
Net cash used in financing activities(94.8)(37.7)
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents(3.1)33.2
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year39.66.2
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes(0.3)0.2
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year2536.239.6