Group Company
Note 2008
£’000		 2007
£’000		 2008
£’000		 2007
£’000
Cash generated from operations 20 185,206 148,663 55,281 41,744
Income tax (paid)/received   (53,409) (36,519) 28 –
Net cash from operating activities   131,797 112,144 55,309 41,744
       
Cash flows from investing activities      
Purchases of property, plant and equipment   (17,173) (11,927) – –
Purchases of computer software   (10,260) (1,579) – –
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment, and computer software   1,009 743 – –
Interest received   3,878 1,189 297 –
Net cash (used in)/received from investing activities   (22,546) (11,574) 297 –
       
       
Cash flows from financing activities      
Dividends paid   (27,263) (21,785) (27,263) (21,785)
Interest paid   (4,782) (2,741) (4,556) (2,397)
Proceeds from bank loan   – 25,300 – 25,300
Repayment of bank loan   (25,300) (39,150) (25,300) (39,150)
Issue of own shares for the exercise of options   2,234 8,740 2,234 8,740
Purchase of own shares for cancellation   (15,985) (59,885) (15,985) (59,885)
Purchase of shares held in the employee benefit trust   (854) (15,000) – –
Net cash used in financing activities   (71,950) (104,521) (70,870) (89,177)
           
           
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   37,301 (3,951) (15,264) (47,433)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year   35,557 35,544 (47,433) –
Exchange gains on cash and cash equivalents   21,425 3,964 – –
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 21 94,283 35,557 (62,697) (47,433)