Consolidated Cash Flow

Statement

For the year ended 31 December
Notes 2006
£m
2005
£m
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operating activities
before special pension contribution
29 369.5 476.5
Special pension contribution - (200.0)
Cash generated from operating activities 369.5 276.5
Interest received 13.1 19.8
Interest paid (54.7) (63.4)
Income tax paid (38.5) (80.5)
Net cash generated from operating activities 289.4 152.4
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of property,
plant and equipment (PPE)
(176.3) (183.8)
Purchase of intangible fixed assets (6.3) (9.2)
Proceeds from sale of PPE 42.5 21.9
Proceeds from sale of intangible assets - 0.1
Acquisition of companies and businesses,
net of cash acquired
32 (406.5) (42.0)
Proceeds from disposal
of companies and businesses
9 134.9 323.3
Dividends received from associates 1.0 1.0
Net cash flows from investing activities (410.7) 111.3
Cash flows from financing activities
Issue of ordinary share capital 0.9 5.7
Treasury shares purchased (1.9) -
Dividends paid to equity shareholders 11 (133.3) (124.7)
Dividends paid to minority interests (1.8) (2.6)
Interest element of finance lease payments (2.3) (2.5)
Capital element of finance lease payments (19.5) (19.1)
Proceeds on disposal of Ashtead loan note - 129.8
New loans/(repayments) 221.0 (226.7)
Net cash flows from financing activities 63.1 (240.1)
Net (decrease)/increase in cash
and bank overdrafts
30 (58.2) 23.6
Cash and bank overdrafts at beginning of year 19 170.7 145.3
Exchange gains on cash and bank overdrafts 6.3 1.8
Cash and bank overdrafts
at end of the financial year
19 118.8 170.7