19th Mar 2015 09:19
LONDON (Alliance News) - EMIS Group PLC Thursday said it continues to trade well and in line with its expectations, as it posted a rise in pretax profit for 2014 and upped its total dividend.
The healthcare software and services firm proposed a final dividend of 9.2 pence, taking its total dividend for the year to 18.4 pence, up from 16.0 pence a year before.
EMIS posted a pretax profit of GBP28.5 million, up from GBP24.6 million a year before, as a rise in revenue to GBP137.6 million from GBP105.5 million was partly offset by higher operating costs and amortisation charges.
The increase in operating costs was partly as a result of higher staff numbers, as EMIS ended the year with a headcount of 1,841 from 1,574 a year before, including 221 members of staff from businesses it acquired during the year.
Revenue growth was boosted by acquisitions the company made in 2013, which bolstered its Secondary and Specialist Care arm, and by a strong performance in its Primary and Community Care business. It said the EMIS Web product gained traction in England and Wales, and it won contracts in the Community, Children and Mental Health market.
EMIS said that looking ahead there is an "ongoing, all-party acceptance that integrated care is a key part of the solution to the social, demographic and financial challenges of the NHS."
"This, supported further by strong revenue visibility across all parts of the expanded group and a robust order book and contract pipeline, gives the board considerable confidence in further sustained growth," EMIS added.
Shares in EMIS are trading up 3.1% at 886.50 pence Thursday morning.
By Hana Stewart-Smith; [email protected]; @HanaSSAllNews
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