On March 1, 2023, the Plan submitted an initial application to the PBGC for Special Financial Assistance under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. On June 13, 2023, the Plan advised us that they withdrew the application and intends to resubmit after resolving certain aspects identified through discussions with the PBGC. Company management understands that this legislation would provide financial assistance from the PBGC to shore up financially distressed multi-employer plans to ensure that they can remain solvent and continue to pay benefits to retirees through 2051 without any reduction in retiree benefits. Nonetheless, the Company’s actuary believes that given the Plan’s projected insolvency within the next 20 years as well as other factors, that it still remains unclear if the Plan can remain solvent through the targeted date of 2051. The Company’s actuary also advised that the regulations under the aforementioned PBGC financial assistance could result in a higher Company withdrawal liability even with PBGC financial assistance.
During second quarter 2023, the Company and the union concluded negotiations and entered into a new five year contract which expires in September 2027 (prior contract expired in September 2022). Under terms of this new union contract the Company is obligated to continue its participation in the Plan. The Company is unable to determine the ultimate outcome of the above discussed multi-employer union pension matter and therefore is unable to determine the effects on its consolidated financial statements, but the ultimate outcome could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or cash flows in one or more future periods. See also Note 7 of the Company’s Note to Consolidated Financial Statements on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022
The Company is focused on the longer term and therefore is continuing to make investments in plant manufacturing operations to meet new consumer and customer product demands, achieve product quality improvements, expand capacity in certain product lines, and increase operational efficiencies in order to provide genuine value to consumers.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Net cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities were $(5,142) and $617 in first half 2023 and 2022, respectively, an unfavorable decrease of $5,759. The $5,759 decrease in cash flows from operating activities from 2023 to 2022 reflects significantly higher production and inventory levels, including the effects of higher costs for materials as discussed above, resulting in more cash used in inventories in first half 2023. We have accelerated our production plans in 2023 to increase our production capacity to help insure that we can meet our 2023 sales demands and customer deliveries, including pre-Halloween 2023 sales demands in third quarter 2023.
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities was $6,432 in first half 2023 compared to $(42,839) in first half 2022. Cash flows used in investing activities reflect $48,522 and $57,731 of purchases of available for sale securities during first half 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $66,507 and $25,993 of sales and maturities of available for sale securities during first half 2023 and 2022, respectively. First half 2023 and 2022 investing activities include capital expenditures of $10,723 and $10,194, respectively. All capital expenditures have been or are expected to be funded from the Company’s cash flow from operations and internal sources including available for sale securities.
The Company’s consolidated financial statements include bank borrowings of $1,051 and $1,020 at June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, all of which relate to its Spanish subsidiary. The Company had no other outstanding bank borrowings at June 30, 2023.
Financing activities include Company common stock purchases and retirements of $16,548 and $5,023 in first half 2023 and 2022, respectively. Cash dividends of $12,531 and $12,237 were paid in first half 2023 and 2022, respectively.
The Company’s current ratio (current assets divided by current liabilities) was 3.5 to 1 at June 30, 2023 compared to 3.4 to 1 at December 31, 2022 and 3.4 to 1 at June 30, 2022. Net working capital was $223,596 at June 30, 2023 compared to $218,894 and $198,283 at December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022, respectively. Included in net working capital is cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments totaling $109,212 at June 30, 2023 compared to $149,398 and $123,090 at December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022, respectively. In addition, long term investments, principally debt securities comprising corporate bonds, were $252,459 at June 30, 2023, as compared to $247,528 and $258,075 at December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022, respectively. Aggregate cash and cash equivalents and short and long-term investments were $361,671, $396,926, and $381,165, at June 30, 2023, December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022, respectively, including $81,319, $71,208, and $72,480 at June 30, 2023, December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022,