Other Expense, Net
Other expense, net for the three and six months ended July 2, 2017 consisted solely of interest expense of approximately $170,000 and $357,000, respectively, representing 0.7% and 0.8% of total revenue, respectively. For the three and six months ended July 3, 2016, interest expense of approximately $225,000 and $403,000, respectively, represented 0.8% of total revenues for both periods. The decrease in interest expense was primarily related to a lower outstanding average debt balance for the six months ended July 2, 2017 as compared to the six months ended July 3, 2016, partially offset by a higher effective interest rate on combined debt and financing lease obligations of 6.0% for the six months ended July 2, 2017 as opposed to 5.4% for the six months ended July 3, 2016.
During the three and six months ended July 3, 2016, we recognized approximately $2,000 and $3,000, respectively, in interest and other income, net, which did not recur during the three and six months ended July 2, 2017.
Income Tax Benefit (Expense)
Income tax benefit (expense) for the three and six months ended July 2, 2017 was a benefit of approximately $627,000 and $1.6 million, respectively, representing an effective tax rate of 33.2% and 38.3%, respectively. For the three and six months ended July 3, 2016, income tax benefit (expense) was a benefit of approximately $2,000 and expense of approximately $67,000, respectively, representing an effective tax rate of (1.8%) and 20.4%, respectively. The net increase in the effective tax rate for each period was primarily a result of the change in pretax income and the change in employment related credits, as a percentage of pretax income.
Basic and Diluted Net (Loss) Income per Common Share
Net loss for the three and six months ended July 2, 2017 was approximately $1.3 million and $2.5 million, respectively, which represented loss per share of $0.18 and $0.36, respectively. The basic and diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for both periods was approximately 6,955,000.
Net income for the three and six months ended July 3, 2016 was approximately $140,000 and $970,000, respectively, which represented earnings per share of $0.02 and $0.14 per share respectively. Income from discontinued operations was approximately $27,000 and $708,000, or $0.00 and $0.10 per share, for the three and six months ended July 3, 2016, respectively. For the three and six months ended July 3, 2016, there were approximately 6,949,000 basic weighted-average number of common shares outstanding and 6,958,000 diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding.
Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our balance of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents was approximately $5.4 million and $4.5 million as of July 2, 2017 and January 1, 2017, respectively. We expect to utilize cash on hand and cash received from the refranchising of restaurants to pay certain costs that arise from our restaurant refranchising and optimization initiative, including professional fees and restaurant closure costs.
Our current ratio, which measures our immediate short-term liquidity, was 1.56 as of July 2, 2017, compared with 1.48 as of January 1, 2017. The current ratio is computed by dividing total current assets by total current liabilities. The increase in our current ratio was primarily due to increases in our cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, net and prepaid expenses and other current assets, partially offset by increases in accounts payable, accrued compensation and benefits and other current liabilities. The increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets is primarily due to a $1.5 million increase in prepaid income taxes, which we can use to offset future income taxes due. We expect to be refunded a portion of these prepaid income taxes through the carry back of net operating losses and tax credits.
Net cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended July 2, 2017 was approximately $2.2 million, which reflects a net loss of approximately $2.5 million, increased by non-cash charges of approximately $6.8 million primarily related to depreciation and amortization, asset impairment, estimated lease termination, and other closing costs. Changes in operating assets and liabilities for the six months ended July 2, 2017 primarily included net cash outflows related to prepaid expenses and other current assets of $2.2 million and a decrease in other current liabilities of approximately $831,000. These cash outflows were partially offset by increases in accrued compensation and benefits of approximately $508,000 and accounts payable of approximately $248,000.