Selling, general and administrative. SG&A expense for the nine months ended March 31, 2021 decreased as compared to the same prior-year period due to reduced travel and entertainment and marketing expenses of $6.8 million and $3.4 million, respectively, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, decreased third-party sales commissions of $6.5 million, and reduced employee compensation expense of $4.8 million resulting from implementation of cost containment measures. These decreases were offset by an increase in the provision for loss on accounts receivable of $3.5 million.
Research and development. The decrease in R&D expense during the nine months ended March 31, 2021 from the same prior-year period reflected lower employee compensation expenses of $1.9 million, a decrease in materials and supplies consumed in research activities of $1.8 million, and reduced travel expenses of $1.0 million due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Impairment, restructuring and other charges (benefit). During the nine months ended March 31, 2021, we incurred $7.2 million for exit activities associated with an expired turnkey contract in Mexico. Such exit costs include $2.8 million for employee terminations, $1.1 million for facility closure and other exit costs, direct transaction costs of $2.7 million, and $0.6 million for right-of-use asset impairment for a leased facility. We also incurred costs of $1.6 million for other employee terminations and facility closure costs for operational efficiency activities and $0.3 million for acquisition-related activities. This was offset by a net benefit of ($1.2) million for reimbursements from our insurance carriers for covered legal charges. During the nine months ended March 31, 2020, we incurred impairment, restructuring and other charges, net of $3.3 million related to the exit of a product line in our Healthcare division, $1.6 million of employee termination and facility closure costs, and $0.3 million of acquisition costs, which were offset by a net recovery of $3.7 million for certain legal costs through insurance reimbursements.
Other Income and Expenses
Interest and other expense, net. For the nine months ended March 31, 2021, interest and other expense, net was $12.6 million as compared to $14.3 million in the comparable prior-year period. This decrease was driven by lower average levels of borrowing under our revolving credit facility as well as lower average interest rates during the nine months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the same period in the prior year. Interest expense included $6.7 million and $6.6 million of non-cash interest expense during the nine months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, mainly related to the Notes (see Note 8 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion).
Income taxes. For the nine months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, we recognized a provision for income taxes of $20.8 million and $5.9 million, respectively. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was 30.1% and 8.7%, respectively. During the nine months ended March 31, 2021, we recognized a net discrete tax expense of $2.3 million for return-to-provision true-up adjustments of $2.8 million, offset by a ($0.5) million tax benefit from equity-based compensation under ASU 2016-09. During the nine months ended March 31, 2020, we recognized a discrete tax benefit of $12.0 million for equity-based compensation under ASU 2016-09 of $6.8 million and a return to provision true-up adjustment of $5.2 million.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our principal sources of liquidity are our cash and cash equivalents, cash generated from operations and our credit facilities. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $92.5 million at March 31, 2021, an increase of $16.4 million, or 21.5%, from $76.1 million at June 30, 2020. We currently anticipate that our available funds, credit facilities and cash flow from operations will be sufficient to meet our operational cash needs for the next 12 months and the foreseeable future. In addition, we anticipate that cash generated from operations, without repatriating earnings from our non-U.S. subsidiaries, will be sufficient to satisfy our obligations in the U.S.
We have a five-year revolving credit facility that allows us to borrow up to $535 million. As of March 31, 2021, there were no borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility and letters of credit outstanding totaled $66.7 million.
Cash Provided by Operating Activities. Cash flows from operating activities can fluctuate significantly from period to period, as net income, adjusted for non-cash items, and working capital fluctuations impact cash flows. During the nine months ended March 31, 2021, we generated cash from operations of $131.1 million compared to $105.6 million in the same prior-year period. This increase was driven by favorable changes in net working capital.