Cash used for investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 increased $1.6 million in comparison to the same period in 2022 due to an increase in capital expenditures.
Cash used for financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 increased $0.9 million compared to the three months ended March 31, 2022 primarily due to increased dividends paid to common shareholders, coupled with an increase in stock repurchases related to the vesting of restricted shares.
Financial Condition and Liquidity
The Company believes that the liquidity provided by existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, its overall strong capitalization, cash generated by operations and the Company’s revolving credit facility will provide sufficient capital to meet the Company’s requirements for at least the next twelve months. The Company’s decisions about the amount of cash to be used for investing and financing purposes are influenced by its capital position and the expected amount of cash to be provided by operations.
Cash Requirements
The Company currently expects that capital expenditures in 2023 will be approximately $5.4 million, of which $1.8 million has been spent through March 31, 2023.
The Company participates in a multiple employer Retirement Income Plan (Plan), sponsored by RPC, Inc. (“RPC”). The Company did not contribute to this Plan during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and currently does not expect to make additional contributions.
The Company has repurchased an aggregate total of 6,679,572 shares in the open market under the Company stock repurchase program, which began in 2002. As of March 31, 2023, there were 1,570,428 shares that remained available for repurchase under the current authorization. There were no shares repurchased under this program during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022.
On April 25, 2023, the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.14 per share payable June 9, 2023 to common stockholders of record at the close of business May 10, 2023. The Company expects to continue to pay cash dividends to common stockholders, subject to industry conditions and Marine Products’ earnings, financial condition, and other relevant factors.
OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
To assist dealers in obtaining financing for the purchase of its boats for inventory, the Company has entered into agreements with various third-party floor plan lenders whereby the Company guarantees varying amounts of debt for qualifying dealers on boats in inventory. The Company’s obligation under these guarantees becomes effective in the case of a default under the financing arrangement between the dealer and the third-party lender. The agreements provide for the return of all repossessed boats to the Company in a new and unused condition as defined, in exchange for the Company’s assumption of specified percentages of the debt obligation on those boats, up to certain contractually determined dollar limits which vary by lender. The Company had no material repurchases of dealer inventory during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022.
Management continues to monitor the risk of defaults and resulting repurchase obligations based in part on information provided by the third-party floor plan lenders and will adjust the guarantee liability at the end of each reporting period based on information reasonably available at that time.