Financing Activities. Net cash provided from financing activities was $70.7 million during FY 2018, as compared to $6.2 million cash used during FY 2017, an increase to cash between the periods of $76.9 million. In FY 2018, we issued the Bison Capital Notes for proceeds totaling $80.0 million to, among other things, acquire the noncontrolling interest of Royal Wolf (see above) and repay the principal of $10.0 million due under the term loan to Credit Suisse (see Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). Cash of $3.7 million was used during both periods to pay dividends on primarily our Series C Preferred Stock and, in FY 2018 and FY 2017, Royal Wolf paid a capital stock dividend of $1.0 million and $1.9 million, respectively, to the noncontrolling interests (see Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). In FY 2018 and FY 2017, financing activities also included net borrowings and repayments of $89.4 million and $3.3 million, respectively, on existing credit facilities and, in FY 2017, we completed the sale of a“tack-on” offering of our publicly-traded Senior Notes for an aggregate principal amount of $5.4 million. These financing activities on our existing credit facilities and Senior Notes were primarily to fund our investment in the container lease fleet, make business acquisitions, pay dividends, manage our operating assets and liabilities and, in FY 2018, $81.5 million was borrowed from the Deutsche Bank Credit Facility to repay the ANZ/CBA Credit Facility (see Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). In addition, deferred financing costs related to the Bison Capital Notes and Deutsche Bank Credit Facility totaled $4.0 million in FY 2018 and, in FY 2017, we paid deferred financing costs of $2.8 million primarily for the amendment and extension of our senior secured credit facilities in both North America and the Asia-Pacific area, as well as for the“tack-on” offering of our publicly-traded Senior Notes. In FY 2018, we received proceeds of $1.2 million from issuances of common stock on the exercises of stock options versus $0.1 million in FY 2017.
Asset Management
Receivables and inventories were $56.2 million and $29.1 million at June 30, 2019 and $50.5 million and $22.7 million at June 30, 2018, respectively. At June 30, 2019, DSO in trade receivables were 34 days and 46 days in the Asia-Pacific area and our North American leasing operations, as compared to 35 days and 47 days at June 30, 2018, respectively. The $6.4 million increase in inventories was primarily due to the timing of receipts of sale and fleet units to fulfill known increased demand. Effective asset management is always a significant focus as we strive to apply appropriate credit and collection controls and maintain proper inventory levels to enhance cash flow and profitability.
The net book value of our total lease fleet was $456.8 million at June 30, 2019, as compared to $429.4 million at June 30, 2018. At June 30, 2019, we had 99,743 units (25,355 units in retail operations in Australia, 9,254 units in national account group operations in Australia, 12,574 units in New Zealand, which are considered retail; and 52,560 units in North America) in our lease fleet, as compared to 85,812 units (24,037 units in retail operations in Australia, 8,046 units in national account group operations in Australia, 10,222 units in New Zealand, which are considered retail; and 43,507 units in North America) at June 30, 2018. At those dates, 77,214 units (20,376 units in retail operations in Australia, 5,931 units in national account group operations in Australia, 10,196 units in New Zealand, which are considered retail; and 40,711 units in North America); and 68,712 units (20,102 units in retail operations in Australia, 5,038 units in national account group operations in Australia, 8,705 units in New Zealand, which are considered retail; and 34,867 units in North America) were on lease, respectively.
In the Asia-Pacific area, the lease fleet was comprised of 39,616 storage and freight containers and 7,567 portable building containers at June 30, 2019; and 34,507 storage and freight containers and 7,798 portable building containers at June 30, 2018. At those dates, units on lease were comprised of 31,610 storage and freight containers and 4,893 portable building containers; and 28,301 storage and freight containers and 5,544 portable building containers, respectively.
In North America, the lease fleet was comprised of 37,304 storage containers,5,426 office containers (GLOs), 4,215 portable liquid storage tank containers, 4,436 mobile offices and 1,179 modular units at June 30, 2019; and 29,518 storage containers,4,216 office containers (GLOs), 4,147 portable liquid storage tank
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