Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures were $172 million and $142 million in the first quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively. We expect fiscal 2022 capital spending levels to be approximately 5% of net sales. We believe our capital funding levels are adequate to support new programs, and we continue to invest in our manufacturing infrastructure to further enhance productivity and manufacturing capabilities.
During the first quarter of fiscal 2022, we acquired one business for a cash purchase price of $125 million, net of cash acquired. We acquired one business for a cash purchase price of $106 million, net of cash acquired, during the first quarter of fiscal 2021. See Note 3 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding acquisitions.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities and Capitalization
Total debt at December 24, 2021 and September 24, 2021 was $4,003 million and $4,092 million, respectively. See Note 7 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding debt.
During the first quarter of fiscal 2022, Tyco Electronics Group S.A. (“TEGSA”), our wholly-owned subsidiary, called for the early redemption of all of its outstanding 3.50% senior notes due in February 2022, representing $500 million aggregate principal amount. The notes were redeemed in November 2021.
As of December 24, 2021, TEGSA had $479 million of commercial paper outstanding at a weighted-average interest rate of 0.25%. TEGSA had no commercial paper outstanding at September 24, 2021.
TEGSA has a five-year unsecured senior revolving credit facility (“Credit Facility”) with a maturity date of June 2026 and total commitments of $1.5 billion. TEGSA had no borrowings under the Credit Facility at December 24, 2021 or September 24, 2021.
The Credit Facility contains a financial ratio covenant providing that if, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, our ratio of Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Facility) for the then most recently concluded period of four consecutive fiscal quarters exceeds 3.75 to 1.0, an Event of Default (as defined in the Credit Facility) is triggered. The Credit Facility and our other debt agreements contain other customary covenants. None of our covenants are presently considered restrictive to our operations. As of December 24, 2021, we were in compliance with all of our debt covenants and believe that we will continue to be in compliance with our existing covenants for the foreseeable future.
In addition to the Credit Facility, TEGSA is the borrower under our senior notes and commercial paper. TEGSA’s payment obligations under its senior notes, commercial paper, and Credit Facility are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured basis by its parent, TE Connectivity Ltd.
Payments of common share dividends to shareholders were $163 million and $159 million in the first quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively.
We repurchased approximately two million of our common shares for $246 million and approximately one million of our common shares for $127 million under the share repurchase program during the first quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively. At December 24, 2021, we had $1.3 billion of availability remaining under our share repurchase authorization.
Summarized Guarantor Financial Information
As discussed above, our senior notes, commercial paper, and Credit Facility are issued by TEGSA and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured basis by TEGSA’s parent, TE Connectivity Ltd. In addition to being the issuer of our debt securities, TEGSA owns, directly or indirectly, all of our operating subsidiaries. The following tables present