Interest income decreased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 due to lower interest rates.
Capital Resources and Liquidity
Cash Flow
The primary source of cash for Epsilon during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 was funds generated from operations. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the primary source of funds was from operations in addition to cash received on the settlement of derivative contracts. In addition to operations, the primary uses of cash for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 were development of natural gas properties and the repurchase of shares of common stock.
At September 30, 2021, we had a working capital surplus of $16.0 million, an increase of $2.7 million over the $13.3 million surplus at December 31, 2020. The surplus increased from December 31, 2020 due mainly to the cash that is continually being generated by operations. The Company anticipates its current cash balance, cash flows from operations, and available sources of liquidity to be sufficient to meet its cash requirements for at least the next twelve months.
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to 2020
During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, $13.5 million was provided by the Company’s operating activities, compared to $12.1 million provided during the same period in 2020, a $1.4 million, and 12% increase. During the three months ended September 30, 2021, $5.5 million was provided by the Company’s operating activities, compared to $3.8 million provided during the same period in 2020, a $1.7 million, and 45% increase. The increase was mainly due to increased cash operations as a result of an increased prices, partially offset by the losses created on the hedges as they matured.
The Company used $2.1 million and $3.8 million of cash for investing activities during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively. This was spent primarily on leasehold and development costs targeting increasing production in Pennsylvania and Oklahoma. The Company used $1.4 million and $5.5 million of cash for investing activities during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively. This was spent primarily on leasehold and development costs targeting increasing production in Pennsylvania.
The $1.3 million and $2.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, and the $7.2 million and $9.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, of cash used for financing activity was related to the repurchase of common shares of the Company.
Credit Agreement
In addition, the Company has a senior secured credit facility which includes a total commitment of up to $100 million. The current effective borrowing base is $14 million, which is subject to semi-annual redetermination. There are currently no borrowings under the facility. If Epsilon decided to access the facility, depending on the level of borrowing, the Company might need to increase its hedging activity. Borrowings from the Facility may be used for the acquisition and development of oil and gas properties, investments in cash flow generating assets complimentary to the production of oil and gas, and for letters of credit and other general corporate purposes. Upon each advance, interest is charged at the highest of a) rate of LIBOR plus an applicable margin (3.25%-4.25% based on the percent of the line of credit utilized) with the minimum being 0.25%, b) the Prime Rate, or c) the sum of the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5%.
Effective April 6, 2021 the agreement was amended to extend the maturity date to March 1, 2024. In addition, the agreement was amended to include a Benchmark Replacement definition and transition plan to be used at such time when the LIBOR rate is discontinued.
On June 28, 2021 the borrowing base was decreased from $18 million to $14 million. This adjusted base will remain in effect until the next periodic redetermination of the borrowing base.