The Company has ongoing sales and use tax audits in various jurisdictions subject to varying interpretations of statutes. The Company has recorded the exposure from these audits to the extent issues are resolved or are reasonably estimable. There are issues that could result in unfavorable outcomes that cannot be currently estimated.
The Company’s Retirement Income Plan, a multiple employer trusteed defined benefit pension plan, provides monthly benefits upon retirement at age 65 to eligible employees. During the six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company did not make any contributions to the plan and is currently evaluating whether to make any cash contributions for the remainder of 2020.
As of June 30, 2020, the Company’s stock buyback program authorizes the aggregate repurchase of up to 41,578,125 shares, including an additional 10,000,000 shares authorized for repurchase by the Board of Directors on February 12, 2019. No shares have been purchased on the open market during the six months ended June 30, 2020, and 8,248,184 shares remain available to be repurchased under the current authorization as of June 30, 2020. The Company may repurchase outstanding common shares periodically based on market conditions and our capital allocation strategies considering restrictions under our credit facility. The stock buyback program does not have a predetermined expiration date.
The Company recorded severance costs and other charges of $1.6 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2020, all of which is expected to have a cash impact.
On July 22, 2019, the Board of Directors voted to suspend RPC’s dividend to common stockholders. The Company expects to resume cash dividends to common stockholders, subject to the earnings and financial condition of the Company and other relevant factors. The Company has no timetable for the resumption of dividends.
INFLATION
The Company purchases its equipment and materials from suppliers who provide competitive prices, and employs skilled workers from competitive labor markets. If inflation in the general economy increases, the Company’s costs for equipment, materials and labor could increase as well. In addition, increases in activity in the domestic oilfield can cause upward wage pressures in the labor markets from which it hires employees, especially if employment in the general economy increases. Also, activity increases can cause increases in the costs of certain materials and key equipment components used to provide services to the Company’s customers. When oilfield activity began to increase in the third quarter of 2016, the Company experienced upward pressure on the price of labor due to the shortage of skilled employees as well as occasional increases in the prices of certain raw materials used in providing our services. Since 2018, however, prices for raw material comprising the Company’s single largest raw material purchase began to decline due to increased sources of supply of the material, particularly in geographic markets located close to the largest U.S. oil and gas basin. In addition, labor costs declined throughout 2019 and into the second quarter of 2020 due to declining oilfield activity.
OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The Company does not have any material off balance sheet arrangements.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Marine Products Corporation
Effective February 28, 2001, the Company spun-off the business conducted through Chaparral Boats, Inc., RPC’s former powerboat manufacturing segment. In conjunction with the spin-off, RPC and Marine Products Corporation entered into various agreements that define the companies’ relationship. During the six months ended June 30, 2020, RPC charged Marine Products Corporation for its allocable share of administrative costs incurred for services rendered on behalf of Marine Products Corporation totaling $433,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 compared to $427,000 for the comparable period in 2019.
Other
The Company periodically purchases, in the ordinary course of business, products or services from suppliers who are owned by officers or significant stockholders of, or affiliated with the directors of RPC. The total amounts paid to these affiliated parties were $610,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and $587,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2019 .