| | For the years ended December 31, | |
| | 2004 | | 2003 | | 2002 | |
Cash Flows From Operating Activities: | | | | | | | |
Net income | | $ | 58,253 | | $ | 46,349 | | $ | 41,120 | |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | | | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | 28,069 | | 24,207 | | 23,169 | |
Net (gain) loss from disposals of property, plant and equipment | | (1,790 | ) | 1,131 | | 1,010 | |
Provision for deferred income taxes | | 652 | | 1,573 | | 2,769 | |
Minority interest | | 13,238 | | 25,666 | | 10,465 | |
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions: | | | | | | | |
(Increase) decrease in: | | | | | | | |
Accounts receivable | | (20,740 | ) | (3,261 | ) | (5,470 | ) |
Inventories | | (1,579 | ) | (663 | ) | 2,069 | |
Deferred income taxes and other current assets | | (3,388 | ) | (41 | ) | 465 | |
Intangible and other assets | | 4,807 | | (2,778 | ) | 8,195 | |
Increase (decrease) in: | | | | | | | |
Accounts payable | | 13,636 | | (1,659 | ) | 3,648 | |
Accrued expenses | | 16,806 | | (352 | ) | 2,729 | |
Deferred income taxes, long-term | | 1,306 | | 235 | | (6,428 | ) |
Accrued pension and other long-term liabilities | | (6,564 | ) | 1,927 | | 1,318 | |
All other, net | | 2,579 | | 920 | | 486 | |
Net cash provided by operating activities | | 105,285 | | 93,254 | | 85,545 | |
Cash Flows From Investing Activities: | | | | | | | |
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash received | | (405,187 | ) | (20,350 | ) | (10,641 | ) |
Purchases of property, plant and equipment | | (26,620 | ) | (17,559 | ) | (18,912 | ) |
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment | | 4,607 | | 31 | | 1,807 | |
Purchases of short-term investments | | (60,467 | ) | (126,998 | ) | (157,198 | ) |
Proceeds from sales of short-term investments | | 113,725 | | 103,775 | | 123,062 | |
Net cash used in investing activities | | (373,942 | ) | (61,101 | ) | (61,882 | ) |
Cash Flows From Financing Activities: | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from short-term debt | | 100,000 | | — | | — | |
Repayments of short-term debt | | (7,511 | ) | — | | — | |
Proceeds from long-term debt | | 200,000 | | — | | — | |
Repayments of long-term debt | | (60,068 | ) | (27,410 | ) | (3,318 | ) |
Exercise of stock options | | 5,196 | | 2,713 | | 4,144 | |
Net increase in disbursements outstanding | | 1,470 | | 7,903 | | 815 | |
Purchases of treasury stock | | — | | — | | (6,789 | ) |
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | | 239,087 | | (16,794 | ) | (5,148 | ) |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | | 3,667 | | (242 | ) | (521 | ) |
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | | (25,903 | ) | 15,117 | | 17,994 | |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year | | 82,136 | | 67,019 | | 49,025 | |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year | | $ | 56,233 | | $ | 82,136 | | $ | 67,019 | |
| | | | | | | |
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information: | | | | | | | |
Cash paid during the year for: | | | | | | | |
Interest paid, net | | $ | 4,061 | | $ | 320 | | $ | 1,013 | |
Income taxes, net of refunds of $2,168, $823, and $289, respectively | | $ | 28,674 | | $ | 30,453 | | $ | 20,742 | |