The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities for the six-month periods presented:
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, | | Variance |
(in thousands) | | 2022 | | 2021 | | $ | | % |
Net cash provided by operating activities | | $ | 214,817 | | $ | 219,205 | | (4,388) | | (2.0) |
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities | | | (62,032) | | | 28,625 | | (90,657) | | NM |
Net cash used in financing activities | | | (30,640) | | | (217,894) | | 187,254 | | 85.9 |
Effect of exchange rate on cash | | | (6,482) | | | 115 | | (6,597) | | NM |
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 115,663 | | $ | 30,051 | | | | |
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Cash from operating activities is the principal source of cash generation for our businesses. The most significant source of cash in our cash flow from operations is customer-related activities, the largest of which is collecting cash resulting from services sold. The most significant operating use of cash is to pay our suppliers, employees, tax authorities and others for a wide range of material and services. The Company’s operating activities generated net cash of $214.8 million and $219.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The $4.4 million decrease was driven primarily by the timing of cash receipts and cash payments to vendors, employees, and tax and regulatory authorities.
Cash Used in or Provided by Investing Activities
The Company’s investing activities used $62.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, and provided $28.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The Company invested approximately $15.9 million in capital expenditures during 2022 compared to $13.2 million during 2021. Capital expenditures for the period consisted primarily of property purchases, equipment replacements and technology-related projects. Cash paid for acquisitions totaled $50.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 as compared to $28.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The expenditures for the Company’s acquisitions were funded through existing cash balances, borrowings on our line of credit, a term loan, and operating cash flows. The six months ended June 30, 2021 included approximately $67 million in cash proceeds from the sale of assets related to the Clark Pest property sale leasebacks.
Cash Provided by or Used in Financing Activities
Cash used by financing activities was $30.6 million during the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to cash used of $217.9 million in the prior year. Concurrent with the Amendment to our Credit Agreement, the Company borrowed $80.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2022, net of repayments, compared to net repayments of $115.0 million during 2021. A total of $98.4 million was paid in cash dividends ($0.20 per share) during the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to $79.7 million in cash dividends paid ($0.16 per share) during the six months ended June 30, 2021.
In 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to 5 million shares of the Company’s common stock. After adjustments for stock splits, the total authorized shares under the share repurchase plan are 16.9 million shares. The Company did not repurchase shares of its common stock on the open market during the first six months of 2022 nor during the same period in 2021. In total, 11.4 million additional shares may be purchased under the share repurchase program. The Company repurchased $7.0 million and $10.3 million of common stock for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, from employees for the payment of taxes on vesting restricted shares.
CONTINGENCIES
In the normal course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries are involved in, and will continue to be involved in, various claims, arbitrations, contractual disputes, investigations, litigation, and tax and other regulatory matters relating to, and arising out of, our businesses and our operations. These matters may involve, but are not limited to, allegations that our services or vehicles caused damage or injury, claims that our services did not achieve the desired results, claims related