spread over the Base Rate ranging from 0.1% to 1%. Fees under the Amended Credit Agreement include an unused commitment fee ranging from 0.25% to 0.3% depending on our consolidated leverage ratio and the amount of funds outstanding under the Amended Credit Agreement.
The January 2016 amendment to the Amended Credit Agreement increased the cash and noncash consideration that we could pay with respect to acquisitions permitted under the Amended Credit Agreement to $50,000,000 for any fiscal year, and increased the amount we may pay in cash dividends to our shareholders in an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000,000 in any fiscal year. The March 2017 amendment, among other items, increased the amount we may pay in cash dividends to our shareholders in an aggregate amount not to exceed $15,000,000 in any fiscal year. The November 2017 amendment, among other items, adjusted the pricing grid as described above, increased the aggregate amount we may pay in cash dividends to $20,000,000 to our shareholders and extended the maturity date to November 30, 2021.
On December 31, 2018, $38.0 million was outstanding on the Amended Credit Agreement resulting in $87.0 million of availability. As of the date of this report, we were in compliance with all of the covenants thereunder.
The increase in cash and cash equivalents of $1.4 million from December 31, 2018 to December 31, 2017 was due primarily to $73.0 million provided by operations and $16.0 million net proceeds from our Amended Credit Agreement. The major uses of cash for investing and financing activities included: purchase of businesses ($16.4 million), payments of cash dividends to our shareholders ($11.7 million), purchases of fixed assets ($7.2 million), distributions to non-controlling interests ($15.6 million), acquisitions of non-controlling interests through settlements of liabilities related to mandatorily redeemable non-controlling interests ($0.2 million) and payments on notes payable ($4.0 million)
On February 28, 2018, through one of our majority owned partnerships, we acquired the assets and business of two physical therapy clinics, for an aggregate purchase price of $760,000 in cash and $150,000 in seller note that is payable, plus accrued interest, on August 31, 2019.
On April 30, 2018, we purchased a 65% interest in the assets and business of industrial injury prevention services, for an aggregate purchase price of $8.6 million in cash and $400,000 in seller note that is payable, plus accrued interest, on April 30, 2019. The initial industrial injury prevention business was acquired in March 2017 and, on April 30, 2018, we made a second acquisition with the two businesses then combined. After the combination, we own a 59.45% interest in the combined business.
On August 31, 2018 we acquired a 70% interest in a four-clinic physical therapy practice. The purchase price for the 70% interest was $7.3 million in cash and $400,000 in a seller note that is payable in two principal installments totaling $200,000 each, plus accrued interest, in August 2019 and August 2020.
In addition to the multi-clinic acquisitions above in 2018, we through several of our majority owned Clinic Partnerships, acquired five separate clinic practices. These practices will operate as satellites of the respective existing clinic partnership.
On January 1, 2017, we acquired a 70% interest in a seventeen-clinic physical therapy practice. The purchase price for the 70% interest was $10.7 million in cash and $0.5 million in a seller note that is payable in two principal installments totaling $250,000 each, plus accrued interest. The first installment was paid in January 2018 and the second installment was paid in January 2019.
In March 2017, we acquired a 55% interest in a company which is a leading provider of industrial injury prevention solutions. Services provided include onsite injury prevention and rehabilitation, performance optimization and ergonomic assessments. The majority of these services are contracted with and paid for directly by employers including a number of Fortune 500 companies. Other clients include large insurers and their contractors. The purchase price for the 55% interest was $6.2 million in cash and $0.4 million in a seller note that was paid, principal plus accrued interest, in September 2018.
On May 31, 2017, we acquired a 70% interest in a four-clinic physical therapy practice. The purchase price for the 70% interest was $2.3 million in cash and $250,000 in a seller note that is payable in two principal installments totaling $125,000 each plus accrued interest. The first installment was paid in May 2018 and the second installment is due in May 2019.