to determine its effects on the Plan and Company withdrawal liability. This is a complex area, however, based on an initial assessment by the Company’s actuary, the Company does not believe that this legislation will result in a material reduction in its withdrawal liability. Nonetheless, the Company is currently unable to determine the ultimate outcome of the above discussed multi-employer union pension matter and therefore is unable to determine the effects on its consolidated financial statements, but the ultimate outcome could be material to its consolidated results of operations or cash flows in one or more future periods. See also Note 7 in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
The Company continues to actively monitor Covid-19, including developing variants, and its potential impact on our operations and financial results, prioritizing employee health and safety. Because the Company has a sizable investment in marketable securities (see Liquidity and Capital Resources section above) the Company continues to be well positioned financially to respond to any further adverse effects of this pandemic, and Covid-19 variants, in the short-term, as well as for a longer period of time if necessary.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Net cash flows provided by operating activities were $10,778 and $10,880 in first half 2021 and 2020, respectively, an unfavorable decrease of $102. First half 2021 cash flows from operating activities principally benefited from higher net earnings, lower finished goods inventories at June 30, 2021 reflecting higher than planned demand, the timing of production of finished goods, and changes in accounts payable and accrued liabilities in the comparative periods. The aforementioned increases were partially offset by changes in accounts receivable reflecting the timing of net product sales and collections of accounts receivable trade, and changes in income taxes payable, including estimated tax payments in the comparative periods.
Net cash used in investing activities was $52,060 in first half 2021 compared to $17,271 in first half 2020. Cash flows used in investing activities reflect $58,154 and $53,269 of purchases of available for sale securities during first half 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $19,798 and $44,466 of sales and maturities of available for sale securities during first half 2021 and 2020, respectively. First half 2021 and 2020 investing activities include capital expenditures of $12,327 and $6,410, respectively. The Company has committed approximately $25,000 to a rehabilitation upgrade and expansion of one of its manufacturing plants in the U.S. The Company spent approximately $8,000 and $6,000 in 2021 and 2020, respectively, on the aforementioned project. Company management expects future cash outlays for this project to approximate $7,000 during the second half of 2021 and $1,000 in 2022. All capital expenditures are to be funded from the Company’s cash flow from operations and internal sources including available for sale securities.
The Company’s consolidated financial statements include bank borrowings of $986 and $864 at June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, all of which relates to its Spanish subsidiary. The Company had no other outstanding bank borrowings at June 30, 2021.
Financing activities include Company common stock purchases and retirements of $17,181 and $12,959 in first half 2021 and 2020, respectively. Cash dividends of $12,034 and $11,853 were paid in first half 2021 and 2020, respectively.
The Company’s current ratio (current assets divided by current liabilities) was 3.7 to 1 at June 30, 2021 compared to 4.6 to 1 at December 31, 2020 and 3.8 to 1 at June 30, 2020. Net working capital was $201,867 at June 30, 2021 compared to $250,851 and $238,517 at December 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020, respectively. The aforementioned net working capital amounts are principally reflected in aggregate cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $139,201 at June 30, 2021 compared to $208,931 and $186,385 at December 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020, respectively. In addition, long term investments, principally debt securities comprising corporate bonds, were $264,693 at June 30, 2021, as compared to $220,020 and $186,057 at December 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020, respectively. Aggregate cash and cash equivalents and short and long-term investments were $403,894, $428,951, and $372,442, at June 30, 2021, December 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020, respectively. The aforementioned includes $83,867, $73,828, and $78,285 at June 30, 2021, December 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020, respectively, relating to trading securities which are used as an economic hedge for the Company’s deferred compensation liabilities. Investments in available for sale securities, primarily high quality corporate bonds, that matured during first half 2021 and 2020 were generally used to purchase the Company’s common stock or were replaced with debt securities of similar maturities.