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 of the Company’s Note to Consolidated Financial Statements on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
The Company’s pension expense for this Plan for first quarter 2022 and 2021 was $763 and $604, respectively ($3,156 and $2,866 for twelve months 2021 and 2020, respectively). The aforementioned expense includes surcharges (reflecting the “frozen” surcharge rate) of $269 and $213 for first quarter 2022 and 2021, respectively ($1,112 and $1,010 for twelve months 2021 and 2020, respectively), as required under the amended plan of rehabilitation.
The Company continues to actively monitor the Covid-19 pandemic, including existing and developing variants and subvariants, and its potential impact on our operations and financial results, prioritizing employee health and safety. The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are unprecedented, and therefore the Company is unable to determine the related effects on its sales and net earnings in 2022 and beyond. Because the Company has a sizable investment in marketable securities (see Liquidity and Capital Resources section below), the Company continues to be well positioned financially to respond to any further adverse effects of this pandemic in the short and intermediate-terms, as well as for a longer period of time, if necessary.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Net cash flows provided by operating activities were $16,807 and $15,337 in first quarter 2022 and 2021, respectively, a favorable increase of $1,470. The $1,470 increase in cash flows from operating activities from 2021 to 2022 reflects the increase in net earnings as a result of higher revenue as discussed above, and higher production levels due to higher demand resulting in more cash used in inventories in first quarter 2022. In addition, changes in net cash flows in first quarter 2022 reflect the timing of sales and collections of accounts receivable and the timing of payments relating to accounts payable and accrued liabilities.
Net cash used in investing activities was $23,104 in first quarter 2022 compared to $26,528 in first quarter 2021. Cash flows used in investing activities reflect $25,148 and $30,031 of purchases of available for sale securities during first quarter 2022 and 2021, respectively, and $8,524 and $8,543 of sales and maturities of available for sale securities during first quarter 2022 and 2021, respectively. First quarter 2022 and 2021 investing activities include capital expenditures of $5,948 and $3,787, respectively. The Company has committed approximately $30,000 to a rehabilitation upgrade and expansion of one of its manufacturing plants in the U.S. The Company spent approximately $15,000, $6,000 and $2,000 in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, on the aforementioned project and expects additional cash outlays for this project to approximate $7,000 in 2022. All capital expenditures have been or are expected 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 $1,075 and $965 at March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, all of which relates to its Spanish subsidiary. The Company had no other outstanding bank borrowings at March 31, 2022.
Financing activities include Company common stock purchases and retirements of $1,152 and $7,423 in first quarter 2022 and 2021, respectively. Cash dividends of $12,075 and $11,874 were paid in first quarter 2022 and 2021, respectively.
The Company’s current ratio (current assets divided by current liabilities) was 3.4 to 1 at March 31, 2022 compared to 3.4 to 1 at December 31, 2021 and 4.4 to 1 at March 31, 2021. Net working capital was $195,402 at March 31, 2022 compared to $188,333 and $226,391 at December 31, 2021 and March 31, 2021, respectively. The aforementioned net working capital amounts are principally reflected in aggregate cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $145,527 at March 31, 2022 compared to $145,808 and $178,687 at December 31, 2021 and March 31, 2021, respectively. In addition, long term investments, principally debt securities comprising corporate bonds, were $276,780 at March 31, 2022, as compared to $291,175 and $243,749 at December 31, 2021 and March 31, 2021, respectively. Aggregate cash and cash equivalents and short and long-term investments were $422,307, $436,983, and $422,436, at March 31, 2022, December 31, 2021 and March 31, 2021, respectively. The aforementioned includes $84,662, $89,736, and $78,271 at March 31, 2022, December 31, 2021 and March 31, 2021, respectively, relating to