cash in the current period due to a net favorable change of $8.5 million in inventory partially offset by a net unfavorable change in other components of working capital. The net favorable change in inventory during the current period was due primarily to the decrease in production. The changes in the other components of working capital were consistent with the decrease in net sales and lower production levels as well as the timing of payments and receipts.
Cash used for investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2024 decreased $5.5 million in comparison to the same period in the prior year due to lower capital expenditures during the six months ended June 30, 2024.
Cash used for financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2024 increased $24.4 million in comparison to the six months ended June 30, 2023 due to higher dividends paid to common shareholders, including a special dividend of $0.70 per share paid during the second quarter of 2024.
Financial Condition and Liquidity
The Company believes that the liquidity provided by existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, its overall strong capitalization, cash generated by operations and the Company’s revolving credit facility will provide sufficient capital to meet the Company’s requirements for at least the next twelve months. The Company’s decisions about the amount of cash to be used for investing and financing purposes are influenced by its capital position and the expected amount of cash to be provided by operations.
Cash Requirements
The Company currently expects that capital expenditures in 2024 will be approximately $5.0 million, of which $1.7 million has been spent through June 30, 2024.
The Company participated in a multiple employer Retirement Income Plan (“Plan”), sponsored by RPC, Inc. (“RPC”). During 2023, the Plan was fully terminated through a liquidation of the assets held in trust.
The Company has repurchased an aggregate total of 6,679,572 shares in the open market under the Company stock repurchase program, which was initially adopted in 2001. As of June 30, 2024, there were 1,570,428 shares that remained available for repurchase under the current authorization. There were no shares repurchased under this program during the six months ended June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2023.
Effective October 1, 2023, the Company began recording short-term cash incentive compensation expense to selected employees in an annual amount equal to nine percent of pre-tax profit (PTP incentive), defined as pretax income before goodwill adjustments and certain allocated corporate expenses. Through the third quarter of 2023, this PTP incentive was 16% in the aggregate per year and was subject to either a contractual arrangement or a discretionary determination. The PTP incentive under a contractual agreement with one employee, in the amount of seven percent per year, was discontinued at the end of the third quarter of 2023.
On July 23, 2024, the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.14 per share payable September 10, 2024 to common stockholders of record at the close of business August 9, 2024. The Company expects to continue to pay cash dividends to common stockholders, subject to industry conditions and Marine Products’ earnings, financial condition, and other relevant factors.
OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
To assist dealers in obtaining financing for the purchase of its boats for inventory, the Company has entered into agreements with various third-party floor plan lenders whereby the Company guarantees varying amounts of debt for qualifying dealers on boats in inventory. The Company’s obligation under these guarantees becomes effective in the case of a default under the financing arrangement between the dealer and the third-party lender. The agreements provide for the return of all repossessed boats to the Company in a new and unused condition as defined, in exchange for the Company’s assumption of specified percentages of the debt obligation on those boats, up to certain contractually determined dollar limits which vary by lender. The Company had no material financial impact associated with repurchases under these contractual agreements during the six months ended June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2023.