Comparison of September 30, 2022 to December 31, 2021
On a consolidated basis, our cash (excluding restricted cash) and investments at September 30, 2022 were $587.5 million compared to $691.6 million at December 31, 2021. The primary reasons for this decrease in unrestricted cash and investments were cash used by operations and purchases of investment securities.
Comparison of Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021
During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, our cash flow used by operations was $74.2 million compared to cash flow provided by operations of $47.3 million during the same period the prior year. The cash flow used in operations was driven primarily by higher reinsurance balances paid (including $62.0 million paid to fund the payment of claims under the LPT Contract without prejudice on behalf of DARAG under the interim agreement), an increase in net paid claims and lower collected investment income, partially offset by decreased paid operating expenses and federal income taxes recovered during the nine months ended September 30, 2022.
Net cash used in investing activities during the first nine months of 2022 was $144.2 million as compared to net cash provided by investing activities of $174.0 million during the first nine months of 2021. The net cash used in investing activities during the first nine months of 2022 was primarily comprised of an increase of $153.6 million in purchases of debt and equity securities, a decrease of $164.1 million in maturities, sales and redemptions of investment securities and a $0.5 million increase in purchases of fixed assets.
The Company did not report any net cash from financing activities during the first nine months of 2022 or 2021.
Senior Unsecured Notes
On August 19, 2019, Hallmark issued $50.0 million of senior unsecured notes (“Notes”) due August 15, 2029. Interest on the Notes accrues at the rate of 6.25% per annum and is payable semi-annually in arrears commencing February 15, 2020. The Notes are not obligations of or guaranteed by any of Hallmark’s subsidiaries and are not subject to any sinking fund requirements. At Hallmark’s option, the Notes are redeemable, in whole or in part, prior to the stated maturity subject to certain provisions intended to make the holders of the Notes whole on scheduled interest and principal payments. The indenture governing the Notes contains certain covenants which, among other things, restrict Hallmark’s ability to incur additional indebtedness, make certain payments, create liens on the stock of certain subsidiaries, dispose of certain assets, or merge or consolidate with other entities. The terms of the indenture prohibits payments or other distributions on any security of the Company that ranks junior to the Notes when the Company’s debt to capital ratio (as defined in the indenture) is greater than 35%. The Company’s debt to capital ratio was 62% as of September 30, 2022.
Subordinated Debt Securities
On June 21, 2005, we formed Hallmark Statutory Trust I (“Trust I”), an unconsolidated trust subsidiary, for the sole purpose of issuing $30.0 million in trust preferred securities. Trust I used the proceeds from the sale of these securities and our initial capital contribution to purchase $30.9 million of junior subordinated debt securities from Hallmark. The debt securities are the sole assets of Trust I, and the payments under the debt securities are the sole revenues of Trust I. On August 23, 2007, we formed Hallmark Statutory Trust II (“Trust II”), an unconsolidated trust subsidiary, for the sole purpose of issuing $25.0 million in trust preferred securities. Trust II used the proceeds from the sale of these securities and our initial capital contribution to purchase $25.8 million of subordinated debt securities from Hallmark. The debt securities are the sole assets of Trust II, and the payments under the debt securities are the sole revenues of Trust II.
Each trust pays dividends on its preferred securities at the same rate each quarter as interest is paid on the junior subordinated debt securities. Under the terms of the trust subordinated debt securities, we pay interest only each quarter and the principal of each note at maturity. We may elect to defer payments of interest on the trust subordinated debt securities by extending the interest payment period for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods. During any such extension period, interest continues to accrue on the trust subordinated debt securities, as well as interest on such accrued interest. In order to maintain compliance with the terms of our senior unsecured Notes, we have elected to defer payment of interest on the trust subordinated securities until our debt to capital ratio (as defined in the indenture governing the Notes) is less