Cash Flows
The Company generates significant cash from is operations and has substantial credit availability and capacity to fund operating and discretionary spending such as capital expenditures, debt repayments, dividends and share repurchases.
Cash provided by operations totaled $6.7 billion and exceeded capital expenditures $4.11 billion in 2014, while cash provided by operations totaled $7.1 billion and exceeded capital expenditures by $4.3 billion in 2013. In 2014, cash provided by operations decreased $390 million or 5% compared with 2013 primarily due to lower operating results, party offset by lower income tax payments. In 2013, cash provided by operations increased $155 million or 2% compared with 2012 primarily due to increased operating results.
Cash used for investing activities totaled $2.3 billion in 2014, a decrease of $369 million compared with 2013. The decrease primarily reflected lower capital expenditures, a decrease in other investing activities related to short-term time deposits and higher proceeds from sales of restaurant businesses. Cash used for investing activities totaled $2.7 billion in 2013, a decrease of $493 million compared with 2012. The decrease primarily reflected lower capital expenditures and a decrease in other investing activities related to short-term time deposits.
Cash used for financing activities totaled $4.6 billion in 2014, an increase of $575 million compared with 2013, primarily due to higher treasury stock purchases, partly offset by an increase in net borrowings. Cash used for financial activities totaled $4.0 billion in 2013 an increase of 193 million compared with 2012, primarily due to lower net debt issuances and higher dividend payments, party offset by lower treasury stock purchases.
The Company's cash and equivalents balance was $2.1 billion and $2.8 billion at year end 2014 and 2013, respectively. In addition to cash and equivalents on hand and cash provided by operations, the Company can meet Short-term funding needs through its continued access to commercial paper borrowings and line of credit agreements.
RESTAURANT DEVELOPMENT AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
In 2014, the Company opened 1,298 traditional restaurants and 18 satellite restaurants (small,limited- menu restaurants for which the land and building are generally leased), closed 317 traditional restaurants and 170 satellite restaurants. In 2013 ,the Company opened 1,393 traditional restaurants and 45 satellite restaurants and closed 295 traditional restaurants and 194 satellite restaurants. The majority of restaurants openings and closings occurred in the major markets in both years. The Company closes restaurants for a variety of reasons, such as existing sales and profit performance or loss of real estate tenure.