The increase in revenues in the U.S. in 2020 was due to the increase in weather related cases and an increase in new client growth, partially offset by the negative economic impact of COVID-19. Based on constant foreign exchange rates, there was an increase in revenues in the U.K. for 2020 compared with 2019 due to an increase in weather related activity and expanding new services. Revenues in Canada decreased in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19. There was a revenue increase in Australia due to an increase in weather related cases. There was a slight decrease in revenues in Europe due to a change in the mix of services provided in Germany and Norway. The decrease in revenues in Rest of World for 2020 was primarily due to a reduction in Asia.
There was an average of 2,884 FTEs in 2020 compared with an average of 2,905 FTEs in 2019.
There was a decrease in segment unit volume, measured principally by cases received, of 5.0% in 2020 compared with 2019. The reduction of LWI revenues, net of the impact of the Chile acquisition, resulted in a 1.3% decrease in segment revenues in 2020. Changes in product mix and in the rates charged for those services accounted for a 3.1% revenue increase for 2020 compared with 2019, due primarily to a reduction in Contractor Connection cases in the 2020 period.
reimbursements in 2018. The decrease in operating earnings for the 2019 period resulted from lower revenues, which were not fully offset by lower direct expenses.
Crawford Specialty Solutions segment revenues are primarily derived from the global property and casualty insurance company markets in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, Europe and Rest of World, and, prior to the disposition of the Garden City Group business line, the legal settlement administration market primarily in the U.S. and Canada. Revenues before reimbursements by major region, based on actual exchange rates, using a constant exchange rate and excluding activity from the Garden City Group service line, were as follows:
Our consolidated effective income tax rate for financial reporting purposes may change periodically due to changes in enacted tax rates, changes in tax law, fluctuations in the mix of income earned from our various domestic and international operations, which are subject to income taxes at different rates, our ability to utilize loss and tax credit carryforwards, and amounts related to uncertain income tax positions. Income tax provisions totaled $12.0 million, $14.1 million, and $18.5 million for 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Our effective tax rate for financial reporting purposes was 30.7%, 59.7%, and 42.0% for 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. The Company's effective income tax rate in 2020 was impacted by goodwill impairment, disposals and liquidations of businesses, and deferred taxes attributable to certain undistributed foreign earnings that are no longer permanently reinvested. The Company's effective income tax rate in 2019 was impacted by goodwill impairment, arbitration and claim settlements, and valuation allowances established on certain state net operating loss carryforwards and foreign tax credits. The 2018 effective income tax rate was impacted by a valuation allowance on certain foreign tax credits, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in the U.S., and one-time income tax planning activities. Based on our 2021 operating plans, we anticipate our effective tax rate for financial reporting purposes in 2021 to be in the 30% to 32% range before considering any discrete items and assuming no material changes to tax law and policy in the material jurisdictions in which we operate.
The obligations of the Borrowers under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement are guaranteed by each existing material domestic subsidiary of the Company, certain other domestic subsidiaries of the Company and certain existing material foreign subsidiaries of the Company that are disregarded entities for U.S. income tax purposes (each such foreign subsidiary, a "Disregarded Foreign Subsidiary"), and such obligations are required to be guaranteed by each subsequently acquired or formed material domestic subsidiary and Disregarded Foreign Subsidiary (each, a "Guarantor"), and the obligations of the Borrowers other than the Company ("Foreign Borrowers") for which the Company is not the primary obligor are also guaranteed by the Company. In addition, (i) the Borrowers’ obligations under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement are secured by a first priority lien (subject to liens permitted by the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement) on substantially all of the personal property of the Company and the Guarantors as set forth in the Amended and Restated Pledge and Security Agreement and (ii) the obligations of the Foreign Borrowers are secured by a first priority lien on 100% of the capital stock of the Foreign Borrowers.
Cash used in investing activities, primarily for acquisitions of property and equipment and capitalized software, increased by $29.8 million in 2019, from $6.4 million provided by investing activities in 2018 to a use of $23.4 million in 2019. The 2018 activity included proceeds from the Garden City Group disposal of $42.6 million. This transaction is discussed in Note 3, " Business Acquisitions and Dispositions" included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Cash used to acquire property and equipment and capitalized software, including capitalization of costs for internally developed software, was $21.1 million in 2019 compared with $30.0 million in 2018.
The values of the Broadspire and SLS trade names are each sensitive to changes in the assumptions used above, however the estimated fair value of our Broadspire and SLS trade names exceed their carrying value. We will continue to monitor the value of these trade names for potential indicators of impairment.
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Crawford & Company ("Crawford" or "the Company") is the world's largest publicly listed independent provider of claims management and outsourcing solutions to carriers, brokers and corporations with an expansive global network serving clients in more than 70 countries. Shares of the Company's two classes of common stock are traded on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbols CRD-A and CRD-B, respectively. The Company's two classes of stock are substantially identical, except with respect to voting rights and the Company's ability to pay greater cash dividends on the non-voting Class A Common Stock than on the voting Class B Common Stock, subject to certain limitations. In addition, with respect to mergers or similar transactions, holders of Class A Common Stock must receive the same type and amount of consideration as holders of Class B Common Stock, unless different consideration is approved by the holders of 75% of the Class A Common Stock, voting as a class. The Company's website is www.crawco.com. The information contained on, or hyperlinked from, the Company's website is not a part of, and is not incorporated by reference into, this report.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. ("GAAP") and include the accounts of the Company, its majority-owned subsidiaries, and variable interest entities in which the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary. Significant intercompany transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Financial results from the Company's operations outside of the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, and certain subsidiaries in the Philippines, are reported and consolidated on a two-month delayed basis in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 810, "Consolidation," in order to provide sufficient time for accumulation of their results. Accordingly, the Company's December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 consolidated financial statements include the financial position of such operations as of October 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and the results of their operations and cash flows for the fiscal periods ended October 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
The Company sold its 51% interest in Lloyd Warwick International Limited ("LWI") to a third party in June 2020. Prior to the sale, LWI was considered a VIE of the Company. As the primary beneficiary of LWI, the Company consolidated the results of LWI because of its controlling ownership interest and because Crawford had the obligation to absorb LWI's losses through the additional financial support that Crawford may be obligated to provide. As a result of the sale, LWI is no longer considered a VIE of the Company, and the Company no longer consolidates the results of LWI nor is obligated to provide financial support to LWI. See Note 3, “Business Acquisitions and Dispositions” of our accompanying consolidated financial statements for further discussion related to the sale of the Company’s interest in LWI.
The Company extends credit based on an evaluation of a client's financial condition and, generally, collateral is not required. Accounts receivable are typically due upon receipt of the invoice and are stated on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets at amounts due from clients net of an estimated allowance for expected credit losses. Accounts outstanding longer than the contractual payment terms are considered past due. The fair value of accounts receivable approximates book value due to their short-term contractual stipulations.
Depreciation on property and equipment, including property under finance leases and amortization of leasehold improvements, was $11,750,000, $11,363,000, and $12,862,000 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
Interest expense, including amortization of capitalized loan costs, on the Company's short-term and long-term borrowings was $8,187,000, $11,519,000, and $11,399,000 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Interest paid on the Company's short-term and long-term borrowings was $7,152,000, $10,470,000, and $10,381,000 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
The Company has entered into operating lease agreements that have not yet commenced as of December 31, 2020 with legally binding minimum lease payments of $2,370,000. The leases are expected to commence during the three months ended March 31, 2021, and have lease terms between 5 years and 10 years.
Revenues by geographic region and major service line for the Crawford Claims Solutions, Crawford TPA Solutions and Crawford Specialty Solutions segments are shown in Note 2, "Revenue Recognition."
As part of the Company's Credit Facility, the Company maintains a letter of credit facility to satisfy certain of its own contractual requirements. At December 31, 2020, the aggregate committed amount of letters of credit outstanding under the facility was $11,512,000.
TPA: Broadspire, which provides third party administration for workers' compensation, auto and liability, disability absence management, medical management, and accident and health to corporations, brokers and insurers worldwide. This is comprised of the previously reported Broadspire segment and the Crawford Legal Services service line previously reported within the Crawford Claims Solutions segment.
On November 1, 2020, the Company acquired 100% of HBA Group in Australia, including 100% of the stock in each of HBA Group’s entities HBA Legal, Pillion and Paratus. HBA Legal is a legal services provider that will complement the Company’s Crawford TPA Solutions segment in Australia. The purchase price includes an initial cash payment of $4.1 million, net of working capital adjustment, and a maximum $3.2 million payable in cash over the next four years based on achieving certain revenue and EBITDA performance goals.
We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over the Company’s goodwill impairment test process, including controls over management’s review of the significant assumptions described above.