our operating cash flows are significantly impacted by the seasonality of our businesses . we typically generate most of our operating cash flow in the third and fourth quarters of each year . in june 2015 , we issued $ 900 million of senior notes in a registered public offering . the senior notes consist of two tranches : $ 400 million of five-year notes due 2020 with a coupon of 3% ( 3 % ) and $ 500 million of ten-year notes due 2025 with a coupon of 4% ( 4 % ) . we used the proceeds from the senior notes offering to pay down our revolving credit facility and for general corporate purposes . on december 31 , 2017 , the outstanding amount of the senior notes , net of underwriting commissions and price discounts , was $ 892.6 million . cash flows below is a summary of cash flows for the years ended december 31 , 2017 , 2016 and 2015 . ( in millions ) 2017 2016 2015 .
\\nin june 2015 what was the percent of the five-year notes due 2020 with a coupon of 3% ( 3 % ) of senior notes in a registered public offering
net cash provided by operating activities was $ 600.3 million in 2017 compared to $ 650.5 million in 2016 and $ 429.2 million in 2015 . the $ 50.2 million decrease in cash provided by operating activities from 2017 to 2016 was primarily due to higher build in working capital , primarily driven by higher inventory purchases in 2017 , partially offset by a higher net income . the $ 221.3 million increase in cash provided by operating activities from 2015 to 2016 was primarily due to a reduction in working capital in 2016 compared to 2015 and higher net income . net cash used in investing activities was $ 287.7 million in 2017 compared to $ 385.1 million in 2016 and $ 766.6 million in 2015 . the decrease of $ 97.4 million from 2016 to 2017 was primarily due lower cost of acquisitions of $ 115.1 million , partially offset by $ 15.7 million of higher capital expenditures . the decrease of $ 381.5 million from 2015 to 2016 was primarily due the decrease in cost of acquisitions of $ 413.1 million , partially offset by $ 20.8 million of higher capital spending . net cash used in financing activities was $ 250.1 million in 2017 compared to net cash used in financing activities of $ 250.4 million in 2016 and net cash provided by in financing activities of $ 398.8 million in 2015 . the change of $ 649.2 million in 2016 compared to 2015 was primarily due to $ 372.8 million of higher share repurchases and lower net borrowings of $ 240.8 million . pension plans subsidiaries of fortune brands sponsor their respective defined benefit pension plans that are funded by a portfolio of investments maintained within our benefit plan trust . in 2017 , 2016 and 2015 , we contributed $ 28.4 million , zero and $ 2.3 million , respectively , to qualified pension plans . in 2018 , we expect to make pension contributions of approximately $ 12.8 million . as of december 31 , 2017 , the fair value of our total pension plan assets was $ 656.6 million , representing funding of 79% ( 79 % ) of the accumulated benefit obligation liability . for the foreseeable future , we believe that we have sufficient liquidity to meet the minimum funding that may be required by the pension protection act of 2006 . foreign exchange we have operations in various foreign countries , principally canada , china , mexico , the united kingdom , france , australia and japan . therefore , changes in the value of the related currencies affect our financial statements when translated into u.s . dollars. .