EQUITY (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Equity [Abstract]

EQUITY

EQUITY

Series A and B Convertible Preferred Stock - There are no shares of Series A or Series B Preferred Stock currently issued or outstanding.

Common Stock - At December 31, 2016, we had approximately 373.2 million shares of authorized and unreserved common stock available for issuance.

Dividends - Dividends paid totaled $517.6 million, $509.2 million and $443.8 million for 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The following table sets forth the quarterly dividends per share declared and paid on our common stock for the periods indicated:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2016		2015		2014
First Quarter	$	0.615	$	0.605	$	0.40
Second Quarter	0.615		0.605		0.56
Third Quarter	0.615		0.605		0.575
Fourth Quarter	0.615		0.615		0.59
Total	$	2.46	$	2.43	$	2.125

Additionally, a quarterly dividend of $0.615 per share was declared in January 2017, payable in the first quarter 2017.

See Note O for a discussion of ONEOK Partners’ issuance of common units and distributions to noncontrolling interests.