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STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

9. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Dividends

In April 2011, our Board of Directors approved the initiation of a quarterly cash dividend policy. Declaration and payment of future quarterly dividends is at the discretion of the Board and may be adjusted as business needs or market conditions change.

The following table provides details of our dividend payments in 2012:

 

Record Date     Payment
Date
    Amount
per Share
    Total
Amount
 
                  (in millions)  
  12/30/2011        1/31/2012      $ 0.25      $ 41   
  3/30/2012        4/27/2012      $ 0.25      $ 41   
  6/29/2012        7/27/2012      $ 0.26      $ 42   

Stock Repurchases

In April 2012, the Board of Directors replaced its previously approved share repurchase authorization of up to $1 billion with a new authorization for repurchases of up to $1 billion of our common shares exclusive of shares repurchased in connection with employee stock plans, expiring on June 30, 2014. Under this share repurchase authorization, shares could be purchased from time to time at prevailing prices in the open market, by block purchases, or in privately-negotiated transactions, subject to certain regulatory restrictions on volume, pricing, and timing. During the six months ended June 30, 2011, we repurchased 3.37 million shares in open market transactions for $253 million at an average price of $74.89 under previously approved share repurchase authorizations. During the six months ended June 30, 2012, we repurchased 1.15 million shares in open market transactions for $100 million at an average price of $86.95 under a previously approved share repurchase authorization and we repurchased 1.58 million shares in open market transactions for $126 million at an average price of $79.94 under the new authorization. As of July 31, 2012, the remaining authorized amount under the new authorization totaled $874 million.

In connection with employee stock plans, we acquired 0.6 million common shares for $52 million and 0.7 million common shares for $48 million during the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.