Equity

Declaration and Payment of Dividends

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the following dividends were declared or paid:



Equity Type	Declaration Date	Record Date	Payment Date	Dividends Per Share		Aggregate Payment Amount (In millions)
Common Stock	February 18, 2016	March 18, 2016	March 31, 2016	$	0.885	$	300.0	^(a)
Common Stock	May 20, 2016	June 17, 2016	June 30, 2016	$	0.885	$	300.8	^(a)
Common Stock	August 2, 2016	September 16, 2016	September 30, 2016	$	0.885	$	300.3	^(a)
Convertible Preferred Stock	December 16, 2015	January 16, 2016	February 1, 2016	$	1.1250	$	11.0
Convertible Preferred Stock	March 22, 2016	April 15, 2016	May 2, 2016	$	1.1250	$	11.0
Convertible Preferred Stock	June 28, 2016	July 15, 2016	August 1, 2016	$	1.1250	$	11.0
Convertible Preferred Stock	September 17, 2016	October 15, 2016	November 1, 2016	$	1.1250	$	11.0


(a)	Inclusive of dividends accrued for holders of unvested restricted stock units and payments of previously accrued dividends for holders of restricted stock units that have vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

See note 13 for a discussion of (1) the October and November 2016 conversion of the Company's previously outstanding Convertible Preferred Stock to common stock and (2) the Company's October 2016 declaration of its quarterly cash common stock dividend.

Purchases of the Company's Common Stock

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company purchased 0.3 million shares of its common stock utilizing $24.8 million in cash. The common stock shares purchased relate to shares withheld in connection with the payment of withholding taxes upon vesting of restricted stock.

"At the Market" Stock Offering Program

In August 2015, the Company established an "at the market" stock offering program ("ATM Program") through which it may, from time to time, issue and sell shares of its common stock having an aggregate cumulative gross sales price of up to $500.0 million to or through sales agents. Sales, if any, under the ATM Program may be made by means of ordinary brokers' transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or, subject to specific instructions of the Company, at negotiated prices. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from any sales under the ATM Program for general corporate purposes, which may include the funding of future acquisitions or investments and the repayment or repurchase of any outstanding indebtedness. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, 3.8 million shares of common stock were sold under the ATM Program generating net proceeds of $323.8 million after giving effect to sales agent commissions of $3.3 million. The net proceeds from the sales under the ATM Program were used, in part, to fund the TDC Acquisition. See note 4.