EQUITY

Capital Stock

We have two classes of capital stock, Class A Common stock, $0.10 par value (Class A stock) and Class B Common Stock, $0.10 par value (Class B stock). Holders of Class B stock may convert such stock into Class A stock on a share-for-share basis. Holders of Class B stock are entitled to 10 votes per share, while holders of Class A stock are entitled to one vote per share on matters submitted to shareholders for approval. As of September 29, 2018, Tyson Limited Partnership (the "TLP") owned 99.985% of the outstanding shares of Class B stock and the TLP and members of the Tyson family owned, in the aggregate, 2.09% of the outstanding shares of Class A stock, giving them, collectively, control of approximately 70.96% of the total voting power of the outstanding voting stock.

The Class B stock is considered a participating security requiring the use of the two-class method for the computation of basic earnings per share. The two-class computation method for each period reflects the cash dividends paid for each class of stock, plus the amount of allocated undistributed earnings (losses) computed using the participation percentage, which reflects the dividend rights of each class of stock. Basic earnings per share were computed using the two-class method for all periods presented. The shares of Class B stock are considered to be participating convertible securities since the shares of Class B stock are convertible on a share-for-share basis into shares of Class A stock. Diluted earnings per share were computed assuming the conversion of the Class B shares into Class A shares as of the beginning of each period.

Dividends

Cash dividends cannot be paid to holders of Class B stock unless they are simultaneously paid to holders of Class A stock. The per share amount of the cash dividend paid to holders of Class B stock cannot exceed 90% of the cash dividend simultaneously paid to holders of Class A stock. We pay quarterly cash dividends to Class A and Class B shareholders. We paid Class A dividends per share of $1.20, $0.90, and $0.60 in fiscal 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. We paid Class B dividends per share of $1.08, $0.81, and $0.54 in fiscal 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. Effective November 12, 2018, the Board of Directors increased the quarterly dividend previously declared on August 9, 2018, to $0.375 per share on our Class A stock and $0.3375 per share on our Class B stock. The increased quarterly dividend is payable on December 14, 2018, to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 30, 2018.

Share Repurchases

On February 4, 2016, our Board of Directors approved an increase of 50 million shares authorized for repurchase under our share repurchase program. As of September 29, 2018, 22.9 million shares remained available for repurchase. The share repurchase program has no fixed or scheduled termination date and the timing and extent to which we repurchase shares will depend upon, among other things, our working capital needs, markets, industry conditions, liquidity targets, limitations under our debt obligations and regulatory requirements. In addition to the share repurchase program, we purchase shares on the open market to fund certain obligations under our equity compensation plans.

A summary of cumulative share repurchases of our Class A stock for fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016 is as follows:



							in millions
	September 29, 2018			September 30, 2017			October 1, 2016
	Shares	Dollars		Shares	Dollars		Shares	Dollars
Shares repurchased:
Under share repurchase program	4.9	$	350	12.5	$	797	30.8	$	1,868
To fund certain obligations under equity compensation plans	1.0	77		1.0	63		1.3	76
Total share repurchases	5.9	$	427	13.5	$	860	32.1	$	1,944

Tangible Equity Units

In fiscal 2014, we completed the public issuance of 30 million, 4.75% tangible equity units (TEUs). Total proceeds, net of underwriting discounts and other expenses, were $1,454 million. Each TEU, which had a stated amount of $50, was comprised of a prepaid stock purchase contract and a senior amortizing note due July 15, 2017. We allocated the proceeds from the issuance of the TEUs to equity and debt based on the relative fair values of the respective components of each TEU. The fair value of the prepaid stock purchase contracts, which was $1,295 million, was recorded in Capital in Excess of Par Value, net of issuance costs. The fair value of the senior amortizing notes, which was $205 million, was recorded in debt. Issuance costs associated with the TEU debt were recorded as deferred debt issuance cost and was amortized over the term of the instrument to July 15, 2017.

In July 2017, the Company made the final quarterly cash installment payment of $0.59 per senior amortizing note and issued the required remaining shares of its Class A stock upon automatic settlement of each outstanding purchase contract.