NOTE 14 CAPITAL STOCK

We have 199 million authorized shares of common stock. The number of shares of common stock and treasury stock and the share activity were as follows:


	Common Shares		Treasury Shares
	2015	2014	2015	2014
Balance at the beginning of the year	86,267,467	85,364,303	24,336,367	19,979,833
Employee option exercises	1,248,629	851,396	(167,878)	(177,280)
Director option exercises	65,167	41,844	—	—
Restricted stock vestings	13,331	9,924	—	—
Common stock repurchases	—	—	718,866	4,533,814
Common stock repurchased and retired	(190,350)	—	—	—
Stock retirements	(20,718,866)	—	(20,718,866)	—
Balance at the end of the year	66,685,378	86,267,467	4,168,489	24,336,367

The cash dividends paid on the common stock for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 aggregated $71.2 million, $71.1 million and $66.1 million, respectively.