G.
EQUITY
Noncontrolling Interests - As a result of the Merger Transaction in 2017, we and our subsidiaries own 100% of ONEOK Partners. The earnings of ONEOK Partners that are attributed to its units held by the public until June 30, 2017, are reported as “Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest” in our accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. ONEOK Partners’ cash distributions paid prior to the Merger Transaction are reported as “Distributions to noncontrolling interests” in our accompanying Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity. In July 2018, we acquired the remaining 20% interest in WTLPG for $195 million with cash on hand. We are now the sole owner of the West Texas LPG pipeline system. Series A and B Convertible Preferred Stock - There are no shares of Series A or Series B Preferred Stock currently issued or outstanding. Series E Preferred Stock - In April 2017, through a wholly owned subsidiary, we contributed 20,000 shares of newly issued Series E Preferred Stock, having an aggregate value of $20 million, to the Foundation for use in charitable and nonprofit causes. The contribution was recorded as a $20 million noncash expense in 2017, which represents a noncash financing activity, and is included in other expense in our Consolidated Statements of Income. Equity Issuances - In January 2018, we completed an underwritten public offering of 21.9 million shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $54.50 per share, generating net proceeds of $1.2 billion. We used the net proceeds from this offering to fund capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes, which included repaying a portion of our outstanding indebtedness. In July 2017, we established an “at-the-market” equity program for the offer and sale from time to time of our common stock up to an aggregate amount of $1 billion. The program allows us to offer and sell our common stock at prices we deem appropriate through a sales agent. Sales of our common stock may be made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the NYSE, in block transactions, or as otherwise agreed to between us and the sales agent. We are under no obligation to offer and sell common stock under the program. No shares were sold through our “at-the-market” equity program in 2019 or 2018. During the year ended December 31, 2017, we sold 8.4 million shares of common stock through our “at-the-market” equity program that resulted in net proceeds of $448.3 million. The net proceeds from these issuances were used for general corporate purposes, including repayment of outstanding indebtedness and to fund capital expenditures. Dividends - Holders of our common stock share equally in any dividend declared by our Board of Directors, subject to the rights of the holders of outstanding preferred stock. Dividends paid totaled $1.5 billion, $1.3 billion and $829.4 million for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. In addition to the increase in dividends paid per share outlined in the table below, dividends paid increased due to the increase in number of shares outstanding as a result of the closing of the Merger Transaction and our equity issuances. The following table sets forth the quarterly dividends per share paid on our common stock in the periods indicated:
$
First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Total
$
Years Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 0.860 $ 0.770 $ 0.615 0.865 0.795 0.615 0.890 0.825 0.745 0.915 0.855 0.745 3.53 $ 3.245 $ 2.72
Additionally, in February 2020, we paid a quarterly dividend of $0.935 per share ($3.74 per share on an annualized basis), which was paid to shareholders of record as of January 27, 2020. The Series E Preferred Stock pays quarterly dividends on each share of Series E Preferred Stock, when, as and if declared by our Board of Directors, at a rate of 5.5% per year. We paid dividends for the Series E Preferred Stock of $1.1 million in both 2019 and 2018 and $0.6 million in 2017. We paid quarterly dividends totaling $0.3 million for the Series E Preferred Stock in February 2020.
81