Bristol-Myers Squibb  Note 17 EQUITY  Capital in Excess  Common Stock of Par Value  Retained  Treasury Stock  Non-Controlling  Dollars and Shares in Millions Shares  Par Value  of Stock Earnings  Shares  Cost  Interest  Balance at January 1, 2010  2,205 $  220 $  3,768 $  30,760   491 $ (17,364) $  (58) Net earnings   -   -   -   3,102   -  -   2,091  Cash dividends declared   -  -  (2,226)  -  -  Stock repurchase program   -   -   23  (587) Employee stock compensation plans   -  (86)  (13)  497  -  Distributions   -   -  -   -  -  (2,108) Balance at December 31, 2010   2,205  220   3,682  31,636   501 (17,454)  (75) Net earnings   -   -   -   3,709   -  -   2,333  Cash dividends declared   -  -  (2,276)  -  -  Stock repurchase program   -   -   42  (1,226) Employee stock compensation plans   -  (568)  (28)  1,278  -  Other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest  -  -   -  -   -  -  7  Distributions   (2,354) Balance at December 31, 2011   2,205  220   3,114  33,069   515 (17,402)  (89) Net earnings   -   -   -   1,960   -  -   850  Cash dividends declared   -  -  (2,296)  -  -  Stock repurchase program   -   -   73  (2,407) Employee stock compensation plans   3  1   (420)  (18)  986  -  Other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest  -  -   -  -   -  -  (6) Distributions   (740) Balance at December 31, 2012   2,208 $  221 $  2,694 $  32,733   570 $ (18,823) $  15  $^{ }$Treasury stock is recognized at the cost to reacquire the shares. Shares issued from treasury are recognized utilizing the first-in first- out method.  In May 2010, the Board of Directors authorized a repurchase of up to $3.0 billion of common stock and in June 2012 increased its  authorization for the repurchase of common stock by an additional $3.0 billion. Repurchases may be made either in the open market  or through private transactions, including under repurchase plans established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934. The stock repurchase program does not have an expiration date and may be suspended or discontinued at any  time.  Noncontrolling interest is primarily related to the  Plavix  and  Avapro / Avalide  partnerships with Sanofi for the territory covering the  Americas. Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest are presented net of taxes of $317 million in 2012, $792 million in 2011  and $683 million in 2010 with a corresponding increase to the provision for income taxes. Distribution of the partnership profits to  Sanofi and Sanofi's funding of ongoing partnership operations occur on a routine basis. The above activity includes the pre-tax  income and distributions related to these partnerships.  56