strong balance sheet and robust liquidity so that we continue to have the financial resources necessary to take advantage of prudent commercial, research and business development opportunities and to directly enhance shareholder value through dividends and share repurchases. For additional information about our financial condition, liquidity, capital resources, share repurchases and dividends, see the “Analysis of Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources” section of this Financial Review.

We remain focused on achieving an appropriate cost structure for the Company. For additional information about our cost-reduction and productivity initiatives, see the “Costs and Expenses––Restructuring Charges and Other Costs Associated with Acquisitions and Cost- Reduction/Productivity Initiatives” section of this Financial Review and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements––Note 3. Restructuring Charges and Other Costs Associated with Acquisitions and Cost-Reduction/Productivity Initiatives.

On October 23, 2014, we announced that our Board of Directors had authorized a new $11 billion share-purchase plan. Also, on

December 15, 2014, our Board of Directors declared a first-quarter 2015 dividend of $0.28 per share, an increase from the $0.26 per-share quarterly dividend paid during 2014.

On February 9, 2015, we entered into an accelerated share repurchase agreement with Goldman, Sachs & Co. to repurchase $5 billion of our common stock. This agreement was entered into pursuant to our previously announced share repurchase authorization. For additional information, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements––Note 19. Subsequent Events.

Our Business Development Initiatives

We are committed to capitalizing on growth opportunities by advancing our own pipeline and maximizing the value of our in-line products, as well as through various forms of business development, which can include alliances, licenses, joint ventures, dispositions and acquisitions. We view our business development activity as an enabler of our strategies, and we seek to generate earnings growth and enhance shareholder value by pursuing a disciplined, strategic and financial approach to evaluating business development opportunities. We are especially interested in opportunities in our high-priority therapeutic areas—immunology and inflammation; cardiovascular and metabolic diseases; oncology; vaccines; neuroscience and pain; and rare diseases––and in emerging markets and established products, including biosimilars. We assess our businesses and assets as part of our regular, ongoing portfolio review process and also continue to consider business development activities for our businesses. For additional information, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements––Note 2. Acquisitions, Licensing Agreements, Collaborative Arrangements, Divestitures, and Equity-Method Investments.

The more significant recent transactions and events are described below.

• Agreement to Acquire Hospira, Inc. (Hospira)––On February 5, 2015, we announced that we have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which we agreed to acquire Hospira, the world’s leading provider of injectable