VENTAS, INC.  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) We have a combined NOL carryforward of $66.5 million at December 31, 2007 related to the TRS entities and an NOL carryforward reported by the REIT of $88.6 million.
These amounts can be used to offset future taxable income (and/or taxable income for prior years if audits of any prior year’s return determine that amounts are owed), if any.
The REIT will be entitled to utilize NOLs and tax credit carryforwards only to the extent that REIT taxable income exceeds our deduction for dividends paid.
The NOL carryforwards begin to expire in 2024 with respect to the TRS entities and in 2018 for the REIT.
As a result of the uncertainties relating to the ultimate utilization of existing REIT NOLs, no net deferred tax benefit has been ascribed to REIT NOL carryforwards as of December 31, 2007 and 2006.
The IRS may challenge our entitlement to these tax attributes during its review of the tax returns for the previous tax years.
We believe we are entitled to these tax attributes, but we cannot assure you as to the outcome of these matters.
On January 1, 2007, we adopted FIN 48.
As a result of applying the provisions of FIN 48, we recognized no change in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, and no adjustment in accumulated earnings as of January 1, 2007.
Our policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.
The following table summarizes the activity related to our unrecognized tax benefits (in thousands):
## Table 0 ##
Included in the unrecognized tax benefits of $9.4 million at December 31, 2007 was $9.4 million of tax benefits that, if recognized, would reduce our annual effective tax rate.
We accrued no potential penalties and interest related to the unrecognized tax benefits during 2007, and in total, as of December 31, 2007, we have recorded no liability for potential penalties and interest.
We expect our unrecognized tax benefits to increase by $2.7 million during 2008.
Note 13—Commitments and Contingencies Assumption of Certain Operating Liabilities and Litigation As a result of the structure of the Sunrise REIT acquisition, we may be subject to various liabilities of Sunrise REIT arising out of the ownership or operation of the Sunrise REIT properties prior to the acquisition.
If the liabilities we have assumed are greater than expected, or if there are obligations relating to the Sunrise REIT properties of which we were not aware at the time of completion of the Sunrise REIT acquisition, such liabilities and/or obligations could have a Material Adverse Effect on us.
In connection with our spin off of Kindred in 1998, Kindred agreed, among other things, to assume all liabilities and to indemnify, defend and hold us harmless from and against certain losses, claims and litigation arising out of the ownership or operation of the healthcare operations or any of the assets transferred to Kindred in the spin off, including without limitation all claims arising out of the third-party leases and third-party guarantees assigned to and assumed by Kindred at the time of the spin off.
Under Kindred’s plan of reorganization, Kindred assumed and agreed to fulfill these obligations.
The total aggregate remaining minimum rental payments under the third-party leases was approximately $16.0 million as of December 31, 2007, and we believe that we had no material exposure under the third-party guarantees.
Similarly, in connection with Provident’s acquisition of certain Brookdale-related and Alterra-related entities in 2005 and our subsequent acquisition of Provident, Brookdale and Alterra agreed, among other things,
As of February 15, 2008, there were 138,311,810 shares of our common stock outstanding held by approximately 2,979 stockholders of record.
Dividends and Distributions We pay regular quarterly dividends to holders of our common stock.
On February 13, 2008, our Board of Directors declared the first quarterly installment of our 2008 dividend in the amount of $0.5125 per share, payable on March 28, 2008 to stockholders of record on March 6, 2008.
We expect to distribute 100% or more of our taxable net income to our stockholders for 2008.
Our Board of Directors normally makes decisions regarding the frequency and amount of our dividends on a quarterly basis.
Because the Board considers a number of factors when making these decisions, we cannot assure you that we will maintain the policy stated above.
Please see “Cautionary Statements” and the risk factors included in Part I, Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a description of other factors that may affect our distribution policy.
Our stockholders may reinvest all or a portion of any cash distribution on their shares of our common stock by participating in our Distribution Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, subject to the terms of the plan.
See “Note 16—Capital Stock” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Director and Employee Stock Sales Certain of our directors, executive officers and other employees have adopted and may, from time to time in the future, adopt non-discretionary, written trading plans that comply with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, or otherwise monetize their equity-based compensation.
Stock Repurchases The table below summarizes repurchases of our common stock made during the quarter ended December 31, 2007:
## Table 1 ##
(1) Repurchases represent shares withheld to pay taxes on the vesting of restricted stock granted to employees.
The following table provides an overview of our portfolio of properties and other real estate investments as of and for the year ended December 31, 2007:
## Table 2 ##
(1) As of December 31, 2007, we owned seniors housing and healthcare-related properties located in 43 states and two Canadian provinces.
These properties were operated or managed by 21 different operators or thirdparty managers.
(2) As of December 31, 2007, sixteen of our MOBs were operated by third-party managers and three were under triple-net leases.
(3) The remainder of our total revenues is interest and other income.
nm - not meaningful Seniors Housing and Healthcare-Related Properties Seniors Housing Communities.
Our seniors housing communities include independent and assisted living communities, and communities providing care for individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of memory loss.
These communities offer residential units on a month-to-month basis primarily to elderly individuals requiring various levels of assistance.
Basic services for residents of these communities include housekeeping, meals in a central dining area and group activities organized by the staff with input from the residents.
More extensive care and personal supervision, at additional fees, are also available for such needs as eating, bathing, grooming, transportation, limited therapeutic programs and medication administration, all of which encourage the residents to live as independently as possible according to their abilities.
These services are often met by home health providers, close coordination with the resident’s physician and skilled nursing facilities.
Skilled Nursing Facilities.
Our skilled nursing facilities typically provide nursing care services to the elderly and rehabilitation and restoration services, including physical, occupational and speech therapies, and other medical treatment for patients and residents who do not require the high technology, care-intensive setting of an acute care or rehabilitation hospital.
Hospitals.
Our hospitals generally are long-term acute care hospitals that serve medically complex, chronically ill patients who require a high level of monitoring and specialized care, but whose conditions do not necessitate the continued services of an intensive care unit.
The operator of these hospitals has the capability to treat patients who suffer from multiple systemic failures or conditions such as neurological disorders, head injuries, brain stem and spinal cord trauma, cerebral vascular accidents, chemical brain injuries, central nervous system disorders, developmental anomalies and cardiopulmonary disorders.
Chronic patients are often dependent on technology for continued life support, such as mechanical ventilators, total parenteral nutrition, respiration or cardiac monitors and dialysis machines, and, therefore, due to their severe medical conditions, these patients generally are not clinically appropriate for admission to a nursing facility or rehabilitation hospital.
VENTAS, INC.  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) In January 2007, we entered into two Canadian call options in conjunction with our agreement to acquire the assets of Sunrise REIT.
See “Note 5—Acquisitions.
” We paid an aggregate purchase price of $8.5 million for these contracts, which had an aggregate notional call amount of Cdn $750.0 million at a Cdn $1.18 strike price.
These contracts were settled on April 26, 2007, the acquisition date, and we received cash of $33.2 million upon settlement.
For the year ended December 31, 2007, we recognized gains related to call option contracts of $24.3 million, which is included as a foreign currency gain on our Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended December 31, 2007.
Unamortized Fair Value Adjustment The fair value adjustment related to the long-term debt we assumed in connection with the Sunrise REIT acquisition was $22.2 million and is recognized as effective yield adjustments over the remaining term of the instruments.
The estimated aggregate amortization of the fair value adjustment related to long-term debt for each of the five succeeding years follows: 2008—$4.3 million; 2009—$3.3 million; 2010—$2.9 million; 2011—$2.9 million; and 2012—$2.4 million.
Note 10—Fair Values of Financial Instruments As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, the carrying amounts and fair values of our financial instruments were as follows:

<table><tr><td>Balance as of January 1, 2007</td><td>$—</td></tr><tr><td>Additions to tax positions related to the current year</td><td>9,384</td></tr><tr><td>Balance as of December 31, 2007</td><td>$9,384</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td></td><td>Number of Shares Repurchased -1</td><td>Average Price Per Share</td></tr><tr><td>October 1 through October 31</td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>November 1 through November 30</td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>December 1 through December 31</td><td>14,669</td><td>$43.89</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td> Portfolio by Type</td><td> # of Properties</td><td> # of Beds/ Units</td><td> Revenue</td><td>Percent of Total Revenues</td><td> Real Estate Investments, at Cost</td><td>Percent of Real Estate Investments</td><td> Real Estate Investment Per Bed/Unit</td><td> Number  of  Locations -1</td></tr><tr><td></td><td colspan="8"> (Dollars in thousands)</td></tr><tr><td> Seniors Housing and Healthcare-Related Properties</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Seniors housing communities</td><td>253</td><td>24,113</td><td>$483,378</td><td>62.7%</td><td>$4,842,211</td><td>76.9%</td><td>$200.8</td><td>36</td></tr><tr><td>Skilled nursing facilities</td><td>197</td><td>24,577</td><td>175,277</td><td>22.7</td><td>873,958</td><td>13.9</td><td>35.6</td><td>29</td></tr><tr><td>Hospitals</td><td>42</td><td>3,844</td><td>92,020</td><td>11.9</td><td>368,856</td><td>5.9</td><td>96.0</td><td>18</td></tr><tr><td>MOBs-2</td><td>19</td><td>nm</td><td>14,619</td><td>1.9</td><td>198,203</td><td>3.2</td><td>nm</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Other properties</td><td>8</td><td>122</td><td>917</td><td>0.1</td><td>7,137</td><td>0.1</td><td>58.5</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Total seniors housing and healthcare-related properties</td><td>519</td><td>52,656</td><td>$766,211</td><td>99.3%</td><td>$6,290,365</td><td>100.0%</td><td></td><td>45</td></tr><tr><td> Other Real Estate Investments</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Loans receivable</td><td>4</td><td>290</td><td>2,586</td><td>0.3</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td> Total </td><td>523</td><td>52,946</td><td>$768,797</td><td>99.6%-3</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></table>

Question: prior to the shares repurchased in 2007 , how many shares of common stock were outstanding?