PROVISIONS FOR LOSSES Charge card provision for losses increased in 2017 compared to 2016 and decreased in 2016 compared to 2015.
The increase in 2017 was primarily driven by growth in receivables due to charge volume and higher net write-offs.
The decrease in 2016 was driven by lower net write-offs and improved delinquencies.
Card Member loans provision for losses increased in both periods.
The increases were primarily driven by strong loan growth, as well as increases in net write-off rates and delinquencies, primarily due to the seasoning of recent loan vintages and a shift in mix over time towards non-cobrand lending products, which tend to have higher write-off rates.
The increase in 2016 was partially offset by the impact of the HFS portfolios, as 2016 did not reflect the associated credit costs, as previously mentioned.
Other provision for losses was relatively flat in 2017 compared to 2016 and increased in 2016 compared to 2015.2017 compared to 2016 reflected growth in the non-card lending portfolio, which was offset by improving credit performance in the commercial financing portfolio.
The increase in 2016 was primarily driven by growth in the commercial financing portfolio, which resulted in higher net write-offs.
## Table 0 ##
(a) Beginning December 1, 2015 through to the sale completion dates, included the valuation allowance adjustment associated with the HFS portfolios.
EXPENSES Marketing and promotion expense decreased in 2017 compared to 2016 and increased in 2016 compared to 2015.
The variances for both periods were primarily driven by higher levels of spending on growth initiatives in 2016 compared to the preceding and subsequent years.
Card Member rewards expense increased in 2017 compared to 2016 and decreased in 2016 compared to 2015.
The increase in 2017 was primarily driven by increases in Membership Rewards expense of $750 million and cobrand rewards expense of $65 million.
The increase in Membership Rewards expense was primarily driven by enhancements to U. S.  Consumer and Small Business Platinum rewards and higher spending volumes.
The increase in cobrand rewards expense reflected growth in spending volumes across certain cobrand card products, which more than offset the absence of Costco-related expense in 2017.
The decrease in 2016 was primarily driven by lower cobrand rewards expense of $518 million, primarily reflecting lower Costco-related expense and a shift in volumes to cash rebate cards for which the rewards costs are classified as contradiscount revenue, partially offset by increased spending volumes across other cobrand card products.
The lower cobrand rewards expense in 2016 was partially offset by higher Membership Rewards expense of $315 million, primarily driven by an increase in new points earned as a result of higher spending volumes, enhancements to U. S.  Consumer and Small Business Platinum rewards and less of a decline in the weighted average cost (WAC) per point.
The Membership Rewards Ultimate Redemption Rate (URR) for current program participants was 95 percent (rounded down) at December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.
Card Member services and other expense increased for both periods of comparison, primarily driven by higher usage of travelrelated benefits in both periods, and additionally in 2017 by the enhanced Platinum card benefits.
Salaries and employee benefits expense was flat for 2017 compared to 2016 and increased in 2016 compared to 2015.
Salaries and employee benefits expenses for 2017 reflected higher performance-related employee compensation offset by lower restructuring charges compared to the prior year.
The increase in 2016 was primarily driven by higher restructuring charges compared to 2015.
NOTES TO THE AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 85 Director Stock Compensation Subplan Eastman's 2018 Director Stock Compensation Subplan ("Directors' Subplan"), a component of the 2017 Omnibus Plan, remains in effect until terminated by the Board of Directors or the earlier termination of the 2017 Omnibus Plan.
The Directors' Subplan provides for structured awards of restricted shares to non-employee members of the Board of Directors.
Restricted shares awarded under the Directors' Subplan are subject to the same terms and conditions of the 2017 Omnibus Plan.
The Directors' Subplan does not constitute a separate source of shares for grant of equity awards and all shares awarded are part of the 10 million shares authorized under the 2017 Omnibus Plan.
Shares of restricted stock are granted on the first day of a nonemployee director's initial term of service and shares of restricted stock are granted each year to each non-employee director on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders.
It has been the Company's practice to issue new shares rather than treasury shares for equity awards for compensation plans, including the 2017 Omnibus Plan and the Directors' Subplan, that require settlement by the issuance of common stock and to withhold or accept back shares awarded to cover the related income tax obligations of employee participants.
Shares of unrestricted common stock owned by non-employee directors are not eligible to be withheld or acquired to satisfy the withholding obligation related to their income taxes.
Shares of unrestricted common stock owned by specified senior management level employees are accepted by the Company to pay the exercise price of stock options in accordance with the terms and conditions of their awards.
Compensation Expense For 2018, 2017, and 2016, total share-based compensation expense (before tax) of approximately $64 million, $52 million, and $36 million, respectively, was recognized in "Selling, general and administrative expense" in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings, Comprehensive Income and Retained Earnings for all share-based awards of which approximately $9 million, $8 million, and $7 million, respectively, related to stock options.
The compensation expense is recognized over the substantive vesting period, which may be a shorter time period than the stated vesting period for qualifying termination eligible employees as defined in the forms of award notice.
Approximately $3 million for 2018, and $2 million for both 2017 and 2016, of stock option compensation expense was recognized each year due to qualifying termination eligibility preceding the requisite vesting period.
Stock Option Awards Options have been granted on an annual basis to non-employee directors under the Directors' Subplan and predecessor plans and by the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board of Directors under the 2017 Omnibus Plan and predecessor plans to employees.
Option awards have an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company's stock on the date of grant.
The term of options is 10 years with vesting periods that vary up to three years.
Vesting usually occurs ratably over the vesting period or at the end of the vesting period.
The Company utilizes the Black Scholes Merton option valuation model which relies on certain assumptions to estimate an option's fair value.
The weighted average assumptions used in the determination of fair value for stock options awarded in 2018, 2017, and 2016 are provided in the table below:
## Table 1 ##
The volatility rate of grants is derived from historical Company common stock price volatility over the same time period as the expected term of each stock option award.
The volatility rate is derived by mathematical formula utilizing the weekly high closing stock price data over the expected term.
The expected dividend yield is calculated using the Company's average of the last four quarterly dividend yields.
The average risk-free interest rate is derived from United States Department of Treasury published interest rates of daily yield curves for the same time period as the expected term.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, Contractual Obligations and Contingent Liabilities and Commitments The following table summarizes the Company’s contractual cash obligations by year:
## Table 2 ##
In entering into contractual obligations, the Company has assumed the risk which might arise from the possible inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.
The Company’s risk is limited to replacing the contracts at prevailing market rates.
The Company does not expect any significant losses as a result of counterparty defaults.
The Company has entered into certain obligations for the purchase of raw materials.
Purchase obligations primarily reflect forward contracts for the purchase of raw materials from third-party brokers and dealers to minimize the effect of future price fluctuations.
Total obligations for each year are comprised of fixed price contracts for the purchase of commodities and unpriced contracts that have been valued using market prices as of December 31, 2005.
The cost of commodities associated with the unpriced contracts is variable as market prices change over future periods.
However, the variability of such costs is mitigated to the extent of the Company’s futures price cover for those periods.
Accordingly, increases or decreases in market prices will be offset by gains or losses on commodity futures contracts to the extent that the unpriced contracts are hedged as of December 31, 2005 and in future periods.
Taking delivery of the specific commodities for use in the manufacture of finished goods satisfies these obligations.
For each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005, such obligations were fully satisfied by taking delivery of and making payment for the specific commodities.
In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No.46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of ARB No.51 (“Interpretation No.46”).
Interpretation No.46 addresses consolidation by business enterprises of special-purpose entities (“SPEs”), such as special-purpose trusts (“SPTs”), to which the usual condition for consolidation described in Accounting Research Bulletin No.51, Consolidated Financial Statements, does not apply because the SPEs have no voting interests or otherwise are not subject to control through ownership of voting interests.
The Company adopted Interpretation No.46 as of June 30, 2003, resulting in the consolidation of three off-balance sheet arrangements with SPTs.
As of December 31, 2005 and 2004 the Company had no off-balance sheet arrangements.
The consolidation of the SPTs resulted in an adjustment to record the cumulative effect of the accounting change of approximately $7.4 million, or $.03 per sharediluted, in the third quarter of 2003, reflecting the after-tax effect of accumulated depreciation for these facilities from lease inception through June 29, 2003.
Additionally, the consolidation of these entities resulted in a net increase to property, plant and equipment of approximately $107.7 million, with a corresponding increase to long-term debt of $115.5 million and to other long-term liabilities of $4.4 million, reflecting the third party equity interest associated with the lease arrangements.
Prior to June 30, 2003, expenses associated with the lease arrangements were classified as rent expense and included in cost of sales in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Subsequent to the

<table><tr><td>Years Ended December 31,</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"Change 2017 vs. 2016></td><td colspan="2" rowspan="2"Change 2016 vs. 2015></td></tr><tr><td>(Millions, except percentages)</td><td>2017</td><td>2016</td><td>2015</td></tr><tr><td>Marketing and promotion</td><td>$3,217</td><td>$3,650</td><td>$3,109</td><td>$-433</td><td>-12%</td><td>$541</td><td>17%</td></tr><tr><td>Card Member rewards</td><td>7,608</td><td>6,793</td><td>6,996</td><td>815</td><td>12</td><td>-203</td><td>-3</td></tr><tr><td>Card Member services and other</td><td>1,439</td><td>1,133</td><td>1,018</td><td>306</td><td>27</td><td>115</td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td>Total marketing, promotion, rewards and Card Member services and other</td><td>12,264</td><td>11,576</td><td>11,123</td><td>688</td><td>6</td><td>453</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Salaries and employee benefits</td><td>5,258</td><td>5,259</td><td>4,976</td><td>-1</td><td>―</td><td>283</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Other, net<sup>(a)</sup></td><td>5,776</td><td>5,162</td><td>6,793</td><td>614</td><td>12</td><td>-1,631</td><td>-24</td></tr><tr><td>Total expenses</td><td>$23,298</td><td>$21,997</td><td>$22,892</td><td>$1,301</td><td>6%</td><td>$-895</td><td>-4%</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td>Assumptions</td><td>2018</td><td>2017</td><td>2016</td></tr><tr><td>Expected volatility rate</td><td>19.03%</td><td>20.45%</td><td>23.71%</td></tr><tr><td>Expected dividend yield</td><td>2.48%</td><td>2.64%</td><td>2.31%</td></tr><tr><td>Average risk-free interest rate</td><td>2.61%</td><td>1.91%</td><td>1.23%</td></tr><tr><td>Expected term years</td><td>5.1</td><td>5.0</td><td>5.0</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td></td><td colspan="7">Payments Due by Year (In thousands of dollars)</td></tr><tr><td>ContractualObligations</td><td>2006</td><td>2007</td><td>2008</td><td>2009</td><td>2010</td><td>Thereafter</td><td>Total</td></tr><tr><td>UnconditionalPurchase Obligations</td><td>$977,500</td><td>$343,800</td><td>$101,200</td><td>$54,800</td><td>$—</td><td>$—</td><td>$1,477,300</td></tr><tr><td>Non-cancelable Operating Leases</td><td>13,119</td><td>11,819</td><td>10,433</td><td>7,078</td><td>5,461</td><td>10,938</td><td>58,848</td></tr><tr><td>Long-termDebt</td><td>56</td><td>190,000</td><td>147</td><td>136</td><td>142</td><td>752,330</td><td>942,811</td></tr><tr><td>TotalObligations</td><td>$990,675</td><td>$545,619</td><td>$111,780</td><td>$62,014</td><td>$5,603</td><td>$763,268</td><td>$2,478,959</td></tr></table>

Question: what was the sum of the approximate compensation expense recognized in millions
Answer: 7.0