The decrease in payments on long-term debt in 2015 reflects the 2014 pay-off of our $15.0 million 7.34% Notes and $275.0 million 4.45% Senior Notes with borrowings under our CP program.
The debt issuance costs in 2016 and 2015 reflect the debt issuance costs paid in connection with the new Senior Credit Facilities entered into in May 2016 and November 2015, respectively.
Debt Covenants.
The outstanding indentures and comparable instruments contain customary covenants including, for example, limits on secured debt and sale/ leaseback transactions.
In addition, the Senior Credit Facilities require us to maintain a maximum leverage ratio of not more than 3.5 to 1.0.
As permitted under the terms of the Senior Credit Facilities, we made the election to increase the covenant to 4.0 to 1.0, effective for four consecutive quarters, beginning with the first quarter of 2016 and continuing through the fourth quarter of 2016.
None of these covenants are considered restrictive to our operations and, as of December 31, 2016, the Company was in compliance with all of our debt covenants.
The Company does not have any credit rating triggers that would accelerate the maturity of a material amount of the outstanding debt; however, the 6.3% Senior Notes due 2017, 2.3% Senior Notes due 2021, 3.3% Senior Notes due 2022, 3.25% Senior Notes due 2026 and 7.0% Senior Notes due 2037 (together, the “Senior Notes”) contain change in control provisions.
If the Company experiences a change of control or publicly announces the Company’s intention to effect a change of control and the rating on the senior notes is lowered by Standard & Poor’s, or S&P, and Moody’s Investors Service, or Moody’s, below an investment grade rating within 60 days of such change of control or notice thereof, then the Company will be required to offer to repurchase the senior notes at a price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the senior notes plus accrued and unpaid interest.
Credit Ratings.
Credit ratings reflect an independent agency’s judgment on the likelihood that a borrower will repay a debt obligation at maturity.
The ratings reflect many considerations, such as the nature of the borrower’s industry and its competitive position, the size of the company, its liquidity and access to capital and the sensitivity of a company’s cash flows to changes in the economy.
The two largest rating agencies, S&P and Moody’s, use alphanumeric codes to designate their ratings.
The highest quality rating for long-term credit obligations is AAA and Aaa for S&P and Moody’s, respectively.
A security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency.
Long-term ratings of BBB- and Baa3 or better by S&P and Moody’s, respectively, reflect ratings on debt obligations that fall within a band of credit quality considered to be “investment grade”.
At December 31, 2016, the long-term ratings for our obligations were BBB+ and Baa1, which are consistent with the ratings and outlooks which existed at December 31, 2015.
A downgrade in our credit rating would increase the cost of borrowings under our CP program and credit facilities, and could limit, or in the case of a significant downgrade, preclude our ability to issue CP.
If our credit ratings were to decline to lower levels, we could experience increases in the interest cost for any new debt.
In addition, the market’s demand for, and thus our ability to readily issue, new debt could become further affected by the economic and credit market environment.
For additional information about our debt, including the terms of our financing arrangements, basis for variable interest rates and debt covenants, see Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
## Table 0 ##
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel-related costs, restructuring costs, corporate costs, fees for professional and consulting services, advertising costs, and other costs of administration.
Advertising.
Advertising costs, which are expensed as incurred, totaled $63.6 million, $65.1 million and $57.1 million during 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Stock-Based Compensation.
We recognize the cost of stock-based payment transactions in the financial statements over the period services are rendered according to the fair value of the stock-based awards issued.
All of our stock-based awards, which are stock options and nonvested stock, are classified as equity instruments.
Income Taxes.
We account for income taxes under the liability method.
We record deferred income taxes using enacted tax laws and rates for the years in which the taxes are expected to be paid.
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recorded based on the differences between the financial reporting and income tax bases of assets and liabilities.
We assess whether it is more likely than not that we will generate sufficient taxable income to realize our deferred tax assets.
We record a valuation allowance, as necessary, to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount of future tax benefit that we estimate is more likely than not to be realized.
We record tax benefits for positions that we believe are more likely than not of being sustained under audit examinations.
We assess the potential outcome of such examinations to determine the adequacy of our income tax accruals.
We recognize interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes on our Consolidated Statements of Income.
We adjust our income tax provision during the period in which we determine that the actual results of the examinations may differ from our estimates or when statutory terms expire.
Changes in tax laws and rates are reflected in our income tax provision in the period in which they occur.
Earnings Per Share.
Our basic earnings per share, or EPS, is calculated as net income divided by the weightedaverage number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period.
Diluted EPS is calculated to reflect the potential dilution that would occur if stock options or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised and resulted in additional common shares outstanding.
The net income amounts used in both our basic and diluted EPS calculations are the same.
A reconciliation of the weightedaverage outstanding shares used in the two calculations is
## Table 1 ##
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, 0.1 million stock options, respectively, were antidilutive and therefore excluded from this calculation.
Accelerated Share Repurchase Program.
On October 24, 2014, we entered into an accelerated share repurchase (“ASR”) program to repurchase shares of our common stock under our approved share repurchase program.
Under the ASR program, the number of shares to be repurchased is based generally on the daily volume weighted average price of our common stock during the term of the ASR program.
On October 24, 2014, we paid $115 million in exchange for an initial delivery of 1.4 million shares to us, subject to a 10%, or $11.5 million, holdback.
The maximum number of shares to be received or delivered under the contracts was 3.2 million.
The ASR program was accounted for as an initial treasury stock transaction and a forward stock purchase contract.
The initial repurchase of shares resulted in an immediate reduction of the outstanding shares used to calculate the weighted-average common shares outstanding for basic and diluted net income per share on the effective date of the agreement.
The forward stock purchase contracts are classified as equity instruments under ASC 815-40 for “Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity,” and were deemed to have a fair value of zero at the effective date.
On February 4, 2015, we settled the ASR and received approximately 0.02 million shares.
Cash Equivalents.
We consider all highly-liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Trade Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.
We do not recognize interest income on our trade accounts receivable.
Additionally, we generally do not require collateral from our customers related to our trade accounts receivable.
Accounts receivable are stated at cost.
Gross realized and unrealized gains and losses, purchases and sales for Level 3 postretirement assets were not material for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016.
USRIP, or the Plan, Investment and Asset Allocation Strategies.
The primary goal of the asset allocation strategy of the Plan is to produce a total investment return which will satisfy future annual cash benefit payments to participants and minimize future contributions from the Company.
Additionally, this strategy will diversify the plan assets to minimize nonsystemic risk and provide reasonable assurance that no single security or class of security will have a disproportionate impact on the Plan.
Investment managers are required to abide by the provisions of ERISA.
Standards of performance for each manager include an expected return versus an assigned benchmark, a measure of volatility, and a time period of evaluation.
The asset allocation strategy is determined by our external advisor forecasting investment returns by asset class and providing allocation guidelines to maximize returns while minimizing the volatility and correlation of those returns.
Investment recommendations are made by our external advisor, working in conjunction with our in-house Investment Committee.
The asset allocation and ranges are approved by in-house investment fiduciaries and Plan Administrators, who are Named Fiduciaries under ERISA.
The Plan, in an effort to meet asset allocation objectives, utilizes a variety of asset classes which have historically produced returns which are relatively uncorrelated to those of the S&P 500 in most environments.
Asset classes included in this category of alternative assets include hedge funds, private equity (including secondary private equity) and real assets (real estate, funds of hard asset securities and private equity funds focused on real assets).
The primary benefits of using these types of asset classes are: (1) their non-correlated returns reduce the overall volatility of the Plan’s portfolio of assets, and (2) their ability to produce superior risk-adjusted returns.
Additionally, the Plan allows certain of their managers, subject to specific risk constraints, to utilize derivative instruments in order to enhance asset return, reduce volatility or both.
Derivatives are primarily employed by the Plans in their fixed income portfolios and in the hedge fund-of-funds area.
Derivatives can be used for hedging purposes to reduce risk.
No shares of Equifax common stock were directly owned by the Plan at December 31, 2016 or at December 31, 2015.
Not more than 5% of the portfolio (at cost) shall be invested in the securities of any one issuer, with the exceptions of Equifax common stock or other securities, and U. S.  Treasury and government agency securities.
The following asset allocation ranges and actual allocations were in effect as of December 31, 2016 and 2015:
## Table 2 ##
CRIP Investment and Asset Allocation Strategies.
The primary goal of the asset allocation strategy of the Plan is to produce a total investment return which will satisfy future annual cash benefit payments to participants and minimize future contributions from the Company.
Additionally, this strategy will diversify the plan assets to minimize nonsystemic risk and provide reasonable assurance that no single security or class of security will have a disproportionate impact on the Plan.
Due to the high funded status of the Plan, the Investment Committee of the CRIP has adopted a conservative asset allocation of 50/50 in equities and fixed income.
The Investment Committee maintains an investment policy for the CRIP, which imposes certain limitations and restrictions regarding allowable types of investments.
The current investment policy imposes those restrictions on investments or transactions such as (1) Equifax common stock or securities, except as might be incidental to any pooled funds which the plan may have, (2) commodities or loans, (3) short sales and the use of margin accounts, (4) put and call options, (5) private placements, and (6) transactions which are “related-party” in nature as specified by the Canadian Pension Benefits Standards Act and its regulations.
consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity; however, to the extent possible, where unasserted claims are considered probable and where such claims can be reasonably estimated, we have recorded a liability.
We do not expect that any known lawsuits, claims, environmental costs, commitments, contingent liabilities, or guarantees will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity after taking into account liabilities previously recorded for these matters.
Personal Injury – The cost of personal injuries to employees and others related to our activities is charged to expense based on estimates of the ultimate cost and number of incidents each year.
We use third-party actuaries to assist us in measuring the expense and liability, including unasserted claims.
Compensation for work-related accidents is governed by the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA).
Under FELA, damages are assessed based on a finding of fault through litigation or out-of-court settlements.
Our personal injury liability activity was as follows:
## Table 3 ##
Our personal injury liability is discounted to present value using applicable U. S.  Treasury rates.
Approximately 87% of the recorded liability related to asserted claims, and approximately 13% related to unasserted claims.
Personal injury accruals were higher in 2004 due to a 1998 crossing accident verdict upheld in 2004 and a 2004 derailment near San Antonio.
Asbestos – We are a defendant in a number of lawsuits in which current and former employees allege exposure to asbestos.
Additionally, we have received claims for asbestos exposure that have not been litigated.
The claims and lawsuits (collectively referred to as “claims”) allege occupational illness resulting from exposure to asbestoscontaining products.
In most cases, the claimants do not have credible medical evidence of physical impairment resulting from the alleged exposures.
Additionally, most claims filed against us do not specify an amount of alleged damages.
During 2004, we engaged a third party with extensive experience in estimating resolution costs for asbestosrelated claims to assist us in assessing the number and value of these unasserted claims through 2034, based on our average claims experience over a multi-year period.
As a result, we increased our liability in 2004 for asbestosrelated claims in the fourth quarter of 2004.
The liability for resolving both asserted and unasserted claims was based on the following assumptions: ?
The number of future claims received would be consistent with historical averages.  ?
The number of claims filed against us will decline each year.  ?
The average settlement values for asserted and unasserted claims will be equivalent to historical averages.  ?
The percentage of claims dismissed in the future will be equivalent to historical averages.

<table><tr><td></td><td colspan="3">Twelve Months Ended December 31,</td><td colspan="2">Change</td></tr><tr><td>Net cash provided by (used in):</td><td>2016</td><td>2015</td><td>2014</td><td>2016 vs. 2015</td><td>2015 vs. 2014</td></tr><tr><td></td><td colspan="5">(In millions)</td></tr><tr><td>Treasury stock purchases</td><td>$—</td><td>$-196.3</td><td>$-301.6</td><td>$196.3</td><td>$105.3</td></tr><tr><td>Dividends paid to Equifax shareholders</td><td>$-157.6</td><td>$-137.8</td><td>$-121.2</td><td>$-19.8</td><td>$-16.6</td></tr><tr><td>Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests</td><td>$-5.8</td><td>$-6.4</td><td>$-7.9</td><td>$0.6</td><td>$1.5</td></tr><tr><td>Proceeds from exercise of stock options</td><td>$31.5</td><td>$34.4</td><td>$39.7</td><td>$-2.9</td><td>$-5.3</td></tr><tr><td>Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation plans</td><td>$35.9</td><td>$30.0</td><td>$17.7</td><td>$5.9</td><td>$12.3</td></tr><tr><td>Purchase of redeemable noncontrolling interests</td><td>$-3.6</td><td>$—</td><td>$—</td><td>$-3.6</td><td>$—</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td></td><td colspan="3">Twelve Months Ended December 31,</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2016</td><td>2015</td><td>2014</td></tr><tr><td></td><td colspan="3">(In millions)</td></tr><tr><td>Weighted-average shares outstanding (basic)</td><td>119.3</td><td>118.7</td><td>121.2</td></tr><tr><td>Effect of dilutive securities:</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Stock options and restricted stock units</td><td>1.8</td><td>2.2</td><td>2.3</td></tr><tr><td>Weighted-average shares outstanding (diluted)</td><td>121.1</td><td>120.9</td><td>123.5</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td></td><td colspan="2">Range</td><td colspan="2">Actual</td></tr><tr><td>USRIP</td><td>2016</td><td>2015</td><td>2016</td><td>2015</td></tr><tr><td>Large-Cap Equity</td><td>15% - 40%</td><td>15% - 40%</td><td>27.3%</td><td>25.9%</td></tr><tr><td>Small- and Mid-Cap Equity</td><td>0% - 15%</td><td>0% - 15%</td><td>6.7%</td><td>6.1%</td></tr><tr><td>International Equity</td><td>10% - 30%</td><td>10% - 30%</td><td>12.3%</td><td>12.0%</td></tr><tr><td>Private Equity</td><td>2% - 10%</td><td>2% - 10%</td><td>7.2%</td><td>8.8%</td></tr><tr><td>Hedge Funds</td><td>0% - 10%</td><td>0% - 10%</td><td>7.2%</td><td>11.4%</td></tr><tr><td>Real Assets</td><td>2% - 10%</td><td>2% - 10%</td><td>4.1%</td><td>3.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Fixed Income</td><td>20% - 55%</td><td>20% - 55%</td><td>32.3%</td><td>29.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Cash</td><td>0% - 15%</td><td>0% - 15%</td><td>2.9%</td><td>2.4%</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td><i>Millions of Dollars</i></td><td>2006</td><td>2005</td><td>2004</td></tr><tr><td>Beginning balance</td><td>$619</td><td>$639</td><td>$619</td></tr><tr><td>Accruals</td><td>240</td><td>247</td><td>288</td></tr><tr><td>Payments</td><td>-228</td><td>-267</td><td>-268</td></tr><tr><td>Ending balance at December 31</td><td>$631</td><td>$619</td><td>$639</td></tr><tr><td>Current portion, ending balance at December 31</td><td>$233</td><td>$274</td><td>$274</td></tr></table>

Question: Does the value of Proceeds from exercise of stock options in 2016 greater than that in 2015?
Answer: no