Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc, known as PotashCorp, is the world's largest fertilizer enterprise by capacity and a leading supplier to three distinct market categories agriculture, animal nutrition, and industrial chemicals. PotashCorp completed a share repurchase plan in 2014. financial information for PotashCorp for the years ended December 31, 2014, and 2013, follows( in millions of US, dollars, except per share data):

2014 2013

Profit for the year $1,536 $1,785

Shareholder's equity at December 31 $8,792 $9,628

Cash dividends declared during the year $1,164 $1,146

Number of shares outstanding ( at year and) $830.2 $856.1

Weighted average number of shares outstanding $838.1 $864.6

(a) Explain the different effects that a cash dividend, stock dividend, and stock split would have on PotashCorp's assets, liabilities, shareholder's equity, and the number of share outstanding.

(b) What is the likely reason that PotashCorp has repurchased share over the past two fiscal years?