Read the following texts and table with financial data from an S&P 500 earnings report carefully.Based on the question-answer history (if provided), answer the last question. The answer may require mathematical calculation based on the data provided.

Text: 3m 2019s cash and cash equivalents balance at december 31 , 2007 totaled $ 1.896 billion , with an additional $ 1.059 billion in current and long-term marketable securities . 3m 2019s strong balance sheet and liquidity provide the company with significant flexibility to take advantage of numerous opportunities going forward . the company will continue to invest in its operations to drive growth , including continual review of acquisition opportunities . as previously discussed , 3m expects to complete the acquisition of aearo holding corp . for approximately $ 1.2 billion in 2008 . 3m paid dividends of $ 1.380 billion in 2007 , and has a long history of dividend increases . in february 2008 , the board of directors increased the quarterly dividend on 3m common stock by 4.2% ( 4.2 % ) to 50 cents per share , equivalent to an annual dividend of $ 2.00 per share . in february 2007 , 3m 2019s board of directors authorized a two-year share repurchase of up to $ 7.0 billion for the period from february 12 , 2007 to february 28 , 2009 . at december 31 , 2007 , the company has $ 4.1 billion remaining under this authorization , which the company does not currently expect to fully utilize by february 28 , 2009 . in 2008 , the company expects to contribute an amount in the range of $ 100 million to $ 400 million to its u.s . and international pension plans . the company does not have a required minimum pension contribution obligation for its u.s . plans in 2008 . therefore , the amount of the anticipated discretionary contribution could vary significantly depending on the u.s.-plans funding status as of the 2008 measurement date and the anticipated tax deductibility of the contribution . future contributions will also depend on market conditions , interest rates and other factors . 3m believes its strong cash flow and balance sheet will allow it to fund future pension needs without compromising growth opportunities . the company uses various working capital measures that place emphasis and focus on certain working capital assets and liabilities . these measures are not defined under u.s . generally accepted accounting principles and may not be computed the same as similarly titled measures used by other companies . one of the primary working capital measures 3m uses is a combined index , which includes accounts receivable , inventory and accounts payable . this combined index ( defined as quarterly net sales 2013 fourth quarter at year-end 2013 multiplied by four , divided by ending net accounts receivable plus inventory less accounts payable ) was 5.3 at december 31 , 2007 , down from 5.4 at december 31 , 2006 . receivables increased $ 260 million , or 8.4% ( 8.4 % ) , compared with december 31 , 2006 . currency translation increased accounts receivable by $ 159 million year-on-year , as the u.s . dollar weakened in aggregate against a multitude of currencies . inventories increased $ 251 million , or 9.7% ( 9.7 % ) , compared with december 31 , 2006 . currency translation increased inventories by $ 132 million year-on-year . accounts payable increased $ 103 million compared with december 31 , 2006 , with $ 65 million of this year-on-year increase related to currency translation . cash flows from operating , investing and financing activities are provided in the tables that follow . individual amounts in the consolidated statement of cash flows exclude the effects of acquisitions , divestitures and exchange rate impacts , which are presented separately in the cash flows . thus , the amounts presented in the following operating , investing and financing activities tables reflect changes in balances from period to period adjusted for these effects . cash flows from operating activities : years ended december 31 . <table class='wikitable'><tr><td>1</td><td>( millions )</td><td>2007</td><td>2006</td><td>2005</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>net income</td><td>$ 4096</td><td>$ 3851</td><td>$ 3111</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>depreciation and amortization</td><td>1072</td><td>1079</td><td>986</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>company pension contributions</td><td>-376 ( 376 )</td><td>-348 ( 348 )</td><td>-654 ( 654 )</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>company postretirement contributions</td><td>-3 ( 3 )</td><td>-37 ( 37 )</td><td>-134 ( 134 )</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>company pension expense</td><td>190</td><td>347</td><td>331</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>company postretirement expense</td><td>65</td><td>93</td><td>106</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>stock-based compensation expense</td><td>228</td><td>200</td><td>155</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>gain from sale of businesses</td><td>-849 ( 849 )</td><td>-1074 ( 1074 )</td><td>2014</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>income taxes ( deferred and accrued income taxes )</td><td>-34 ( 34 )</td><td>-178 ( 178 )</td><td>402</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation</td><td>-74 ( 74 )</td><td>-60 ( 60 )</td><td>-54 ( 54 )</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>accounts receivable</td><td>-35 ( 35 )</td><td>-103 ( 103 )</td><td>-184 ( 184 )</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>inventories</td><td>-54 ( 54 )</td><td>-309 ( 309 )</td><td>-294 ( 294 )</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>accounts payable</td><td>-4 ( 4 )</td><td>68</td><td>113</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>product and other insurance receivables and claims</td><td>158</td><td>58</td><td>122</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>other 2014 net</td><td>-105 ( 105 )</td><td>252</td><td>198</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>net cash provided by operating activities</td><td>$ 4275</td><td>$ 3839</td><td>$ 4204</td></tr></table> .
Question: what was the change in the net income from 2006 to 2007?
Answer: 245.0
Question: and how much does this change represent in relation to the net income in 2006, in percentage?

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