Assume you are the CFO of a medium-sized company and you are advising the CEO on some upcoming strategic initiatives that will have long-term implications. In other words, these are important decisions.

Address the following questions posed by the CEO:

• It appears we may need to raise more capital. Is expanding debt a good idea? Why or why not and should our given assets impact this decision?
• In our economic environment, should we issue bonds, common stock, or preferred stock? What would be some pros and cons?
• Or should we forego this immediate opportunity and buy back some of our outstanding common stock? What market conditions would make this a good move; what might be some pros and cons?
• Should we issue a dividend, or should we retain cash in the company for future opportunities? How might this impact future growth? Are we obligated to pay our shareholders a dividend?