You work for a retailer of home improvement and construction supplies. The company is contemplating acquiring new capital with either an offering of new debt or new equity. Your task is to attend preliminary negotiations with investment bankers and provide a report to your company's board of directors regarding the process of acquiring capital. As you prepare your report, you must provide answers to the following.

1) What is meant by the underwriting spread?

2) The firm may issue either debt or equity. Is the underwriting spread typically higher for debt, higher for equity, or the same for both debt and equity?