DQ 6 Chapter 7 Discussion. Create your initial post on the DQ 6 Discussion Board in response to: Shake Shack, Inc. began operations in 2014 and it incorporated in Delaware in Year 1. IIn February, 2015 it went public with its initial public offering of common stock. By December 31, 2017 it was operating 159 restaurants. At the end of 2017, it had total assets of $470.6 million, long-term debt of $212.1 million and total liabilities of $246.1 million. Shake Shack's income before interest and taxes in 2017 was $33.8 million. Its average interest rate on long-term debt was less than 1.0 percent. Assume you are the president of the company. Write a memo to the shareholders explaining why Shake Shack would want to finance so much of its assets with debt rather than stockholders' equity.