It would not be feasible for SKI to finance with commercial paper. Commercial paper is unsecured, short-term debt issued by large, financially strong firms and sold primarily to other business firms, to insurance companies, to pension funds, to money market mutual funds, and to banks. Maturities are generally 270 days (9 months) or less, because sec registration is required on maturities beyond 270 days. There is a very active, liquid market for commercial paper, and, since there is virtually no default risk, commercial paper rates are generally less than the prime rate, and not much more than the T-bill rate. Note, though, that issuers of commercial paper are required to have back-up lines of bank credit that can be used to pay off the paper if need be when it matures. These back-up credit lines have a cost, and this cost must be added to the interest rate on the paper to determine its effective cost. Since only large, well-known, financially strong companies can issue commercial paper, it would be impossible for SKI to tap this market.