Companies raise money either through debt (debentures) or equity (shares). Most companies prefer to dilute their equity by issuing shares rather than taking on risky debt. They do this through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) for initial listing or a Follow On Public Offering (FPO) after being listed. Whether a company issues shares or debentures depends on its needs and preferences. Shares represent ownership and voting rights, while debentures are a type of loan that pays a fixed rate of interest but does not hold ownership.