📝 Why Do Companies Issue Shares?
💼 Why Do Companies Issue Shares?
A Simple Guide for Beginners
When a company wants to grow, it needs money — a lot of it.
To raise this money, companies have two options:
Take a loan from the bank (which must be repaid with interest)
Raise money from the public by issuing shares
Most companies choose option 2 — because it's a faster, cheaper, and smarter way to raise large amounts of capital.
Let’s understand exactly why companies issue shares, with simple examples.
📌 What Does Issuing Shares Mean?
When a company issues shares, it is basically selling small pieces of ownership to the public.
Each share is like a tiny part of the company.
When you buy it, you become a part-owner (called a shareholder).
This happens during an IPO (Initial Public Offering) in the primary market.
🎯 Top 5 Reasons Why Companies Issue Shares
1️⃣ To Raise Capital for Growth
Companies need money to:
Open new branches or factories 🏭
Launch new products 📦
Expand into new countries 🌍
Buy new technology 💻
Raising money from public investors helps them grow without taking loans.
✅ Example:
A retail company wants to expand to 100 new cities. It needs ₹1000 crores.
Instead of taking loans, it sells shares to the public and raises the amount.
2️⃣ To Pay Off Debts
Some companies already have loans or debts.
They issue shares to raise money and repay those debts.
This reduces their interest burden and improves their financial health.
3️⃣ To Improve Brand Image and Trust
When a company is listed on the stock exchange, it becomes more:
Popular among people
Trusted by investors
Visible in the market
Issuing shares and getting listed brings credibility and helps in brand-building.
4️⃣ To Get Listed on Stock Exchanges
To trade on platforms like NSE or BSE, a company must:
Be public
Offer shares to the public
So, issuing shares is the first step to being listed, after which daily trading begins.
5️⃣ To Reward Early Investors & Founders
When a company grows and becomes public, it creates wealth for:
Founders
Angel investors
Employees with ESOPs (stock options)
Issuing shares during IPO gives them a chance to sell some shares and earn profits.
🏦 How Is It Different from Taking a Loan?
Factor Issuing Shares 🔁 Taking Loan 💳
Money Source Public investors Banks/Finance firms
Repayment Not required Required with interest
Ownership Shared with investors Remains with company
Risk Shared with investors Company bears full risk
Cost No interest cost High interest cost
🧠 Real-Life Analogy:
Imagine you want to open 5 new shops but don’t have enough money.
You have 2 options:
Take a loan from a bank — pay EMI every month
Ask friends to invest money — in return, give them a share of your profit
Most companies choose option 2 — just like issuing shares!
🔁 What Happens After Issuing Shares?
The company gets money 💰
You (the investor) get shares 📄
You can sell those shares later in the secondary market
If the company performs well, your share value goes up 📈
💬 Final Thought:
“Issuing shares is a win-win:
The company gets money to grow, and you get a chance to grow your money.”