Difference Between Shares and Debentures

1. Ownership

A shareholder is an owner of the company. Debentureholder is only a creditor. A share is a part of the owned capital. A debenture is a part of borrowed capital.

2. Return

The return on shares is known as dividend while the return on debentures is called interest. The rate of return on shares may vary from year to year depending upon the profits of the company but the rate of interest on debentures is pre-fixed. The payment of dividend is an appropriation out profits, whereas the payment of interest is a charge on profits and is to be paid even if there is no profit.

3. Repayment

Normally, the amount of shares is not returned during the life of the company, while the debentures are issued for a specified period, and the amount is returned after that period. However, according to sec. 68,69 and 70 of The Companies Act, 2013 regulates the companies to buy back its own shares from the market, particularly, when the price of its share in the market is lower than the book value.

4. Voting Rights

Shareholders enjoy voting rights whereas debenture holders do not normally enjoy any voting right.

5. Issue on Discount

Debentures can be issued at a discount. However, Section 53 of The Companies Act, 2013 prohibits the issue of share at a discount, except in case of Sweat Equity Shares.

6. Security

Shareholders do not have any charge whereas the debentureholders have a fixed or floating charge over the assets of the company.

7. Convertibility

Shares cannot be converted into debentures whereas debentures can be converted into shares if the terms of issue so provide, and in that case these are known as convertible debentures.

Debentures Issued as Collateral Security

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Nature of Accounts