IPO vs FPO: Meaning & Difference

Funds are necessary to run a business or company successfully. The requirement increases in the case of large companies. These organisations can raise funds either by taking debt route or equity medium. In the latter case, companies sell their shares either by IPO or FPO.

Companies who are assured of their future performance and are willing to raise capital must know the difference between IPO and FPO. The piece discusses IPO vs FPO. Read along!

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What Is the Difference Between IPO and FPO?

Refer to the table mentioned below to learn the difference between IPO and FPO.

Parameters	IPO	FPO
Meaning	IPO or Initial Public Offer refers to a process when a company ‘goes public’, offers its shares to them for the first time and is all set to get a listing on the stock exchange, i.e., NSE or BSE (or both)	FPO or Follow-on Public Offer refers to a process where a publicly listed company issues shares (at a large) publicly to investors
Objective	To raise capital through public investment	To inflow subsequent public investment
Issuer	Unlisted company	Listed company
Price	Fixed or variable price range	The price depends on the number of shares as they increase or decrease and is market-led
Share Capital	Increases as that company issue fresh capital to the public for listing	In the case of Dilutive Offering number of shares increases. On the other hand, the number of shares remains intact in Non-dilutive Offering
Value	Expensive	Cheaper in the majority of cases as the value of a company gets diluted further
Predictability	Less predictable	More predictable
Profitability	Highly profitable than FPO	Less profitable than IPO

The table clearly answers the question of what is the difference between IPO and FPO.

Thus, with a clear idea of the debate of IPO vs FPO, investors choose the right investment option after evaluating their risk-taking ability and goals and can make an informed decision.

Frequently asked questions

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How does the difference in risk level between IPO and FPO affect investors?

IPO is riskier than FPO, and this difference in risk level affect investors massively. In the case of IPO, investors have nil idea about the future of the company. On the other hand, in the case of FPO, investors know that the company is listed on the stock exchange; hence analyse past performance and make assumptions regarding the future growth of that company. Investors with a high-risk appetite can opt for IPO, and investors with a low-risk appetite or new investors can go for FPO.

Is track record available both in Initial Public Offer and Follow-on Public Offer?

No, a stable track record is only available in Follow-on Public Offer.