Public limited company

A company whose shareholders generally have limited liability and whose shares may be offered to the public, subject to jurisdiction-specific rules.

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Limited liability: A legal rule that generally limits an investor’s financial loss to the amount invested. It protects shareholders from company debts beyond their investment.
Private limited company: A limited-liability company whose shares are not offered to the general public. Its restrictions on public share offerings distinguish it from a public limited company.
Equity financing: Funding a business by issuing ownership interests to investors. A public company can raise capital by issuing shares to investors.
United Kingdom company law: The laws and regulations governing companies formed or operating in the United Kingdom. UK law defines the public limited company as a specific company form.
Share capital: Funds a company raises by issuing shares to investors. Issued shares divide ownership and provide one way to finance the company.
Public company: A company whose securities are available to public investors under applicable law. The phrase overlaps with this form in some jurisdictions but has different legal meanings elsewhere.
Securities regulation: Laws and rules governing the issuance and trading of financial securities. Public share offerings and trading are subject to securities rules.
Companies Act 2006: The principal statute governing companies in the United Kingdom. It sets key formation, governance, and disclosure rules for UK public companies.
Initial public offering: A company’s first sale of shares to public investors. It is a common route for a company to begin offering shares publicly.
Private company: A company that is not classified as public under the law governing it. Its ownership and fundraising are generally less open to public investors.