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What are Public Limited Companies (PLC's)?

What does PLC mean?

A PLC is a limited company under the United Kingdom laws whose shares are freely sold and traded to the public. The public limited company is listed on the stock exchange, where its shares are traded publicly. The company has separated legally apart from its members who operate it. Rules, laws, and regulations govern the company's working process and activities.

What Is a Public Limited Company (PLC)?

How a Public Limited Company (PLC) Work?

Public limited companies operate differently from private limited companies, but they are both in the business for profit-making. The PLC can be owned by two or more persons who own shares of the company, and all the names of the company's members need to be kept in an index. The company needs to have at least two directors and a fully qualified secretary. Its accounts are required to be submitted to HMRC within 6 months of the end of the financial year.

Public companies offer shares of stock to the general public, and the buyers of those shares have limited liability, meaning they are not held responsible for the company's debts or any losses. The public companies in the UK operate the same way as the public corporations in the United States, its activities are regulated and are as well required to publish periodic reports to shareholders on their actual financial status.

Is a limited company private or public?

Limited liability companies are public companies, meaning the public has a certain amount of ownership.

Requirements for Public Limited Company

The company laws in the UK state that public companies should have the company's resignation after the company name and minimal share capital of 50 thousand pounds. PLCs offer different types of shares, including ordinary and cumulative preference shares. Ordinary shares are also known as common stock, these give the holders the ability to vote during meetings, and the holders can also take dividends from the company's profits. On the other hand, preference shares don't come with voting rights, but they have an advantage when receiving dividends as they are first in line when it comes to receiving dividends.

Have at least two shareholders

PLCs are required to have at least two shareholders

Have issued shares to the public to a value of at least £50,000 or the prescribed equivalent in euros before it can trade

Be registered with Companies House.

The PLCs are required to be registered with Companies House, an agency of the department for business, innovation, and skills.

Have at least two directors - at least one must be an individual. Each director who is an individual must be at least 16 years of the agency.

PLCs must have a minimum of one director. The directors can be anyone, but the individual should not be a subject of bankruptcy restrictions order or over 70 or under 16 years of age.

Have a qualified company secretary

A public limited company is required a have a qualified company secretary when registering at Companies House. On the other hand, private companies can hire anyone to be a Secretary even when they are not fully qualified. Companies House do not require much from private companies.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a public limited company?

Advantages of being a public limited company

Both public and private companies have their advantages and disadvantages, and we shall look at these in detail below.

The formation of the public limited company and how it operates gives it so many advantages, and we have listed some of these advantages below.

Raising capital through public issue of shares.

Public companies allow their members to raise capital faster than private limited companies; this is because public companies offer shares to the public, and anyone can invest their money in the company. Listing the company's shares on the stock exchange can also attract investors who are willing to invest lots of funds to the business.

Widening the shareholder base and spreading risk

When the company offers its shares to the public, it also spread the risk of company ownership to all the people who hold shares of the company. Early investors can also sell some of their shares for a profit and still be able to have shares in the company.

Other finance opportunities

PLCs have many opportunities when it comes to sourcing finances to operate the company. Banks and other financial institutions have faith in public companies and hence are willing to borrow money from the companies, especially those that are usually listed on the stock exchange market. The PLCs are also able to negotiate interest rates and repayment terms to obtain a loan.

Growth and expansion opportunities

Since public companies have the advantage of obtaining finances more efficiently, this also means they can quickly expand by investing in new projects. The company can also make a capital expenditure to support and enhance the business, make acquisitions, fund research and development, and pay off existing debts; this also allows the company to grow organically.

Prestigious profile and confidence

Public limited companies have a high status, which has a significant impact on how the company is viewed. Many people notice public companies, especially when they are listed on the stock exchange; as a result, people will recognize the products and services offered by the companies more often. And better brand recognition will lead to more sales.

Transferability of shares

Transferring shares of a public limited company is easy compared to those of a private limited company; hence, shareholders will benefit from liquidity. This also attracts more investors who want to have shares in the company. Other people may be willing to buy shares in the company since the whole process is easy and not time-consuming.

Exit Strategy

Founders of public companies can choose to leave the company anytime they want. Since transferring shares is easy, these founders have increases chances of getting bit interest from potential suitors.

Disadvantages of being a public limited company

Public companies also have some disadvantages when compared to private limited companies. These disadvantages include:

More regulatory requirements

The legal and regulatory for public limited companies have more restrictions when compared to private limited companies; this is to help protect its shareholders. For example, a trading certificate should be taken from companies House before the company is allowed to trade, the companies are required to have at least two directors, several onerous rules apply concerning loans to directors, and there should be transparency when it comes to the accounts which must be produced within 6 months of the end of the financial year.

Higher levels of transparency required.

Public limited companies are required to be transparent to the Companies House. They need to have their accounts audited, and they are unable to file abbreviated accounts; everything about the companies' operations and activities must be in detail, and then it's made available to anyone who wishes to know more about the company. As a result of this too much transparency, PLC accounts are often scrutinized by analysts and will receive comments from the media.

Ownership and control issues

With public limited companies, anyone can be a shareholder. Therefore, power is shared among many people; hence it's difficult to know who fully controls the company and who the directors are accountable to. The original founders may lose power over the business as time passes as they focus on managing shareholder expectations.

More vulnerable to takeovers

Public limited companies can be vulnerable to takeovers when the majority of shareholders agree to a bid. Since shares are easily transferred, a potential bidder can build up a shareholding in advance of planning a bid attempt.

Short-termism

The public limited company's share price represents the worth of the company. So when investors invest in the company, they will expect a good return; thus, there will be a need for the share price to go higher. This will make directors of the company focus on short-term results and therefore miss out on great opportunities and threats.

Initial financial commitment is higher.

When starting a Limited company, the founders must have at least 50, 000 pounds of nominal share capital, 25% of the money is paid up, meaning only 12, 000 pounds remains to operate the business, while with a private limited company, founders can start with any amount.

Public Limited Company (PLC) vs. Private Limited Company (LTD)

The main difference between the Public and Private limited companies is that the shares of Public limited companies are sold or traded on a stock exchange while shares of private limited companies are not. Because of this difference, public companies have an advantage over private companies because if they satisfy the conditions for listings, their shares can be listed on a recognized stock exchange. As a result, the company will raise equity capital by offering shares to the public and allowing shareholders to sell their shares anyhow they want.

Shares

When starting a public limited company, you must present the minimal amount of 50, 000 pounds of nominal share capital, 25% of the money is paid up, meaning only 12, 000 pounds remains to operate the business, while with a private limited company, founders can start with any amount.

Private limited companies cannot offer their shares to the public, while private companies can do so. Private companies are not allowed to give financial assistance, whether directly or indirectly, for the acquisition of their own shares. In contrast, private limited companies are allowed to do so if a special resolution is passed following a statutory declaration of solvency by the directors and a report by the auditors.

Shareholders

Both private and public companies are allowed to distribute realized profits to their shareholders over their accumulated realized losses. Private companies can make a distribution if their net assets are less than the aggregate value of its called-up share capital and its un distributable reserves, while private companies are allowed to do so.

Directors

Public companies must have at least two directors, while private companies may have a sole director.

Corporate governance

Public companies cannot do business or borrow money before the register of companies can issue a certificate under the Companies Act 2006. On the other hand, a private company can commence business the minute its registered.

Practical considerations

Directors of private companies hold or control all or a majority of the company's share while many different people hold shares of a public company, and the directors do not control them.

How do you change a private company to a public company?

A private company can change to a public company by the alteration of its Memorandum and Articles of Association to make all the changes needed by the provisions of the Act for the private to hold the public company status.

Can a public limited company become a private limited company?

Yes, a public limited company can become privately owned. However, the process is very long as the founder will have to assemble all the members and tell them about the issue of changing the company. After that, the issue should also be reported to Companies House, and they will require you to follow all the necessary steps of changing the company to a private limited company.

Why do companies become public?

Private companies may decide to become public to raise capital and expand. Public companies can raise additional money by selling shares to the public, and this process is used to grow the business. Companies may decide to go public because of that.

Who is a public limited company controlled by?

Shareholders own the company, but the board of directors is the ones who control it.

What happens when a public limited company goes bust?

A bankrupt public company may use chapter 11 of the bankruptcy code to recover the business to make it profitable again. Managing the company continues properly, but a bankruptcy court must approve all significant business decisions.

What are the 5 examples of public companies?

Examples of public companies in the United Kingdom include Antofagasta PLC, Associated British Foods, Ferguson, NatWest Group, and Flutter Entertainment.

How many people do I need to start a company?

You can also start your limited company with a single person in the UK. In the application form, you need to mention at least one shareholder and one director and both positions can be assigned to a single person.

How many different types of limited companies are there?

The types of limited companies are as follows:

  • Private limited company – limited by shares (Ltd.) is a private company.
  • Private limited company – limited by guarantee (LBG) is usually a company that is a non-profit or a charity.
  • A public limited company (PLC) is a kind of private limited company, limited by share. The only thing PLC offers is its shares to the members of the public.
  • A limited liability partnership (LLP)is similar to a limited liability company – limited by shares, instead of shareholders, there are partners.
  • Private unlimited companies don't have to submit an annual return compared to other limited companies.

What Public Limited Company (PLC) means in the U.K?

In the UK, a Public Limited Company (PLC) is legally allowed to sell shares to the public. It is their choice whether they want to offer shares to the public or depend on when they need it. It is the least popular choice of company in the UK. However, most of the companies are private limited.

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