Public limited company

The initials plc after a British company name indicate that it is a public limited company whose shares may be offered for sale to the public. When forming (or creating) a PLC there must be at least £50,000 worth of share capital of which at leat 25% must have been paid for. While it is not compulsory to "float" the shares (some PLCs keep all shares privately held, maintaining the PLC designation for the extra financial status) many do and usually often traded on either the London Stock Exchange or the Alternative Investments Market (AIM).

The designation plc was introduced by the Companies Act 1980.