Public Limited Companies - Company Formation - UK Registration Services

A UK public limited company may offer to sell its shares to the public.

Before it can start in business a public limited company must satisfy Companies House that at least £50,000 worth of shares have been issued and that each share has been paid up to at least a quarter of its face value.

A Public limited company has to have a minimum of two shareholders and a minimum of two persons acting as company directors. The company secretary must be a person who can demonstrate that they have the necessary skills and experience to carry out their duties adequately.

The person must have: 

(a) had a position of company secretary or alternatively have been a deputy company secretary as at 22 December 1980, or 

(b) been a company secretary for three out of the last five years with a company which is non private or 

(c) be a legal person with the appropriate qualifications obtained in the UK or 

(d) the confidence of the directors who feel that due to the persons experience and knowledge can discharge the required duties in the manner expected or 

(e) is a member of one or more of these professional organisations: 
- the ICAEW
- the ICAS
- the ICAI
- the ICSA
- the ACCA
- the CIMA
- the CIPA