7 Public Limited Company Examples You Should Know About

Public limited companies (PLCs) are corporations that can sell their shares to the public and trade on stock exchanges. They have many advantages, such as access to capital, limited liability, and enhanced reputation. But they also face challenges, such as regulatory compliance, disclosure requirements, and shareholder pressure. In this article, we will look at seven public limited company examples from different industries and countries, and see how they operate and perform.

Royal Dutch Shell PLC

Royal Dutch Shell is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world, with operations in more than 70 countries. It was formed in 1907 by the merger of Royal Dutch Petroleum and Shell Transport and Trading. It is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, and has a dual listing on the London Stock Exchange and the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. It also trades on the New York Stock Exchange as an American depositary receipt (ADR). Shell is known for its exploration, production, refining, distribution, and marketing of oil and gas products, as well as its renewable energy and petrochemicals businesses.

HSBC Holdings PLC

HSBC Holdings is one of the largest banking and financial services groups in the world, with more than 40 million customers in 64 countries. It was founded in 1865 as the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, and later expanded to Europe, North America, and other regions. It is headquartered in London, UK, and has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange and a secondary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. It also trades on the New York Stock Exchange as an ADR. HSBC is known for its retail banking, commercial banking, wealth management, investment banking, and global markets businesses.

BP PLC

BP is one of the leading energy companies in the world, with operations in more than 80 countries. It was founded in 1909 as the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, and later changed its name to British Petroleum in 1954. It is headquartered in London, UK, and has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange and a secondary listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. It also trades on the New York Stock Exchange as an ADR. BP is known for its exploration, production, refining, distribution, and marketing of oil and gas products, as well as its low-carbon energy and innovation businesses.

GlaxoSmithKline PLC

GlaxoSmithKline is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, with operations in more than 150 countries. It was formed in 2000 by the merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham. It is headquartered in Brentford, UK, and has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange and a secondary listing on the New York Stock Exchange as an ADR. GlaxoSmithKline is known for its research, development, manufacturing, and marketing of prescription medicines, vaccines, consumer healthcare products, and biotechnology products.

British American Tobacco PLC

British American Tobacco is one of the largest tobacco companies in the world, with operations in more than 180 countries. It was founded in 1902 by the merger of several British and American tobacco companies. It is headquartered in London, UK, and has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange and a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. It also trades on the New York Stock Exchange as an ADR. British American Tobacco is known for its production, distribution, and marketing of cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco products.

Burberry Group PLC

Burberry Group is one of the most famous luxury fashion brands in the world, with operations in more than 50 countries. It was founded in 1856 by Thomas Burberry, a draper who invented gabardine fabric. It is headquartered in London, UK, and has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange. Burberry Group is known for its design, manufacturing, and marketing of clothing, accessories, fragrances, and cosmetics.

Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC

Rolls-Royce Holdings is one of the leading engineering companies in the world, with operations in more than 150 countries. It was founded in 1906 by Henry Royce and Charles Rolls, who produced luxury cars and aircraft engines. It is headquartered in London, UK, and has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange. Rolls-Royce Holdings is known for its development, manufacturing, and servicing of power systems for civil aerospace, defense aerospace, marine, nuclear, and power generation markets.

These are just some of the public limited company examples that you should know about. They show how PLCs can grow and diversify their businesses, attract and reward investors, and compete in the global market. However, they also face challenges, such as complying with regulations, disclosing information, and managing shareholder expectations. Therefore, PLCs need to balance their interests and responsibilities, and strive for excellence and sustainability.

Public Limited Companies: A Growing Industry

Public limited companies (PLCs) are a type of corporation that can sell their shares to the public through stock exchanges or over-the-counter markets. They are common in the United Kingdom, some Commonwealth countries, and the Republic of Ireland, where they must have a minimum share capital of £50,000 and use the suffix PLC or plc in their name.

Some examples of public limited companies are Royal Dutch Shell, HSBC Holdings, BP, GlaxoSmithKline, and British American Tobacco. These companies are listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and have a large market capitalization. Other examples of public limited companies are Rolls-Royce, a car manufacturer, and Burberry, a fashion retailer. These companies are also listed on the LSE and have a global presence.

The Benefits and Challenges of Public Limited Companies

Public limited companies have several advantages over private companies. They can raise more capital by issuing shares to the public, which can help them fund their growth and expansion. They can also increase their visibility and reputation by being listed on a stock exchange, which can attract more customers, investors, and partners. Moreover, they can benefit from economies of scale by operating in larger markets and reducing their costs per unit.

However, public limited companies also face some challenges and risks. They have to comply with more regulations and disclosure requirements from the authorities, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the United States or the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom. They have to deal with more competition and pressure from other public companies and market forces. They also have to balance the interests and expectations of their shareholders, who may demand higher returns or dividends, with their long-term goals and strategies.

References:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/section/58

https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.02.012

https://www.gov.uk/bankruptcy/restrictions

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_limited_company

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/publiccompany.asp

https://thebusinessprofessor.com/business-governance/public-limited-company-definition

https://bizfluent.com/about-5514187-definition-public-limited-companies.html