A Public Limited Company under Company Act 2013 is a company that has limited liability and offers shares to the general public. It is a company whose securities are traded on a stock exchange and can be bought and sold by anyone. Stock can be acquired either privately through (IPO) initial public offering or via trades on the stock market. Public companies are strictly regulated, and are required by law to publish their complete and true financial position so that shareholders can determine the true worth of its shares.

The biggest advantage of forming a Public Limited Company is that it grants the ability to raise capital by issuing public shares. A listing on a public stock exchange attracts interest from hedge funds, mutual funds, and professional traders as well as individual investors. That generally leads to far more capital for investment in the company than a private limited company can amass.