Which of the following describes a public limited company (PLC)?

• A. Shares are not traded publicly
• B. There is no stock exchange listing
• C. Shares can be traded publicly
• D. It is a sole trader

Answer: (C)

Public limited companies are defined by the ability to have their shares bought and sold by the public. This means anyone can purchase shares on the open market, typically through a stock exchange, which is how such companies raise capital from a wide range of investors. That public trading is what makes a PLC distinct from other business forms. A sole trader is just an individual running a business and does not issue shares to the public, and statements about shares not being traded publicly or about lacking a stock exchange listing describe non-public or private setups rather than a PLC.