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A private company limited by shares, usually called a private limited company (Ltd.) (though this can theoretically also refer to a private company limited by guarantee), is the private limited type of company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, Scotland, that of certain Commonwealth countries and the Republic of Ireland. It has shareholders with limited liability and its shares may not be offered to the general public, unlike those of a public limited company (plc). "Limited by shares" means that the company has shareholders, and that the liability of the shareholders to creditors of the company is limited to the capital originally invested, i.e. the nominal value of the shares and any premium paid in return for the issue of the shares by the company. A shareholder's personal assets are thereby protected in the event of the company's insolvency, but money invested in the company will be lost. A limited company may be "private" or "public". A private limited company's disclosure requirements are lighter, but for this reason its shares may not be offered to the general public (and therefore cannot be traded on a public stock exchange). This is the major distinguishing feature between a private limited company and a public limited company. Most companies, particularly small companies, are private. Private companies limited by shares are usually required to have the suffix "Limited" (often written "Ltd" or "Ltd.") or "Incorporated" ("Inc.") as part of their name, though the latter cannot be used in the UK or the Republic of Ireland; companies set up by Act of Parliament may not have Limited in their name. In the Republic of Ireland "Teoranta" ("Teo.") may be used instead, largely by Gaeltacht companies. "Cyfyngedig" ("Cyf.") may be used by Welsh companies in a similar fashion. ==Company officers== In the United Kingdom, every company must have formally appointed company officers at all times. By statute, a private company must have at least one Director and until April 2008 also had to have a Secretary (see Companies Act 2006). The company's articles of association may require more than one director in any case, and frequently do. At least one director must be an individual, not another company. Anybody can be a director, subject to certain exceptions. A person who is an undischarged bankrupt or who has been banned from being a company director by the court will also be restricted, except in certain cases, for example if the bankrupt had requested details of share transactions or of official discharge (which is currently one year): if the courts, trustees or official receiver have not dealt with the shares or if the bankruptcy should not have been made, because there was sufficient equity within the business/es. Then a bankrupt whose case has not been dealt with and who is technically not bankrupt, has every right under English Law to (create another or as many as he or she wants)Ltd company, directorship or ltd Partnership, or other such company. Nor can a person be a director of a limited company if he or she is unable to consent to their appointment. As of October 2008, all directors must be at least 16 years old. This change was applied retrospectively, with any directors under the age of 16 being removed from the register (Companies Act 2006). This was already the case in Scotland, under the Age of Legal Capacity (Scotland) Act 1991. No formal qualifications are required to be a company secretariat or an accountant. But there are other laws, such as professional associations, memberships and data protection acts, which must be adhered to, regardless as to the level of qualification/non qualification. Check with individual professions associations in the first place or seek professional business advice from a legally qualified professional solicitor or accountant or government business advisor. Certain non-British nationals are restricted as to what work they may carry out in the UK, depending upon their visas, work permits, national insurance payments center location and tax details, training, English language and professional indemnity insurances and their ability to do the job required. As of October 2008 (Companies Act 2006), it is no longer necessary to obtain a court order to withhold a director's address, as a Service Address can be supplied as well with the residential address being held as protected information at Companies House. Service addresses become the only address at which a Ltd Companies documents can be served for liquidation, shares and other filing. This is a point of business/corporate law, courts are obliged to uphold this law, companies house must uphold this law and trustees and other government bodies must also uphold this law. Ltd companies by way of their registrations are protected in this way. But it also protects the public, by ensuring that Ltd companies, whether they employ staff or not, are not breaking the law and are helped by the law whilst they uphold the law. For more information, contact companies house in Cardiff, Wales or see a qualified accountant or legally qualified solicitor. Ltd companies can be registered at various addresses, but if you move office you must officially notify companies house of the new office or registered address as this may be required if the company/director becomes bankrupted. Private Sources lamb V Luton County Court 208 of 2009. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Private company limited by shares」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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