As the name suggests, a private limited company is a privately-held business entity. It is held by private stakeholders. The liability arrangement in a private limited company is that of a limited partnership, wherein the liability of a shareholder extends only up to the number of shares held by them. The shareholders cannot be held liable beyond the value of the shares. The governing body for such a company is the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).
Section 2 (68) of the Companies Act, 2013 defines a private company as:
“A Company having a minimum paid-up share capital as may be prescribed, and which by its articles,— (i) restricts the right to transfer its shares; (ii) except in case of One Person Company, limits the number of its members to two hundred; (iii) prohibits any invitation to the public to subscribe for any securities of the company.”
Now that you know what a private limited company is, the next step is to know the characteristics of such a company:
A company can raise equity capital from persons or entities interested in becoming a shareholder. Entrepreneurs can raise money from angel investors, venture capital firms, private equity firms and hedge funds.