What is a close, or closely held, corporation? What is a publicly held corporation?

A closely held corporation, or private corporation, is one that is owned by private individuals who do not trade or sell their shares of ownership. This is in contrast to a publicly held company. Typically, closely held corporations are not subject to the same stringent reporting requirements as most public corporations.

Understanding Closely Held Corporations

The biggest difference between a close or closely held business and a publicly held or traded company is that a closely held corporation has a tight-knit group of shareholders that make up the ownership committee for the company, while a publicly held corporation is one that is owned by stockholders. In a publicly held company, the ownership shares of the corporation are traded publicly on the international stock market.

A publicly held company is owned and valued by the worth of its stockholders, people who purchase shares of the company in the hope that the company will increase its net worth so that the shares end up being worth more than they were when the shares were purchased. It is easy to assess the value of a publicly held company, and selling and buying shares is as simple as placing an order with any broker or brokerage firm.

The private corporation, on the other hand, is owned fully by shareholders that do not trade or sell their stock in the company unless they are opting to sell out their portion of ownership in the business to other owners. It is usually contracted in the corporation’s bylaws that the first option of these shares when they are sold is to be presented to the other shareholders before they are offered to anyone else as a means of “buying in” to the company. Valuing a closely held company is also much more difficult since there is no general marketplace for its sale. 

Getting Help

Should you have additional questions about closely or publicly held corporations, it is recommended that you consult an experienced business attorney.