PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY (SA) and the GDPR

A Société Anonyme (SA) is a legal form of business in France that allows for the formation of a company with share capital divided into shares. This legal form is commonly used for large companies, whether listed or not.

The Public Limited Company (SA) is aimed at people wishing to create a business with significant share capital, or who are considering raising significant funds to finance their project.
The SA is a legal form suitable for activities requiring a significant investment in terms of capital and for which the liability of shareholders is limited to the amount of their contribution to the company.
The SA is particularly suitable for large companies, listed companies, companies whose development is based on an external growth strategy (acquisitions, mergers, etc.), as well as companies requiring a complex organization with a separation of functions between management and control bodies.

The SA also allows great flexibility in terms of transfer of ownership, thanks to the negotiability of the shares.
It should be noted, however, that the SA is subject to significant formalities, particularly in terms of drafting the statutes, holding shareholders' meetings, appointing management and control bodies, as well as accounting, tax and financial communication obligations to shareholders and regulatory authorities.
The SA is a legal entity separate from its shareholders, which means it can own property, incur debts, and be sued. Shareholders are liable for the company's losses to the extent of their contributions to the share capital.
The SA is managed by a board of directors, which is appointed by the general meeting of shareholders and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the company. The chairman of the board of directors may also be the chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) or the managing director (MD). The SA may also have a management board and a supervisory board.

The SA is subject to corporate income tax (IS) and shareholders are considered investors, who can receive dividends based on the company's profits. Shareholders can freely transfer their shares.
The SA offers advantages such as the ability to raise funds on the stock market, the separation of share capital from shareholders' personal assets, the ability to benefit from a professional board of directors, and a positive brand image for large companies. However, the SA can be more complex and expensive to create and manage than other legal forms of business.

For Public Limited Companies (PLCs), the types and natures of personal data you can process will depend on the type of business you carry out. However, here are some examples of personal data that public limited companies (PLCs) may process:

It is important to note that SAs are subject to personal data protection regulations and must comply with applicable data protection laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and the Consumer Online Privacy Protection Act (CCPA) in California. SAs must ensure that all personal data they collect is processed securely and in accordance with applicable laws.