And you thought Walmart was big...

by mtippett | February 22, 2007 at 12:56 pm

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People complain that multinationals are too big now. But take a look at the British East India Company.

The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as "John Company", was one of the first joint-stock companies. It was granted an English Royal Charter by Elizabeth I on December 31, 1600, with the intention of favouring trade privileges in India. The Royal Charter effectively gave the newly created Honourable East India Company (HEIC) a 21 year monopoly on all trade in the East Indies. The Company transformed from a commercial trading venture to one that virtually ruled India as it acquired auxiliary governmental and military functions, until its dissolution in 1858.

Now, you could argue that the company was essentially an extension of the government but its still a company. Coke could only dream of such world domination.

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