Which company, founded in 1602, became the world’s first publicly traded company?

The Dutch East India Company, known as the VOC, became the world’s first publicly traded company after its founding in 1602.

The States General of the Dutch Republic granted the company a charter to trade in Asia. Investors could buy and transfer shares, allowing the company to raise substantial long-term capital for ships, forts, trading posts and military operations.

The VOC held a monopoly over Dutch trade with large parts of Asia and became a powerful commercial and political institution. It traded in spices and other goods, including cloves, nutmeg, textiles and tea, while maintaining an extensive overseas network.

The company is often called the first multinational corporation as well, although historians use that label in different ways. Its public shares helped establish an important precedent for modern equity markets and corporate finance.