Friday, 17 May 2013
5 OLDEST COMPANIES OF THE WORLD
1. Consolidated Edison
---Started way back in 1823, when its earliest corporate entity, the New York Gas Light Company, received a state charter to install natural gas lines in lower Manhattan, replacing the whale oil lamps that dated back to the 1760s.
In 1824 New York Gas Light was listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and it holds the record for being the longest listed stock on the NYSE.
2. Lloyd's
Today, Lloyd's is the world's leading insurance market, housed over the pond in London, England. However, its beginnings lie in the more modest surroundings of a 17th century coffee house. London was growing in importance as a global trade center, which in turn led to an increasing demand for ship and cargo insurance, and in 1688 Edward Lloyd's Coffee House became the place to purchase marine insurance. Lloyd's has grown and expanded over the 300 years to become the world's leading market for specialist insurance in a wide range of areas.
3. IBM
A newer company, but one that just celebrated a big birthday is IBM, who hit the 100 year mark last month. International Business Machines - or its predecessor, the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company - was founded on June 16, 1911 by the financier Charles Ranlett Flint.
In 2012, Fortune ranked IBM ,the #2 largest U.S. firm in terms of number of employees (433,362) the #4 largest in terms of market capitalization, the #9 most profitable, and the #19 largest firm in terms of revenue.Globally, the company was ranked the #31 largest in terms of revenue by Forbes for 2011. Other rankings for 2011/2012 include #1 company for leaders (Fortune), #1 green company worldwide , #2 best global brand , #2 most respected company , #5 most admired company (Fortune), and #18 most innovative company.
4. Tuttle Farm
Tuttle Farm in New Hampshire is an inspiring case of a withstanding American family business. Now run by the 11th generation of the family, the farm is the oldest continually operating family farm in the United States. It all began in the 1630s when John Tuttle arrived in the New World bearing a land grant from King Charles II.
5. Kongo Gumi
Although they have now ceased trading, no piece about historical firms would be complete without at least mentioning the Japanese temple builder Kongo Gumi. This business had been trading for 14 centuries and was, until 2006, the world's oldest continuously operating family business.
1. Consolidated Edison
---Started way back in 1823, when its earliest corporate entity, the New York Gas Light Company, received a state charter to install natural gas lines in lower Manhattan, replacing the whale oil lamps that dated back to the 1760s.
In 1824 New York Gas Light was listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and it holds the record for being the longest listed stock on the NYSE.
2. Lloyd's
Today, Lloyd's is the world's leading insurance market, housed over the pond in London, England. However, its beginnings lie in the more modest surroundings of a 17th century coffee house. London was growing in importance as a global trade center, which in turn led to an increasing demand for ship and cargo insurance, and in 1688 Edward Lloyd's Coffee House became the place to purchase marine insurance. Lloyd's has grown and expanded over the 300 years to become the world's leading market for specialist insurance in a wide range of areas.
3. IBM
A newer company, but one that just celebrated a big birthday is IBM, who hit the 100 year mark last month. International Business Machines - or its predecessor, the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company - was founded on June 16, 1911 by the financier Charles Ranlett Flint.
In 2012, Fortune ranked IBM ,the #2 largest U.S. firm in terms of number of employees (433,362) the #4 largest in terms of market capitalization, the #9 most profitable, and the #19 largest firm in terms of revenue.Globally, the company was ranked the #31 largest in terms of revenue by Forbes for 2011. Other rankings for 2011/2012 include #1 company for leaders (Fortune), #1 green company worldwide , #2 best global brand , #2 most respected company , #5 most admired company (Fortune), and #18 most innovative company.
4. Tuttle Farm
Tuttle Farm in New Hampshire is an inspiring case of a withstanding American family business. Now run by the 11th generation of the family, the farm is the oldest continually operating family farm in the United States. It all began in the 1630s when John Tuttle arrived in the New World bearing a land grant from King Charles II.
5. Kongo Gumi
Although they have now ceased trading, no piece about historical firms would be complete without at least mentioning the Japanese temple builder Kongo Gumi. This business had been trading for 14 centuries and was, until 2006, the world's oldest continuously operating family business.
