Which of the following transactions is most similar to the actions of joint stock companies during the Age of Exploration?

A. An oil company owner convinces investors to help pay for a new oil refinery in exchange for a portion of the refinery's profits.
B. A farmer grows a large field of spinach after learning that many of his customers prefer it to any other vegetable.
C. A large restaurant chain donates large sums of money to politicians in an attempt to influence their decisions.
D. The founder of a small electronics company sells his business to a larger rival for a very large one-time payment.