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 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.