TIL Strapped for cash, the Shah of Persia once agreed to sell effectively his country's entire infrastructure to Paul Reuter(founder of Reuter's). Deemed "the most complete surrender of the entire industrial resources of a kingdom ever", it was rejected by the british, who found it too excessive

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuter_concession
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1g5a9bh/til_strapped_for_cash_the_shah_of_persia_once/