Tapos Securities

Tapos Securities was a big business organization founded in 21,633 BBY. Amoung its other activities, from the time of its founding Tapos contributed funds to the manufacture and launching of space probes to explore the greater galaxy beyond the Inner Rim. This venture took two thousand years to pay off, but as the Great Manifest Period began and colonization of the Expansion Region started, Tapos was able to lay sole claim to a number or worlds.

Ironically, it was one of the earliest planets discovered by a Tapos-sponsored probe, Holt, which ultimately led to the company's downfall. In the case of Holt, Tapos was one of five companies with a legitimate claim, and the case was submitted to the courts in 19,081 BBY. In 19,069 BBY, Tapos' claim was determined to be the strongest and they were officially awarded Holt, but by then all five companies had settled a section of the planet, as had a group of exiles from Arzend. Each group then attemped to eject all the others by force, spawning a war that would last for over two centuries.

From the beginning, Tapos demanded that the government enforce its ruling on Holt, but they never received enough troops to make a difference on the war-torn planet. In 19,065 BBY, however, the government sent three Jedi to the planet. They first attempted to end the war by negiotiation, which Tapos objected to. It is believed that in conjunction with the other four companies, who were likewise afraid of ending up with only their portion of the planet, officials at Tapos authorized the kidnapping and brutal murder of all three Jedi.

When the evidence turned up against Tapos, the Jedi Order publically denounced Tapos Securities and declared their intention to having nothing further to do with Holt so long as the planet remained under corporate control. The company was publically humiliated, and much of the populace responded with horror against Tapos. Investors started pulling out. Tapos Securities was forced to sell most of their planets in order to keep afloat, though do to the troubles on Holt they were unable to sell it, and in the end this was not enough. Tapos Securities finally was forced to file for bankruptcy in 19,011 BBY.