sentences:  In the beginning of the 20th century, one of the largest joint-stock sugar companies in the south-western region was a "Sugar and sugar refinery factories' association of Tereshchenko Brothers", founded in 1870 by Nicola, Theodore and Simon Tereshchenko with an initial capital of 3 million rubles.Over time, the family-owned company had an annual turnover of 12 million rubles and independent access to the European market.Some of the factories remained in the individual possession of each of the brothers.