These were the first of many "firsts" involving what was to become an increasingly symbiotic relationship between the Imperial government and the Russian-American company, which had necessitated the creation of a new commercial flag that incorporated symbols which would identify it as a State-sponsored entity. Russia, and in particular Ivan Kruzenstern, had paid close attention to other countries government-chartered commercial enterprises. Both England and the Netherlands had distinctive flags which identified the British Honourable East India Company and the Dutch East and West India Companies, and were modified versions of their commercial flags