Turan Corporation was founded as Turam (“Turkish-American”) Corporation by Robert P. Smith in 1978, and soon became one of the largest privately held sovereign debt trading firms in the world. According to Smith, after a dispute with the original partners, Smith sold his interest to another party and reformed as Turan Corporation, in effect "selling the M". It is notable for being the first Western company to invest in Turkish sovereign debt, setting the investment strategy the company would follow later on in Argentina, Nigeria, and El Salvador.