The Trade Federation was a trade security organization that specialized in providing security droids and fighters to trade companies for protection against pirates and criminals. They became a constituency in the Republic after amassing a vast reservoir of wealth, a large amount of employees and obtaining a trio of planets: Cato, Koru and Deku Neimoidia. The Federation was forced to apply for bankruptcy protection after competition from the Republic Defense Space Force, a free service, drove them out of their territories of operation. The stockpile of unused and unsold security droids and ships depleted their funds. Before applying, they were approached by a figure named Darth Absoltus Macht and agreed, reluctantly, to fill his order for battle droids and war machines.