Post by Emperor Florin von Marcum on Jun 30, 2021 4:27:12 GMT
Charter of the Divinian Offshore Company (DOC)
With the authority, benevolence, and goodwill of the Tripartite Rulers of Moderal, Tanysira, and the Imperium Divinium:
We let it be known that the prosperity of our three nations is principally a result of our shipping trade and commerce. As the international demand for these goods and services has increased, so too have the cordial and mutually beneficial interactions between our three nations.
Over the past decades, several prominent merchants and nobles have, with the support of our governments, commenced praiseworthy shipping and commerce within the region. These entrepreneurs have, at great cost, established themselves as premiere companies within their respective nations. In their endeavors to provide their services to the international community they have exceeded all expectations placed upon them by shareholders and the states in which they operate. Shortly after establishment, all three organizations were joined by many other merchantmen from across the region; notably in the conquered lands of the Gankands.
This was considered by us and given due weight in recognising how much importance to our nations and the good residents thereof was thereto attached that this shipping trade and commerce be maintained and allowed to increase through application of an appropriate general organisation of its policy, our mutual relations and administration.
The Directors of the above mentioned companies have thus been invited to consult with us on a possibility through which we may expect projected growth in the way of shipping and trade. It has been proposed, and affirmed, that these companies be united as it would not only be of service and profitable for our three nations, but for all who would engage in the most noble pursuit of trade, and investment in its development.. Through the creation of a fixed, secure and orderly entity they will be bonded together, managed and expanded for the good of all the residents of our nations who would like to participate in it.
We have approved and confirmed this merger on the basis of our sovereign power and authority, applying our balanced understanding of international relations, commerce, and the necessity of the security of said practice. The points, privileges and advantages of the aforementioned merger are declared as follows:
Firstly, the entities known as the Soresi Trade Association, Aerynx Trading Syndicate, and the Azurine Commerce Guild, are to be merged into the Divinian Offshore Company. All shares invested into the individual entities will be consolidated into this new organization, with approval from each Board of Directors.
Secondly, that in the initial equipping for the service and advantage of this company, the governments of Moderal, Tanysira, and the Imperium Divinium will have to advance and deliver one-third each of the requested ships and funds. Following this initial investment, the DOC will be responsible for all further equipping of its merchants. Further requests for aid in the acquisition of equipment may be requested of our three nations, and are subject to our approval.
As often as would be needed, a general meeting or Board consisting of the chairman of the constituent mercantile companies shall be called, consisting of at least three persons. Each major contributing company will retain one member on the board, with the chairmen representing each constituent mercantile company elected by majority vote.
The rightful heads of State of Moderal, Tanysira, and the Imperium Divinium shall act as adjudicators in such an instance wherein the Board cannot come to consensus.
The Primary Chambers of the Board of the DOC shall be located in the Imperium Divinium, where they shall be granted appropriate accommodations. The Board shall also be given Chambers in Moderal and Tanysira, who will maintain secondary status. The secondary chambers may act on behalf of the Board of Directors in the administration of ships and cargo for specific voyages and enterprises leaving their nations ports, but not in administrative decisions involving the DOC overall.
Whenever the above mentioned Board meets, it shall determine when the equipping of ships will occur and how many, where they shall be sent, and other matters relating to the trade.
If the Directors that serve the United Company need to journey from their home nation to another in order to meet as representatives of the aforementioned Board or on other business as well to carry out other duties, they shall have a daily expense allowance for the cost of transportation. Representatives traveling within the borders of their home nation shall be excluded from such recompense, and will receive neither daily allowance nor reimbursement of travel costs.
This United Company shall commence its operations in the present year, and shall maintain this charter for the next twenty years, provided it complies to a general audit every five years. Following this twenty year period, the rechartering of this United Company may be proposed to our governments for consideration.
Should any shareholder wish to exit the union and receive their return investment prior to a scheduled voyage or enterprise, they are permitted to do so provided they pay interest of at least 8.5% of their pledged amount.
All citizens or recognized residents of Moderal, Tanysira, and the Imperium Divinium shall be allowed to participate in this company, and to do so with as little or as great an amount of money as they choose. Should an instance occur wherein more money is pledged to a voyage or enterprise than is required, those investing more than fifteen-percent of said enterprise or voyage may choose either to withdraw adequate funds to reach fifteen-percent, invest in another voyage or enterprise, or request a return of their funds as they see fit.
Investors in any enterprise of the DOC will be allowed to pay their share in a voyage or enterprise in thirds, with the first installment being invoiced to the investor by the Board of Directors no less than two months prior to the start of said voyage or enterprise.
All ships returning from a voyage shall be required to return to the harbor from which they initially sailed. Should a ship need to return to a harbor from which they did not originate due to repairs, weather, external threats, or other conditions, they will be required to report to the Board of Directors and the Chamber of the nation from which they originate within one week.
Should one Chamber or another have received an excess of particularly expensive goods or other merchandise from colonial investments, and other Chambers have none or have not yet received any, the Chamber that has been stocked up, shall supply the other Chambers equally according to its ability. Should there be an excess still of goods following this division, the Chamber holding excess shall first offer sale of these goods to the government of their host nation, and then to the local market of said nation.
Accounts concerning the crew and equipment of ships and all related information shall be recorded prior to leaving port and reported to its respective Chambers. Upon completion of a voyage or enterprise, or three months into said investment, similar accounts must be reported to the Chambers of the nation from which the voyage left. Accounts from these voyages shall be closed as soon as is feasible, and made public within a year's time.
As soon as seven percent of a return cargo has been cashed, the rest shall be distributed to the necessary participants. Following the first shipment from an enterprise to its appropriate Chambers, and the sale of seven percent, the rest shall be distributed to the necessary participants.
The respective Chambers shall be headed by the director who claims citizenship in the nation which hosts said Chamber. When not present at the Chambers, the director shall be allowed to select a deputy director to act on their behalf. Each chamber shall consist of at least: One director (or deputy director), one chamberlain of finance, and one chamberlain of operations.
The Directors shall solemnly swear an oath on their honour and faith that they shall carry out the administration properly and honestly, keep good and honest accounts, and in collecting the moneys for the equipping and in the distribution of profits obtained from the return cargoes shall not favour the greater shareholders over the lesser ones.
The Directors of the DOC shall stake at least 10% of the worth of the company at its inception, with said 10% adjusted following re-evaluation of its worth every 5 years.
The Directors shall receive one percent of an outward journey and the same percentage of the profits earned from a returned journey. One third of said percentage shall be given to each of the three Chambers to aid in their operational costs. As a United Company, the directors shall not consider the investment amounts from each constituent nation, nor who has acquired more from the sale of goods on a return voyage.
Should any of the directors of one Chamber or another finds himself in such a position of being unable to discharge his responsibility regarding the moneys entrusted to him in his capacity as a Director, any damages resulting from this will be paid from that Chamber’s moneys and not be a liability to the Company’s reserves. Thus shall those moneys in the company that are the property of the Directors be especially reserved for their administration.
The DOC shall receive unique permission by the joint nations of Moderal, Tanysira, and Imperium Divinium to operate in lands and shipping lanes legally held in custody by the United Company. Other shipping or trade companies originating from our nations must make dealings with the DOC to use their shipping lanes, equipment, lands, or harbors.
The DOC, while keeping in good faith the nations of Moderal, Tanysira, and the Imperium Divinium, may appoint governors, keep armed forces, and establish judicial, administrative, and clerical officers for essential services. This is so permitted in order to keep said establishments in proper shape, ensure the enforcement of justice and the rule of law, insofar as it is beneficial to trade. And of the above mentioned officials, governors, or armed forces shall be henceforth required to swear an oath of loyalty and service both to the DOC and the constituent nations who have signed and affirmed this charter. Any official having been found to have acted corruptly or with dishonesty, they may be removed by either the appropriate judicial channel, the Board of Directors, or the tripartite monarchs.
Should any voyage or enterprise of the DOC be threatened or cheated by another nation, company, or entity, and are not able to appropriately resolve the matter themselves, they may seek aid and protection with the tripartite member states
Except with consent of the Company, none of the ships, cannon or ammunition that belong to the Company shall be used in the service of the country.
All raw goods will be valued according to their common weight standard.
No undue tax or burden shall be placed on investors, shareholders, or directors excepting standard tax rates applied by the tripartite monarchs to all trade goods.
In recognition of this License and the above mentioned terms, the representative of each of the above mentioned companies to be united shall pay a sum decided by their nations monarch, for approval of this license. We shall invest this amount in the preparations for the first ten year accounts. Any profits and risks accruing from this shall be for the benefit or liability of the tripartite monarchs, the same applying to all the other participants who may benefit or be liable.
All points, liberties, and benefits maintained in this document we have ordered and do hereby order will be maintained by us and will be followed and complied with by each subject or resident of our respective nations without exception.
Any attempt by an individual or entity to contravene this will be treated as a subversion of the welfare of our nations and the tripartite monarchies here mentioned. We therefore call upon all governors, judiciaries, and honorable citizens to permit the above mentioned Directors to exercise their rights as given by this licence.
We the tripartite rulers of Moderal, Tanysira, and the Imperium Divinium do hereby decree and affirm the above mentioned charter for the formation of the Divinian Offshore Company.
