F. Acquisitions

Table of Contents

In this phase, players may start new companies, provided they have free slots for these companies. Players get multiple chances but may acquire only one company per round.

Following the order of play, each player may start one available company of the current era. He takes the corresponding company deed and places it in front of him. Starting a company costs no money. Note that a player may never have more companies than he has slots, as indicated on the R&D track. A merged company that consists of multiple company deeds takes up only one slot.

If the acquired company is a production company, the player must place one goods counter in the appropriate province. He may place this counter on any empty land area. However, a goods counter cannot be placed immediately next to a goods counter of the same type. If no such area is available, the company cannot be started and is taken out of the game.

If a player acquires a shipping company, he places a ship in one of the sea areas bordering on the province indicated. Existing ships do not hinder placement in any way.