Offshore A-Z is a digital repository of companies operating across major tax havens. Offshore A-Z exploits the inscrutability of such companies to speculate on their possible nature and intent. Each company listed on here is real, but the information surrounding these consist of both actual records, obtained by dmstfctn, and speculative images and mission statements, generated by algorithms.

Tax havens, or secrecy jurisdictions, employ laws and corporate regulations different from those of most jurisdictions, using secrecy as a prime tool. Furthermore, the agents operating offshore on behalf of clients elsewhere have been observed by dmstfctn to willfully introduce mistakes in the records held on the companies they help forming. (Offshore Investigation Vehicle)

When offshore companies are but a bundle of papers held in private storages, these practices contribute to a number of possible configurations of any given offshore company, whose records are at once factually correct and conveniently flawed.

Offshore A-Z plays with the idea that truth is not one nor static, and that it does not need to be upheld equally at all times or in all fora.

Obtaining the data

The data contained within Offshore A-Z comes from a number of sources. Prior to the Offshore Leaks, the snippets of information available on offshore companies were largely confined to the outdated online registrars kept by tax havens, as an empty gesture towards transparency. Employing data scraping techniques, dmstfctn extracted records on hundreds of thousands of companies appearing in a number of such registrars.

Yielding varying amounts of information, and naturally full of gaps - sometimes full company details and descriptions, sometimes little more than a name - the records were cross referenced with data from the ICIJ’s Offshore Leaks as well as Financial Secrecy Index scores from the Tax Justice Network, and compiled into a single searchable database.

Training the algorithms

Algorithms were then trained to fill in the gaps in information. Using keywords from the company’s records as a trigger, the algorithms associate images with each nondescript company and complete missing fields by guessing possible incorporation dates or by generating corporate mission statement via a simple neural network. The coherency and accuracy of the neural network is directly undermined by the opaque source material, or incomplete input records. Finally, companies previously named in the Offshore Leaks ( for example) are hyperlinked to the relevant entry on the ICIJ database, allowing user to investigate further.

Compiling the template

The resulting information is autonomously built into a Web 2.0 page, employing a visual grammar similar to that used by existing registrars of companies. However, under intense scrutiny, the template mealts away revealing warm hues and floating forms.

This cycle of actions is repeated for each unreleased company found in the database and publicly announced by a Twitter bot.

Zooming in

Among the companies listed on the Offshore A-Z, a few appearing to be embedded in complex offshore vehicles were further investigated, resulting in three stories focusing on the funding behind Leave.EU, the corporate tax-avoidance of Barclays and the colonial origins of HSBC.

Offshore A-Z is a project by dmstfctn.

H. FLOREZ ENTERPRISES

Company Name H. FLOREZ ENTERPRISES
Date of Registration 30th October 2015
Company Objective 1.     In particular the continuation of the one-man business-driven company by the person appearing under 1 under the name 'FLOREZ ENTERPRISES ".
2.     The maintain courier services.
3. Treat     The, whether by third parties of all matters relating to the receipt, shipment and handling of cargo.
4.     The import and export, wholesale, transit, retail, agenturen- and commission trade in food, dairy products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, meat and meat products , grocery items, tobacco, vegetables, bakery products, newspapers, magazines and other periodicals, and everything still further the purposes of so-called supermarket items, which also includes trade in food, beverages, ice cream, milkshakes, snacks, whether or not to partake in cafeterias and restaurants housed in and / or linked to supermarkets,.. a thing as necessary in compliance with the provisions of the Licensing Regulation
5     The establishment of or an interest in other companies or undertakings which have the same or related purposes; foregoing where the company is not in breach of the State Ordinance on the Supervision of Trust Offices.
6.     The conduct of business, including the retail, wholesale, intermediate, transit, commission and agency trading, importing and export of natural products and extracts, essences, plant medicine and flavors, medicinal herbs, beauty products, toiletries, massage oils, hair care products, colognes, creams, lotions, candles, incense, and all the products that the beauty and health of the body promoting and generally, all those articles that commit traded in beauty and hairdressing salons and boutiques to be and all those articles and resources in the widest sense of the word serve to promote and increase the beauty of the body, and another to the extent permitted by and in compliance with the provisions under or pursuant to the relevant statutory regulations; In particular, the Ordinance on the provision of medication.
7.     The own account exercise of the catering company in the broadest sense, including among others the (do) build (do) organize, improve, change, possess, maintain, operate and provide services in the operation , lead, and administration of restaurants, snack bars, cafés, buffets and other dining; a thing as necessary in compliance with the provisions of the Licensing Regulation.
8     The trade - including the retail, wholesale, import, export, transit, agenturen- and commission business - in consumption and consumer goods including, but not limited to:. After     elektrische and electronic devices. , also including radios, televisions, home theater systems, DVD players, DVDs, CDs, satellite dishes, musical instruments, telephones, cell phones, phone cards, vacuum cleaners, dryers, calculators and typewriters, video and air cooling equipment, refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, stoves, clocks, shaving machines and everything that belongs to it;
n.     kantoormachines and stationery, and all kinds of writing and drawing needs, learning and books, including paperbacks, light reading, crafts, paper and paper products, learning tools, learning systems, school supplies, office supplies, adminis- tratie- and organizational systems, computers and computer accessories Supplies, both hardware and software and performing a copying business, all in the broadest sense;
c. Home and office furniture, lamps, lights, flooring, curtains, ceiling and wall ornaments (decorations), artwork, household items, cutlery, pans and utensils, table linen, linen and wood carving furniture, furnishings, carpets, genuine and artificial flowers;
d     sport- and hobby items, toys and games, gym equipment and items, seasonal merchandise / commodities.;
e     souvenirartikelen, gifts, tourist items, jewelery, fancy articles and jewelery.;
f     keramische and plastics, porcelain, crystal and glass.; .
g     foto- and film cameras, films, eyewear and optical equipment, paintings, frames and everything that belongs to it;
h     dames-, men's and children's clothing, lingerie, baby items in linen, footwear, bags and purses, hats, belts, gloves, hats, leather goods, luggage, luggage and dried foods.; .
i     planten, flowers, earth, garden tools, furniture and all kinds of items used in and for the garden;
j     loodgietersartikelen, sanitary ware, fittings, hand and power tools, generators, household appliances, decorative lamps, kitchen tools, watches, chemicals, cleaning products and safety equipment.;
k     auto accessories, batteries and tires and assembling the secondary batteries.; E.     alle kinds of machines, air handling equipment, generators and batteries.
9. Acquire     The, possess, alienate, management and development of movable and immovable property as well as the acquisition, possession, transfer and management of rights and interests relating to movable and immovable property.
10.     The rent, lease , sublet, mortgage granting or otherwise of security rights in movable and immovable property or related rights and interests.
11.     The setting bail and other guarantees and transferring ownership whether or not in fiduciary or trust or mortgage, pledge or otherwise encumber assets, all this as security for the payment of the debts of the company and the debts of other legal or natural persons who are directly or indirectly linked to the company, whether or not for contraprestatie.
12. Investing its assets in securities such as shares and other securities in respect of bonds and other interest-bearing receivables, by whatever name and in whatever form.
13.      Acting as finance and mediating in the realization of financing of all kinds types of transactions.
14.      the company may carry out the activities listed in paragraph 13. only in such a way that they do not as a credit institution as defined in Article 1 paragraph 1 of the Ordinance supervision credit System can be considered. It is also expressly prohibited without exemption, to perform the acts specified in Article 48 of the Ordinance Supervision Credit System.
15.     The complete or partial structure of pension provision for directors, former directors, shareholders, former shareholders and / or their survivors.
16.     The perform all actions related to the above, all in the broadest sense.
17.     The above will be made to the extent permitted by and subject to the provisions under or pursuant to the relevant legislation.
Country
aruba
Financial Secrecy Index [more info] 68
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