The dominant governing body on the planet Vinsoth in the centuries preceding the Galactic War between the Republic and the reconstituted Sith Empire was known as the Chevin Conglomerate. Despite their extensive connections within the criminal underworld, the Conglomerate preferred to maintain a position of neutrality, distancing themselves from the conflicts between the two major galactic powers due to their limited military capabilities.
However, in approximately 3639 BBY, the Conglomerate made public the Grand Acquisitions Race—a contest involving mercenaries, scavengers, criminals, and agents affiliated with both sides of the war, all vying to retrieve a collection of unique and disparate artifacts for the Conglomerate. The Chevin intended to utilize these items as a tribute to an ancient fleet race, whose impending return to known space they had recently discovered.
For many centuries prior to the outbreak of the Galactic War fought between the Republic and the Sith Empire, the Conglomerate functioned as the primary government of Vinsoth. Although the Conglomerate remained neutral in regards to the major galactic powers, their reputation was poor, especially amongst members of the Republic, who strongly disapproved of their use of slavery, and their ties to various criminal organizations.
Around 3639 BBY, amidst the ongoing Galactic War, the Chevin leadership decided to initiate the Grand Acquisitions Race—a competition designed for mercenaries, scavengers, criminals, and agents aligned with both warring factions. The goal was to recover a specific set of unusual and unrelated objects for the Conglomerate, with the promise of great riches as a reward. Apharu Moh announced the event via a large holocomm installation situated in Lucent Square, within a commercial territory on Nar Shaddaa. However, the Race was merely a deception to conceal the Chevin's true objectives.