The company's purpose is to plan, implement and manage global processes within the ABB Group, particularly in the field of IT services. The company may establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad and participate in other companies in Switzerland and abroad. The company may acquire, hold, manage, encumber, utilize and sell real estate and intellectual property rights in Switzerland and abroad, as well as finance other companies. The company may provide direct or indirect financing to its direct or indirect subsidiaries and third parties, including its direct or indirect shareholders and their direct or indirect subsidiaries, and provide security for its own liabilities and those of other companies (including direct or indirect shareholders of the company or companies in which these shareholders have a direct or indirect interest), including by way of pledges, fiduciary transfers or assignments of the company's assets, or guarantees, sureties, or other forms of collateral. Furthermore, the company may engage in cash pooling with the aforementioned companies or join such an arrangement, including periodic account balancing. The company may perform all of these activities without consideration, on preferential terms, without interest, without pursuing the company's profitability, and assuming cluster risks. The company may engage in all commercial, financial, and other activities that appear suitable to promote the company's purpose or are related thereto.