The company's purpose is to buy, sell, hold, and invest in shares in all types of companies and enterprises, securities, and financial instruments, for its own account, excluding any investment in companies or enterprises holding residential real estate in Switzerland. It may carry out, either for its own account or for the account of third parties, all commercial, financial, securities-related, or real estate operations, except those prohibited by the LFAIE, directly or indirectly related to its main purpose; it may also establish branches and/or subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad. The company may also grant loans to its direct or indirect shareholders and to its direct or indirect subsidiaries and/or guarantee, endorse, or stand as surety for loans granted by third parties to its shareholders.