The purpose of the company is the acquisition and management of participations as well as trademark and patent rights in Switzerland and abroad. The company may establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad and conduct all business that appears suitable to promote its purposes. The company may also acquire, rent, encumber and sell real estate. The company may grant loans to its direct or indirect shareholders or other companies of the group and provide security of any kind for their liabilities to third parties, including by way of pledge or security assignment of its own assets or guarantees of any kind, even if these loans or securities are in the exclusive interest of its direct or indirect shareholders or other group companies and are granted free of charge.