The purpose of the company is to acquire participations in any form in other domestic and foreign companies or enterprises, as well as to manage these participations. The company may, in particular, acquire all types of securities, shares and other participation certificates, including but not limited to bonds, debt instruments, claims, deposit certificates, trust deposits and, in general, all securities and financial instruments issued by public or private entities, including partnerships, whether through contribution, purchase, exchange or otherwise. It may participate in the establishment, development, management and control of all types of companies or enterprises. It may also invest in the acquisition and management of a portfolio of patents or other intellectual property rights of any kind and origin. The company may, in any form, except through public credit, raise loans. It may issue shares, bonds and other securities representing loans and/or claims, including but not limited to the issuance of PECS and option certificates in convertible or non-convertible form. The company may grant loans to its subsidiaries, affiliated companies and other companies, including the proceeds from its own bonds and/or the issuance of bonds. It may also provide guarantees or securities for its own bonds or the bonds of its subsidiaries, affiliated companies or any other company in favor of third parties. The company may also pledge, mortgage, assign, encumber or create any other security on its entire assets or parts thereof, which relate to all or part of its assets. The company may, in principle, use all techniques and instruments related to investments in connection with efficient management, including techniques and instruments that serve to protect against creditors, currency and interest rate fluctuations and other risks. The company may conduct all commercial, financial or industrial transactions and all other transactions regarding movable and immovable property that directly or indirectly promote its corporate purpose or are directly or indirectly related to it. The company may establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad. The company may conclude transactions with affiliated companies, in particular with its direct or indirect shareholders and other group companies, even without adequate consideration. It may grant loans to group companies or provide securities for their obligations.