The company's purpose is to acquire, hold, manage and dispose of participations in other companies and corporations, to exercise financial and technical control over these companies and corporations, to perform pool functions for the companies held or external companies, and to carry out all business directly or indirectly related to the company's purpose. It may also participate in group financing, in particular by granting loans and other direct or indirect financing to its direct or indirect shareholders or other group companies, or by providing security of any kind for their liabilities to third parties. This includes the pledging or fiduciary transfer of the company's assets or guarantees of any kind, even if these loans or securities are granted in the exclusive interest of its direct or indirect shareholders or other group companies and are provided free of charge.