The company's purpose is to hold and manage participations in domestic and foreign companies. The company may establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad, participate in other domestic and foreign companies, acquire or merge with similar or related companies, and enter into all transactions and conclude contracts that are suitable to promote the purpose of the company or are directly or indirectly related to it. It may also acquire, manage, encumber and dispose of real estate, intellectual property rights and licenses of all kinds. Furthermore, it may provide financing for its own account or for the account of third parties, as well as grant guarantees and warranties for subsidiaries and third parties.