The purpose of the company is to acquire, manage and dispose of participations in domestic and foreign companies of all kinds, as well as to finance them. The company may establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad, participate in other companies in Switzerland and abroad, acquire, encumber, sell and manage real estate in Switzerland and abroad, provide guarantees and sureties for the benefit of affiliated companies or third parties, arrange financing for its own account or for the account of third parties, acquire, exploit and broker industrial property rights, intellectual property rights, know-how and exclusive rights, and conduct all business that, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, is directly or indirectly related to its purpose.