The company's purpose is to directly or indirectly acquire, sell and hold participations in other companies, as well as to actively manage and finance them. The company directs its business activities, to the extent permitted, towards the group's objectives. Accordingly, the company may, in the interest of the group or individual group companies (including their direct or indirect parent companies and their direct or indirect subsidiaries), conclude contracts and, in particular, grant loans or other financing to such group companies and provide collateral of any kind for their liabilities, including by way of pledges or security assignments and transfers of the company's assets, or by way of guarantees of any kind, whether against payment or not. The company may establish subsidiaries and branches in Switzerland and abroad and, in addition, carry out all legal transactions that may be necessary to achieve the company's purpose.