The purpose of the Company is (a) to hold participations in other legal entities, partnerships or companies, to finance them, to hold any other interest in them or to manage them, provided that the Company may hold a participation in a real estate company in Switzerland if (i) the shares of the latter are listed on a stock exchange in Switzerland or if (ii) the real estate company has the purpose of acquiring properties for exclusively commercial use, (b) to acquire, encumber, alienate and exploit assets, including properties in Switzerland (for exclusively commercial use only) and abroad, (c) to grant loans or any other form of financing to group companies, as well as to assume responsibility for their obligations and (d) to do everything that, in the broadest sense of the term, is directly or indirectly related to the achievement of its corporate purpose or may contribute to it. The Company may also establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad.