The company's purpose is to acquire, sell, hold and manage participations, in particular in companies active in the field of research and development, as well as to provide all services in this field. To this end, the company may, in Switzerland and abroad, establish branches, participate in other companies with an identical or related purpose, acquire or establish similar companies and, in general, carry out all operations that would be likely to achieve the company's purpose directly or indirectly. The company may not acquire any real estate participations in Switzerland, except in cases where the Federal Law on the Acquisition of Real Estate by Foreigners authorizes it. The company may also carry out, on its own account or on behalf of third parties, all financial, commercial and movable transactions, directly or indirectly related to its purpose or likely to promote it. Furthermore, the company may grant loans or other financial services to its direct or indirect shareholders, its direct or indirect subsidiaries, as well as other group companies, including concluding cash pooling agreements, and provide guarantees of any kind on its assets, including by way of pledges or fiduciary transfers, or by way of guarantees of any kind, to secure the obligations of its direct or indirect shareholders or subsidiaries or other group companies, in each case with or without consideration and even if these legal transactions are in the exclusive interest of third parties.