The company's purpose is to acquire, manage and dispose of participations in domestic and foreign companies, particularly in the areas of trade, services, production and real estate. The company may conduct all business that is directly or indirectly related to this purpose. It may acquire, manage, exploit and dispose of patents, trademarks, copyrights or other intellectual property rights. The company may acquire, encumber, sell and manage real estate in Switzerland and abroad. The company may provide direct or indirect financing to its direct or indirect subsidiaries as well as to third parties, including its direct or indirect shareholders and their direct or indirect subsidiaries, and may provide security of any kind for the liabilities of such companies, including by way of pledges on or fiduciary transfers of the company's assets or guarantees of any kind, whether paid or unpaid.