The company's purpose is to acquire participations in other companies or businesses, in any form whatsoever (in the case of companies holding real estate in Switzerland, these must have an exclusively commercial use), and to manage these participations. The company may, in particular, acquire by subscription, purchase, exchange or in any other manner, all securities, shares and other participation rights, bonds, claims, deposit certificates and, in general, all values or financial instruments issued by any public or private entity, including partnerships. It may participate in the creation, development, management and control of any company or business. The company also has the purpose of buying, exchanging, selling, developing, transforming, exploiting and renting out properties with exclusively commercial use. The company may borrow in any form whatsoever, with or without mortgage assignment. It may, by way of private placement, issue shares, bonds and other securities representing loans or claims. The company may lend funds, including those resulting from borrowings or bond issues, to its subsidiaries, affiliated companies and any other company. It may also grant guarantees or securities in favor of third parties to secure its obligations or the obligations of its subsidiaries, affiliated companies or any other company. It may pledge, mortgage, assign, encumber or create, in any other manner, securities on all or part of its assets. The Company may carry out all commercial, industrial and financial, real estate and movable transactions, directly or indirectly related to its corporate purpose or likely to promote its development. However, in the course of its financial activities, the Company shall refrain from carrying out any financial activity that would be subject to a permit or authorization, unless the Company has obtained such a permit or authorization from the financial supervisory authorities.