The acquisition, purchase, sale, administration and management of participations in all companies or enterprises, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland and abroad, excluding participations in any company whose purpose is the acquisition of real estate in Switzerland. The company may, for this purpose, acquire, manage and transfer patents, trademarks, or any technical or industrial know-how. The company may acquire, manage and sell real estate in Switzerland and abroad and may acquire participations in other companies in Switzerland and abroad, establish branches in Switzerland and abroad and establish subsidiaries. The company may participate in group financing, in particular by granting loans to its direct or indirect shareholders or to other companies in the group or by granting guarantees or other securities of all kinds for their obligations to third parties, even if such loans or securities are in the exclusive interest of the said direct or indirect shareholders or other companies in the group and are granted gratuitously. Furthermore, it may carry out all commercial, financial or securities transactions directly or indirectly related to its purpose.