The company's purpose is to acquire, manage, and dispose of interests in domestic and foreign companies of any kind. In addition, the company may participate in, establish, take over, and merge with other companies of any kind, both domestically and abroad. It may acquire, encumber, and dispose of real properties and intellectual property rights both domestically and abroad, and may establish branches and agencies in Switzerland or abroad upon a decision by the Board of Directors. The company is part of a group and may, in pursuing its corporate purpose, take into account the interests of the group. In particular, the company may grant direct or indirect financing to third parties or companies in which it is directly or indirectly involved, as well as to direct or indirect shareholders or companies in which such shareholders are directly or indirectly involved, either through loans or other financing arrangements, including under cash pooling agreements, with or without compensation. The company may also provide security for its own obligations or the obligations of the aforementioned companies or persons in any form, including through pledges, assignments, fiduciary transfers, or guarantees of any kind, with or without compensation. The company may grant such financing or provide such security even if it is exclusively in the interest of third parties or companies in which it is directly or indirectly involved, or of direct or indirect shareholders or companies in which such shareholders are directly or indirectly involved.