The company's purpose is the acquisition and disposal of participations in all financial, industrial, commercial or other companies, as well as the management and administration of these participations; it may also hold intellectual property rights, grant licenses and receive royalties. The company may carry out, either on its own account or on behalf of third parties, all operations directly or indirectly related to its purpose, create branches or subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad, participate in all companies in Switzerland or abroad having a direct or indirect relationship with its purpose and grant loans or guarantees to shareholders or third parties, if this serves its interests.