The company's purpose is to hold and manage, as well as acquire participations in other companies, including the financing of affiliated companies and the consulting of companies; can, in addition, carry out all activities that are connected with the aforementioned purpose. The company can establish branches in Switzerland and abroad, participate in other companies in Switzerland and abroad, acquire or merge with similar or related companies. Furthermore, the company can acquire, manage and sell industrial property rights, know-how, and intellectual property rights, as well as enter into all transactions and conclude contracts that are suitable to promote the purpose of the company or are directly or indirectly related to it. It can acquire, hold, encumber and sell real estate in Switzerland and abroad, with the exception of real estate transactions prohibited by the Federal Act on the Acquisition of Real Estate by Persons Abroad (BewG). It can also provide financing for its own account or for the account of third parties, as well as grant guarantees and sureties for subsidiaries and third parties.