The company's purpose is the production, acquisition, marketing and sale of products of the Dow Group and the coordination of such activities on an international level within the Dow Group as well as the provision of management services for the activities of the Dow Group in Europe and related enterprises worldwide. The company's purpose also includes scientific, economic and industrial research of all kinds, particularly in the field of chemistry and related fields, as well as the purchase and sale, registration and exploitation of patents, patent rights and trademark rights and the acquisition and granting of licenses under such rights. The company directs its business activities, to the extent permitted, towards the group objectives. Accordingly, the company may, in the interest of the group or individual group companies (including their direct or indirect parent companies and their direct or indirect subsidiaries), enter into contracts and in particular grant loans or other financing to such group companies and provide securities of all kinds for their liabilities, including by way of pledges on or security transfers and assignments of assets of the company or by way of guarantees of any kind, whether for consideration or not. The company may establish branches and subsidiaries at home and abroad and acquire, hold, dispose of or finance any kind of business. The company may acquire, hold, lease, rent and dispose of real estate. It may engage in all commercial activities which are directly or indirectly related to the purpose of the company, and take all measures which seem appropriate to promote the company's purpose or are related thereto.