The Company's purpose is to acquire participations, both in Switzerland and abroad, in other companies or businesses in any form and to manage these participations. In particular, the Company may acquire by subscription, purchase, exchange or any other means all securities, shares and other participation rights, bonds, claims, deposit certificates and in general all values or financial instruments issued by any public or private entity. It may participate in the creation, development, management and control of any company or business. Furthermore, it may invest in the acquisition and management of a portfolio of patents or other intellectual property rights of any nature or origin. With regard to participations in real estate companies based in Switzerland, they will be limited to real estate companies whose properties are exclusively for commercial use. The Company may, in general, use all techniques and instruments related to investments for effective management, including techniques and instruments intended to protect against exchange rate, interest rate and other risks. The Company may carry out all financial operations as well as all transfers of movable or immovable property that directly or indirectly favor the realization of its corporate purpose or relate to it in a direct or indirect manner.