The company's purpose is to acquire, hold, manage and sell participations in other companies in Switzerland and abroad, intellectual property rights, licenses, protective rights and know-how, as well as to provide related services. The company may participate in other companies, acquire, exploit, manage and sell real estate and intellectual property rights, establish subsidiaries and branches in Switzerland and abroad, and perform all legal acts that may be necessary or suitable to promote its purpose or the development of group companies. The company may grant direct or indirect financing to third parties, including companies in which it has a direct or indirect interest, its direct or indirect shareholders, and companies in which such parties have a direct or indirect interest, whether through loans or other financing, and provide security for their liabilities of any kind, including through pledges on or fiduciary transfers of the company's assets or guarantees of any kind, whether against payment or not.