The company's purpose is to acquire, manage and dispose of participations of all kinds in domestic and foreign companies. The company may establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad and participate in other companies in Switzerland and abroad, as well as conduct all business that is directly or indirectly related to its purpose. The company may acquire, encumber, sell and manage real estate in Switzerland and abroad. The company may grant loans or other financing to its direct and indirect parent companies and shareholders, as well as their direct or indirect subsidiaries, and enter into security transactions of all kinds, in particular in the form of guarantees, pledges, global assignments, security transfers, security assignments and indemnification agreements for affiliated companies and third parties, even if these financing or security transactions are in their exclusive interest and are free of charge. The company may also conclude pooling agreements with other group companies.