The purpose of the company is to issue listed and traded as well as non-listed and non-traded financial instruments, and to provide related services and activities in Switzerland and worldwide. 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 carry out all legal transactions that may be necessary or suitable to promote its development or that of group companies. Furthermore, the company may participate directly or indirectly in group financing, in particular by granting loans to its direct or indirect shareholders or other group companies, or by providing guarantees, sureties or other securities of any kind for their liabilities to third parties, even if such loans or securities are granted in the exclusive interest of its direct or indirect shareholders or other group companies and are provided free of charge.