The company's purpose is to acquire and manage participations in all commercial, industrial and financial enterprises in Switzerland and abroad, as well as the management and development of patents. Furthermore, the company may acquire any real estate or participation in a real estate company to the extent authorized by the Federal Act on the Acquisition of Real Estate by Foreigners. In addition, the company may participate directly or indirectly in financial transactions within the group, in particular by granting loans to direct or indirect shareholders or to other group companies, by providing guarantees, sureties or other securities of any kind for their liability towards third parties, even if these loans or securities are in the exclusive interest of direct or indirect shareholders or other group companies and are granted free of charge.