The purpose of the company is to acquire, hold, manage and sell participations as well as to finance companies and all related activities. The company can safeguard its own interests as well as those of affiliated companies by providing them with direct or indirect, paid or unpaid financing, including through the granting of loans or the provision of guarantees or other securities. The company can provide consulting services to affiliated companies or third parties. The company can establish subsidiaries and branches. The company can acquire, hold, encumber and dispose of real estate and intellectual property rights in Switzerland and abroad. The company can also carry out all commercial, financial and other activities that are directly or indirectly related to the purpose of the company. The company can grant loans and other direct or indirect financing to group companies and third parties, including its (direct and indirect) shareholders and their group companies, including within the framework of cash pooling agreements, and provide security for their liabilities of all kinds, including by way of pledges on or fiduciary transfers of the company's assets or guarantees of any kind, whether paid or not.