The company's purpose is to hold and manage participations in companies and to provide group management functions to these companies, as well as to manage its own assets. The company may establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad and participate in other companies in Switzerland and abroad, and 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. It may also provide financing for its own account or for the account of third parties, as well as grant guarantees and sureties for subsidiaries and third parties. To a lesser extent, the company may also provide advisory services, business development, preparation, structuring and placement of its own or third-party participations of all kinds to domestic and foreign companies.