The purpose of the company is to acquire, sell and hold participations in other companies, as well as to manage and finance them. The company may participate in other undertakings, acquire, exploit, manage and dispose of real estate and intellectual property rights, establish subsidiaries and branches in Switzerland and abroad, and perform all legal acts that may be connected with the purpose of the company or that are 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.