The company's purpose is to acquire, manage and sell participations of all kinds, to carry out and manage financial investments. The company may conduct all other business that is suitable to promote or facilitate the development of the company and the achievement of its purpose, including trading in shares of all kinds and acquiring, managing and disposing of real estate of any kind in Switzerland and abroad. The company may participate directly or indirectly in group financing, in particular by granting loans to its direct or indirect group companies or providing guarantees, sureties or other securities of all kinds for their liabilities to third parties, even if these loans or securities are in the exclusive interest of its direct or indirect group companies and are granted free of charge. The company may establish branches in Switzerland and abroad by resolution of the board of directors.