The company's purpose is to research, develop, manufacture, utilize, acquire and distribute pharmaceutical and diagnostic products, excipients and technologies, as well as to provide related services. The company may establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and/or abroad, participate in other companies in Switzerland and/or abroad, acquire, hold, encumber and sell properties in Switzerland and/or abroad, and conduct all commercial, financial or other business activities that are directly or indirectly related to the company's purpose. Furthermore, the company may grant loans or other financing to its direct or indirect parent companies and their direct or indirect subsidiaries, as well as to third parties, including its direct or indirect shareholders, for consideration or free of charge, and provide security of any kind for the liabilities of such persons or group companies, including guarantees, pledges and fiduciary transfers of the company's assets. In addition, it may engage in liquidity balancing/net liquidity centralization (cash pooling) with group companies, including periodic balance adjustments, without consideration, on preferential terms, interest-free, excluding the company's intention to make a profit, and assuming cluster risks.