The company's purpose is to acquire, hold and sell participations in other companies in Switzerland and abroad, in particular companies in the fields of biotechnology and biochemistry. The company may carry out all commercial, financial and other activities that appear suitable to promote the purpose of the company or are connected with it. The company is part of a group and may take into account the interests of the group in pursuing its corporate purpose. The company may establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad, acquire and sell companies, take over representations and carry out any business activities and conclude contracts of any kind that may be beneficial to the corporate purpose or are directly or indirectly related to it. In particular, the company may grant loans and other direct or indirect financing to its direct and indirect subsidiaries and provide security of any kind for the liabilities of these parties, including by way of pledges on or fiduciary transfers of the company's assets or guarantees of any kind, whether remunerated or not.