The purpose of the company is to act as an operating investment company, directly or indirectly acquiring, holding, financing and selling assets and participations in other companies of any kind in Switzerland or abroad, with the exception of transactions prohibited by the Federal Act on the Acquisition of Real Estate by Persons Abroad (BewG), as well as providing services of any kind in the investment or financial sector, including IT services (including project planning, procurement and support in the EDV sector), legal advice, management services or other consulting activities. The company may establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad, take over representations and engage in any business activities and conclude contracts of any kind that may promote or be directly or indirectly related to the company's purpose. It may acquire, hold, encumber and sell real estate in Switzerland and abroad. In pursuing its purpose, the company may take into account the interests of its shareholders. In particular, the company may grant loans and other direct or indirect financing to its direct and indirect subsidiaries and third parties, including its direct and indirect shareholders and their direct and indirect subsidiaries, including within the framework of cash pooling agreements (including zero balancing), and provide security of any kind for the obligations of these parties, including by way of pledges on or fiduciary transfers of the company's assets or guarantees of any kind. This may also be done without consideration, on preferential terms, without interest, to the exclusion of the company's profitability and/or by assuming cluster risks.