The company's purpose, both in Switzerland and abroad, is: the acquisition and management of participations in Swiss or foreign companies, excluding participations in companies holding residential real estate in Switzerland; the acquisition, management and transfer of patents, trademarks and technical and industrial know-how; the purchase, management and sale of land exclusively for commercial or industrial purposes; any consulting activity in the field of corporate and financial management. Furthermore, it may carry out all commercial, financial and securities transactions directly or indirectly related to its purpose. The company may participate in the financing of the group, in particular by granting loans to its direct or indirect shareholders or to other group companies, or by providing guarantees or other securities of any kind for their commitments to third parties, even if these loans or securities are in the exclusive interest of their direct or indirect shareholders or other group companies and are granted free of charge. It may also establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad.