The purpose of the company is (i) to acquire, hold and dispose of direct or indirect participations in domestic and foreign companies, to operate a holding company business, and to coordinate the management, finances and activities of any subsidiaries or affiliated companies, and to perform all lawful acts and things necessary or suitable for the operation of the business of such a holding company, and (ii) to acquire, hold and dispose of any intellectual property or related assets, exclusively as registered owner and in trust for other companies and individuals. The company may establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad, acquire, encumber and dispose of real estate, participate in other domestic and foreign companies and hold such participations, assume representations, and enter into all transactions and conclude contracts that may be suitable to promote the purpose of the company, or that are directly or indirectly related thereto. It may provide financing for its own account or for the account of third parties, as well as grant guarantees and sureties for affiliated companies and third parties, and provide corresponding securities of all kinds, in particular in the form of guarantees of any kind and pledges or fiduciary transfers of assets of the company.