The company's purpose is the acquisition, sale, administration of participations and management of companies of any kind, in Switzerland and abroad, excluding operations prohibited by the LFAIE. The company may also engage in any other commercial and industrial activity that has a direct or indirect connection with these purposes; it may in particular create branches in Switzerland and abroad, participate in other companies in Switzerland and abroad, acquire companies with an identical or similar purpose, or merge with such companies, grant loans or guarantees to shareholders or third parties if it serves its interests, carry out all operations and conclude all contracts that are suitable for developing and expanding its purpose or are directly or indirectly related to it.