The company's purpose is to hold and manage, as well as buy and sell, participations in companies in Switzerland and abroad. The company may establish branches, participate in other companies in Switzerland and abroad, acquire or merge with similar or related companies, acquire and sell real estate, and enter into any business and conclude any contracts that are suitable to promote the company's purpose or are directly or indirectly related to it. The company may provide direct or indirect financing to its direct or indirect subsidiaries and third parties, including its direct or indirect shareholders and their direct or indirect subsidiaries, and provide security of any kind for the liabilities of such companies, including by way of pledges on or fiduciary transfers of the company's assets or guarantees of any kind, whether remunerated or not.