The company's main purpose is: 'Acquisition and management of participations in companies of all kinds and financing of related or affiliated companies; granting of loans or other financing; creation of securities of all kinds for the commitments of such companies, in particular in the form of guarantees, pledges, global assignments, assignments as security and declarations of indemnification; participations; acquisition, disposal and management of real estate. The company may undertake all operations that may be of a nature to promote the purpose of the company; or which are in direct or indirect relation with it. It may create branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad, participate in other companies of any kind, acquire companies with a similar purpose, merge with them or conclude contracts that promote this purpose or bring it about in a direct or indirect manner.'