Acquisition, holding or management of direct and indirect participations in companies or undertakings of all kinds as well as other assets in Switzerland and abroad. The company may hold such participations on its own account or on behalf of third parties, carry out all financial transactions related to the fulfillment of its purpose, in particular borrow and grant loans, establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad, acquire, hold and sell real estate, other tangible and intangible assets, and carry out all commercial, financial or other transactions that may be connected with the company's purpose. Furthermore, the company may grant loans or other financing to its direct or indirect parent companies and their direct or indirect subsidiaries at market conditions or without consideration, and provide security for the liabilities of such other companies, including by way of pledges on the company's assets or fiduciary transfers of the company's assets, or by way of guarantees of any kind. In doing so, the company shall, to the exclusion of its own profit-making activities, protect the interests of its parent company and the entire group of companies, to the extent permitted by mandatory law.