The company's purpose is to hold and manage participations. The company may also provide services, mainly in the financial sector, to affiliated group companies. The company may participate in, establish, acquire and merge with other companies of any kind, both domestically and abroad. It may acquire, encumber and sell real estate and intellectual property rights, both domestically and abroad, and establish branches and agencies in Switzerland or abroad by decision of the management. The company may engage in all commercial, financial and other activities that are related to its purpose. The company may grant direct or indirect loans or other financing to its direct or indirect subsidiaries, as well as to its direct or indirect parent companies and their direct or indirect subsidiaries, and to third parties, and provide security of any kind for the liabilities of such other companies, including by way of pledges or fiduciary transfers of the company's assets or by guarantees of any kind, whether remunerated or not.