The purpose of the company is to conduct financial and trust business of all kinds as well as trade in goods of all kinds. The company may participate in other companies, acquire, exploit, manage and sell real estate and intellectual property rights, establish subsidiaries and branches in Switzerland and abroad, and perform all legal transactions that may be connected with the company's purpose or are suitable to promote its development or that of group companies. Furthermore, the company may participate directly or indirectly in group financing, in particular by granting loans to its direct or indirect subsidiaries or other group companies or by providing guarantees, sureties or other securities of all kinds for their liabilities to third parties, even if such loans or securities are in the exclusive interest of its direct or indirect shareholders or other group companies and are granted free of charge.