The company's purpose is to acquire, hold, finance and permanently manage as well as sell participations in domestic and foreign companies of all kinds, in particular participations in industrial companies, traders and service providers in the field of raw materials of all kinds and other goods. The company can carry out or broker all transactions within the scope of the company's purpose on its own account or on behalf of third parties. Furthermore, the company can acquire, hold and sell real estate in Switzerland and/or abroad; carry out all financial, commercial and other activities that are directly or indirectly related to the company's purpose; hold, acquire, use or sell intellectual property rights related to the company's purpose; establish branches and subsidiaries; and participate in or merge with other companies. The company is part of a group of companies and may consider the interests of this group in pursuing its company purpose. In particular, the company may grant loans and other direct or indirect financing to its direct and indirect subsidiaries as well as to third parties, including its direct and indirect shareholders and their direct and indirect subsidiaries, including within the framework of cash pooling agreements, and provide collateral of all kinds for their liabilities, including by way of pledges on or fiduciary transfers of the company's assets or guarantees of any kind, whether remunerated or not.