to exploit, acquire, hold, manage and dispose of direct and indirect participations in all types of companies, in particular commercial, industrial, financial and real estate companies, as well as the financing of affiliated companies; the company may establish branches in Switzerland and abroad, participate in other companies in Switzerland and abroad, acquire companies with an identical or similar purpose, or merge with such companies, acquire or sell real estate, carry out all operations and conclude all contracts suitable for developing and expanding its purpose or related thereto directly or indirectly; it may grant loans or other financing to its direct or indirect shareholders, as well as to its direct or indirect subsidiaries, with or without remuneration, and provide, to cover the commitments of such other companies, securities of all kinds, including by way of pledge or fiduciary transfer of ownership of the company's assets or by way of guarantees of all kinds