The company's purpose is to directly or indirectly: (i) acquire, hold and dispose of participations in other companies or groups of companies of any kind; and (ii) acquire, hold, manage and dispose of companies, buildings of any kind and intellectual property rights. Furthermore, the company may in Switzerland and/or abroad: (i) carry out any financial, commercial or industrial activity - movable or immovable - conclude any contract and carry out any other activity that is suitable to promote its purpose or is directly or indirectly related to it; (ii) establish branches or subsidiaries; (iii) participate in any company that is directly or indirectly related to its purpose; and (iv) grant loans and securities, including pledges or transfers of ownership of the company's assets for security purposes and guarantees of any kind, for consideration or free of charge, as well as direct or indirect financing, including cash pooling agreements, to direct or indirect subsidiaries, direct or indirect shareholders and their direct or indirect subsidiaries or to third parties.