The company's purpose is to acquire, manage and dispose of securities, participations and real estate in Switzerland and abroad, as well as to carry out financing transactions. The company may conduct all business directly or indirectly related to its purpose. The company may grant loans and other financing to its direct and indirect parent companies and their direct or indirect subsidiaries, and provide collateral 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.