The purpose of the foundation is to provide for the employees of the founder and the companies economically or financially closely related to it, as well as their dependents, against the economic consequences of old age, disability and death. This includes, in particular, benefits to remedy a shortfall or to restructure the pension fund, provided that the pension fund has the same group of beneficiaries as the foundation. The purpose of the foundation also includes supporting employees and their dependents of affiliated companies in cases of need, such as illness, accident, old age, disability or unemployment. Furthermore, the purpose of the foundation is to provide voluntary purchasing services for the employees' statutory pension provision. The foundation may also provide benefits to other tax-exempt employee benefit institutions that exist for the benefit of the beneficiaries in order to finance contributions and insurance premiums. This can be fulfilled, in particular, through employer contributions in accordance with Art. 331 para. 3 OR from funds specifically allocated and separately disclosed for this purpose. The secondary purpose of the foundation is to provide support services in cases of need and hardship, such as outplacement services or retraining in the event of job loss, the cushioning of social plans, and also subsidies for the costs of a disability pensioner for barrier-free construction measures or for the costs of a nursing home for a long-term pensioner under special circumstances, the (partial) assumption of dental bills or orthodontic treatments, hearing aid costs or eye operations, temporary voluntary support for a sick employee after the end of the obligation to continue paying wages with a good medical prognosis for returning to work. The foundation board must examine on a case-by-case basis whether a case of need or hardship exists. The foundation may also, by decision of the foundation board, which must be notified to the supervisory authority, include the personnel of companies economically or financially closely related to the founder, provided that the foundation has the necessary means at its disposal and the acquired rights and entitlements of the previous beneficiaries are not impaired.