The company's purpose is to acquire, manage, operate and dispose of participations, as well as to perform all functions associated with a holding company, in particular central management tasks, controlling, financing, and the management of licenses, patents and other intellectual property rights. The company may enter into any business and conclude contracts that are suitable to promote the purpose of the company or are directly or indirectly related to it. Furthermore, it may establish subsidiaries and branches in Switzerland and abroad, participate in or merge with other companies. In particular, it may also acquire, manage, encumber and dispose of real estate. It may provide financing for its own account or for the account of third parties, as well as grant guarantees and sureties for subsidiaries and third parties. The company may participate in a cash pooling arrangement within a group of companies.