The purpose of the company includes the purchase and sale, marketing and import and export of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food, intermediates and active ingredients for the pharmaceutical industry, and, without limitation, products for human and animal medicine and the field of plant nutrition, as well as machines, equipment and installations for their production. The company can acquire, hold, manage and sell real estate, acquire and exploit intellectual property rights, establish itself in other companies in Switzerland and abroad, and carry out all commercial, financial and other activities that are connected with the purpose of the company. The company is part of a group and can take into account the interests of the group in pursuing its corporate purpose. In particular, it can grant loans and other direct or indirect financing to its direct and indirect subsidiaries and third parties, including its direct and indirect shareholders and their direct and indirect subsidiaries, including within the framework of cash pooling agreements, and provide security of all kinds for their liabilities, including by way of pledges on or fiduciary transfers of the company's assets or guarantees of any kind.