The company's purpose is to acquire, permanently manage and finance participations in industrial enterprises, commercial businesses and service companies of all kinds in Switzerland and abroad, as well as to trade in securities. It can exploit, evaluate and manage any intellectual property rights and know-how, and conduct financial, trust and investment business. The company can acquire, manage, encumber and dispose of real estate and intellectual property rights in Switzerland and abroad. The company can establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad, participate in other companies in Switzerland and abroad, and conduct all business that is directly or indirectly related to its purpose. The company can grant or receive direct or indirect financing to its direct or indirect subsidiaries as well as to third parties, including its direct or indirect shareholders and their direct or indirect subsidiaries, and provide or receive security of any kind for liabilities of such companies, including by way of pledges on or fiduciary transfers of the company's assets or guarantees of any kind, whether remunerated or not.