The company's purpose is to acquire, hold, manage and sell participations in companies of all kinds in Switzerland and abroad. The company may establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad, participate in other companies of all kinds, acquire, manage, encumber and sell real estate, securities, patents, licenses, trademarks and technical and industrial know-how. It may also 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 does not provide services that fall under the Federal Act on Banks and Savings Banks of November 8, 1934, and the Federal Act on Stock Exchanges and Securities Trading of March 24, 1995. The company may engage in all commercial, financial and other activities that are suitable to promote the purpose of the company or that are directly or indirectly related to it.