The company's purpose is to acquire, sell and manage participations in companies in Switzerland and abroad, as well as to provide all services in these areas; real estate transactions prohibited by the Federal Act on the Acquisition of Real Estate by Foreigners are excluded. The company may: - Engage in any financial, commercial and industrial activity directly or indirectly related to its purpose, - Establish branches or subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad, - Participate in any company having a direct or indirect relationship with its purpose, - Grant loans to its direct or indirect associates as well as to any other company of the group and guarantee their obligations towards third parties in any way, including by means of pledges, assignments or transfers for security or guarantees of any kind, remunerated or not, or - Participate in treasury centralization operations within its group.