The company's purpose is to hold and manage participations and investments and to manage its own assets. The company may establish branches in Switzerland and abroad, participate in other companies, encumber participations, acquire, hold, manage, encumber and sell intellectual property rights, real estate (subject to the Federal Act on the Acquisition of Real Estate by Persons Abroad) and securities. The company may carry out all commercial, financial and other activities that are suitable to promote the purpose of the company or that are directly or indirectly related thereto. 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.