The company's purpose is to acquire, manage and sell participations in domestic and foreign companies of all kinds, as well as to finance them. Furthermore, it can buy, hold, manage and sell securities. The company can enter into all transactions and conclude contracts that are suitable to promote the purpose of the company or are directly or indirectly related to it. The company can establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad and participate in other companies in Switzerland and abroad. The company can acquire, encumber, sell and manage real estate in Switzerland and abroad. The company can grant loans or other financing to third parties, including its direct or indirect parent companies and their or its direct or indirect subsidiaries, and provide security of any kind for liabilities of such other companies, including by way of pledges on or fiduciary transfers of the company's assets or guarantees of any kind, whether against payment or not.