The company's purpose is to hold Swiss and foreign participations of any kind. The company may provide management and financial services to its subsidiaries. The company may establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad. It may acquire, hold and sell real estate. The company may engage in all commercial, financial and other activities that are directly or indirectly related to its purpose. The company is part of a group and, to the extent permitted, aligns its business activities with the group's goals. Accordingly, the company may, in the interest of the group or individual group companies (including their direct or indirect parent companies and their direct or indirect subsidiaries), conclude contracts and, in particular, grant loans or other financing to such group companies and provide security of any kind for their liabilities, including by way of pledges or security assignments and transfers of the company's assets or by way of guarantees of any kind, whether against payment or not.