The company's purpose is to hold and manage participations in Switzerland and abroad. It can acquire, encumber and sell shares in companies; establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad; make financial investments of all kinds and participate in companies, merge with them and provide venture capital. The company can manage the participations and broker transactions, provide financing for its own account or for third-party account, as well as provide guarantees and sureties for subsidiaries and third parties. Furthermore, it can provide all auxiliary services that are in the interest of the participating companies, 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 also acquire, manage, encumber and sell real estate, licenses, patents, name and trademark rights, as well as other intellectual property rights.