all operations or transactions allowing directly or indirectly the acquisition of participations in any company or enterprise of any form, as well as the administration, management, control and development of these participations; it may notably employ its funds in the creation, management, development and liquidation of a portfolio consisting of all securities, financial instruments, bonds, treasury bills, participations, shares and patents of any origin, participate in the creation, development and control of any enterprise, acquire by way of contribution, subscription, firm commitment or option to purchase and in any other manner, all securities and patents, realize them by way of sale, assignment, exchange or otherwise, develop these businesses and patents; it may take and manage participations in any other enterprise and carry out, either on its own account or on behalf of third parties, all commercial and financial operations in direct or indirect relation with its corporate purpose, notably grant all guarantees, provide all collateral or other forms of security; it is specified that in Switzerland, the company may acquire real estate or take participations in companies holding real estate, if these have an exclusively commercial use.