The company's purpose is to acquire, manage and utilize participations, and to carry out corresponding investments and financings. The company may establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad, participate in other companies in Switzerland and abroad, take over representations, acquire, utilize and sell industrial property rights and know-how, and conduct all business and conclude contracts that may be suitable to promote the purpose of the company or are directly or indirectly related to it. It may acquire, hold, encumber and sell real estate in Switzerland and abroad. The company may grant direct or indirect financing to its direct or indirect subsidiaries as well as to third parties, including its direct or indirect shareholders and their direct or indirect subsidiaries, and provide security of any kind for the liabilities of such companies, including by way of pledges on or fiduciary transfers of the company's assets or guarantees of any kind, whether remunerated or not.