The company's purpose is to acquire, hold and manage as well as sell participations. The company may acquire, encumber, utilize and sell real estate and intellectual property rights in Switzerland and abroad, and establish and finance subsidiaries and branches. The company may engage in all commercial, financial and other activities that are directly or indirectly related to the company's purpose, as well as raise and invest funds on the money and capital markets. In particular, the company may conduct financing transactions, grant loans to third parties as well as to the company's direct and indirect shareholders, their direct and indirect subsidiaries and group companies, and provide collateral of all kinds for their liabilities to third parties, including pledges, security assignments, security transfers and guarantees, even if these loans or collateral are granted in the exclusive interest of their direct or indirect shareholders, subsidiaries or other group companies and are provided free of charge.