The company's purpose is to acquire, sell, hold, manage and control participations in all commercial, industrial and financial companies in Switzerland and abroad, as well as all investments and all securities or real estate transactions directly or indirectly related to this purpose (excluding the acquisition of participations in companies holding residential real estate in Switzerland). The Company may carry out, either on its own account or on behalf of third parties, all financial, commercial or industrial transactions directly or indirectly related to its purpose and may be interested, in any form, in all similar companies (excluding the acquisition of participations in companies holding residential real estate in Switzerland). The company may also grant loans to its associates and/or guarantee, secure or co-sign loans granted by third parties to its associates.