The company's purpose is the direct and indirect acquisition, holding, management, direction and disposal of participations in companies of all kinds in Switzerland and abroad. The company may carry out all commercial, financial and other activities that appear suitable to promote the purpose of the company or are directly or indirectly related to the purpose of the company. In particular, the company may, both domestically and abroad: - participate in and acquire other companies, establish companies, merge with companies; - acquire, hold, manage, exploit, grant and dispose of intellectual property rights and licenses of all kinds; - acquire, hold, manage, rent, lease, encumber and dispose of real estate; - establish branches and agencies; - conclude joint venture and other business agreements with third parties or companies directly or indirectly affiliated with them; - provide direct or indirect financing to third parties, including companies in which it has a direct or indirect interest, as well as direct or indirect shareholders or companies in which such parties have a direct or indirect interest, whether through loans or other financing, and provide security for their obligations of all kinds, including through pledges on or fiduciary transfers of the company's assets or guarantees of all kinds, for consideration or free of charge.