Acquisition, holding and disposal of participations in domestic and foreign industrial, commercial and service companies of all kinds. The company may, in addition, carry out all transactions that are suitable to promote or facilitate the development of the company and the achievement of its purpose. In particular, the company may establish subsidiaries and branches in Switzerland and abroad, grant loans or other financing to its direct or indirect parent company and their or its direct or indirect subsidiaries, and provide security of any kind for liabilities of such companies, including by way of pledges on or fiduciary transfers of the company's assets or guarantees of any kind, whether against payment or not. The company may acquire, encumber, hold and dispose of real estate.