The company's purpose is, except for operations prohibited by the LFAIE, the acquisition, holding, management and administration of participations and social rights in all companies or corporations, in Switzerland and abroad, as well as the acquisition, management, transformation and sale of real estate. It may grant loans to third parties or to its associates, in the short or long term, with or without security, create pledges in favor of a third party, or create mortgage certificates to cover credit facilities granted to its associates. The company may also carry out any other activity having a direct or indirect connection with these purposes; it may notably create branches in Switzerland and abroad, participate in other companies in Switzerland and abroad, acquire companies with an identical or similar purpose, or merge with such companies, carry out all operations and conclude all contracts intended to develop and expand its purpose or related thereto directly or indirectly.