The purpose of the company is the acquisition, ownership, permanent management, disposal and financing of participations of all kinds in other companies in Switzerland and abroad. The company may establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad and conduct all business that is directly or indirectly related to its purpose. The company may acquire, encumber, sell and manage real estate in Switzerland and abroad. The company may grant direct or indirect financing to third parties, including companies in which it is directly or indirectly involved, its direct or indirect shareholders and companies in which such parties are directly or indirectly involved, whether by way of loans or other financing, including within the framework of cash pooling agreements, and provide security of any kind for their liabilities, including by way of pledges on or fiduciary transfers of the company's assets or by way of guarantees of any kind, whether against payment or not.