The company's purpose is to operate a retail business in textiles and fashion items of all kinds. In addition, the company may participate in, found, acquire and merge with other companies of any kind in Switzerland and abroad. It may acquire, encumber and dispose of real estate and intellectual property rights in Switzerland and abroad, and may establish branches and agencies in Switzerland or abroad by resolution of the Board of Directors. Furthermore, the company may acquire, manage and sell securities, take out and grant loans, and provide guarantees and other securities. The company may 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 may provide security for their liabilities of any kind, including by way of pledges on or fiduciary transfers of the company's assets, or by guarantees of any kind, whether for consideration or not, even if such financing or security is in the exclusive interest of companies in which it has a direct or indirect interest or of direct or indirect shareholders or companies in which such parties have a direct or indirect interest. The company may also conclude cash pooling agreements with other group companies.