The company's purpose is to acquire, hold, manage and sell participations in companies in Switzerland and abroad. The company can acquire, hold, encumber and sell real estate. The company can establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad and participate in other companies. The company can carry out all commercial, financial and other activities that are connected with the company's purpose. The company can grant direct or indirect financing to third parties or companies in which it is directly or indirectly involved, as well as to direct or indirect shareholders or 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, whether against payment or not. The company can provide security of any kind for its own liabilities or the liabilities of the aforementioned companies or persons, including by way of pledges, assignments, fiduciary transfers or guarantees of any kind, whether against payment or not. The company can grant such financing or provide security, even if it is in the exclusive interest of third parties or companies in which it is directly or indirectly involved, or of direct or indirect shareholders or companies in which such parties are directly or indirectly involved.