The purpose of the company is to acquire, hold, manage and sell participations in other companies. The company may establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad and participate in other companies in Switzerland and abroad, as well as conduct all business that is directly or indirectly related to its purpose. The company may acquire, hold, encumber, sell and manage real estate and intellectual property rights, such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, design rights and all other intangible assets, in Switzerland and abroad. The company may grant direct or indirect financing to third parties or companies in which it has a direct or indirect participation, as well as to direct or indirect shareholders or companies in which such shareholders have a direct or indirect participation, whether through loans and/or other financing. The company may provide security of any kind for its own liabilities or the liabilities of the aforementioned persons, including by way of pledges, assignments, fiduciary transfers, guarantees of any kind or by way of offset obligations, whether for consideration or not, even if such financing, security or guarantees are in the exclusive interest of companies in which it has a direct or indirect participation, or direct or indirect shareholders or companies in which such shareholders have a direct or indirect participation.