The purpose of the company is to acquire, hold and manage as well as to sell participations in Switzerland and abroad. The company may establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad, as well as acquire, manage and sell participations. The company may acquire, hold and sell real estate as well as patent, trademark, copyright, design and all other intellectual property rights in Switzerland and abroad. The company may carry out financings of any kind for its own account or for the account of third parties and/or take them up, and in particular enter into credit or security transactions (including the granting of pledges, security assignments and transfers, guarantees, sureties, declarations of patronage, compensation obligations and economic benefits related to these transactions), against payment or free of charge, with, for the benefit of and/or in relation to liabilities of direct or indirect shareholders, subsidiaries and other affiliated companies, even if such financings, credit or security transactions are in the exclusive interest of direct or indirect shareholders, subsidiaries and/or other affiliated companies. The company may carry out all other business and take all measures that appear suitable to promote the purpose of the company or are directly or indirectly related to it.