The holding and management of participations in other companies in Switzerland and abroad. The company may acquire, use, administer and dispose of real estate and intellectual property rights, establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad, and perform all acts that closely follow its commercial purpose. Furthermore, the company may engage in any activity that facilitates or promotes the development of the company or the group companies. The company may participate in the group's financial transactions, in particular by providing loans or guarantees to its direct or indirect shareholders or to other group companies, or by providing security in the form of guarantees, sureties or any other title of interest to third parties, even if these loans or titles of interest, which may be assigned free of charge or without consideration, are of exclusive interest to its direct or indirect shareholders or to another group company.