to provide services in the fields of investment advice, distribution of financial instruments, management consulting and related fields; it may offer these services to natural and legal persons in Switzerland and abroad; the company may open branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad; it may also acquire participations in other Swiss and foreign companies; the company may grant direct or indirect financing to third parties, to companies in which it holds a direct or indirect participation, to direct or indirect shareholders or to companies in which these latter hold a direct or indirect participation through loans or other financing or by providing any type of guarantee, with or without consideration; furthermore, it may conclude cash pooling agreements with other group companies; the company may acquire, hold, use and sell real estate and intellectual property rights in Switzerland and abroad; the company may also carry out all commercial, financial or other activities that may promote the achievement of the company's purpose or are directly or indirectly related to it.