Acquisition, holding, management and disposal of participations and bonds of companies domiciled in Switzerland and abroad. The company may also engage in activities that include granting loans, guarantees, including mortgage guarantees, sureties and securities, also for third parties, but excluding banking and insurance activities. The company may also acquire, sell, receive for use and grant for use technologies, technical know-how, industrial patents, trademarks, licenses and rights to intellectual property in general. The company may acquire, manage, encumber and dispose of participations in Switzerland and abroad. Furthermore, in compliance with applicable statutory provisions (in particular the Federal Act on Acquisition of Real Estate by Persons Abroad), the company may acquire, manage, encumber and dispose of real estate in Switzerland and abroad. The company may also establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad and conduct all commercial, industrial and financial transactions that are necessary or useful, are functionally related to the company's purpose or are suitable for achieving it.