The Company's purpose (excluding operations prohibited by the Federal Act on the Acquisition of Real Estate by Foreigners [LFAIE; RS 211.412.41]) is the acquisition, holding, management, sale, administration and realization of participations in all types of commercial, financial, industrial and real estate companies, in Switzerland and abroad. The Company may carry out, both in Switzerland and abroad, for its own account or for the account of third parties, any commercial and financial transaction, directly or indirectly related to its purpose. It may register branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad. The Company may acquire, hold, manage and realize all types of participations in all types of commercial, financial and industrial companies. It may participate in all companies having a direct or indirect relationship with its purpose. The Company may acquire or establish companies with a purpose identical or similar to that of the Company. The Company may hold all types of intellectual property rights, as well as grant licenses on these rights. The Company may grant loans or any other form of financing to companies of the same group or to third parties, as well as provide guarantees of any kind, for the direct or indirect benefit of companies of the same group or third parties, in particular in the form of guarantees, pledges or securities on the Company's assets.