The company's purpose is to hold and manage as well as acquire participations in other companies, including the financing of affiliated companies and the consulting of companies; can otherwise perform all activities that are connected with the aforementioned purpose. The company can establish branches and subsidiaries abroad, take over representations, and perform any business activities and conclude contracts of any kind that may promote the company's purpose or are directly or indirectly related to it. It can acquire, hold, encumber, and sell real estate in Switzerland and abroad, except for real estate transactions prohibited by the Federal Act on the Acquisition of Real Estate by Persons Abroad (BewG). It can also provide financing for its own account or for the account of third parties, as well as grant guarantees and sureties for subsidiaries and third parties.