To acquire and manage participations in all financial, commercial, industrial, movable or immovable companies, both in Switzerland and abroad; the company may carry out all transactions and conclude all contracts that may promote the purpose set by the company, or that are directly or indirectly related to this purpose; it may exercise its activities both in Switzerland and abroad and acquire participations in other companies or associate with other companies; it may acquire real estate, encumber it, alienate it and administer it; the company may, with or without remuneration, grant loans to its associates or to third parties, or provide securities of all kinds to cover the commitments of its associates or third parties.