The company's purpose is to participate in and manage other companies. It can establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad, buy, sell, exploit and lease properties and plots of land, and enter into and evaluate lease and rental agreements. Furthermore, the company can conduct all business that is conducive to the company's purpose. The company can grant loans or other financing to its direct or indirect parent companies as well as their or its direct or indirect subsidiaries, and provide collateral of any kind for liabilities of such other companies, including by way of pledges on or fiduciary transfers of the company's assets or guarantees of any kind, whether against payment or not.