The company's purpose is to acquire, hold and manage participations in other companies and entities, and to provide services of all kinds, in particular services in the financial sector, including strategy consulting, analysis and research, excluding all activities requiring authorization. The company may apply for permits for future activities outside its current activities. The company may establish or invest in branches, subsidiaries and other legal entities in Switzerland and abroad, and conduct all business that is directly or indirectly related to its purpose. The company may acquire, encumber, sell and manage real estate and other tangible or intangible assets. The company may participate in group financing, in particular by granting loans to its group companies or providing guarantees or other securities of all kinds for their liabilities to third parties, even if these loans or securities are in the exclusive interest of its direct or indirect shareholders or other group companies and are granted free of charge.