The purpose of the branch is to carry out, on its own account and/or on behalf of third parties, all types of insurance and/or reinsurance business in all branches of insurance, with the exception of life insurance, all types of reinsurance business, with the exception of life reinsurance, in Switzerland or abroad, as well as business in the fields of trade, industry, finance, real estate or intellectual property or other activities that are directly related to this purpose or facilitate or promote its realization in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Within the framework of applicable laws and regulations and within the purpose of the branch, the branch may grant loans to companies in which it has a direct or indirect interest or holds rights of any kind or which belong to the same group of companies as the branch, provide guarantees or securities in favor of third parties to secure the obligations of these companies or support these companies in other ways. The branch may raise funds through borrowing in any form or through the issuance of bonds, securities or debt instruments of any kind, loans and bonds, as well as generally through the issuance of securities of any kind.