The company's purpose is the acquisition, management, holding and sale of participations in companies in Switzerland and abroad, as well as the financing of such companies. The company may establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad, participate in other companies in Switzerland and abroad, acquire companies with an identical or similar purpose, or merge with such companies, carry out all operations and conclude all contracts suitable for developing and expanding its purpose or related thereto, directly or indirectly, both in Switzerland and abroad. The company may, either on its own account or on behalf of third parties, carry out all financial, commercial, industrial, movable or immovable transactions related directly or indirectly to its corporate purpose, including loans and guarantees in favor of other group companies or in favor of shareholders.