The company's purpose is to acquire, manage and sell participations in domestic and foreign companies of all kinds, as well as to finance them. The company may acquire, exploit and license industrial property rights, intellectual property rights, know-how and exclusive rights, establish branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad, participate in other companies in Switzerland and abroad, acquire, encumber, sell and manage real estate in Switzerland and abroad, provide financing for its own account or for the account of third parties, and grant guarantees and sureties for subsidiaries and third parties.