Acquisition, permanent management and disposal of participations in companies of all kinds as well as provision of general services, in particular management, consulting and sales services for affiliated companies. May acquire, encumber, sell and manage real estate in Switzerland and abroad, grant direct and indirect financing to its direct and indirect subsidiaries as well as to third parties, and provide securities of all kinds for liabilities of such companies, also by way of pledges on or fiduciary transfers of assets of the company or guarantees of any kind.