The company's purpose is the development, manufacture and distribution of chemical, chemical-technical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, the import and export of such products, as well as the holding and management of participations. It can establish branches in Switzerland and abroad, found subsidiaries, participate in related companies, acquire, hold, manage, encumber, utilize and sell real estate and intellectual property rights, and furthermore carry out all legal transactions that may be connected with the company's purpose, in particular grant financing to affiliated and other companies, provide securities of all kinds or otherwise secure or guarantee obligations of these companies.