Abstract:
A novel investment vehicle comprises a synthetic corporate exchangeable note linked to the equity return and credit of select third parties. A computer system creates, tracks and implements the investment vehicle in accord with program-controlled processing. A highly flexible, cost-efficient security is created having enhanced risk/return characteristics.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally directed to computer systems and methods for implementing novel investment vehicles, and encompasses the specific investment vehicles created and issued in accordance with the program-controlled systems. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a novel equity/credit linked investment vehicle having a select profile defining its operation and performance over time, and the systems for implementing the creation and use of the vehicle for investment purposes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As financial markets have grown, product offerings have increased in capabilities and complexity. Traditional offerings of stocks and bonds have splintered into many different forms of equity and debt instruments, followed by a wave of derivative products linked to these securities. Various levels of risk, rate of return and tax enhanced characteristics are bestowed on these securities to better address client investment needs. 
     Financial firms have shown incredible creativity in devising a wide spectrum of investment vehicles selectively tailored to the needs of individual and institutional investors. These broad offerings are motivated by the vast universe of different client characteristics that need servicing. These differences include distinct tax rates, portfolio size or available capital, tolerances for risk, domicile and/or residency issues, time horizons, and the like. By way of example, in the case of a client&#39;s domicile/residency, the risk tolerance for Panama sovereign debt is much higher for a Panama resident than, perhaps a German resident. 
     In order to be responsive to such client needs, the financial industry has developed narrower, more focused products with highly tailored profiles of characteristics. These more focused financial instruments, target specific subsets, in, by definition, a smaller client population. More generally, as the products are more tailored to an individual profile, they address fewer clients. 
     Exemplary, more focused, product offerings that have grown in popularity include: CBOs, CMOs and CDOs (i.e., respectively, collateralized bond, mortgage and debt obligations). Furthermore, these securities are created and issued based on a basket of debt instruments aggregated into a trust or similar assembly which provides the underlying collateral to support the repayment obligation and return per the contract. Many variants exist. 
     In particular, for equity investors, new products may correspondence to select equity issues or indices. There are many variations of index trusts that have many of the features exhibited by mutual funds but permit intraday trading similar to conventional securities. Having a more retail focus, these included SPDRs®, iShares®, and the like. 
     Further variations on these more focused instruments included complex trust structures. While no effort is made here to be exhaustive, prior offerings have included RACERS®, an acronym for Restructured Assets Certificates with Enhanced Returns, distributed by the assignee of the present invention. See specifically, a representative description:
         NEW YORK—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Apr. 2, 2003—Standard &amp; Poor&#39;s—Standard &amp; Poor&#39;s Ratings Services today assigned its ‘AA’ rating to Restructured Asset Certificates With Enhanced Returns (RACERS) Series 2003-8-C Trust&#39;s $10 million credit-linked certificates series 2003-8-C.   The rating reflects the credit quality of the underlying asset, Chase Credit Card Owner Trust 2002-1&#39;s class A notes with an expected maturity of Feb. 15, 2007, and a legal final maturity of Jun. 15, 2009 (‘AAA’); and the reference obligation, which has been defined to equal the FSR (Financial Strength Rating) of the reference entity, Radian Asset Assurance Inc. (‘AA’). The rating also addresses the likelihood of the trust making payments on the certificates as required under the trust agreement.   The trust entered into a credit default swap with Lehman Brothers Special Financing Inc. (Lehman Brothers) as the swap counterparty. At closing, Lehman Brothers made one initial payment to the trust and has no further payment obligations.   Copyright 2003, Standard &amp; Poor&#39;s Ratings Services       

     See also: STEERS™, an acronym for “structured enhanced return trusts” reflecting trust certificates issued by a special purpose trust in select par amounts as distributed by Merrill Lynch &amp; Co. 
     Lastly, one must include the alternative structures that have significant market appeal, such as convertible bonds—which are debt instruments that permit selective conversion to equity. While very attractive to a broad range of investors, convertible bonds are rigid and narrowly focused on a limited set of securities. 
     In summary, the various securities available today offer many advantages over prior investment vehicles. In many instances, however, these current investment vehicles have a focus that is often too narrow, or restrictive, limiting demand to a narrow market sector. In addition, current complex securities are difficult to manage effectively and become costly to create, issue and implement. 
     It was with this understanding of the current investment market that led to the development of the present invention. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel security that comprises an enhanced combination of linked equity and credit characteristics for distribution to investors. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel security that is issued by a selectively created entity, wherein the return of the security includes a potential equity component tied to a third party or index, and the risk of the security is tied to the credit worthiness of a selected third party or index. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a synthetic corporate exchangeable note that provides a future valuation experience conditioned on a select generic structure, implemented with multiple hedging transactions. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a data processing system for managing and implementing the creation and distribution of structured notes linked to select equity components while having a definable credit rating tied to a known third party entity or component. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a program controlled computer system for selectively pricing and periodically updating account parameters associated with investment in a novel synthetic note linked to the equity return and credit of third party entities. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a synthetic corporate exchange note that includes internal hedging transactions to support the note and provide for its characteristic risk/return profile. The novel structure may include hedging with a select combination of swap contracts, e.g., a Call Option Swap, an Interest Rate Swap and a Credit Default Swap. 
     The above and other objects of the present invention are realized in a novel generic equity linked note for use as an investment vehicle with a select structure to provide a particularized risk/return profile. The selectively structured note is a senior unsecured debt security distributed by the administrator or specially created holding company at the undiscounted issue price. While variable, typical maturity will run five years, but actual maturity and payout is contingent on intervening events. To effect proper processing of the note, the administrator links multiple swap contracts to hedge the note, including a Call Option Swap, an Interest Rate Swap and a Credit Default Swap. In this way, the note is linked to an equity investment and a credit risk defined by a third party entity. If no credit events occur, the Call Option provides an equity tied return. However, the occurrence of a credit event terminates the note and triggers the delivery of a pre-set notional amount of actual bonds of the underlying linked credit entity. 
     In accord with the varying aspects of the present invention, the equity linked notes are implemented by a program controlled digital computer system. System inputs include pricing data associated with the Call Option Swap for supporting the linked equity correspondence of the note. The system monitors periodic events for account support to track issue, maturity and credit event occurrences. In this context, credit events can include events associated with the entity supporting the linked credit, such bankruptcy, default and/or a corporate or debt restructuring. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       For a more complete understanding of the specific embodiments, FIGS.  1 - 4 A-D are provided as illustrations relating to the practice of the present invention, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of core system processing components; 
         FIG. 2  is a high level processing flow chart; 
         FIG. 3  is a generic diagram of operating environment; and 
         FIGS. 4A-D  are operating/event diagrams corresponding to Example 1. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     First briefly by way of background, the present invention is directed to a novel security and computer implemented system for managing its creation and processing. The security is a synthetic equity-linked corporate note that has a risk rating tied to a separate credit issue. Through the use of select swap arrangements, the note provides a unique return profile, with a definable credit risk that is different than the issuing entity. A series of credit events are defined that trigger termination of the note prior to maturity and the delivery of underlying securities of the credit sponsoring entity. The rate of return has an equity linked component provided via a call option swap tied to the maturity date of the note. 
     Note performance is highly flexible and can be custom configured to meet a wide spectrum of investor requirements in terms of risk/return responsiveness. Operation is computer supported with pricing, event tracking and delivery all assisted by program-controlled data processor managed by the system administrator. The issuing entity is typically a holding company by a brokerage firm for entering into the requisite swap agreements. The counter-parties include special purpose entities structured and capitalized to properly effect the swap arrangements. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , the system structure of the present invention is provided in block diagram form. In particular, system operation is managed by a system administrator, which is typically a brokerage firm, bank or insurance company. Other administrators may be created or selected, depending on the current regulatory climate in this country or abroad. A brokerage firm is particularly preferred in view of its experience in marketing and managing securities, and the favorable capital structures available. In this context, the administrator has a distributed computer network comprised in block  20  to permit efficient data processing and communication relating to the inventive notes. 
     Continuing in  FIG. 1 , block  10  is a pricing module in communication with or coupled to the system manager  20  to take collected market data, note investment criteria and develop pricing constraints for the note creation process and to define the parameters of the various swap contracts necessary to implement note performance. Generally, this pricing module implements per se known pricing algorithms to properly define the swap contract terms and to define the note characteristics to be implemented by system manager  20 . 
     To support the note creation and record-keeping requirements, an account database  40  is linked to the processor for routine account data management and record keeping duties. The database  40  includes non-volatile storage facilities applying magnetic and/or optical digital data storage, controlled and accessed via conventional database tools, such as Oracle® server software or the like. The server environment chosen is not particularly critical, but should be structured to address the volume of data and events to be processed. 
     As mentioned, note characteristics include tracking of time sensitive events, particularly with reference to credit link securities. These events, and other external information are collected via network communication interface  30 , formatted and stored in the event database  50 . This provides an historical record of note performance and triggers event sensitive transactions. 
     System processing of note related events and data is depicted in the flow chart of  FIG. 2 . Processing conceptually starts at Block  200  with the sequential note file entered at block  210 , via the counter (I) used as a note identifier. If a new issue (“Yes” to test  220 ), logic branches to blocks  230 - 250  to develop the controlling pricing parameters for the note. Specifically, at block  230 , requisite pricing data is entered and the pricing algorithm, PRICING (T, I) is run at block  240  with T providing a time or date counter. The resulting pricing parameters are then stored, block  250 . 
     Continuing in  FIG. 2 , test  260  assesses whether an event (credit event or maturity date) has occurred. A positive response directs logic to test  270  credit event test, with the note termination, block  275 , stemming from a positive response to test  270 . If a maturity event is detected, test  280 , block  285  processes the pay-off of the note in accordance with the call option swap governing the equity component. Processing passes to block  290  and continues to the next note in sequence. 
     The operating environment and participants for the invention system and investment vehicle are depicted in the block diagram of  FIG. 3 . Specifically, the investors (purchasers of notes), block  300 , transact with the issuing entity, block  310 . Investors come from a variety of backgrounds including institutions, high-net work individuals, foreign individuals and entities, and the like. Blocks  320 ,  330  and  340  depict the counter-party for three separate swap arrangements. These counter-parties are separate entities but may be related to the issuer and/or each other via subsidiary/affiliate corporate structure. 
     The above operation is made more understandable when taken in the context of a specific, illustrative example, such as Example 1, below: 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     The example involves a five (5) year note wherein the underlying equity is GE common stock (“GE”) and the linked credit risk is provided by bonds issued by Tyco International, Inc. (“TYC”). Payment streams are expressed as percentages of the notional amount of the note as issued. 
       FIG. 4A  depicts the initial “issue date” transactions, which include payment of 100% notional value from the investors to the issuer. In addition, the issuer enters into a call option swap with counter-party ( 320 ) for 21.26% up-front payment. The issuer enters an interest rate swap with counter-party ( 330 ) equal to the funding cost of the retained 85.46%; in this example, a periodic floating payment of Libor (London inter-bank offering rate) plus 23 basis points (bps). 
     Finally, the issuer enters into a credit default swap with counter-party ( 340 ) that includes an up-front payment of 11.53% to the issuer for the agreement that the issuer will pay 100% to counter-party ( 340 ) in exchange for deliverable TYC bonds at a pre-set notional amount, if a “credit event” occurs. For this example, credit events comprise (i) bankruptcy, (ii) missed payment, and (iii) restructuring of debt. 
     The credit default further includes a bundled up-front payment from the issuer to counter-party ( 340 ) of 4.81% to compensate for the early termination risk in the interest rate swap. The net up-front payment, therefore, for this swap is 6.72% from counter-party ( 340 ) to the issuer. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4B , at periodic intervals after issuance of the note, a cash payment is made to counter-party  330  as defined earlier (e.g., Libor+23 bps). 
     In  FIG. 4C , at maturity—and assuming no credit events—the note principal is returned to the investor, in addition with the GE stock appreciation (if any) during the term. To accomplish this, the issuer receives the GE equity upside from counter-party  320  based on the call option swap, and a 14.54% lump sum payment from counter-party  330  in accordance with the terms of the interest rate swap. This 14.54% combines with the 85.46% balance held by the issuer, allowing full 100% payment to the investor. 
     The final scenario here is reflected in  FIG. 4D , triggered by a credit event as defined above. As in  4 C, the counter-party  330  provides 14.54% to the issuer, again bringing the balance held by the issuer back to 100%. The issuer pays this 100% to counter-party  340  and receives the actual TYC bonds. The issuer then delivers these bonds to the investor terminating the transaction. 
     In one arrangement of the above structure, the issuer and three counter-parties are related entities. This imparts a risk to the notes that reflects both the issuer&#39;s credit worthiness and the TYC credit worthiness. To isolate the credit on the notes to only TYC, the issuer is structured as an independent trust holding company. In either event, the risk associated with the note is heavily influenced by the credit rating of the underlying bonds—here TYC—perhaps BaZ/BBB. This rating—for lower than a typical issuer—permits a substantial premium to be used in funding the call option swap. In the example above, tying the credit risk to TYC bonds, instead of brokerage supported credit of AZ/A (or better), allows the embedded call option with a value of 21.26% v. 14% for typical AZ/A-rated 100% principal protected equity linked note from the brokerage firm. The higher risk supports a significant increase in equity exposure for the note. 
     The above description is merely illustrative of select embodiments of the present invention and does not, in any way, act to restrict the variations available to accomplish the inventive features therein. The foregoing inventions are solely limited by the appended claims on this patent.