Abstract:
A system for and method of providing a forward contract with an upside return and the possibility of early valuation are presented. The prices of the underlying financial instruments are allowed to float to a limited extent. Moreover, the party taking the short position is allowed to cash out early, without having to unwind the entire contract. The contact may be used, for example, by a corporation that wishes to raise capital using equity instruments.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application is a continuation of, claims priority to, and hereby incorporates by reference herein in its entirety, U.S. application Ser. No. 11/246,542 entitled “Upside Forward With Early Funding Provision” filed Oct. 11, 2005. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a system for and method of securing capital. More particularly, the invention relates to a derivative financial instrument that can provide value prior to maturation. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     Financial instruments generally designed to provide funding to entities are known. In particular, an entity may raise capital by issuing debt instruments, such as corporate bonds, or by issuing equity instruments, such as stocks. More exotic financial instruments, such as financial derivatives, also exist. 
     A “plain vanilla” forward contract is one type of financial derivative. With such a forward, a first party agrees to purchase a quantity of financial instruments from a second party on some future date. The forward generally specifies both the date on which the purchase must occur and an agreed-upon price of the financial instruments. Forwards are generally custom-drafted instruments between two parties. 
     A second type of financial instrument is a range forward. A range forward is similar to a plain vanilla forward, except that the prices of the financial instruments at the conclusion of the contract are allowed to float to a limited extent. Thus, for example, a party may contract to sell a quantity of stock at a date in the future, where the selling price is partially dependent on the market price of the stock on that date. 
     Range forwards lack a mechanism for the selling party to extract value from the transaction prior to the contract maturity date without unwinding (and therefore canceling) the entire contract. In existing products, a party that wishes to receive value prior to the contract conclusion date must unwind the contract (e.g., cancel the contract and disengage from the associated trades), and rely on the other party&#39;s determination of fair market value to construct a separate transaction. In determining a fair market value, the other party will generally base its assessment on parameters such as interest rates, borrow costs, dividends, and volatility that may include subjective components. Thus, the valuation could vary materially depending on the party conducting the analysis. Moreover, as the other party is not contractually bound to unwind the contract prior to maturity, the party that wishes to receive value will be in no position to demand a better price. Thus, a party holding the short position in a range forward is limited to subjective, financially inefficient, and potentially expensive techniques for obtaining value prior to the contract&#39;s conclusion. In short, current products lack the ability to provide a party with value during the contract term without unwinding the transaction and relying on a fair market value calculation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has many advantages over the prior art. For example, certain embodiments of the present invention allow entities to raise capital using a financial derivative that allows extraction of value prior to the contract maturity date. Entities taking the short position in such contracts, e.g., issuers of the underlying financial instruments, may extract value prior to the contract&#39;s conclusion. This provides for highly flexible funding timing, as a party taking the short position in a contract according to such embodiments may obtain value at any time prior to the contract&#39;s expiration. Such embodiments do not require unwinding the contract and subjecting it to a fair market value calculation and negotiation in order to extract value prior to the maturity date. 
     According to certain embodiments of the invention, entities may raise capital on a flexible schedule while limiting loss should the underlying financial instruments experience a drop in market value. Thus, such entities may benefit, to a limited extent, from market gains in the underlying financial instruments to obtain an upside without the risk of a sizable downside. Such entities benefit from any upside less than a ceiling price, while a floor price protects issuers from adverse market turns. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may be used to obtain funds using a company&#39;s own stock as the underlying financial instruments. Such embodiments provide for favorable accounting treatment of the capital raised while avoiding stock dilution. That issuers may benefit from an expected upside creates a perception in the market of issuer optimism. Thus, certain embodiments of the present invention may be used by an issuer to raise capital while simultaneously projecting a bullish market message regarding its stock. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of obtaining funding is disclosed. The method includes contracting for sale of a first quantity of financial instruments on a maturity date in exchange for a price, where the price and/or the first quantity are at least partially dependant on a market price of the first quantity of financial instruments at a delivery date, the delivery being to an entity. The method also includes delivering, in accordance with the step of contracting, a second quantity of the financial instruments at a time prior to the maturity date to the entity. The method also includes receiving value for the second quantity of financial instruments from the entity, the step of receiving value being in accordance with the step of contracting. The method also includes calculating a maturity balance using a computer, where the step of calculating comprises accounting for the first quantity of financial instruments and accounting for the second quantity of financial instruments. 
     Various optional features of the above embodiment include the following. The price may comprise a predetermined ceiling price if a market price of the quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date is greater than the ceiling price, a predetermined floor price if the market price of the quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date is less than the floor price, and a market price of the quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date if the market price of the quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date lies between the ceiling price and the floor price. The ceiling price and the floor price may be determined at the step of contracting. The method may include issuing the financial instruments. The value may comprises a present value of a floor price of the second quantity of financial instruments. The second quantity may less than the first quantity. Compensation may be received, the compensation comprising a difference between a ceiling price and a floor price for the second quantity of financial instruments if a market price of the second quantity of financial instruments at the delivery date is greater than the ceiling price, zero if the market price of the second quantity of financial instruments at the delivery date is less than the floor price, and a difference between the market price of the second quantity of financial instruments at the delivery date and the floor price for the second quantity of financial instruments if the market price of the second quantity of financial instruments at the delivery date lies between the ceiling price and the floor price for the second quantity of financial instruments. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of providing funding is disclosed. The method includes contracting with an entity to purchase a first quantity of financial instruments on at least one predetermined future date for a price, the price and/or first quantity being at least partially dependant on a market price of the first quantity of financial instruments at a delivery date. The method also includes hedging a position, using a computer, the position defined at least partially by the contracting step. The method also includes buying, in accordance with the contracting step, a second quantity of the financial instruments from the entity at a time prior to the predetermined future date. 
     Various optional features of the above embodiment include the following. The step of hedging may include dynamic hedging. The price may comprise a predetermined ceiling price if a market price of the quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date is greater than the ceiling price, a predetermined floor price if the market price of the quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date is less than the floor price, and a market price of the quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date if the market price of the quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date lies between the ceiling price and the floor price. The ceiling price and the floor price may be determined at the step of contracting. The entity may issue the financial instruments. The step of buying may include buying for a present value of a floor price of the second quantity of financial instruments. The second quantity may be less than the first quantity. The compensation may comprise a difference between a ceiling price and a floor price for the second quantity of financial instruments if a market price of the second quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date is greater than the ceiling price, zero if the market price of the second quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date is less than the floor price, and a difference between the market price of the second quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date and the floor price for the second quantity of financial instruments if the market price of the second quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date lies between the ceiling price and the floor price for the second quantity of financial instruments. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of obtaining funding is disclosed. The method includes contracting for sale of a first quantity of financial instruments on a maturity date in exchange for a price, where the price and/or the first quantity are at least partially dependant on a market price of the first quantity of financial instruments at a delivery date, the delivery being to an entity. The method also includes offering to the entity, in accordance with the step of contracting, a second quantity of the financial instruments at a time prior to the maturity date. The method also includes calculating, using a computer, a maturity balance, the step of calculating comprising accounting for the first quantity of financial instruments and accounting for the second quantity of financial instruments. 
     Various optional features of the above embodiment include the following. The price may comprise a predetermined ceiling price if a market price of the quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date is greater than the ceiling price, a predetermined floor price if the market price of the quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date is less than the floor price, and a market price of the quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date if the market price of the quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date lies between the ceiling price and the floor price. The ceiling price and the floor price may be determined at the step of contracting. The method may include issuing the financial instruments. The method may include receiving an acceptance of an offer, the offer arising from the step of offering, delivering, in accordance with the step of contracting and in accordance with the step of offering, the second quantity of the financial instruments at a time prior to the maturity date to the entity, and receiving value for the second quantity of financial instruments from the entity, the step of receiving value being in accordance with the step of contracting. The value may include a present value of a floor price of the second quantity of financial instruments. The second quantity may be less than the first quantity. The method may include paying compensation, the compensation comprising a difference between a ceiling price and a floor price for the second quantity of financial instruments if a market price of the second quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date is greater than the ceiling price, zero if the market price of the second quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date is less than the floor price, and a difference between the market price of the second quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date and the floor price for the second quantity of financial instruments if the market price of the second quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date lies between the ceiling price and the floor price for the second quantity of financial instruments. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of providing funding is provided. The method includes contracting with an entity to purchase a first quantity of financial instruments on a predetermined future date for a price, the price and/or first quantity being at least partially dependant on a market price of the first quantity of financial instruments at a delivery date. The method also includes hedging a position, using a computer, the position defined at least partially by the contracting step. The method also includes receiving an offer to buy, in accordance with the contracting step, a second quantity of the financial instruments from the entity at a time prior to the predetermined future date. 
     Various optional features of the above embodiment include the following. The step of hedging may include dynamic hedging. The price may comprise a predetermined ceiling price if a market price of the quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date is greater than the ceiling price, a predetermined floor price if the market price of the quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date is less than the floor price, and a market price of the quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date if the market price of the quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date lies between the ceiling price and the floor price. The ceiling price and the floor price may be determined at the step of contracting. The entity may issue the financial instruments. The method may include accepting the offer to buy, receiving, in accordance with the step of contracting and in accordance with the step of offering, the second quantity of the financial instruments at a time prior to the maturity date to the entity, and delivering value for the second quantity of financial instruments to the entity, the step of delivering value being in accordance with the step of contracting. The step of delivering value may include delivering a present value of a floor price of the second quantity of financial instruments. The second quantity may be less than the first quantity. The method may further include paying compensation, the compensation comprising a difference between a ceiling price and a floor price for the second quantity of financial instruments if a market price of the second quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date is greater than the ceiling price, zero if the market price of the second quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date is less than the floor price, and a difference between the market price of the second quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date and the floor price for the second quantity of financial instruments if the market price of the second quantity of financial instruments at the maturity date lies between the ceiling price and the floor price for the second quantity of financial instruments. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system of providing funding is disclosed. The system includes means for contracting with an entity to purchase a first quantity of financial instruments on a predetermined future date for a price, the price and/or first quantity being at least partially dependant on a market price of the first quantity of financial instruments at a delivery date. The system also includes means for hedging a position, using a computer, the position defined at least partially by the contracting step. The system also includes means for buying, in accordance with the contracting step, a second quantity of the financial instruments from the entity at a time prior to the predetermined future date. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing funding is disclosed. The method includes contracting with a company for purchase of a first quantity of the company&#39;s stock on a maturity date in exchange for a maturity price, where the maturity price comprises a predetermined ceiling price if a market price of the quantity of stock at the maturity date is greater than the ceiling price, a predetermined floor price if the market price of the quantity of stock at the maturity date is less than the floor price, and a market price of the quantity of stock at the maturity date if the market price of the quantity of stock at the maturity date lies between the ceiling price and the floor price. The method also includes hedging a position, using a computer, the position defined at least partially by the contracting step. The method also includes accepting an offer to purchase from the company, in accordance with the step of contracting, a second quantity of the stock at a time prior to the maturity date. The method also includes receiving the second quantity of stock from the company, the step of receiving being in accordance with the step of contracting. The method also includes delivering to the company, in accordance with the step of contracting, payment for the second quantity of stock at a time prior to the maturity date. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention, both as to its structure and operation together with the additional objects and advantages thereof are best understood through the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention at inception. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention at maturity. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention during pendency. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. Issuer  100  enters into a contract with a bank (“Bank”)  110  to deliver a quantity of its shares at a future date. (The terms “Issuer” and “Bank” are used by way of non-limiting example; the entities identified by these terms need not issue financial instruments or be a bank.) Issuer thus locks in equity financing. In general, there will be no payment by Bank  110  or delivery of shares by Issuer  100  at inception of the contract. The contract may be a traditional paper contract or electronic. 
     Issuer  100  may use the embodiment of the present invention to obtain financing at any time up to the maturity date of the contract. Benefits to Issuer include (1) the flexibility to raise an objectively-identifiable amount of cash at any time without unwinding the transaction, (2) the ability to defer dilution until cash is raised, and (3) the ability to participate in upside in the Issuer&#39;s stock. 
     In order to simplify exposition and by way of non-limiting example, assume the following with respect to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . All such parameters may be modified in further embodiments of the present invention. Further, the terms according to the embodiment under discussion illustrative; terms in alternate embodiments may differ based on Issuer&#39;s objectives and market conditions.
         Issuer&#39;s stock trades at $100 per share.   Issuer is interested in locking in equity capital today and preserving flexibility to draw the cash in the future. Assume 1 million underlying shares.   Issuer wants to retain upside in its shares.   Issuer does not want to be forced to unwind any option-based trades in order to draw cash from the contract.       

     As depicted in  FIG. 1 , Bank  110  may borrow the shares from a stock lender  120  at inception of the contract. As discussed further below in reference to  FIG. 3 , Bank  110  may sell the shares to investors  130  using registration to hedge the transaction. 
       FIG. 2  schematically represents the embodiment of  FIG. 1  at maturity. 
     Regular Settlement (Physical Delivery At Maturity). The contract matures, by way of non-limiting example, at year 3, at which time Issuer  200  will deliver a fixed number of shares, again by way of non-limiting example, 1 million, to Bank  210 . (Bank  210  may have a delta-1 short position prior to the time it receives the shares in physical settlement.) In exchange, Issuer  200  will receive:
         $100 per share (the “Floor Price”) if the Maturity Price is below $100;   the Maturity Price per share if the Maturity Price is between $100 and $120; or   $120 per share (the “Ceiling Price”) if the Maturity Price is above $120.       

     In the above, the “Maturity Price” may be the average closing price over a series of trading days preceding the maturity date (for example 30 trading days). By way of non-limiting example, the Maturity Price may be defined as the 10b-18 volume weighted average price during the 30 trading days up to the maturity date as specified in the contract. 
     Note that all of the figures and parameters described herein (e.g., Ceiling Price, Floor Price, Maturity Price, contract duration) are illustrative and meant to be non-limiting. Note also that the Ceiling and Floor Price levels may be set at lower levels based on an underwriting discount, which may be paid by the forward purchaser to the underwriter. 
     Cash Settlement Election At Maturity. If all or a portion of the shares remain unfunded at maturity, Issuer  200  may elect physical or cash settlement for the unfunded portion. For example, Issuer  200  may elect cash settlement at maturity if it does not have material non-public information (and assuming the trade has not been funded early). If cash settlement is elected, no shares will be delivered and the following payout formula applies, where “S” denotes the Maturity Price:
         if S&lt;100, Bank  210  pays $100 minus S, per share, to Issuer  200 ;   if $100&lt;S&lt;$120, no payment is made by either party; or   if S&gt;$120, Issuer  200  pays S minus $120, per share, to Bank  210 .       

     In the above, the Maturity Price “S” may be calculated as the average closing price over a series of trading days preceding the maturity date (for example 30 trading days). For example, the Maturity Price “S” for this portion of the contract may be defined as the 10b-18 volume weighted average price during the 30 trading days up to the maturity date as specified in the contract. Again, all of the figures and parameters described above are illustrative and meant to be non-limiting. 
     Bank may use computers to calculate the quantities involved in settling either or both of cash settlement and physical delivery. Issuer may use computers to perform identical calculations in order to confirm Bank&#39;s figures or otherwise utilize the transaction. 
     Early Funding. At any time during the term of the trade, Issuer  200  may choose to receive cash early in exchange for all or a portion of the underlying shares. The amount of cash received per underlying share will equal, by way of non-limiting example, the present value of the Floor Price, as calculated on the funding date by Bank  210  using, again by way of non-limiting example, a LIBOR curve. Issuer  200  may continue to participate in the upside of the shares until year three, via what is effectively a retained call spread with a low strike set at the Floor Price and a high call struck at the Ceiling Price. At maturity, Issuer  200  may settle the retained call spread in net cash, unless the contract has been fully funded (i.e., Issuer  200  has received cash in exchange for all contract shares), in which case Issuer  200  may elect to settle the call spread in net cash or net shares. 
     Continuing the discussion of early funding in relation to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , assume for purposes of illustration that after one year, the stock price is $110. Issuer  200  wishes to fund 40% of the shares. Assume the two-year discount factor at that time (based on LIBOR rates) is 0.92. Issuer will deliver 400,000 shares and receive 36,800,000 (40%×1 million×0.92×$100), or $92 per share, at year one. Thus, the price paid may be a present value of the Floor Price of the funded shares. Unless Issuer decides to fund against additional shares, Issuer&#39;s flows at year three will be as follows (the Maturity Price at year three is denoted “S”):
         For the 400,000 share funded position (cash settlement):
           If S&lt;$100, $0 per share;   If $100&lt;S&lt;$120; S minus $100, per share; or   If S&gt;$120, 20 per share.   
           For the 600,000 share un-funded position, the flows at maturity (year three) will remain as they were set at inception (assuming by way of non-limiting example physical settlement):
           If S&lt;$100, $100 per share;   If $100&lt;S&lt;120; S per share; or   If S&gt;$120, $120 per share.   All of the unfunded shares (600,000) will be delivered by Issuer  200  at maturity.   
               

     Bank may use computers to calculate the quantities involved in settling the contract at maturity when the early finding feature has been utilized. Issuer may use computers to perform identical calculations. 
     Hedging. Both Bank  210  and Issuer  200  preferably hedge their respective positions throughout the duration of the transaction. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention during the contract&#39;s pendency. In a typical embodiment of the present invention, Bank  310  will dynamically hedge its position throughout the duration of the contract. Bank typically uses powerful computers  350  to model and predict prices and events. In particular, Bank&#39;s  310  computers  350  may implement pricing algorithms (by way of non-limiting example, Black-Scholes or related algorithms) in order to calculate the hedge. 
     Bank  310  may hedge the forward and call spread separately. That is, Bank  310  may maintain separate hedges for the embedded forward and call spread on an ongoing basis. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the transaction may be hedged by Bank  310  in a manner that is compliant with the SEC&#39;s guidance on the  2003  Microsoft transaction and the “No-Action, Interpretive and/or Exemptive Letter: Goldman, Sachs &amp; Co.” of Oct. 9, 2003. 
     Bank&#39;s Business Model. Bank may earn income in several ways consistent with embodiments of the present invention. First, Bank may charge fees for arranging the transaction. Such fees may be flat or a percentage of certain monies involved, such as the total amount of capital raised. Second, Bank may use a separate division or sister entity to underwrite the stock issuance. Third, Bank may benefit from its hedging positions. 
     Termination Events. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the contract may terminate early at fair market value based on specific corporate occurrences such as mergers and dividend-related events. Such events and their termination consequences may be specified within the contract itself. 
     Benefits And Advantages. Embodiments of the present invention have many advantages over traditional techniques. First, embodiments of the present invention may have a longer contract time periods compared with prior art techniques. For example, prior art techniques are generally limited to one-year contracts. Embodiments of the present invention, by contrast, may have contract periods of up to three years. Certain embodiments of the present invention may have contracts periods of over three years. Second, embodiments of the present invention effectively separate the timing of funding needs from the timing of the contract. That is, certain embodiments of the present invention allow for early funding. Such embodiments include contracts of various lengths; however, Issuers may draw cash at any time before expiration of the contract. This early drawdown feature allows Issuers to enter into contracts of a fixed time period without limiting their funding timing options. Issuers that wish to raise capital for an acquisition, for example, can enter into a contract according to an embodiment of the present invention and achieve excellent flexibility with respect to timing the acquisition deal. Third, embodiments of the present invention allow Issuers to obtain an upside, should the market allow, without the risk of a sizable downside. That is, Issuers benefit from any upside less than the Ceiling Price, while the Floor Price protects Issuers from adverse market turns. Fourth, embodiments of the present invention allow Issuers to raise capital in a manner that is similar to a straight stock sale, yet avoiding stock dilution. An Issuer may thus raise capital without fear of offending current investors by stock dilution. Fifth, embodiments of the present invention may be used by an Issuer to raise capital while simultaneously projecting a bullish market message regarding its stock. That Issuers may benefit from an expected upside creates a perception in the market of Issuer optimism. Sixth, the Issuer need not unwind the transaction or rely on a subjective market valuation in order to extract value prior to the contract&#39;s completion. 
     The exemplary embodiments discussed herein are not meant to be limiting. By way of non-limiting example, embodiments of the present invention include futures instead of, or in addition to, forwards. The financial instruments that are the subject of the forward are not limited to equity commodities issued by a party in the transaction. By way of non-limiting example, embodiments of the present invention include forward contracts for commodities such as stocks, pork bellies, etc. 
     Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to Issuers who wish to raise capital for their public company. It is important to note that although the term “Issuer” is used throughout the present disclosure, it is not meant to be a term of limitation. That is, although certain embodiments of the present invention are discussed using the terms “Issuer” and “Bank,” parties to a contract according to embodiments of the present invention need not literally be financial-instrument-issuing entities and investment banks, respectively. Thus, the term “Issuer” as used herein is not limited to entities that issue equity instruments. By way of non-limiting example, one such Issuer may be a housing developer who wishes to obtain funding for a future project that is timed to commence once a housing downturn begins. Such an Issuer may enter into a contract with a relatively long duration. At any time during the contract pendency, the Issuer may sense a housing market downturn and exercise his early funding option to raise capital for development. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. As used throughout this disclosure, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.