Abstract:
A security-to-entity crosswalk system and method link business entity information to financial security information to provide risk insight about the business entity associated with a given security. The system comprises a collection of financial securities data, a collection of business entity data, and an integration component. The integration component links the collection of financial securities data with the collection of business entity data into a collection of master data. A business entity identifier is appended to an issuing entity in a collection of data. The business entity identifier is linked to a financial security identifier in the collection of data. Business information associated with said issuing entity is provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a conversion of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/478,517, filed on Jun. 13, 2003, and which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention generally relates to linking business entity information to financial securities information. In particular, it relates to linking and maintaining multiple business entity and financial securities databases.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Financial service companies are building information warehouses for marketing and risk administration applications. These activities are required in order to provide the required insight and underlying business processes to address global regulatory and governance requirements. The information in these warehouses is typically organized around an internal code or financial instrument identifier. The data associated with the instrument or security describes the security, but contains limited information about the company that issued the security. Often, financial service companies will attempt to link their internal data or business entity data to the financial instrument data via manual processes to gain additional risk insight about the entity the security relates to. The present invention will eliminate this manual step and improve customer efficiency.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     A system for a security-to-entity crosswalk is one embodiment of the present invention. The system comprises a collection of financial securities data, a collection of business entity data, and an integration component. The integration component links the collection of financial securities data with the collection of business entity data into a collection of master data. An access component accesses the collection of master data, a management component manages the collection of master data, and an update component updates the collection of master data. The collection of financial securities data comprises at least two collections of data. A linkage maintenance component updates linkage in the collection of master data. A unique numbering system is associated with the collection of master data. The collection of master data comprises a security-to-entity master file. The security-to-entity master file comprises a number of instruments linked to a number of issuer entities, a number of corresponding business entity identifiers, and corporate family tree linkage information. The security-to-entity master file comprises a database of security identifiers that cross-references issues.  
         [0007]     A method for a security-to-entity crosswalk is another embodiment of the present invention. A business entity identifier is appended to an issuing entity in a collection of data. The business entity identifier is linked to a financial security identifier in the collection of data. Business information associated with said issuing entity is provided. The business entity identifier is appended to the issuing entity at a site level. The business information includes corporate structure, corporate family tree linkage, standardized names and addresses, corporate activity, and changes to corporate structure. The business entity identifier is provided on securities. Changes are detected in the collection of data and the data is updated and maintained periodically. The business entity identifier is matched to the issuing entity. A selection of the business information associated with the issuing entity in the collection of data is appended. A computer-readable medium has computer-executable instructions for performing this method for a security-to-entity crosswalk.  
         [0008]     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of example databases and linkage according to the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an example process of maintenance according to the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an example process of matching according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0012]     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings. These drawings form a part of this specification and show, by way of example, specific preferred embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable skilled artisans to practice the present invention. Other embodiments may be used. Structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows example databases and linkage according to the present invention. In this example, a financial security table  100  is linked to a business entity table  102  by a global master file  104 . There is a one-to-one relationship between financial security table  100  and global master file  104  and a one-to-many relationship between global master file  104  and business entity table  102 . The primary key (PK) of financial security table  100  is a financial security identifier.  
         [0014]     Financial security identifiers include Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures (CUSIP) numbers and International CUSIP (CINS) codes and any other kind of security identifiers. CUSIP supplies a unique nine-character identification, called a CUSIP number, for each class of security approved for trading in the U.S. to facilitate clearing and settlement. The CUSIP uniquely identifies issuers and issues of securities and financial instruments within a standard framework. The CUSIP number consists of nine characters: a base number of six digits known as the issuer number, the 4th, 5th and/or 6th digit of which may be alpha or numeric, and a two charter suffix (either numeric, or alpha or both) known as the issue number, The ninth character is a check digit. The first portion of a CINS code is always represented by an alpha character signifying the Issuer&#39;s country geographic region.  
         [0015]     ISIDPlus, which is available from Standard &amp; Poor&#39;s, New York, N.Y., and Telekurs USA, Stamford, Conn., is the world&#39;s most comprehensive database of security identifiers, cross-referencing over 650,000 issues to assist in automating trading, clearing, and settlement activities for global straight-through processing. ISIDPlus is the largest repository of securities identification numbers worldwide. Securities covered include equity and debt instruments issued by over 180 countries. ISIDPlus is a comprehensive database of security identifiers cross-referencing issues from over 200 exchanges. ISIDPlus is based on Telekurs&#39; global securities database and Standard &amp; Poor&#39;s US-based securities data, and covers most types of equity and debt instruments. Securities trading in two or more global markets are included in ISIDPlus. ISIDPlus has identifiers from all major numbering agencies including CUSIP/CINS, ISIN, Stock Exchange Daily Official List (SEDOL) and Valor.  
         [0016]     Financial security table  100  is associated with a collection of financial security data. Some examples of financial security data are listed below. 
        CUSIP/CINS Base     National Securities Identification Number (NSIN), including International Securities Identification Number (ISIN)     Issuer Description Code     Global identifier (GK Key)     Transaction Type Code     Transaction Status Code     Transaction Date     Addresses     Security Descriptive Information (coupon, maturity, etc.)     Legal Entity Name     Country of Incorporation     Issuer of Security Indicator     Territory Trading Number        
 
         [0030]     The primary key (PK) of business entity table  102  is a business entity identifier. Business entity table  102  is associated with a collection of business information.  
         [0031]     Business information includes the business information provided by Dun &amp; Bradstreet, Short Hills, N.J., or any other kind of business information. Dun &amp; Bradstreet&#39;s World Base file provides the linkage components for existing corporate entities (i.e., issuers) within in the ISIDPlus service. In terms of global entity coverage, D&amp;B currently provides and maintains information on over 7.6 million linked commercial entities and almost 80 million total commercial entities worldwide.  
         [0032]     Business entity identifiers include the D-U-N-S® Number or any other kind of identifiers. The D-U-N-S® Number is a nine-digit number that is uniquely assigned by Dun &amp; Bradstreet to each business entity and is a widely accepted tool for identifying, organizing, and consolidating information about businesses. The D-U-N-S® Number is dynamically linked to headquarters, branches, parents, and subsidiaries on more than 1.6 million corporate families containing about 7.6 million members.  
         [0033]     Some examples of business information are listed below. 
        D-U-N-S® Number     Address     Global Ultimate D-U-N-S® Number     Domestic Ultimate D-U-N-S® Number     Parent D-U-N-S® Number     Doing Business As (DBA)     Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)     Confidence Code     Entity Type     Public Indicator     Annual Revenue     Annual Sales     Headquarters D-U-N-S® Number     Headquarters Address     Tradestyles     Fiscal Year End        
 
         [0050]     Global master file  104  is associated with information linking financial security table  100  and business entity table  102 . Some example data is listed below. 
        CUSIP/CINS Base     D-U-N-S® Number     NSIN, including ISIN     GK Key     Global Ultimate D-U-N-S® Number     Domestic Ultimate D-U-N-S® Number     Parent D-U-N-S® Number     Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)     Transaction Type Code     Transaction Status Code     Last Modified     Created     Legal Entity Name     Country of Incorporation     Entity Type     Public Indicator     Issuer of Security Indicator     Annual Revenue     Annual Sales     Headquarters D-U-N-S® Number     Headquarters Address     Tradestyles     Fiscal Year End        
 
         [0074]     Other data in various collections of data for the present invention are listed below. 
        Issuer/Security Descriptions     Coupon Rate     Dated Date     Maturity     Country of Incorporation (ISO Domicile Code)     ISO Currency     Case D-U-N-S number     Primary Name     Trade Name     Location data     Primary and Secondary SIC Code     Status (last modified and created flags) 
 
 However, various other data is contemplated by the present invention as well. 
       
 
         [0088]     In one embodiment of the present invention, the D-U-N-S® Number is appended to an issuing entity at the site level whenever possible. A collection of data contains securities referenced to national and international numbering systems. With the link to the D-U-N-S® Number, users are able to leverage business and family tree information to understand the business structure of the entity behind the security. The D&amp;B database, a global database of over 80 million businesses, corporate linkage information, detailed firmagraphic information, and industry data is used to supplement data in ISIDPlus to gain additional perspective.  
         [0089]     Users use the business entity and global linkage information to get a complete picture of the corporate structure as a measure of risk dispersion within a portfolio of holdings, specifically to identify different securities related to the same company. Various embodiments of the present invention provide users with efficient, accurate and dynamic information to help assess the following exposures: 
        Company risk—Understand complete global exposure;     Industry risk—Evaluate overall industry exposure; and     Country risk—Determining country-level exposure.        
 
         [0093]     Linking the D-U-N-S® Number to the CUSIP and CINS provides the following benefits to the financial community: 
        Access to D&amp;B family tree linkage to “roll up” securities for risk assessments;     Standardized names and addresses to enhance incomplete files;     Simplify the process of generating regulatory reports;     Confirm corporate activity (mergers, spin-offs, etc.) with information from D&amp;B to improve risk management; and     Access to a source of business information that is rigorously maintained with changes to corporate structure, mergers and acquisition activity, etc.        
 
         [0099]     The rapid expansion of the international securities business makes security identification across international borders a challenge. Various embodiments of the present invention helps a user to improve operational efficiency, while facilitating cross-border consistency. It aids users to:  
         [0100]     Improve automation between front and back operations; 
        Understand a company&#39;s entire security structure on a global basis;     Reduce processing errors; and     Obtain accurate information at the issuer level.        
 
         [0104]      FIG. 2  shows an example process of maintenance according to the present invention. In this example, a master process  200  is in communication with global master file  104 . Security data  202  and entity data  204  are effected by periodic processes  206 , which are in communication with global master file  104 .  
         [0105]     In this example, global master file  104  comprises a cross-reference global database combined with master process  200  to facilitate the linking of business entity data  204  to security data  202 .  
         [0106]     An example embodiment of the present invention initially comprises a consolidated database of security data  202  and entity data  204 . An initial security to entity master file has about 650,000 instruments, representing the ISIDPlus universe, is linked to the issuer entities (about 225,000 issuers) and the corresponding D-U-N-S® Number and the global family tree linkage information. The linked data products in this embodiment allow users to leverage business and family tree information to understand the business structure behind the issuers and their related securities. The D-U-N-S® Number is appended to each eligible issuer at the site level. In some instances, another D-U-N-S® Number in the corporate hierarchy is assigned. A D-U-N-S® number is provided on securities in accordance with D-U-N-S® Number policy.  
         [0107]     The population of entities represented in this example embodiment are dynamic. Events such as mergers and acquisitions (M&amp;A) are a regular occurrence. In addition, new businesses will enter the scene and others will exit. Monthly change detection and maintenance is provided. Global master file  104  is maintained, retaining the integrity of the data as a near mirror of the current marketplace. In this example, a daily feed from ISIDPlus comes in to D&amp;B that highlights adds, changes and deletes.  
         [0108]      FIG. 3  shows an example process of matching according to the present invention. A daily feed  300  is input into a business entity identifier matching process  302 . If there is no match  304 , either an additional resolution  306  is made or records without business entity identifiers are handled  308 . If there is a match  310 , data is appended  312  and stored in global master file  104 . Weekly feeds  314  are sent to security data  302  and may be delivered to customers  316 .  
         [0109]     In an example embodiment, a match is performed against a global universe of business records and appends the D-U-N-S® Number as well as selected data elements. The daily changes are aggregated and sent back to S&amp;P on a weekly basis where the ISIDPlus file is updated with the refreshed data.  
         [0110]     It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description, such as various organizations of data such as dispersing or replicated data among different points in a network. Various types of databases are contemplated by the present invention, such as relational or object-oriented type databases. Also, collections of data may be data marts, data warehouses, or other repositories of data. The present invention has applicability to fields outside business and financial fields, such as enterprise resource systems, mega exchange, specialist originator, e-speculator, solution provider, sell-side asset exchange and other business-to-business models. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.