Patent ID: 7788154

Claim:
A method implemented by a programmed computer system, comprising: utilizing a computer to input data regarding a sale, by a company to another entity, of a security comprising: (i) a post-paid forward contract which obligates the other entity to purchase a fixed number of shares of stock of the company; and (ii) debt; utilizing a computer to input data regarding a purchase, by the company from the other entity, of a pre-paid forward contract which obligates the other entity to deliver to the company a variable number of shares of stock in the company; utilizing a computer to input data regarding the company's election to fix the number of shares associated with the pre-paid forward contract prior to maturity; utilizing a computer to input a stock price associated with the stock of the company at the time of the election; utilizing a computer to calculate a number of shares underlying the pre-paid forward contract, based on a formula that is a function of the stock price at the time of the election and a remaining maturity associated with the pre-paid forward contract; utilizing a computer to record the data regarding the sale, by the company to the other entity, of the security comprising: (i) the post-paid forward contract; and (ii) the debt; utilizing a computer to record the data regarding the purchase, by the company from the other entity, of the pre-paid forward contract; and utilizing a computer to record the calculated number of shares underlying the pre-paid forward contract.