Patents Assigned to W.R. Hambrecht & Co.
  • Publication number: 20100017344
    Abstract: A computer implemented system and method determines price and allocation of equity shares. Information about an offering to accept bids for equity shares is provided to qualified potential purchasers and non-qualified potential purchasers. Bids from potential purchasers for equity shares are received through a communication network. Bids are accepted and offered to be accepted only from qualified potential purchasers. A non-qualified potential purchaser submits a bid through a qualified potential purchaser. A clearing price for the offered shares is determined based on the received bids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: W.R. HAMBRECHT + CO., LLC
    Inventors: William R. Hambrecht, Othar Hansson, Jordan Hayes, Alan Katz, Charles Ocheret, Matt Regan
  • Patent number: 7647270
    Abstract: Systems and methods for conducting an auction of securities on the Web. The system and methods provide a bid mechanism whereby bidders are rewarded for priority of anonymously revealing their bids and provide an allocation of the securities which allows winning bidders to pay a single market-clearing price that sells out the securities. In addition, the systems and methods allow all participants to monitor the auction in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: W.R. Hambrecht + Co., LLC
    Inventors: Michael H. Evelyn, Robert S. Goldberg, Jordan M. Hayes, Cliff M. Gerrish, Othar Hansson, Charles A. Ocheret
  • Patent number: 7644034
    Abstract: An auction server node is described for a computer network having user nodes for conducting an auction run by an auction adviser for awarding securities from an issuer to bidders of the auction. There is real-time monitoring of the auction as it occurs, a bid mechanism for receiving competitive bids from the bidders at the user nodes, including a quantity of securities to be purchased, an initial price revealed to the other bidders, and a firm price not revealed to the other bidders and within a predetermined range of the initial price. A single market clearing price is determined that allocates to the bidders all of the securities in the auction. An incremental adjustment of the market clearing price may be made by at least one of the auction advisor and the issuer, and an allocation made of the securities to the bidders at the adjusted clearing price.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: W.R. Hambrecht + Co., LLC
    Inventors: Michael H. Evelyn, Robert S. Goldberg, Jordan M. Hayes, Cliff M. Gerrish, Othar Hansson, Charles A. Ocheret
  • Patent number: 7587358
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method determines price and allocation of equity shares. Information about an offering to accepts bids for equity shares is provided to qualified potential purchasers. Bids from potential purchasers for equity shares are received through a communication network. Bids are accepted and offered to be accepted only from qualified potential purchasers. A non-qualified potential purchaser submits a bid through a qualified potential purchaser. A clearing price for the offered shares is determined based on the received bids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: W. R. Hambrecht + Co., LLC
    Inventors: William R. Hambrecht, Othar Hansson, Jordan Hayes, Alan Katz, Charles Ocheret, Matt Regan
  • Publication number: 20080306854
    Abstract: A method for auctioning securities defines an auction start time and an auction end time. The time therebetween is defined by time bucket intervals and transparency intervals. At the auction start time, a real-time auction of securities over a communications network begins. During each time bucket interval bids are received from prospective purchasers, and assigned a time bucket stamp such that bids with the same time stamp are treated as having occurred at the same time. At the end of each transparency interval public bid information related to the auction is updated and made available to the prospective purchasers. After the auction end time, a final auction price for the securities is established based upon the bids made during the auction, and the securities are allocated to the prospective purchasers at the final auction price.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: W.R. HAMBRECHT + CO., LLC
    Inventors: Alan Katz, Whitney White
  • Publication number: 20080306855
    Abstract: A method is described for auctioning securities by an auction offeror. Bids are received for an offered number of securities. Each bid includes a bid price, a desired number of securities, and a timestamp indicting a time that the bid was received by the system. After a final bid time, a final price for the securities is established based upon the received bids. Then the desired number of securities is allocated to each bid having a bid price more favorable for the auction offeror than the final price. The desired number of securities is also allocated to each bid having a bid price at the final price, in bid timestamp order favoring earlier timestamps, until the offered number of securities has been allocated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: W.R. HAMBRECHT + CO., LLC
    Inventors: Alan Katz, Whitney White
  • Publication number: 20080306865
    Abstract: An auction server node is described for a computer network having user nodes for conducting an auction run by an auction adviser for awarding securities from an issuer to bidders of the auction. There is real-time monitoring of the auction as it occurs, a bid mechanism for receiving competitive bids from the bidders at the user nodes, including a quantity of securities to be purchased, an initial price revealed to the other bidders, and a firm price not revealed to the other bidders and within a predetermined range of the initial price. A single market clearing price is determined that allocates to the bidders all of the securities in the auction. An incremental adjustment of the market clearing price may be made by at least one of the auction advisor and the issuer, and an allocation made of the securities to the bidders at the adjusted clearing price.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: W.R. HAMBRECHT + CO., LLC
    Inventors: Michael H. Evelyn, Robert S. Goldberg, Jordan M. Hayes, Cliff M. Gerrish, Othar Hansson, Charles A. Ocheret
  • Publication number: 20080222023
    Abstract: A method of auctioning exchange traded assets is described. Before commencing the auction bidding, the seller establishes a maximum asset amount representing a greatest amount of the exchange traded assets to be auctioned, and a minimum asset price representing a minimum acceptable bid amount for a given amount of the exchange traded assets. During the bidding, bids are received for the assets, with each bid including a bid price and a corresponding bid amount of assets. After the bidding, a market demand is determined that represents the total of all the bid amounts for the bids. If the market demand is greater than or equal to the maximum asset amount, a clearing price is established that allocates the maximum asset amount of the assets according to the bids at a final price between and including the clearing price and the minimum asset price.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: W.R. HAMBRECHT + CO., LLC
    Inventors: William R. Hambrecht, Whitney White, Edward John Schneider, Harrison Clay, Alan Katz, Thomas Peterffy
  • Patent number: 7415436
    Abstract: The present invention provides an economical, high performance, adaptable system and method (designated “the OpenBook system”) for conducting an auction of debt securities to institutional and individual investors on the Web. In the OpenBook system auction: (1) Bidders are rewarded for anonymously revealing their bids early; (2) All winners pay a single market-clearing price that sells out the securities; and (3) All participants can monitor the auction in real time. The OpenBook system thus creates a transparent and low-cost new issue market; offers all bidders equal access to securities; and gives both investors and issuers a “seat on the syndicate desk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: W. R. Hambrecht + Co., LLC
    Inventors: Michael H. Evelyn, Robert S. Goldberg, Jordan M. Hayes, Cliff M. Gerrish, Othar Hansson, Charles A. Ocheret
  • Publication number: 20040039685
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for an auction system that is used for pricing and allocating equity securities. Information about an offering to accept bids for equity shares is provided to qualified potential purchasers and non-qualified potential purchasers. Bids from potential purchasers for equity shares are received through a communication network. Bids are accepted and offered to be accepted only from qualified potential purchasers. A non-qualified potential purchaser submits a bid through a qualified potential purchaser. A clearing priced for the offered shares is determined based on the received bids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: W.R. Hambrecht + Co., a California corporation
    Inventors: William R. Hambrecht, Othar Hansson, Jordan Hayes, Alan Katz, Charles Ocheret, Matt Regan
  • Patent number: 6629082
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for an auction system that is used for pricing and allocating equity securities. Information about an offering to accept bids for equity shares is provided to qualified potential purchasers and non-qualified potential purchasers. Bids front potential purchasers for equity shares are received through a communication network. Bids are accepted and offered to be accepted only from qualified potential purchasers. A non-qualified potential purchaser submits a bid through a qualified potential purchaser. A clearing price for the offered shares is determined based on the received bids. Prospective investors who bid a price above the clearing price are allocated all of the shares for which they bid. Prospective investors who bid a price equal to the clearing price are allocated a pro-rata allocation of the shares for which they bid. No shares are allocated to prospective investors who bid a price below the clearing price.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: W.R. Hambrecht & Co.
    Inventors: William R. Hambrecht, Othar Hansson, Jordan Hayes, Alan Katz, Charles Ocheret, Matt Regan