Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to systems and methods for creating a new hybrid financial instrument, which addresses key concerns of investors and meets the financing requirements of investee companies. An embodiment of the present invention describes a new type of security called an “in-kind participating preferred security” (IPPS). The IPPS contract entitles the holder to a contingent in-kind dividend, payable periodically in the commodity produced by the issuer or in cash, which ever is of greater value. At expiration, the IPPS is redeemed by the company at its in-kind par value upon origination or in cash, which ever is greater.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides automated systems and methods that facilitate consummation of Volume Weighted Average Price (“VWAP”) transactions and that support crossing of offsetting orders, cancellation of orders and enhanced liquidity for system users. Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide a pre-open crossing network, an approximation engine and an intra-day crossing network. A processing engine is provided that is in communication with an algorithmic module and a database which advantageously includes a liquidity database. The processing engine is programmed to automatically access the liquidity database to determine an acceptable quantity of shares for trading in response to, and based upon, a requested user trade received by the processing engine. The algorithmic module includes programming for establishing a trading regimen for effecting trades that approach or achieve a VWAP price for best efforts VWAP trades.

Abstract: A system calculates the mutual satisfaction between negotiating parties and maximizes their mutual satisfaction over a range of decision variables and does so without requiring the parties to identify themselves and their positions to each other. For automatically negotiating agreements between multiple parties, a computer accepts a satisfaction function from an offering party who defines his degree of satisfaction to agree to a range of terms upon which the party is desirous of negotiating as a function of the relevant decision variables. The computer then accepts input from all other parties regarding their degree of satisfaction to agree to each of the terms as a function of a particular relevant decision variable. The computer then calculates a satisfaction function for each of these terms based on all of the individual inputs.

Abstract: A crossing network that matches buy and sell orders based upon a satisfaction and quantity profile is disclosed. The crossing network includes a number of trader terminals that can be used for entering order. The orders are entered in the form of a satisfaction density profile that represents a degree of satisfaction to trade a particular instrument at various (price, quantity) combinations. Typically, each order is either a buy order or a sell order. The trader terminals are coupled to a matching controller computer. The matching controller computer can receive as input the satisfaction density profiles entered at each one of the trading terminals. The matching controller computer matches orders (as represented by each trader's satisfaction density profile) so that each trader is assured that the overall outcome of the process (in terms of average price and size of fill) has maximized the mutual satisfaction of all traders. Typically, the matching process is anonymous.

Abstract: A computer-based system for determining a set of opening prices for a number of series of options traded on an options exchange and for allocating public order imbalances at the opening of trading. Market makers input a current position, a desired target position and market maker orders for options series from market maker terminals. An order entry system receives public orders for options series. A controller determines a set of implied volatilities (prices) for each options series that will maximize a weighted volume of trades across all option series at the opening. Contra orders that can be matched at the opening price are then executed. If there is a residual imbalance of non-executed public orders, the residual imbalance of non-executed public orders is assigned to individual ones of the plurality of market makers so as to minimize a cumulative measure of deviation between the desired target position and the current position of each market maker.

Abstract: A crossing network that matches buy and sell orders based upon a satisfaction and quantity profile is disclosed. The crossing network includes a number of trader terminals that can be used for entering orders. The orders are entered in the form of a satisfaction density profile that represents a degree of satisfaction to trade a particular instrument at various (price, quantity) combinations. Typically, each order is either a buy order or a sell order. The trader terminals are coupled to a matching controller computer. The matching controller computer can receive as input the satisfaction density profiles entered at each one of the trading terminals. The matching controller computer matches orders (as represented by each trader's satisfaction density profile) so that each trader is assured that the overall outcome of the process (in terms of average price and size of fill) has maximized the mutual satisfaction of all traders. Typically, the matching process is anonymous.

Abstract: A crossing network that matches buy and sell orders based upon a satisfaction and quantity profile is disclosed. The crossing network includes a number of trader terminals that can be used for entering orders. The orders are entered in the form of a satisfaction density profile that represents a degree of satisfaction to trade a particular instrument at various (price, quantity) combinations. Typically, each order is either a buy order or a sell order. The trader terminals are coupled to a matching controller computer. The matching controller computer can receive as input the satisfaction density profiles entered at each one of the trading terminals. The matching controller computer matches orders (as represented by each trader's satisfaction density profile) so that each trader is assured that the overall outcome of the process (in terms of average price and size of fill) has maximized the mutual satisfaction of all traders. Typically, the matching process is anonymous.

Abstract: A crossing network that matches buy and sell orders based upon a satisfaction and quantity profile includes a number of trader terminals that can be used for entering orders. The orders are entered in the form of a satisfaction density profile that represents a degree of satisfaction to trade a particular instrument at various (price, quantity) combinations. Typically, each order is either a buy order or a sell order. The trader terminals are coupled to a matching controller computer. The matching controller computer can receive as input the satisfaction density profiles entered at each one of the trading terminals. The matching controller computer matches orders (as represented by each trader's satisfaction density profile) so that each trader is assured that the overall outcome of the process (in terms of average price and size of fill) has maximized the mutual satisfaction of all traders. Typically, the matching process is anonymous.

Abstract: A crossing network that matches buy and sell orders based upon a satisfaction and quantity profile is disclosed. The crossing network includes a number of trader terminals that can be used for entering orders. The orders are entered in the form of a satisfaction density profile that represents a degree of satisfaction to trade a particular instrument at various (price, quantity) combinations. Typically, each order is either a buy order or a sell order. The trader terminals are coupled to a matching controller computer. The matching controller computer can receive as input the satisfaction density profiles entered at each one of the trading terminals. The matching controller computer matches orders (as represented by each trader's satisfaction density profile) so that each trader is assured that the overall outcome of the process (in terms of average price and size of fill) has maximized the mutual satisfaction of all traders. Typically, the matching process is anonymous.

Abstract: An automated system for managing one or more large investor portfolios containing both cash and numerous, diversified securities in a real time environment provides added liquidity to the securities markets while maintaining predetermined portfolio objectives for each portfolio. The disclosed system uses data processing equipment to place buy and sell orders on securities markets and with automated brokers to execute trade directly between users of the system and external markets. Holders of such large, diversified portfolios have usually been long-term investors. The system allows active market participation by such investors whereby they provide added liquidity and depth to the securities markets while overcoming problems caused by trader identification and the inability to enter, change or execute orders in a real time environment. The system monitors and analyzes a variety of factors which effect trading decisions in a vast number of securities.