Method, apparatus and article-of-manufacture for managing and supporting initial public offering and other financial issues
View Patent ↗The present invention relates generally to the field of computer-assisted business methods, and to system and articles-of-manufacture for implementing such methods. More particularly, the invention relates to computer-based methods, apparatus and articles-of-manufacture for supporting the coordination, communication, record-keeping, accounting, security and scheduling needs for the syndicate associated with an initial public offering (“IPO”) or other new financial issue. While the invention is exemplified and discussed herein with reference to IPO's, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is equally applicable to other types of securities and debt instruments, such as preferred stock, corporate bonds, municipal bonds, etc.
1. A computer-implemented method for marketing a new financial issue comprising:
storing, in a central database associated with an underwriter of said new issue, information concerning said new issue, said stored information including at least one indication of interest in said new issue;
linking said central database to a communication network, wherein an issuer and members of a syndicate can access selected portions of said database via said communication network;
regulating access to the at least one indication of interest in said central database by selectively assigning permissions to said members of said syndicate and the issuer; and
allocating, using a programmable device, the financial issue based on a determination by the issuer and/or at least a member of the syndicate, wherein the determination is based on the at least one indication of interest in the central database,
wherein the financial issue is selected from the group consisting of equity securities, preferred stock, corporate bonds, and municipal bonds, and
wherein the central database stores financial issue information related to equity securities, preferred stock, corporate bonds, and municipal bonds.
2. A computer-implemented method, as defined in claim 1 , wherein storing comprises entering an initial indication of interest into said central database.
3. A computer-implemented method, as defined in claim 1 , wherein storing comprises modifying a previously-entered indication of interest stored in said central database.
4. A computer-implemented method, as defined in claim 1 , wherein storing comprises deleting a previously-entered indication of interest stored in said central database.
5. A computer-implemented method, as defined in claim 1 , wherein storing comprises writing proposed at least one update to a temporary storage medium, then, after review of said proposed at least one update, writing said at least one update to said central database.
6. A computer-implemented method, as defined in claim 1 , wherein storing further comprises electronically notifying the members of said syndicate when changes, involving at least one indication of interest, are entered into said central database.
7. A computer-implemented method, as defined in claim 6 , wherein said syndicate includes at least one manager.
8. A computer-implemented method, as defined in claim 7 , wherein said syndicate further comprises at least one issuer or institutional investor.
9. A computer-implemented method, as defined in claim 1 , wherein linking includes connecting to the internet.
10. A computer-implemented method, as defined in claim 1 , wherein linking includes connecting to a corporate intranet.
11. A computer-implemented method, as defined in claim 1 , wherein regulating access further comprises assigning permissions such that issuer(s) and underwriter(s) have less restricted access to said central database than institutional investor(s).
12. A computer-implemented method, as defined in claim 1 , wherein regulating access further comprises checking at least one permission prior to providing access to said central database and providing access only as permitted by said checked permissions.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication-of-interest is entered by a member of an equity capital markets group or institutional sales department on behalf of an investor.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of entering, by a member of the syndicate, a retention indication of interest.
15. A computer-based apparatus for marketing a new financial issue, comprising:
a central database associated with an underwriter of said new issue, said database containing information concerning said new issue, including at least one indication of interest in said new issue;
a communication network, connected to said central database, wherein an issuer and members of a syndicate can access selected portions of said database via said communication network; and,
means for regulating access to the at least one indication of interest in said central database by selectively assigning permissions to said members of said syndicate and the issuer;
wherein the financial issue is allocated based on a determination by the issuer and/or at least a member of the syndicate, wherein the determination is based on the at least one indication of interest in the central database,
wherein the financial issue is selected from the group consisting of equity securities, preferred stock, corporate bonds, and municipal bonds, and
wherein the central database stores financial issue information related to equity securities, preferred stock, corporate bonds, and municipal bonds.
16. A computer-based apparatus, as defined in claim 15 , wherein the information contained in said central database includes at least one initial indication of interest.
17. A computer-based apparatus, as defined in claim 15 , wherein the information contained in said central database includes at least one previously-entered, and subsequently modified, indication of interest.
18. A computer-based apparatus, as defined in claim 15 , further comprising means for writing proposed at least one update to a temporary storage medium, then, after review of said proposed at least one update, writing said at least one update to said central database.
19. A computer-based apparatus, as defined in claim 15 , further comprising means for electronically notifying the members of said syndicate when changes, involving indication of interest, are entered into said central database.
20. A computer-based apparatus, as defined in claim 19 , wherein said syndicate includes at least one manager.
21. A computer-based apparatus, as defined in claim 20 , wherein said syndicate further comprises at least one issuer or institutional investor.
22. A computer-based apparatus, as defined in claim 15 , wherein said communication network includes at least one internet segment.
23. A computer-based apparatus, as defined in claim 15 , wherein said communication network includes at least one corporate intranet segment.
24. A computer-based apparatus, as defined in claim 15 , wherein said means for regulating access further comprises assigning permissions such that issuer(s) and underwriter(s) have less restricted access to said central database than institutional investor(s).
25. A computer-based apparatus, as defined in claim 15 , wherein said means for regulating access further comprises checking at least one permission prior to providing access to said central database and providing access only as permitted by said checked permissions.