System and method for buying and selling employee stock options

Abstract

A bartering system implements barters between a plurality of parties each having one or more classes of items available for barter. Preferably, barter orders are created by designating a selected quantity of a first class of items to be bartered, designating a date range for transferring title of the first class items to be bartered, designating a barter value of the first class of items to be bartered, and designating a second class of items to be acquired. Barter orders are posted via the Internet to a barter database and may be displayed via the Internet. Posted barter orders whose first class of items match the second class of items of a barterer's order are preferably displayed. Posted barter orders from the display are selected to effectuate a barter transaction which combines a barterer's barter order with the selected posted order(s).

1 - 28 . (canceled)  
   
   
       29 . A method for facilitating buying and selling employee stock options on a computerized transferable stock option trading system, comprising: 
 identifying a first trader and a second trader, the first trader seeking to acquire option rights for a stock, the second trader being an employee controlling option rights for the stock;    receiving an offer from the first trader, the offer identifying the stock for which the first trader seeks to acquire option rights and a price associated with the option rights;    receiving an order from the second trader, the order identifying the stock for which the employee controls option rights and a quantity of options to sell;    matching the order with the offer;    transferring the option rights for the stock from the second trader to the first trader; and    transferring funds in accordance with the offer from the first trader to the second trader.    
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the order identifies an after date defining the date upon which the employee options may be exercised.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the order identifies an expiration date defining the date upon which the offer expires.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the order identifies a strike price associated with the option rights.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising holding the option rights in escrow.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 29  further including: 
 assisting the second trader in determining whether the offer is financially advantageous.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34  further including: 
 communicating to the second trader a value ratio.    
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34  further including: 
 communicating to the second trader a value ratio based on a current security trading price associated with the stock.    
   
   
       37 . A transferable stock option trading system for facilitating buying and selling employee stock options, comprising: 
 a processor; and    a memory connected to the processor and storing instructions to control the operation of the processor;    the stored instructions operative to direct the processor to: 
 identify a first trader and a second trader, the first trader seeking to acquire option rights for a stock, the second trader being an employee controlling option rights for the stock;  
 receive an offer from the first trader, the offer identifying the stock for which the first trader seeks to acquire option rights and a price associated with the option rights;  
 receive an order from the second trader, the order identifying the stock for which the employee controls option rights and a quantity of options to sell;  
 match the order with the offer;  
 transfer the option rights for the stock from the second trader to the first trader; and  
 transfer funds in accordance with the offer from the first trader to the second trader.  
   
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 37  wherein the stored instructions are further operative to identify an after date defining the date upon which the employee options may be exercised.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 37  wherein the stored instructions are further operative to identify an expiration date defining the date upon which the offer expires.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the order identifies a strike price associated with the option rights.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 37  wherein the stored instructions are further operative to identify that option rights are to be held in escrow.  
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 37  wherein the stored instructions are further operative to assist the second trader in determining whether the offer is financially advantageous.  
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the stored instructions are further operative to communicate to the second trader a value ratio.  
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the stored instructions are further operative to communicate to the second trader a value ratio based on a current security trading price associated with the stock.