Systems and Methods for Operating a Computerized Trade Finance Network

Abstract

This invention concerns forfeiting transactions. In particular it concerns methods of operating a computerized forfeiting exchange to develop forfeiting transactions. In another aspect it concerns a computerized forfeiting exchange. The exchange allows the parties to screen counter party types and asset types, to make the transactions more efficient. It also able to provide assistance in ensuring appropriate documentation is used and is properly completed.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method for operating a computerized trade finance system, comprising:
 electronically providing access to the computerized trade finance system to sellers and buyers;   generating, in response to input from an seller, an electronic listing that includes the following items related to a trade finance transaction offered by the seller:
 i. information identifying details on at least one payment obligation related to an underlying export/import transaction; 
 ii. offer information identifying the terms of the offer from the seller, wherein the offer information includes terms related to the transfer of ownership of the payment obligation; and 
 iii. information identifying a set of documents to accompany the offer from the seller; 
   communicating, through the computerized trade finance system, the electronic listing so that the listing and all related offer information are available to potential buyers; and   creating, in response to input from a qualified buyer, an instance of a sale/purchase match of the trade finance transaction, wherein the identity of the seller and buyer remain anonymous until the sale/purchase match is created.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising creating an instance of an offer document from the seller for the trade finance transaction, and providing an electronic counter offer document, on request to the buyer, after the buyer has reviewed the instance of the offer document, wherein the counter offer document contains counter offer selection and counter offer information entry facilities for entry of variations. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising creating an instance of an offer document from the seller for the trade finance transaction, wherein the seller is required to complete obligatory fields of the offer document before the instance of the offer document is submitted by the seller. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the payment obligation relates to at least one of:
 a draft of exchange; 
 a bill of exchange; 
 a site letter of credit requiring confirmation; 
 a down payment on an export credit agency transaction with at least one of a draft, a promissory note, a credit enhancement, a letter of credit, and an aval; 
 a naked deffered payment claim comprising at least one of the draft and the promissory note; 
 a deferred payment letter of credit; and 
 a deferred payment with financial guarantee comprising at least one of an avalized draft, an avalized promissory note, a draft with bank guarantee, and a promissory note with bank guarantee, 
   wherein the obligatory fields comprise information about all individual components of the payment obligation.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the information for the obligatory fields comprises information specifying at least one of an issuing bank, a bank branch, a non-bank institution, a bank representative office, a bank subsidiary, a non-bank institution, a non-bank financial institution, an amount, a currency, at least one tenor, and information on instrument and form of the payment obligation. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the information identifying the terms of the offer comprise information specifying a type of calculation and an interest rate. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of providing attachment facilities for attaching electronic copies of the set of documents that accompany the offer from the seller. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
 creating an instance of an offer document from the seller for the trade finance transaction;   submitting the instance of the offer document without revealing the identity of the seller to the buyer; and   providing, to the buyer, information identifying the seller after there is an acceptance of the offer by the buyer.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of providing electronic links to independent sources of at least one of financial information, risk management information, international trade news, regional news, local news, LIBOR rates, and ratings. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of providing electronic links to standardized forms of documents. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising the step of providing guidance to properly complete the standardized forms of documents. 
     
     
         22 . A computerized trade finance system for sellers and buyers, comprising:
 means for generating, in response to input from an seller, an electronic listing that includes the following items related to a trade finance transaction offered by the seller:
 i. information identifying details on at least one payment obligation related to an underlying export/import transaction; 
 ii. offer information identifying the terms of the offer from the seller, wherein the offer information includes terms related to the transfer of ownership of the payment obligation; and 
 iii. information identifying a set of documents to accompany the offer from the seller; 
   means for communicating the electronic listing so that the listing and all related offer information are available to potential buyers; and   means for creating, in response to input from a qualified buyer, an instance of a sale/purchase match of the trade finance transaction, wherein the identity of the seller and buyer remain anonymous until the sale/purchase match is created.   
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 22 , further comprising means for creating an instance of an offer document from the seller for the trade finance transaction, and means for providing an electronic counter offer document, on request to the buyer, after the buyer has reviewed the instance of the offer document, wherein the counter offer document contains counter offer selection and counter offer information entry facilities for entry of variations. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising means for creating an instance of an offer document from the seller for the trade finance transaction, wherein the seller is required to complete obligatory fields of the offer document before the instance of the offer document is submitted by the seller. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 ,
 wherein the payment obligation relates to at least one of:
 a draft of exchange; 
 a bill of exchange; 
 a site letter of credit requiring confirmation; 
 a down payment on an export credit agency transaction with at least one of a draft, a promissory note, a credit enhancement, a letter of credit, and an aval; 
 a naked deferred payment claim comprising at least one of the draft and the promissory note; 
 a deferred payment letter of credit; and 
 a deferred payment with financial guarantee comprising at least one of an avalized draft, an avalized promissory note, a draft with bank guarantee, and a promissory note with bank guarantee, 
   wherein the obligatory fields comprise information about all individual components of the payment obligation.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the information for the obligatory fields comprises information specifying at least one of an issuing bank, a bank branch, a non-bank institution, a bank representative office, a bank subsidiary, a non-bank institution, a non-bank financial institution, an amount, a currency, at least one tenor, and information on instrument and form of the payment obligation. 
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 22 , further comprising means for providing electronic links to independent sources of at least one of financial information, risk management information, international trade news, regional news, local news, LIBOR rates, and ratings. 
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 22 , further comprising means for providing electronic links to standardized forms of documents.