Method for pooling commodity purchases

[0001] The present invention relates to commodity trading industry and, more particularly, to a method by which an entity, having operations in geographically diverse areas with each operation expending amounts of the commodity, can pool buying power of the various operations for the purchase or trade of commodities.

[0002] Today, many commodities are traded on the open market throughout the world. Typically, the commodities are consumed directly by a purchaser or they are re-sold to other buyers in the market. In both of these scenarios, a purchaser, or entity, may buy large amounts of commodities to be utilized or consumed in a number of different geographical locations. This is typically done by purchasing the commodities from each local market at a price dictated by each market. Usually an index is established in each market to guide and stabilize the purchase of commodities in that market. This is especially useful when an entity purchases many commodities over a period of time.

[0003] Purchasing a commodity typically takes place by an entity either buying at a spot price, the current market price at that time, or at a contract price, a pre-determined price over a period of time. When purchasing at a spot price, the purchaser may be able to take advantage of a low price at that time; however, if the price rises before the entity's next purchase, the entity is forced into paying the higher price. Therefore, many entities purchase commodities at a contract price for a period of time. A contract price guarantees the entities cost will never change; however, this price is typically more than the entity would pay if it were to buy at spot price.

[0004] Another factor in purchasing commodities is the type of market. Purchasing a commodity in a well-established market is much safer than purchasing in a small market that is not established. A well-established market will have a reliable index to guide an entity to make an informed purchase. Usually, with a reliable index, an entity can purchase a commodity at a contract price and actually pay less than if the entity were to pay at spot price over the same period of time. When purchasing a commodity in a non-established market with an unreliable index, the spot price is typically inflated and the entity is forced into buying long-term contracts at higher rates.

[0005] Recently, some commodity brokers have offered an option when buying commodities. The broker will sell an entity a commodity at spot price and additionally offer the entity to purchase an option to cap the cost of the spot price. The option will place a ceiling, or typically called a call strike price, on the amount the entity pays over a period of time. The options are usually effective for entities buying from only a couple of different markets, however, when an entity purchases from several different markets, it must buy an option from each marketthis can become costly. In addition, if an entity buys an option from a market that is not established, the premium for the option may be very costly.

[0006] What is needed, therefore, is a geographical price index that takes an entity's typical usage and cost into account to equalize prices and thus, allow the entity to pool buying power of the various operations of the entity for the purchase or trade of commodities.

[0007] The present invention is directed towards solving the aforementioned needs in the art, as well as other needs in the art, by providing an approach to purchasing commodities over a geographically diverse area in a plurality of geographically diverse areas.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is a method for determining a price index model unique to a specific entity who buys commodities in a plurality of geographically diverse areas or who has a plurality of commodity consuming facilities that are geographically diverse. The unique aspect of this invention is finding an optimal call strike price for a given commodity such that there is a superior measure of savings using the price index model. In addition, once a call strike price is determined, the price index model is used to calculate periodic payouts when appropriate.

[0009] Other aspects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of producing a stack model according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of producing a price index model according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the payout calculations using a price index model according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Turning now to the figures in which like numerals represent like elements throughout the several views, several exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described.

[0015] This invention can be applied to virtually any commodity market including but not limited to electric power, natural gas, grains, agricultural products, metals, petrochemicals, energy products such as heating oil, jet fuel, crude oil and distillate products thereof, pulp and paper, plastics, integrated circuit chips such as Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), and other traded commodities. The electric power industry is used as an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] The present invention can be used to lower the cost, or at least provide protection against drastic cost changes, in the purchase of a commodity. This is accomplished by creating a tailored price index that includes all, or a significant number of an entity's geographically diverse facilities. More specifically, the present invention is a price index for a particular entity having a plurality of geographically diverse facilities, wherein the price index is utilized to periodically calculate payouts to and from the entity based on a call strike price or a swap price. First, in a stack model, generating an appropriate call strike price or swap price using history data, current forward market data and contract terms. Second, in a price index model, generating a periodic price index using periodic load and periodic price data. Next, using the call strike price or swap price generated in the stack model and using the periodic price index, calculating periodic payouts to and from the entity.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a set-up phase 100 containing a stack model 105 works in conjunction with a periodic phase 102 containing a price index model 110. In an exemplary embodiment, the set-up phase 100 occurs only once, at the onset of initiating a trade, to generate a call strike price 125 or a swap price 126, depending on what hedging instrument is considered by the entity. Therefore, the call strike price 125 or swap price 126 does not change. The stack model 105 incorporates history data 115, current forward market data 116 for a particular geographic area and contract terms 120 as well as other information to generate the call strike price 125 or swap price 126. Once the call strike price 125 or swap price 126 is generated in the set-up phase 100, it is utilized in the price index model 110 for processing. There, in the periodic phase 102, the price index model 110 performs periodic calculations using the call strike price 125 or swap price 126, a periodic load 130 and a periodic price 135. The price index model 110 generates a call strike payout 140 or a swap payout 145.

[0018] In another exemplary embodiment, the set-up phase 100 may occur at specified intervals, or at other specified times. Thus, the call strike price 125 or the swap price 126 may change accordingly. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the application of the present invention can take many forms and functions and the examples provided herein are only used to illustrate a few of these possibilities. The scope of the present invention is not limited by these examples.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the stack model 105 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The details of the operation of the stack model 105 may vary among various embodiments of the present invention. However, in an exemplary embodiment, the first step of the stack model 105 is receiving history data at step 205. The history data includes, but is not limited to, a load history. The load history is based on load data over a period of time for an entity that buys commodities in a plurality of geographically diverse areas or that has a plurality of commodity consuming facilities that are geographically diverse.

[0020] The next step of the stack model 105 is receiving current forward market data, at step 207. The current forward market data includes, but is not limited to, forward market price data. The forward market price data is based on a forecast of price data for a future period of time for a particular geographic area. The forward market price data includes data for all geographic areas that an entity that buys commodities in a plurality of geographically diverse areas or that has a plurality of commodity consuming facilities that are geographically diverse.

[0021] The next step of the stack model 105 is calculating a price index, step 210, based upon the history data and the current forward market data. Step 210 is performed by the equation of: $I=\frac{\left[LP\right]}{L};$

[0022] where

[0023] I is the price index;

[0024] L is the load data; and

[0025] P is the price data.

[0026] The price index encompasses the entities entire commodity portfolio across a plurality of geographically diverse areas. Thus, the price index is representative of the entities spending and usage trends and needs.

[0027] In an alternative exemplary embodiment, a group of geographically diverse facilities is selected from the entities plurality of geographically diverse facilities in response to the history data. The group may be selected for specific desired criteria or for some other reason. The group of geographically diverse facilities is then used in calculating the price index using the aforementioned equation. Furthermore, the calculation of the price index may be performed a plurality of times with different combinations of groups each time to facilitate the selection of an exemplary group.

[0028] The next step of the stack model 105 is receiving contract terms, at step 215. Contract terms refer to the terms of purchase contracts for the commodities that an entity negotiates with local commodity dealers. Contract terms may include, but are not limited to, purchase options, purchase prices, time periods, and other terms specified in a purchase contract.

[0029] Next, the price index and contract terms as well as other information are used to generate a call strike price or a swap price at step 220, thus, the call strike price or swap price is representative of the entities trends and needs. Those skilled in the art know many techniques for modeling and predicting trends. Such techniques are generally proprietary in that they give a trading company their advantage. Such techniques should be applied in the generation of the call strike price.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the price index model 110 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first step of the price index model 110 is receiving a periodic load input at step 305. The periodic load input is based on load data over a period of time for an entity that buys commodities in a plurality of geographically diverse areas or that has a plurality of commodity consuming facilities that are geographically diverse, taken at a periodic interval. The next step is receiving a periodic price input at step 310. Likewise, the price input is based on price data over a period of time for an entity that buys commodities in a plurality of geographically diverse areas or that has a plurality of commodity consuming facilities that are geographically diverse, taken at a periodic interval. The next step of the price index model 110 is calculating a periodic price index at step 315. Step 315 is performed by the equation of: $I_p=\frac{\left[L_p{P}_p\right]}{L_p};$

[0031] where

[0032] I_p is the periodic price index;

[0033] L_p is the periodic load input; and

[0034] P_p is the periodic price input.

[0035] The periodic price index encompasses the entities entire commodity portfolio across a plurality of geographically diverse areas. Thus, the periodic price index is representative of the entities spending and usage trends, taken at a periodic interval. In an exemplary environment, the periodic price index is calculated with all of the plurality of geographically diverse facilities. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the periodic price index is calculated using a group of the geographically diverse facilities. The next step is receiving a call strike price or a swap price at step 320. The call strike price or swap price is received from the stack model 105 in the set-up phase 100. The next step is either calculating a periodic call strike payout, step 330, or calculating a periodic swap payout at step 335. The selection is determined by the entity and the commodity broker in the stack model 105. When a call option is selected, then the next step is calculating a periodic call strike payout, step 330. A call is a type of option that caps the cost of a commodity at a call strike price. For example, if the call strike price is $35 and a commodity price for Day 1 is $45, the entity will pay the $45 to the local dealer and receive $10, a call payout, from the seller of the call, thus capping the commodity price at the call strike price of $35. If, however, the commodity price for Day 1 is $25, the entity will pay $25, with a call payout of $0. Please note that the example was for one day, the present invention calculates a periodic call payout over a specified period, which may be one day or a plurality of days. Step 330 is performed by the equation of:

[0036] where

[0037] P_c is the periodic call payout;

[0038] L_p is the periodic load input;

[0039] I_p is the periodic price index; and

[0040] S_s is the call strike price.

[0041] When a swap option is selected, the next step, after step 320, is calculating a periodic swap payout, step 335. A swap is a type of option that sets the price of a commodity at the swap price. For example, if a swap price is $35 and a commodity price for Day 1 is $25, the entity will pay $10 to the broker, a swap payout of $10, thus paying $35 total. If however, the price for the commodity is $45, the entity will only pay $35 and the broker will pay $10, a swap payout of $10. Step 335 is performed by the equation of:

[0042] where

[0043] P_s is said periodic swap payout;

[0044] L_p is said periodic load input;

[0045] I_p is said periodic price index; and

[0046] S_sw is said swap price.

[0047] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the calculation of a payout based upon a price index according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 has two phases, a set-up phase 100 and a periodic phase 102. In an exemplary embodiment the set-up phase 100 is completed each renewal period and the periodic phase 102 occurs every periodic period. The renewal period will be determined by the broker and typically, it will be a longer amount of time than the periodic period. The first step is receiving history and current forward market data for an entity consisting of a plurality of geographically diverse facilities at step 405. The next step is selecting a group of geographically diverse facilities at step 410. Next, in step 415, the entity and broker determine the optimal type of option for the group of geographically diverse facilities based, at least in part, on the history and current forward market data. The next step is determining a call strike price or a swap price, depending on the option selected, for the group of geographically diverse facilities based, at least in part, on the history and current forward market data and contract terms at step 420. The next step, a periodic phase 102 step, receives periodic load and price data for the group of geographically diverse facilities at step 430. The next step is calculating a price index for the group of geographically diverse facilities at step 435. Next, we determine if the periodic price index is greater than the call strike price or the swap price at step 440. If it is, then the next step is to calculate the payout to the entity at step 450. If it is not, then the next step is to determine if the option is a call option or a swap option at step 445. If it is a call option, there is no payout, step 455. If it is a swap option, then calculate the payment from the entity to the broker at step 460.

[0048] Although this disclosure describes our invention in terms of exemplary embodiments, the invention is not limited to those embodiments. Rather, a person skilled in the art will construe the appended claims broadly, to include other variants and embodiments of the invention, which those skilled in the art may make or use without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention.