1. A computer-implemented method for financing by a subsidiary of a parent company, the method comprising:
selling a forward contract to a first investor using a programmed computer, the forward contract having a first maturity date;
selling a preferred security to the first investor using the programmed computer, the preferred security having the first maturity date;
selling a debt instrument to the first investor using the programmed computer, the debt instrument having a second maturity date that is after the first maturity date, wherein the forward contract is issued by the parent company, the preferred security is issued by the subsidiary, the debt instrument is issued by the subsidiary, and together the forward contract, the preferred security and the debt instrument are included as parts of a single financial instrument at the time of sale to the first investor;
determining whether the debt instrument is a bond or a preferred security after expiration of the first maturity date; and
receiving the debt instrument from the first investor if the instrument is a bond.
2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a guarantee by the parent on payments due under the debt instrument.
3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising pledging the preferred security as collateral for settlement of the forward contract.
4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising pledging the debt instrument as collateral for settlement of the forward contract.
5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising withholding from the first investor a predetermined percentage of stock price upside.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined percentage is approximately the first twenty percent.
7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising offering the financial instrument under an SEC registered offering.
8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising offering the financial instrument under a Rule 144A offering.
9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the subsidiary is an offshore subsidiary.
10. A. method according to claim 1, wherein the forward is an equity forward.
11. A method according. to claim 1, wherein the debt instrument is a bond.
12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first maturity date is approximately three years after issue of the financial instrument and the second maturity date is approximately five years after issue of the financial instrument.
13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the subsidiary satisfies a test for financing ability independent of the parent.
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the test for financing ability independent of the parent is substantially as described in Plantation Patterns Inc. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 462 F.2d 712 (5th Cir. 1972).
15. A method according to claim 1, wherein the subsidiary is newly formed.
16. A computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for financing by a subsidiary of a parent company, the method comprising:
selling a forward contract to an investor using the programmed computer, the forward contract having a first maturity date;
selling a preferred security to the investor using the programmed computer, the preferred security having the first maturity date;
selling a debt instrument to the investor using the programmed computer, the debt instrument having a second maturity date that is after the first maturity date, wherein the forward contract is issued by the parent company, the preferred security is issued by the subsidiary, the debt instrument is issued by the subsidiary, and together the forward contract, the preferred security and the debt instrument are included as parts of a single financial instrument at the time of sale to an investor;
determining whether the debt instrument is a bond or a preferred security after expiration of the first maturity date; and
receiving the debt instrument from the investor if the instrument is a bond.
17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising re-selling the debt instrument to a second investor.
18. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a settlement of the forward contract and the preferred security from the first investor if the debt instrument is the preferred security.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus for supporting barrier panels to form a railing, the apparatus comprising:
a base securable to a mounting surface;
a post extending substantially vertically from said base, said post having a first clamping surface thereon; and
a clamping member having a second clamping surface thereon in opposed spaced apart relationship to said first clamping surface, said clamping member being drawable towards said first clamping surface so as to clamp the barrier panel therebetween,
said first and second clamping surfaces being located vertically spaced apart said mounting surface so as to support the barrier panel vertically spaced apart from said mounting surface.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said post extends substantially perpendicularly from said base.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said post extends to less than the height of said barrier panels.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said post extends to a height between one third and one half of the height of said barrier panels.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mounting surface comprises a substantially horizontal surface.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said posts space said barrier panels apart from the horizontal surface by a distance of between 3 and 4 inches.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said clamping member comprises a planar body extending parallel to said post.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said clamping member has a width equal to a width of said post.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said clamping member has a width less than a width of said post.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one fastener extending between said clamping member and said post for drawing said clamping member towards said post.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said at least one fastener comprises two fasteners.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said fasteners comprise bolts.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said bolts extend through bores in said clamping member and are threadably received within threaded bores in said post.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said threaded bores are located in said first clamping surface of said post.
15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said fasteners extend between a gap between adjacent barrier panels wherein each of said first and second clamping surfaces overlaps proximate edges of said glass panels.
16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said fasteners extend through bores in said barrier panels so as to support an intermediate location of said glass panels.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a platform extending from said first clamping surface for supporting a bottom edge of said barrier panels.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a platform extending from said second clamping surface for supporting a bottom edge of said barrier panels.