An apparatus and process (collectively the "system") for conducting and
managing the primary offering of fixed income securities, specifically,
but not exclusively, fixed rate municipal bonds at different prices for
like maturities over electronic networks, particularly, but not
exclusively, the Internet, is disclosed. A differential commission method
for the distribution of primary market fixed income securities, including
the steps of: (a) purchasing from an issuer, by an underwriter, at least
one fixed income security on the primary market; (b) offering the at
least one fixed income security to at least one investor; (c) setting, by
a first offerer, a price, including a commission, for the at least one
fixed income security; (d) setting, by a subsequent offerer, a different
price, including a different commission, for the at least one fixed
income security; and (e) purchasing, by the at least one investor, the at
least one fixed income security. The system includes the steps of: (1)
building and maintaining an inquiry database; (2) building and
maintaining a syndicate inputs database; (3) comparing the inquiry
database with the syndicate inputs database; and (4) identifying matches
between the data in the inquiry and the syndicate inputs database.