The invention concerns a multiparty accounts receivable and accounts
payable system that allows business trading partners to use a single,
shared system for both accounts receivable and accounts payable
management. The system of the invention forms an electronic "bridge"
between a plurality of business trading partners for purposes of
invoicing, dispute resolution, financing, and settlement of single and
multiple currency debts. As the invoicing and settlement activities of
the participants are funneled through a common system, the system allows
a participant to aggregate all debts owed to other participants,
aggregate all debts owed by the other participants, and net debts owed to
other participants with debts owed by these participants. After
aggregation and netting, the participant issues a single payment to
settle numerous accounts payable items, and receives a single payment
that settles numerous accounts receivable items. The system allows
participants to use the substantial amount of financial and cash flow
information captured by the system to borrow more efficiently by
permitting lenders to view this information. Furthermore, the system
provides a confirmation process to convert existing debt obligations into
a new, independent payment obligation due on a date certain and free of
any defenses to the underlying contract. The confirmed debt obligations
provide a better source of working capital for the participants, or can
be converted into electronic promissory notes. The system provides an
electronic exchange for electronic promissory notes, allowing
participants to raise working capital in various ways, for example, by
selling them.