LEI

The Regulatory Oversight Committee (ROC)

• The ROC is a standalone committee of more than 70 global regulatory authorities. The ROC sets global LEI principles and endorses LOUs.

The Central Operating Unit (COU)

• The COU is a non-profit foundation implementing global standards and the uniform operating model.

Local Operating Units (LOU)

• LOUs are authorized by the COU to provide self-registration of LEI codes to entities in the jurisdictions they serve. As part of the endorsement process each LOU must prove that they fulfill requirements and obligations set by the ROC. Once that has been confirmed – the LOU receives status ‘endorsed’ (i.e. accepted as issuer of LEI codes by all member countries in the ROC).

The LEI code is a 20 digit alphanumeric code as defined in the ISO standard 17442. The code is built up as follows:

• Characters 1-4: A four character prefix allocated uniquely to each LOU.
• Characters 5-6: Two reserved characters set to zero.
• Characters 7-18: Entity-specific part of the code generated and assigned by LOUs according to transparent, sound and robust allocation policies.
• Characters 19-20: Two check digits as described in the ISO 17442 standards.*

The LEI code is not aimed to replace existing local identifiers (such as national company registration numbers), but will gradually become the binding standard for regulatory reporting globally.
* The LEI code structure

A LOU endorsement is an approval from the ROC that the LOU fulfils its requirements and obligations
Registration and maintenance fee is set from the guidelines of the Financial Stability Board (FSB) and all fees are on a strictly cost-covering basis.

The number of active and endorsed LOUs is increasing rapidly. You can find the most recent list available on the ROC site 

For Nordea customers operating in the Nordic region the following LEI providers are currently operational:

• LEI Nummer (For Danish customers)
• Arctic (For Norwegian customers)
• Bloomberg
• NordLEI
• WM Datenservice
• London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG)
• Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH)

The LEI registration is a straight forward, online procedure typically based on 5 general steps:

1. Create a personal account at a LOU
2. Register company information
3. Pay either an invoice sent by email or to the postal address you provide
4. A verification process starts when the LOU receives the payment
5. The LEI code is allocated once the verification in complete

The properties of the LEI codes are the same regardless of where the LEI is issued. However, only endorsed LOUs and their recognised registration agents are valid from an EMIR perspective.

NordLEI (Sweden)
Recognised Registration Agent of the GMEI Utility (Web portal available in all Nordic languages and payments accepted in local currencies).
Guide to registration of LEI at NordLEI

WM-Datenservice
Q&A: https://www.wm-leiportal.org/en/lei-info/
Apply for a LEI: https://www.wm-leiportal.org/?lang=en and click the button “APPLY” and follow the instructions.
This is an online application where you need to register as a user before submitting the form.

London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG)
http://www.lseg.com/LEI
Click on “How to Request an LEI”. This is an online application where you need to register as a user before submitting the form.

Finnish patent bureau Endorsed and operational. Only accepts Finnish companies.
https://www.prh.fi/en/leicodes.html
Download the form, fill it with information and sign it according to the rules listed on this homepage and send it to the addresses listed on this page.

For the full list of endorsed LOUs please visit the GLEIF website

Q&A information published by LOUs

• WM-Datenservice FAQ
• London Stock Exchange Group

For further information please contact Nordea at LEI [at] nordea.com (LEI[at]nordea[dot]com)

Regulatory bodies (general info)

• Regulatory Oversight Committee
• Financial Stability Board
• The Global LEI Foundation