An LEI, or Legal Entity Identifier, is a unique identification number for identifying a legal entity in the global financial system based on ISO standard 17442. An LEI code is issued to the company once, it is unique, and consists of 20 symbols. The LEI code is issued for one year. Depending on the issuer of the LEI code, the client may be able to pay for automatic renewal of a multi-year LEI code.
Financial institutions and supervisory authorities use the LEI code to identify parties to securities transactions.
Pursuant to Directive 2014/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (MiFID 2), from 3 January 2018, the use of the LEI code is mandatory for European companies in all transactions with traded securities and without it, legal entities cannot carry out securities transactions. The LEI code can be used to identify legal entities participating in global financial markets for a variety of supervisory purposes.
You will need an LEI code for transactions (buying and selling both on the trading venue and outside the trading venue) with tradable instruments (incl. shares, bonds, ETFs and derivatives).
The LEI code can be applied for online. The list of organisations that issue LEI codes is available at www.gleif.org. The costs related to applying for and owning an LEI code are borne by the client. To obtain an LEI code, you need to select an LEI operator, create a user profile on its website, and provide the required data. The LEI code will be issued within a couple of days to a couple of weeks once the necessary data and confirmations have been provided.
Yes, the LEI code is subject to a fee, and the price offered is different for each LEI code issuer.
Without the LEI code, or if it is no longer valid, you will not be able to make transactions with tradable instruments. To correctly comply with the reporting obligation of an investment service provider, the LEI code of the client who is a legal entity must be valid.
The LEI code requirement comes from the European Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, and it is the bank’s responsibility to ensure that all companies that carry out stock exchange transactions have a valid LEI code. From a client that is a legal entity, the bank must request all the information necessary to provide the supervisory authority with information on transactions. Such information also includes the LEI code. If a client who is a legal entity fails to provide the investment service provider with the information necessary for reporting a securities transaction, including the LEI code, the service provider will not be able to fulfil the reporting obligation arising from the law.
Without submitting the LEI code, the client will not be able to purchase instruments trading on the stock exchange.
After receiving the LEI code, you must go to the Internet Bank (Placement/Investment > Securities accounts) and enter the received LEI code.
