About Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) Code for Companies

After the Global Financial Crisis, the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) code was created as a vital measure to improve the quality and accuracy of financial data systems for improved risk management.

The LEI was created to help control counterparty risk by allowing the identification and linkage of parties to financial transactions. Its purpose is to make systemic risk measurement and monitoring easier and more cost-effective, as well as to assist more cost-effective compliance with regulatory reporting requirements.

This blog will assist you in comprehending the requirements of the LEI code, the process of obtaining an LEI for a firm, and the various conditions that a company must meet in order to obtain an LEI code.

What is a Legal Entity Identifier?

The Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) is a new ISO Standardized Code that provides transparency to global financial market participants. The ISO 17442 standard “Financial Services – Legal Entity Identifier (LEI)” specifies a 20-digit alpha-numerical identifier that is unique to each legal entity subject to the revised Markets in Financial Instruments Directive and Regulation.

Learn more on ISO Certificate Registration in India.

LEI Code will be a cornerstone for financial data—it will be the first worldwide and unique entity identifier, allowing risk managers and regulators to identify parties to financial transactions promptly and precisely.

Importance of LEI number in India

• By obtaining the LEI code it will verify that a company is legally registered and it is an active company.
• The LEI code will provide all the details of a company such as who owns whom, and who is who.
• The LEI is a practical, cost-effective, and reliable at the time of trading with offshore companies.
• It enhances credibility both globally and locally

Formation of Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) code

LEI is a unique number that consists of 20 alphanumeric numbers, below is the formation of this 20 alphanumeric LEI code.

• Characters 1-4 (for LEIL–3358), a four-character prefix assigned by the ROC Secretariat and unique to each Local Operating Unit (LOU).
• 2 reserved characters – 00, 5-6 characters
• The LOU generates and assigns characters 7-18, 12 to an entity according to transparent and sound allocation principles.
• Under ISO 17442, characters 19-20 have two check digits.

What is the point of having an LEI code?

For transactions in the interest rate, currency, and credit derivative markets, the LEI (Legal Entity Identifier) code is required. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has made LEI mandatory for enterprises and organizations with a total fund-based and non-fund-based credit exposure of more than INR 50 crore.

Documents needed to obtain LEI (Legal Entity Identifier) Code

After creating an account, the legal entity will navigate to the “Information” tab and select “Legal Doc Download.” You can obtain a list of papers for each legal form, including but not limited to: 

• PAN card proof
• Incorporation certificate
• Power of Attorney
• Audited financial statements
• General board resolution or General power of attorney

Transactions that are covered by the RBI’s Non-Derivative Market Notification for the application of the LEI code

All participants, other than people (including non-resident entities), who transact in RBI-regulated markets, i.e. Markets for government securities or Markets for money (markets for the issue of any instrument with a maturity of one year or less) or Cash, tom, and spot transactions are non-derivative forex markets (transactions that settle on or before the spot date) than it is covered by the RBI (Reserve Bank of India).

FAQs of LEI in India 

What is the role of  GLEIF (Global Legal Entity Identifier) in the LEI Code? 

GLEIF (Global Legal Entity Identifier) is an international organization in charge of the LEI system’s operation and the oversight of LEI issuers. GLEIF’s (Global Legal Entity Identifier) headquarters are based in Basel, Switzerland. 

My company’s headquarter is relocating to another country. Is it necessary for me to apply for a new LEI Code?

No, if the legal entity remains the same, an issued LEI keeps its legality even if the entity transfers into the jurisdiction of a different issuing body. 

What is the LEI Code’s validity?

LEI Codes have a one-year validity duration from the date of issuance / final renewal.

Is an LEI Code required for all non-derivative FX transactions?

In the case of non-derivative currency transactions, the LEI code will be required for all inter-bank transactions. Only transactions involving an amount equal to or above USD 10,00,000/- or other similar currencies will require an LEI number for non-derivative forex client transactions.

What if I do not have an LEI or if mine expires?

It is the entity’s responsibility to apply for LEI renewal before the validity of the LEI expires. If the LEI holder does not renew their LEI then the LEI status will change to “LAPSED.”

Conclusion

LEI is useful for any company at the time of borrowing funds or at the time of trading with foreign companies. The LEI code will assist banks and credit providers in monitoring corporate borrowers’ exposure. It will make it impossible for banks to make several loans against the same asset.