Global LEI Lookup Directory

What Is a Legal Entity Identifier (LEI)?

A Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) is a unique 20-character alphanumeric code based on the ISO 17442 standard. It is assigned to legal entities that participate in financial transactions, enabling global identification across borders and regulatory jurisdictions. The LEI system was created by the G20 and the Financial Stability Board (FSB) in response to the 2008 financial crisis, which revealed the inability to identify counterparties in complex, cross-border transactions.

Each LEI code maps to a set of reference data that includes the entity's official legal name, registered address, country of formation, direct and ultimate parent organizations, and registration details. This data is maintained by authorized LEI Issuing Organizations (also called Local Operating Units, or LOUs) and aggregated by GLEIF (the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation) into a single, publicly available dataset.

LEI Code Structure and Format

The 20-character LEI code is structured as follows:

• Characters 1–4: Prefix identifying the LOU (Local Operating Unit) that issued the LEI
• Characters 5–6: Reserved characters (currently "00")
• Characters 7–18: Entity-specific identifier assigned by the LOU
• Characters 19–20: Two check digits calculated using the ISO 7064 Mod 97-10 algorithm

For example, the LEI code 5493001KJTIIGC8Y1R12 identifies a specific legal entity: the first four characters identify the issuing LOU, while the check digits at the end validate the code's integrity.

LEI Data Levels

The Global LEI System provides data at two distinct levels, commonly referred to as Level 1 and Level 2 data:

• Level 1 — "Who is Who": Reference data identifying the legal entity itself, including legal name, registered address, headquarters address, country of formation, entity status, legal form, and registration authority details.
• Level 2 — "Who Owns Whom": Relationship data mapping direct and ultimate parent entities, enabling a clear picture of corporate ownership structures. This includes direct consolidation (accounting relationships) and ultimate consolidation paths.

Why the LEI System Was Created

Before the LEI system, there was no universal standard for identifying legal entities across financial markets. Different jurisdictions used different identifiers (such as the UK's Companies House number, the US EIN, or the German Handelsregister number), making it extremely difficult to track exposures and counterparty risk globally. The LEI solves this by providing a single, universal identifier that works across all markets and jurisdictions.

Who Needs a Legal Entity Identifier?

LEI registration is required by financial regulators in most major jurisdictions. Any legal entity that participates in regulated financial transactions must obtain and maintain an LEI. Key regulations that mandate LEI usage include:

European Union

• MiFID II / MiFIR: All investment firms and their clients who are legal entities must have an LEI to execute transactions on EU trading venues.
• EMIR (European Market Infrastructure Regulation): Both counterparties to a derivative contract must report their LEI for trade reporting.
• SFTR (Securities Financing Transactions Regulation): LEI is required for reporting securities financing transactions.
• CSDR (Central Securities Depositories Regulation): LEI identification is mandatory for settlement processes.

United States

• CFTC Regulations: The Commodity Futures Trading Commission requires LEI for swap reporting and recordkeeping.
• SEC Rules: The Securities and Exchange Commission mandates LEI usage for security-based swap reporting, large trader reporting, and Form PF filings.
• Federal Reserve: Uses LEI for regulatory reporting in forms such as FR Y-14 and FR 2052a.

Other Jurisdictions

• United Kingdom: Post-Brexit, the FCA maintains LEI requirements for MiFID-equivalent regulations.
• Canada: The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) and other provincial regulators require LEI for derivatives reporting.
• Australia: ASIC mandates LEI for OTC derivatives reporting.
• India: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) requires LEI for all borrowers with aggregate exposure above a certain threshold.
• Japan: JFSA requires LEI for derivatives transaction reporting.

Beyond Regulatory Compliance

Beyond mandatory regulatory requirements, LEIs are increasingly used for:

• KYC/AML Compliance: Simplifying Know Your Customer and Anti-Money Laundering checks by providing verified entity identification.
• Supply Chain Finance: Enabling accurate identification of trading partners in supply chain finance programs.
• Digital Identity: LEIs are being integrated into verifiable credentials and digital identity frameworks as the foundation for organizational identity.
• Payment Systems: ISO 20022 payment messaging standards include LEI as a key identifier field for legal entities.

How to Search and Verify LEI Records on LEIScan

LEIScan provides free, unrestricted access to the complete global LEI dataset maintained by GLEIF. Our database is updated daily through GLEIF's Golden Copy and Delta Files to ensure you always have the most current information.

Search by Company Name

Enter any company or organization name in the search bar above to find matching LEI records. The search matches against legal names across all jurisdictions. Results prioritize active entities to help you find current records quickly.

Look Up by LEI Code

If you already have a 20-character LEI code, enter it directly in the search box. LEIScan will redirect you immediately to the entity's detail page showing all available reference data, addresses, and corporate ownership relationships.

Browse by Country

Use our country directory to explore all registered entities within a specific jurisdiction. Each country page shows total entity counts, active versus lapsed statistics, and a complete alphabetical listing of all entities with LEI codes in that country.

Understanding Entity Detail Pages

Every LEI record on LEIScan displays comprehensive information organized into clear sections:

• Entity Details: Legal name, LEI code, entity status, jurisdiction, legal form code, and business register number.
• Addresses: Both the legal (registered) address and headquarters address, when different.
• Registration Information: Initial registration date, last update, next renewal date, managing LOU, and corroboration level.
• Other Names: Alternative names, trade names, and translations in other languages.
• Ownership & Relationships: Direct and ultimate parent entities, subsidiaries, fund manager relationships, and branch connections.

LEI Registration, Renewal, and Status Lifecycle

Understanding LEI status is essential for compliance verification. Each LEI record has both an entity status and a registration status that reflect different aspects of the identifier's lifecycle.

Entity Status

• Active: The legal entity is active and operating. The LEI record's reference data has been verified and confirmed.
• Inactive: The legal entity has ceased to operate (dissolved, merged, or otherwise no longer legally existing).

Registration Status

• Issued: The LEI has been issued and is currently valid. The entity has completed its annual renewal.
• Lapsed: The entity has not renewed its LEI by the annual renewal date. A lapsed LEI still uniquely identifies the entity but indicates the reference data may not be current.
• Retired: The LEI has been permanently retired. This typically occurs when the entity is merged, dissolved, or identified as a duplicate.
• Pending Transfer: The LEI is being transferred from one LOU to another. During this period, the identifier remains valid.
• Pending Archival: The LEI is in the process of being archived, typically due to entity dissolution.

Annual Renewal Requirements

LEIs must be renewed annually to maintain "Issued" status. During renewal, the managing LOU re-verifies the entity's reference data against official business register records. If an entity fails to renew, its registration status changes to "Lapsed." A lapsed LEI can be renewed at any time by contacting the managing LOU and completing the verification process.

GLEIF and the Global LEI System Governance

The Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) is a not-for-profit organization established by the Financial Stability Board in 2014. GLEIF oversees the entire Global LEI System, ensuring data quality, consistency, and open access. The governance structure consists of three main layers:

• Regulatory Oversight Committee (ROC): A group of over 70 public authorities and international bodies that provides oversight and policy guidance for the LEI system.
• GLEIF: The operational arm that manages the global LEI data pool, accredits LOUs, and ensures data quality standards are met.
• Local Operating Units (LOUs): The organizations authorized to issue LEIs, verify reference data, and manage annual renewals. LOUs operate in specific jurisdictions and are accredited by GLEIF.

All LEI data is published under a CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication, meaning it is freely available for anyone to use, redistribute, and build upon without restriction.