ISIN Services

All UK ISIN applications must be submitted through the Pegasus Online ISIN Submission website, which is part of our continuing commitment to provide best in class issuer services, facilitating the financial markets with timely and accurate reference data. Pegasus utilises innovative technology to assist with the processing and issuance of ISIN & CFI codes.

Can I use Pegasus immediately?

Before you can use the Pegasus Online ISIN Submission website, you will need to register for a free user account on UnaVista.

Once you have accessed UnaVista, click on the number next to the UK ISIN Search folder, the right-hand pane will load with the folder contents, click the “Request UK ISIN” button at the top which will take you through to the Pegasus Online ISIN Submission website screen. Registration is quick and easy and only needs to be completed once.

If you have already pre-registered for a UnaVista account and use the same link then you will be prompted to create a different password for the Pegasus Online ISIN Submission website.

How can I submit my ISIN request through Pegasus after registering?

ISIN applications can be submitted through the UnaVista website once registered, by clicking on the “Request UK ISIN” button which will take you through to the Pegasus Online ISIN Submission website. Alternatively, you will be able to access ‘Pegasus’ via the direct link on this webpage below.

Is there a User guide available for Pegasus?

Yes. A Pegasus User guide and Checklist are available below.

We believe that applying for an ISIN through Pegasus is very intuitive and straight forward, but should you have any questions please contact us by email at isinrequests@lseg.com.

ISIN Application Guidance 

This documentation gives details on the ISIN application process and who can apply for an ISIN and what mandatory documentation is required. By submitting a request for an ISIN, the applicant warrants that it has the legal authority to request an identifier on behalf of the issuer of the security that is the subject of the ISIN; and warrants that all information supplied shall be true and correct in all material respects.

Or alternatively, please reach out to us by email at isinrequests@lseg.com.

Should you have any queries, including updates or changes to ISINs issued by the London Stock Exchange (Prefix: GB, GG, IM & JE) please contact us by email at isinrequests@lseg.com.

The London Stock Exchange and UnaVista offers a bulk ISIN Pre-Allocation Services for organisations who issue their own instruments and require an ISIN code within their instrument creation workflow or for Regulatory compliance.

ISIN issuance must fall within the parameters of ISO6166 for allocation by the London Stock Exchange Plc acting as the National Numbering Agency for Great Britain, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

Key benefits

• Improve your operational efficiency
  Pre-allocation means access to unique, ready to go ISIN codes when you need them, without worrying about duplication or inaccuracy.
• Near real time allocation
  Our bulk allocation service provides you with the ISIN codes in near real-time, so you don’t have to worry about delays to your processing.
• Easy to use software
  Our ISIN pre-allocation service is hosted by London Stock Exchange Group’s award winning UnaVista platform, providing users with an easy to use, established platform accessible globally, 247. Please email the ISIN Services Team at isinrequests@lseg.com and SEDOL sales at sedol@lseg.com for more information.

The ISO 18774 standard incorporates the issuer short name and the abbreviated characteristics for the financial instrument. It has a maximum length of 35 alphanumeric characters.

Unlike other ISO-standard financial instrument identification codes, the FISN is not meant to be machine-readable, but to provide a short format for essential information about a security for human use.

The FISN is composed of:

• zn “/” as the delimiter between issuer name and instrument description;
• An issuer name with a maximum length of 15 alphanumeric characters. To ensure uniformity, the same issuer short name should be used for different financial instruments of the same issuer;
• Exception: in the case of CIVs (Collective Investment Vehicles) issuer name might be longer;
• An instrument description with a maximum length of 19 alphanumeric characters, assuming that the available length of the issuer name has been fully used. In the event that all the 15 characters have not been used in the issuer short name, the remaining space may be used to describe the characteristics of the financial instrument.

The CFI code has been developed to address a number of issues which have affected the financial community:

• Lack of consistent and uniform approach to grouping financial instruments.
• Use of similar terminology for instruments with significantly different features in different countries.
• Inability to group securities in a consistent manner leading to reports of holdings being categorised differently.

The benefits of the code are:

• Definition and description for an internationally valid system to classify financial instruments.
• Provision of a set of codes to be used by all market participants in an EDP environment and permission of electronic communication between participants.
• Improved understanding of the characteristics of financial instruments will lead to a better understanding by investors.

The structure of the CFI code:

The CFI reflects characteristics that are defined when a financial instrument is issued and remain unchanged during its entire lifetime.

The CFI consists of six alphabetical characters. The first character indicates the highest level of classification (categories).

Categories:

• Equities (E)
• Collective investment vehicles (C)
• Debt instruments (D)
• Entitlement (rights) (R)
• Listed options (O)
• Futures (F)
• Swaps (S)
• Non-listed and complex listed options (H)
• Spot (I)
• Forwards (J)
• Strategies (K)
• Financing (L)
• Referential instruments (T)
• Others (miscellaneous) (M)

The second character indicates specific groups within each category:

Groups e.g. for equities:

• Common/ordinary shares
• Preferred/preference shares
• Common/ordinary convertible shares
• Preferred/preference convertible shares
• Limited partnership units
• Depositary receipts on equities
• Structured instruments (participation)
• Others (miscellaneous)

The third to sixth character indicate the most important attributes to each group:

Attributes e.g. for equities:

• Voting right
• Ownership/transfer restrictions
• Payment status
• Form