LEI Lookup – Fully dedicated LEI search website
Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) numbers are unique reference numbers used to identify legal entities across the globe. The LEI data includes the entity’s location, status, and information regarding the parental structure. The LEI Lookup website offers an excellent tool to facilitate the transparency of the LEI data, as it can be used to check any company data by simply typing in their LEI number or legal name.
The LEI database is managed by the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) and is completely transparent and accessible to everyone—regulators, businesses, and other entities—regardless of whether they possess an LEI number themselves. This guarantees transparency between the parties involved in any financial transaction. As the LEI numbers are renewed each year, the database can be relied upon to display only up-to-date information.
The LEI Lookup website offers information about the LEI number and its uses, a comprehensive search tool, and LEI registration, transfer, and renewal services.
How does the LEI search work?
The LEI Lookup search tool has access to the complete GLEIF database and can be freely used by anyone. To find a company profile, it is easiest to search by its 20-character LEI number. Searching by the entity’s legal name is also possible if the LEI number is unavailable. The LEI Lookup search tool implements an autofill feature, which offers partial matches to the search term after entering a couple of letters or words. Since many legal entities worldwide can have the same or similar names, the legal jurisdiction in which the entity is registered is also displayed, helping narrow the search results.
In addition to the LEI search function, LEI Lookup allows users to register, renew, or transfer LEI numbers. The LEI number registration, renewal, and transfer service is provided by LEI Register, a Registration Agent for RapidLEI, a GLEIF-accredited Local Operating Unit.
LEI registration process explained
The LEI registration process takes only 2 minutes, provided all the necessary information is available. If the entity is registered in the local Business Registry, much of the data might already be auto-filled. In a Trust or Fund case, the required data should be entered manually. In addition to the legal and headquarters address, the applicant’s full name and email address need to be provided for contact purposes.
There are two levels of data associated with the LEI number. Level 1 data answers the question ‘Who is Who?’, and Level 2 data, ‘Who owns whom?’, refers to the parental structure. If the entity is owned by another company (>50%) consolidating the financial statements, it can be reported as a parent.
In some cases, additional documentation might be needed to verify the entity data. The documents should confirm the legal entity name, address, and the names of the authorized representatives of the entity.
The prices displayed on the LEI Lookup registration page (excl. VAT) are transparent, with no hidden costs. The GLEIF surcharge is already included in the amount. You can choose between a 1-, 3-, or 5-year registration. The benefit of choosing a multiyear registration is a lower yearly rate and peace of mind—LEI Lookup will take care of the yearly renewal and ensure that the LEI remains active for the chosen period.
After completing the payment, the team quickly checks the data and submits the application. The data in the application will be verified against the local business registry. It can take a couple of minutes, up to a couple of hours, to issue the LEI in case everything matches.
LEI renewal is a simple process
Since the LEI number system prides itself on always providing accurate and up-to-date data, the LEI number is valid for one year, after which it needs to be renewed. If the LEI number is not renewed, its status will change from issued to lapsed, and the entity will no longer be able to participate in financial transactions.
Each legal entity can only be issued one LEI number—GLEIF performs rigorous duplicate checks to guarantee this. If there is any doubt that a legal entity might already have an LEI number, the LEI search is an excellent tool to check this! If an LEI number already exists, it should be renewed rather than a new one applied for.
The LEI number renewal is a simple process – there is no need to fill in the entity data again, as the fields will be automatically filled out based on the LEI data. The LEI renewal is an excellent opportunity to make changes to the LEI data if applicable (changed address, changes in parental data). The data can also be changed any time during the year; just let LEI Lookup know, and the team will update the information.
The costs of the LEI renewal are the same as for the LEI registration, with a multiyear renewal being the most cost-effective. In this case, LEI Lookup will take care of the entity’s yearly renewal and ensure that there are no gaps in the LEI validity period, guaranteeing the entity’s ability to access financial markets and transactions.
LEI transfer for changing service providers
Since there are many different LEI service providers – LOUs – there might come a time when a switch in the service provider is necessary. LEI numbers can be transferred from the management of one LOU to the care of another. The LEI number will stay the same, but the service provider will change. There could be many reasons for transferring the LEI, such as dissatisfaction with the service or a better yearly LEI administration rate. The transfer of the LEI number is free of cost; however, when the LEI needs to be renewed, the fee will be paid to the new LOU.
Since transferring the LEI number requires cooperation between the different LOUs, the process can take up to 7 days.
