International Securities Identification Number: Difference between revisions
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The NSIN element of the ISIN can be up to 9 digits long. Shorter numbers are padded with leading zeros before the addition of the country code and a check digit transform the NSIN to an ISIN. |
The NSIN element of the ISIN can be up to 9 digits long. Shorter numbers are padded with leading zeros before the addition of the country code and a check digit transform the NSIN to an ISIN. |
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In North America the NNA is the [[CUSIP]] organization, meaning that CUSIPs can easily be converted into ISINs by adding the US or CA country code to the beginning of the existing CUSIP code and adding another check digit at the end. In the United Kingdom and Ireland the NNA is the [[London Stock Exchange]] and the NSIN is the [[SEDOL]], converted in a similar fashion. Swiss ISINs are issued by [[SIX Financial Information]] and are based on the [[Valoren|VALOR number]]. Most other countries use similar conversions, but if no country NNA exists then regional NNAs are used instead. |
In North America the NNA is the [[CUSIP]] organization, meaning that CUSIPs can easily be converted into ISINs by adding the US or CA country code to the beginning of the existing CUSIP code and adding another check digit at the end. In the United Kingdom and Ireland the NNA is the [[London Stock Exchange]] and the NSIN is the [[SEDOL]], converted in a similar fashion. The [http://isin.org ISIN Organization] assists companies worldwide with ISIN application and database services. Swiss ISINs are issued by [[SIX Financial Information]] and are based on the [[Valoren|VALOR number]]. Most other countries use similar conversions, but if no country NNA exists then regional NNAs are used instead. |
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ISINs are being introduced worldwide. At present, trading, clearing and settlement systems in many countries have adopted ISINs as a secondary measure of identifying securities. Some countries, mainly in Europe, have moved to using the ISIN as their primary means of identifying securities. In addition new European regulations such as Solvency II increasingly require the ISIN to be reported. |
ISINs are being introduced worldwide. At present, trading, clearing and settlement systems in many countries have adopted ISINs as a secondary measure of identifying securities. Some countries, mainly in Europe, have moved to using the ISIN as their primary means of identifying securities. In addition new European regulations such as Solvency II increasingly require the ISIN to be reported. |
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Revision as of 03:24, 22 March 2015
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An International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) uniquely identifies a security. Its structure is defined in ISO 6166. Securities for which ISINs are issued include bonds, commercial paper, stocks and warrants. The ISIN code is a 12-character alpha-numerical code that does not contain information characterizing financial instruments but serves for uniform identification of a security at trading and settlement.
Securities to which ISINs can be issued include debt securities, shares, options, derivatives and futures. The ISIN identifies the security, not the exchange (if any) on which it trades; it is not a ticker symbol. For instance, Daimler AG stock trades through almost 30 trading platforms and exchanges worldwide, and is priced in five different currencies; it has the same ISIN on each, though not the same ticker symbol. ISIN cannot specify a particular trading location in this case, and another identifier, typically MIC (Market Identification Code) or the three-letter exchange code, will have to be specified in addition to the ISIN. The Currency of the trade will also be required to uniquely identify the instrument using this method.
Description
An ISIN consists of three parts: Generally, a two letter country code, a nine character alpha-numeric national security identifier, and a single check digit. The country code is the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code for the country of issue, which is not necessarily the country where the issuing company is domiciled. International securities cleared through Clearstream or Euroclear, which are worldwide, use "XS" as the country code.
Issuance
The ISIN is based on the National Securities Identifying Number, or NSIN, assigned by governing bodies in each country, known as the national numbering agency (NNA). The NNAs are co-ordinated through the Association of National Numbering Agences, ANNA.[1] ISIN and CFI information can be accessed through the ANNA Service Bureau (ASB),[2] run by CUSIP Global Services and SIX Financial Information. The ASB is the official ISIN database of record.
The NSIN element of the ISIN can be up to 9 digits long. Shorter numbers are padded with leading zeros before the addition of the country code and a check digit transform the NSIN to an ISIN.
In North America the NNA is the CUSIP organization, meaning that CUSIPs can easily be converted into ISINs by adding the US or CA country code to the beginning of the existing CUSIP code and adding another check digit at the end. In the United Kingdom and Ireland the NNA is the London Stock Exchange and the NSIN is the SEDOL, converted in a similar fashion. The ISIN Organization assists companies worldwide with ISIN application and database services. Swiss ISINs are issued by SIX Financial Information and are based on the VALOR number. Most other countries use similar conversions, but if no country NNA exists then regional NNAs are used instead.
ISINs are being introduced worldwide. At present, trading, clearing and settlement systems in many countries have adopted ISINs as a secondary measure of identifying securities. Some countries, mainly in Europe, have moved to using the ISIN as their primary means of identifying securities. In addition new European regulations such as Solvency II increasingly require the ISIN to be reported.
ISIN Calculation Methodology
The procedure for calculating ISIN check digits uses the Luhn algorithm, a "Modulus 10 Double Add Double" technique also used in CUSIPs and SEDOLS. The Luhn algorithm was designed for numbers, but an ISIN contains letters as well, so letters must be translated to numbers before the checksum is calculated.
To calculate the check digit, first convert any letters to numbers by adding their ordinal position in the alphabet to 9, such that A = 10 and M = 22. Starting with the right most digit, every other digit is multiplied by two. (For CUSIP check digits, these two steps are reversed.) The resulting string of digits (numbers greater than 9 becoming two separate digits) are added up. Subtract this sum from the smallest number ending with zero that is greater than or equal to it: this gives the check digit, which is also known as the ten's complement of the sum modulo 10. That is, the resulting sum, including the check-digit, is a multiple of 10.
Conversion table for characters is:
| A = 10 | F = 15 | K = 20 | P = 25 | U = 30 | Z = 35 |
| B = 11 | G = 16 | L = 21 | Q = 26 | V = 31 | |
| C = 12 | H = 17 | M = 22 | R = 27 | W = 32 | |
| D = 13 | I = 18 | N = 23 | S = 28 | X = 33 | |
| E = 14 | J = 19 | O = 24 | T = 29 | Y = 34 |
In other words; Take the ASCII code for the capital letter and subtract 55
Examples
Apple Inc.
Apple Inc.: ISIN US0378331005, expanded from CUSIP 037833100 The main body of the ISIN is the original CUSIP, assigned in the 1970s. The country code "US" has been added on the front, and an additional check digit at the end. The country code indicates the country of issue. The check digit is calculated in this way.
Convert any letters to numbers:
U = 30, S = 28. US037833100 -> 3028037833100.
Collect odd and even characters:
3028037833100 = (3, 2, 0, 7, 3, 1, 0), (0, 8, 3, 8, 3, 0)
Multiply the group containing the rightmost character (which is the FIRST group) by 2:
(6, 4, 0, 14, 6, 2, 0)
Add up the individual digits:
(6 + 4 + 0 + (1 + 4) + 6 + 2 + 0) + (0 + 8 + 3 + 8 + 3 + 0) = 45
Take the 10s modulus of the sum:
45 mod 10 = 5
Subtract from 10:
10 - 5 = 5
Take the 10s modulus of the result (this final step is important in the instance where the modulus of the sum is 0, as the resulting check digit would be 10).
5 mod 10 = 5
So the ISIN check digit is five.
Treasury Corporation of Victoria
TREASURY CORP VICTORIA 5 3/4% 2005-2016: ISIN AU0000XVGZA3
Convert any letters to numbers:
A = 10, G = 16, U = 30, V = 31, X = 33, Z = 35. AU0000XVGZA -> 103000003331163510.
Collect odd and even characters:
103000003331163510 = (1, 3, 0, 0, 3, 3, 1, 3, 1), (0, 0, 0, 0, 3, 1, 6, 5, 0)
Multiply the group containing the rightmost character (which is the SECOND group) by 2:
(0, 0, 0, 0, 6, 2, 12, 10, 0)
Add up the individual digits:
(1 + 3 + 0 + 0 + 3 + 3 + 1 + 3 + 1) + (0 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 6 + 2 + (1 + 2) + (1 + 0) + 0) = 27
Take the 10s modulus of the sum:
27 mod 10 = 7
Subtract from 10:
10 - 7 = 3
Take the 10s modulus of the result (this final step is important in the instance where the modulus of the sum is 0, as the resulting check digit would be 10).
3 mod 10 = 3
So the ISIN check digit is three.
Check-digit flaw in ISIN
The Treasury Corporation of Victoria ISIN illustrates a flaw in ISIN's check digit algorithm which allows transposed letters: Suppose the ISIN was mis-typed as AU0000VXGZA3
A = 10, G = 16, U = 30, V = 31, X = 33, Z = 35. AU0000VXGZA -> 103000003133163510.
Collect odd and even characters:
103000003133163510 = (1, 3, 0, 0, 3, 3, 1, 3, 1), (0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 3, 6, 5, 0)
Multiply the group containing the rightmost character (which is the SECOND group) by 2:
(0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 6, 12, 10, 0)
Add up the individual digits:
(1 + 3 + 0 + 0 + 3 + 3 + 1 + 3 + 1) + (0 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 2 + 6 + (1 + 2) + (1 + 0) + 0) = 27
Take the 10s modulus of the sum:
27 mod 10 = 7
Subtract from 10:
10 - 7 = 3
Take the 10s modulus of the result (this final step is important in the instance where the modulus of the sum is 0, as the resulting check digit would be 10).
3 mod 10 = 3
So the ISIN check digit is still three even though two letters have been transposed.
BAE Systems
BAE Systems: ISIN GB0002634946', expanded from SEDOL ' 000263494
The main body is the SEDOL, padded on the front with the addition of two zeros. The country code "GB" is then added on the front, and the check digit on the end as in the example above.