The ISIN is an international securities identification number (International Securities Identification Number) for stock and certificates representing stock as well as for bonds, options and futures. It consists of a twelve-digit combination of letters and numbers which clearly identifies each security. In cross-border securities trading, the ISIN functions, in a way, like the number inside an identity card which technically allows for both national and international tradability and settlement of securities transactions as well as securities custody.

The ISINs are allocated by central national agencies, the so-called “national numbering agencies“, In Germany the “Herausgebergemeinschaft WERTPAPIER-MITTEILUNGEN Keppler, Lehmann GmbH & Co. KG (“WM“) assumes the task of the national agency for allocation of securities identification numbers. The WM is a service company providing information for the financial world with its registered offices in Frankfurt am Main. Within the scope of their task as numbering agency, WM also performs the administration of securities identification numbers and data by means of a publicly accessible securities register containing any and all data existing at WM on issuers and their financial instruments.

WM Datenservice
Düsseldorfer Straße 16
60329 Frankfurt am Main

Tel: +49/69 2732 480

An ISIN may be applied for by the issuer as well as by the syndicate bank. The ISIN is allocated in compliance with the ISO 6166:2021 - Financial services — International securities identification number (ISIN). This standard, for one, sets forth composition and structure of an ISIN, but, for another, also the requirements for allocation of an identification number. According to this standard, the allocation of an ISIN requires, among other things, certain minimum information on the issuer and the security; domestic issuers, for instance, have to provide an up-to-date excerpt from the commercial register and their current articles of association.

An iSIN is allocated upon respective application:

• as fax message to WM-WKN-Service: (0) 69/25 00 66 or (0) 69/24 24 84 76
• as Email to wkn-isin-de@wmdaten.com or wkn-isin-intl@wmdaten.com

The relevant application form for an ISIN can be found at the websites of WM Datenservice.

Pursuant to ISO Standard 6166, the ISIN consists of 12 digits in total. Two letters at the front serve as national code (see ISO Standard 3166). German ISINs start with the national code “DE“. Next is a nine-digit alpha-numeric combination which may consist of the capital letters A to Z (without mutated vowels, umlauts) as well as the numbers from 0 to 9. At the end there is a check digit calculated according to a determined algorithm.

As a rule, the ISIN will be allocated by the numbering agency according to a certain scheme. However, like selecting a special automobile number plate, it is also possible to apply for a favourite ISIN. In this case the core of the ISIN, the nine-digit basic number, will be allocated according to a sequence of numbers or letters or a combination of both individually selected by the applicant. The general rules for allocation, however, apply to this case also. WM Datenservice retains the right to deny without giving reasons the application for a favourite ISIN.

Details regarding this issue as well as the costs connected to it may be inquired directly at WM-Datenservice..
Contact: Help-desk@wm-daten.com, Tel: +49-(0) 69-27 32 480, catchword “Issuers Code”

The necessary data collected in the course of allocating an identification number which, similar to the particulars in a passport, serve the purpose of identifying the security are called master data. When applying for an ISIN, the applicant has to provide the numbering agency with all relevant master data referring to the security. Depending on the kind of security (e. g. stock or bond), these are, above all:

• ISIN/securities identification number
• issuer
• category
• stock market where the security is being traded
• state of origin
• currency.

These data will be collected by the numbering agency WM-Datenservice and provided in a publicly accessible register (WM-Wertpapier-Register [WM Securities Register]). When applying for an ISIN, the applicant also has to furnish the numbering agency with a copy of a current excerpt from the commercial register accompanied by a copy of the articles of association. In the time to follow, IWM Datenservice will need further information on circumstances following the issuance, like information on approaching general shareholders meetings, distribution of dividends or intended corporate actions. WM Datenservice will demand such data from the company based on the publications in the Bundesanzeiger [BANZ, German electronic Federal Gazette]; however, up-front information is considered very helpful.

Contact: Help-desk@wm-daten.com, Tel: +49-(0) 69-27 32 480

History

Since 1955 up to the implementation of the ISIN in April 2003, six-digit numeric securities identification numbers were issued in Germany for the identification of national securities. When in the middle of the 1980s more and more investors began to conclude securities transactions reaching across national as well as continental borders, frequent conversion of securities identification numbers to the securities identification used in the respective state became necessary.

In 1992 the organisation ANNA (Association of National Numbering Agencies) was founded by 22 national numbering agencies in order to further the option of issuing ISIN-numbers which already existed, however hardly were employed at that time. In this context, only three years later an electronic platform (GIAM = Global ISIN Access Mechanism) was created which provided for the exchange of ISIN-relevant data. The data base served the broader spread of the ISIN. After an expansion of the data platform in 1999, the platform served the purpose of bringing together worldwide data regarding ISIN-identification and making them accessible to other data suppliers.

In January 2000, the competent authorities in Germany decided to successively implement the ISIN as the new obligatory securities identification number. From the time of implementation on, already existing securities identification numbers either were continued additionally or transferred to an ISIN.

Calculation of the ISIN check digit

The check digit of the ISIN is calculated by means of a standardized algorithm (Modulus 10 Double-Add-Double):

• All the letters contained in the iSIN are replaced by numbers. For this purpose, the respective letter’s position within the alphabet is increased by nine. Thus A turns into the number 10, B into 11...and letter Z turns into number 35. All the numbers, however, remain unchanged. Therefore DE000ENAG99, for instance, turns into the digit sequence13140001423101699 and DE000BAY001 turns into the digit sequence 1314000111034001.
• Starting with the last digit, every second digit is multiplied by two and replaced by the cross total. Thus 13140001423101699 turns into the digit sequence 23240001826101399 and1314000111034001 into the digit sequence 1618000212064002.
• The digits of the resulting digit sequence are added up, i.e. their cross total is generated and the difference to the next higher number of tens is determined. This difference, if smaller than 10, will be the actual check digit or will result, should it equal 10, in a check digit 0. Therefore, for DE000ENAG99 or 13140001423101699, respectively, the cross total will be 51 and their ISIN-check digit will be 9 and for DE000BAY001 or. 1314000111034001, respectively, the cross total will be 33 and, thus, their ISIN-check digit will be 7.

•     ANNA - Association of National Numbering Agencies
•     WM Gruppe [WM Group]
•     WM-Datenservice
•     WM-Wertpapier-Register [WM Securities Register]
•     Ländercode-Liste [List of National Codes]