Communiqué de presse

Federal Act on the Business Identification Number (BINA) The FSO accredited to issue legal entity identifiers (LEI) in Switzerland

Neuchâtel, 06.12.2017 (FSO) - As of today the FSO has official accreditation to allocate legal entity identifiers (LEI) to Swiss businesses and funds that request one. The LEI contributes to risk prevention in the financial sector and encourages stability by enabling the authorities and interested parties to reliably identify contractual partners.

The Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF), a supranational institution set up by the G20 after the financial markets crisis in 2008, has accredited the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) as a local operating unit (LOU).

Following changes to the Federal Act on the Business Identification Number (BINA) in June, which allowed it to issue LEIs in Switzerland, the FSO has received the official accreditation. This accreditation is the culmination of a process in which the GLEIF assesses the suitability of organisations wishing to operate at a global level in the Global LEI System as an LEI issuer and holder of LEI reference data.

Once they have created an online account at LEI Switzerland (www.lei-switzerland.ch), businesses only need to acquire a Business Identification Number (IDE) in order to complete their registration. This guarantees an online process that is swift and simple in comparison with LOUs located abroad.