A Stock Exchange Daily Official List (SEDOL) code is a seven-character identifier assigned to securities trading on the London Stock Exchange and other UK markets. SEDOLs are issued and maintained by the London Stock Exchange.
Structure
SEDOLs follow a specific format:
- Length: Always 7 characters
- Characters 1-6: Alphanumeric identifier (0-9, A-Z excluding vowels)
- Character 7: Check digit
- Vowels excluded: To avoid forming unintended words (no A, E, I, O, U)
Key Characteristics
- UK focus: Primarily used for UK and Irish securities
- Uniqueness: Each SEDOL is unique within the LSE system
- Persistence: Generally stable but can change during corporate actions
- Legacy codes: Older securities may have numeric-only SEDOLs (e.g., 0263494)
Usage
SEDOLs are widely used in:
- UK trading platforms and order management systems
- Portfolio management and reporting
- Reference data feeds
- Historical market data
- UK regulatory filings
Relationship to ISINs
For UK securities, the SEDOL is typically embedded within the ISIN:
- ISIN format: GB + 9-digit SEDOL (padded with leading zero) + check digit
- Example: SEDOL
BVYVFW2→ ISINGB00BVYVFW21
Comparison with Other Identifiers
| Identifier | Scope | Length | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEDOL | UK/Ireland | 7 chars | B10RZP7 |
| ISIN | Global | 12 chars | GB00B10RZP78 |
| TIDM | Exchange-specific | 2-4 chars | NXT |