The Alternative Underlier ID feature, based on the CPMI-IOSCO Technical Guidance on Harmonisation of the UPI, is complementary to the use of the International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) as the primary identifier for underlier instruments and aims to enable firms to utilise existing workflows and processes to obtain a UPI for integration into their reporting frameworks. 

The templates that support Alternative Identifiers are any templates with the Underlier Type of Fixed Income Security, Single Stock and Equity Identifier found in the Rates, Credit and Equity asset classes. These templates have previously only supported the ISIN as their Primary Underlier ID Source.

The DSB offers mapping for CUSIP/CINS, SEDOL and FIGI. These are not automatically available for usage and a permission request must in each case be submitted to the DSB via a Support Case in the Client Onboarding Support Platform (COSP). The CUSIP/CINS and SEDOL require a license to be in place, and once the permission request is raised, the DSB will liaise with the appropriate reference data vendor to request approval for permission to be granted.

Once permissioned, in order to retrieve or create a UPI using an Alternative ID, the user is required to select the identifier type (ie: SEDOL, CUSIP/CINS, FIGI) in the Underlier ID Source attribute and then input the appropriate identifier in the Underlier ID attribute. The UPI service will then map the entered Alternative ID to its equivalent Primary ID (ISIN) to generate or retrieve the correct UPI. For permissioned users, this can be done both via the GUI and via API connectivity, and is available via file download.

For further information, including details on the permissioning process, please see the Alternative Identifier FAQs.