Everything you need to know about ISIN codes

Identifying securities

ISIN codes (International Securities Identification Numbers) are international codes that identify securities.

This is a global standard adopted in 2003, created to identify securities, such as shares, without the risk of error, since each code is unique. For information, prior to 2003, financial assets were identified in France using the Sicovam code, which has now been replaced by the ISIN code to facilitate cross-border transactions.

ISIN codes contain 12 characters:

• the first 2 letters identify the company’s nationality
• the following 9 alphanumeric characters identify the security
• the last digit is a “check digit” set by an algorithm to help prevent counterfeiting

4 different ISIN codes at Air Liquide

When you hold your Air Liquide shares in registered form (directly with Air Liquide or in intermediary form through your bank) for two full calendar years, your loyalty is rewarded. This loyalty bonus translates into a +10% increase on the amount of dividends paid and +10% on the number of bonus shares allocated during the allocation operations.

It is therefore essential to be able to identify which shares in your portfolio are entitled to the loyalty bonus. Your registered shares are identified by an intermediate ISIN code as long as they are not yet eligible for the loyalty bonus. After two full calendar years of ownership, the  intermediate code is automatically replaced by a permanent ISIN code, also known as a “bonus” code.

The permanent ISIN codes are:

• FR0000053951 for registered shares that are already benefit the loyalty bonus (acquired or converted to registered shares in 2021 or earlier);
• FR0000120073 for shares purchased during the current year (2024) that, if registered shares, will benefit from the loyalty bonus after two full calendar years (in 2027).

The current intermediary ISIN codes (as they change annually):

• FR001400D5Z6 for shares registered in 2022 which will benefit from the loyalty bonus in 2025;
• FR001400LL63 for shares registered in 2023 which will benefit from the loyalty bonus in 2026.

As a reminder, if you hold your shares directly with Air Liquide, these codes appear on your securities account statement, which you can access online from your Shareholder Portal.

Don’t delay to take advantage of the loyalty bonus!

To receive the loyalty bonus in 2027 for shares purchased in 2024:

• If you buy your shares from your financial institution, you must ask them to convert your shares into intermediary registered shares so that they are converted before December 31, 2024 (remember to do this in advance, as conversion can take several weeks or months, depending on the bank); 
• If you buy your shares directly from Air Liquide ("direct registered"), you have nothing to do. Your last purchase orders for 2024 must be executed no later than December 29 at 2:00 pm (Paris time).