# Delpha trusted sources for Ultimate Parent

## Sources of Truth for Ultimate Parent Recommendation

Delpha determines the Ultimate Parent of a company by cross-checking multiple **trusted and verifiable sources**. 

All these sources are **automatically analyzed by specialized LLMs** , which interpret and consolidate the information to produce a reliable recommendation.

Below, the Delpha Source Hierarchy (Strict Priority Order):

1. **Company Website (Direct Digital Footprint):**
   1. *Logic:* The primary signal of commercial identity. Delpha’s agents analyze the entity’s self-declared affiliation and branding to determine if it presents itself as an independent operator or a subordinate unit.
2. **Global Brand Websites (Commercial Network Verification):**
   1. *Logic:* Validating the operational link by checking if the subsidiary is officially listed within the parent’s commercial ecosystem (e.g., location finders, brand portfolios), which confirms shared infrastructure.
3. **Press Releases (Strategic Announcements):**
   1. *Logic:* M\&A activity dictates operational change.
   2. *Rule A:* News < 3 years old is Primary Evidence (recent acquisitions often imply active integration efforts).
   3. *Rule B:* News > 3 years old is Secondary Evidence (valid only if not contradicted by Source 1 or 2, ensuring divested units are not incorrectly linked).
4. **Securities Filings (Regulatory Disclosures):**
   1. *Logic:* Used to resolve ambiguity in complex structures (e.g., 10-K filings), distinguishing between operational subsidiaries and purely financial “Variable Interest Entities.”
5. **Official Business Registries (Legal Baseline):**
   1. *Logic:* The “Fail-Safe.” Used only when commercial sources (1-4) are silent. This ensures that legal shells are only used as a parent of last resort when no commercial parent can be identified.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Delpha analyzes all the sources above, to [**reflect how companies operate in the real world**, not who legally owns them.](https://help.delpha.io/delpha-for-salesforce/how-to-faq/delpha-ultimate-parent/ultimate-delpha-focuses-on-brands-and-operating-structures)\
This approach allows Delpha to accurately represent **franchise and multi-brand networks**, where multiple legal entities operate under a single brand identity, ensuring the Ultimate Parent recommendation aligns with **sales, marketing, and go-to-market realities** rather than pure legal ownership.
{% endhint %}