Ultimate - Delpha focuses on Brands and Operating structures

Delpha’s Ultimate model identifies brand-based parent relationships by analyzing company websites and communications, focusing on real-world operating structures rather than legal ownership.

Two Perspectives of Ultimate Parenting

The concept of Ultimate Parent can be understood in two complementary ways, depending on the business context. Each perspective serves different objectives and relies on different data sources.

Perspective	Legal Ownership	Brand / Operating Structure (Delpha’s focus)
When to Use	• When signing contracts or defining billing and invoicing entities. • During credit checks, KYC/AML, sanctions screening, or when assessing parent guarantees and collections. • For legal reporting or rolling up exposure to determine who ultimately controls the entity.	• When routing leads and opportunities, assigning account executives or territories. • For Account-Based Marketing (ABM) and brand-level campaign planning. • To plan coverage and pipeline by brand, flag, or region. • For partner programs or go-to-market playbooks.
How It’s Determined	Based on official registries and regulatory filings (objective legal ownership).	Based on company websites and press releases (brand and operational relationships).

Delpha’s Approach

Delpha’s Ultimate model focuses on the Brand / Operating structure, reflecting how companies actually present and operate in the market rather than just their legal ownership. This approach is especially effective for franchise and multi-brand organizations, where:

• Each location or entity may have a different legal owner.

• Yet, all operate under a shared brand, standards, and commercial identity.

• The brand parent (e.g., Marriott, McDonald’s, or Accor) defines the operational relationship more accurately than the local legal entity.

By analyzing websites, brand directories, and official communications, Delpha identifies the true operating hierarchy that governs how companies are seen and function in the marketplace. This ensures more relevant grouping for sales coverage, ABM strategies, franchise management, and go-to-market execution.

More information on the trusted sources used by Delpha

Account Hierarchy: Finance vs. Sales

Finance tracks the Ultimate Legal Parent, but Sales needs the Effective Buying Parent. Learn how Delpha’s Commercial Hierarchy resolves territory and compensation conflicts in Salesforce.

A practical study about how to deal with:

• Holdings,

• Foundations,

• Joint Ventures

• Franchises