Quick answer
A broker brand is a marketing name; the legal entity is the company named in the client contract. One brand may use different companies, regulators, licences, protections and leverage rules across countries or services. A licence held by one group company does not automatically apply to every customer of that brand. Recheck the named entity if your agreement or location changes.
Key points
- The contract entity, not the logo or app name, determines the relevant regulatory relationship.
- Entity assignment may vary by residence, product and client classification.
- A group affiliate’s permissions must not be transferred to another company.
- Compare the entity’s registered website and contacts to reduce impersonation risk.
Published: Not recorded
Last reviewed: Not recorded
Author: FXBrokerAlert Research Team
Research methodology: How research and evidence are handled
Sources checked: 2026-10-29
Reading time: 7 minutes
The name on an advert, app icon or trading platform is usually a brand. The company that signs the client agreement is a legal entity. These names may be related, but they are not interchangeable for licence checks, complaint routes or contract terms.
Why a brand can involve several companies
A group may operate through local companies, branches or other affiliates. The relevant entity can depend on residence, client classification, product and onboarding. A public list of companies does not prove which one will contract with an individual user.
Identify the account counterparty
- Read the client agreement and application before accepting them.
- Record the full company name, address and registration reference.
- Check whether the entity is described as counterparty, agent, introducer or service provider.
- If several companies are named, ask which one holds the account and handles each service.
- Keep the agreement version and the page that identifies your assigned entity.
Match the same company on the regulator record
Search the regulator’s official site using the exact name and reference. Check status, permitted activities, registered domain and contact information. A parent or affiliate may have different permissions; do not transfer its status to another company in the group.
Check domains and contact details
A genuine company can be impersonated by a site that copies its name or licence number. Compare the domain, phone number and email with the regulator record and independently verified company contact details. A mismatch is a reason to pause and verify, not assume that the register is outdated.
Questions to ask in writing
- Which exact legal entity will be named in my agreement?
- Which regulator and permission cover this service and client type?
- Which complaint or compensation route, if any, applies to this entity?
- Could the assigned entity change if I move country or change account type?
Use the step-by-step broker regulation check
For an example of entity-level permissions, open the FCA guide
Illustrative example
Illustrative example: a brand lists a UK company and an offshore company. A resident’s agreement names only one of them; the other company’s licence and protections do not automatically apply to that account.
How to verify it yourself
- Find the full company name in the account application, terms or client agreement.
- Ask which entity will contract with a resident of your country if it is not assigned yet.
- Search that exact company on the relevant regulator’s register.
- Compare the entity’s permissions, domain and contact details with the account offer.
Research limitations
General entity-identification guidance only. It does not state which company any broker will assign to a particular person or country.
Frequently asked questions
Is a broker brand the same as its regulated company?
No. A brand can be used by several companies. The contract entity and its permissions determine the relevant regulatory relationship.
Can a group company’s licence cover my account?
Do not assume so. Check the exact legal entity named in your agreement and its permissions for the service and client type.
Where can I find the legal entity?
Check the account application, client agreement, terms of business and jurisdiction-specific legal disclosures. Ask the provider if the assignment is unclear.
Not advice
Official sources & research notes
Official sources
Regulator register: FCA Financial Services Register · Financial Conduct Authority
Checked 2026-10-29 · Scope: Register records relate to named entities and permissions.
Regulator register: ASIC Professional Registers Search · Australian Securities and Investments Commission
Checked 2026-10-29 · Scope: Search the legal company and read its listed services.
Regulator guidance: Clone firms and individuals · Financial Conduct Authority
Checked 2026-10-29 · Scope: UK consumer guidance; impersonation risks are not limited to the UK.
Last material update: Not recorded
Methodology: FXBrokerAlert research methodology. Publication dates are not inferred from unrelated profile checks.