What Public Records Can — and Cannot — Tell You About a Company

A common and dangerous mistake in international trade is assuming that because a company is listed in a government registry, it is safe to do business with.

The Core Principle

REGISTRY CHECK ≠ FULL DUE DILIGENCE

A registry check confirms that an entity formally exists in the eyes of the state. It does not confirm that the entity is operationally capable, financially sound, or honest.

What Public Records CAN Establish

Depending on the country, accessing a state corporate registry (like MERSİS in Türkiye or the USR in Ukraine) can generally confirm:

• Legal Existence: The company is formally registered and currently active.
• Corporate Identity: The exact legal name and identification number (e.g., Tax ID, EDRPOU).
• Registered Address: The official legal headquarters of the company.
• Authorized Representatives: Who legally holds the power to sign contracts on behalf of the entity.
• Structural Changes: Historical changes in address, directors, or capital structure.

What Public Records CANNOT Establish

State registries are administrative databases. They cannot independently verify commercial reality. Public records generally cannot tell you:

• Manufacturing Reality: The registry does not know if the company actually owns a factory or just rents a desk in a co-working space.
• Current Operational Status: A company can be legally “Active” in the registry but physically closed, bankrupt in practice, or displaced by conflict (e.g., in Ukraine).
• Financial Reliability: Registries do not show current cash flow, private debts, or whether the company routinely defaults on its contracts.
• Product Quality: A legally pristine company can still manufacture substandard goods.
• Sanctions and Compliance: Basic registries do not cross-reference global sanctions lists, PEP (Politically Exposed Persons) databases, or international export controls.

How to Bridge the Gap

To move beyond basic legal existence and establish commercial trust, you must build a layered verification model:

1. Legal Layer: Verify the state registry.
2. Document Layer: Verify capacity reports and QA certificates directly with issuers.
3. Observation Layer: Conduct live video calls from the production floor.
4. Physical Layer: Execute on-site observation visits.
5. Professional Layer: Engage licensed QA agencies or legal counsel for deep audits.

DealyVIP’s Role

DealyVIP provides the structural information you need to navigate the Legal and Document Layers, and we coordinate independent professionals to assist you with the Observation and Physical Layers. We do not provide the Professional Layer (licensed legal, financial, or certified QC audits).