LEGAL INFORMATION

Intellectual Property

Last updated: July 2026

This Intellectual Property Policy sets forth the terms and conditions regarding the proprietary methodologies, frameworks, trademarks, and copyrighted materials owned by Mergers and Partners SL ("MERGERS&", "we", "our", or "us"), a company registered in Spain with CIF B64274939, and registered address at Passeig Manuel Girona 16, 1º1ª, 08034, Barcelona, Spain. By accessing our website, publications, or utilizing our knowledge, you agree to respect and comply with these intellectual property rights.

1. Authorship of Proprietary Methodologies

MERGERS& has invested substantial resources, expertise, and time into developing proprietary frameworks designed specifically for the rigorous execution of sell-side M&A transactions and business valuation. All concepts, structures, analytical sequences, and strategic applications related to The MERGERS& Method™ and The Diamond Theory™, as well as the underlying theories detailed in the publications of our founder, Marc Serra Faus, are the exclusive creation and intellectual property of Mergers and Partners SL.

2. Registered Trademarks and Conceptual Frameworks

The following terms, logos, and framework identifiers are registered trademarks, service marks, or pending trademarks of Mergers and Partners SL across relevant jurisdictions. This protection extends to the structural concepts they represent:

Corporate Brand:

  • MERGERS&® (Brand and firm name)

The Diamond Theory™ Ecosystem:

  • The Diamond Theory™
  • The 5 Forces of Value™: Growth, Competitiveness, Diversification, Recurrence, and Capital.
  • The 4 Zones of Value™: Products, Customers, Suppliers, and Organization.
  • The 20 Value Factors™: Product Portfolio, Customer Base, Supply Capacity, Organizational Scalability, Offer Competitiveness, Customer Satisfaction, Competitive Supply, Operational Efficiency, Product Diversification, Customer Diversification, Supplier Diversification, Operational Continuity, Recurring Revenue, Customer Loyalty, Supplier Stability, Organizational Stability, Inventory Level, Days Sales Outstanding, Days Payable Outstanding, and CAPEX.

The MERGERS& Method™ Ecosystem:

  • The MERGERS& Method™
  • Exit Momentum™
  • The 4 Pillars of M&A™: Shareholder Alignment, Exit Options, Price Zone™, and Red Flags.
  • The 4 Phases of M&A Execution™: Information, Communication, Negotiation, and Post-acquisition.
  • The 6 Strategic Tools:
    Exit Stakeholder Map™
    MERGERS& Matrix™
    Diamond Matrix™
    Match Map™
    AS Deal Test™
    Exit Red Flags™

3. Copyright Protection

All original content published by MERGERS&, whether on this website, in confidential memorandums, pitch decks, articles, or published books—specifically including the registered literary works "The Diamond Theory" and "The MERGERS& Method" authored by Marc Serra Faus—is protected by international copyright laws. This protection covers all text, graphic designs, analytical matrices, and the specific expression of our M&A and valuation concepts.

4. Open Knowledge & Permitted Use

At MERGERS&, we believe in elevating the global standards of the M&A industry. We have deliberately opened our knowledge to the world. Any company, university, independent professional, or advisory firm is free to utilize The MERGERS& Method™, The Diamond Theory™, and their respective tools in their academic or professional practice.

However, this open use is strictly conditional upon absolute respect for our intellectual property. Whenever our methodology, matrices, or phases are utilized, you must explicitly use their original registered names (including the ™ or ® symbols where applicable) and clearly attribute their creation to MERGERS& and Marc Serra Faus.

5. Strict Prohibitions & Anti-Fraud Policy

While the use of our knowledge is open, appropriating it is considered intellectual property fraud. You are strictly prohibited from:

  • Altering Names to Claim Ownership: Renaming our frameworks, phases, pillars, or the 6 Strategic Tools (e.g., changing the name of the "Match Map™" or "Exit Red Flags™" to an alternative term) to mask their origin and present them as your own creation.
  • Plagiarism and Repackaging: Utilizing the exact structural sequence, matrices, and logic of our methodology while changing the terminology to bypass intellectual property laws.
  • Client Deception: Presenting the MERGERS& methodological frameworks to your clients as your firm's proprietary or in-house advisory method.

Using our knowledge while intentionally altering its nomenclature to misappropriate the intellectual property gives clients a false image and constitutes fraud. MERGERS& retains the exclusive authorship and ownership of these concepts.

6. Enforcement of Rights

Mergers and Partners SL takes the protection of its intellectual capital very seriously. We actively monitor the M&A advisory market and digital platforms for unauthorized repackaging or plagiarized use of our methodologies. Any identified infringement or fraud will be pursued to the fullest extent of the law, seeking injunctive relief, damages, and legal costs.

7. Partnership and Contact

If you are an independent Dealmaker interested in operating under our premium brand and infrastructure, we invite you to explore our Global Partnership program on the Join Us page. For any other inquiries regarding press usage or referencing of our intellectual property, please contact our legal department at:

Mergers and Partners SL

CIF: B64274939

Passeig Manuel Girona 16, 1º1ª
08034, Barcelona, Spain

info@mergersand.com