Terms of use

These terms govern use of this website and set out the basis on which Zeph provides research and decision analysis. They do not replace the engagement terms signed for a specific piece of work. Where a signed engagement letter and these terms conflict, the engagement letter governs.

Who you are contracting with

Zeph is an independent UK decision-intelligence practice. It is not currently incorporated as a limited company, and no company number or registered office is published on this site because none exists. The contracting party for any engagement is identified in the engagement letter for that engagement, and no contract is formed through this website.

What Zeph does, and does not do

Zeph produces independent research and decision analysis for corporate buyers — reconstructing a relevant market, verifying legal and ownership reality, comparing candidates and testing the economics of a decision.

Zeph does not:

1. execute, broker or negotiate transactions;
2. approach, contact or solicit any third party without the client’s express authority;
3. raise capital or arrange investments;
4. provide regulated financial, investment, legal, tax or accounting advice;
5. act as a corporate finance adviser, investment bank or law firm.

Zeph is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and does not carry out regulated activities. Where a decision requires regulated advice, that advice must be taken separately from an appropriately authorised or qualified adviser.

Scope of an engagement

Every engagement is fixed in scope and agreed in writing before work begins, including the decision being addressed, the deliverable, and the date by which the answer is required. Work outside that scope is not implied by anything on this website.

The nature of the outputs

Deliverables are informational. They support a decision; they do not make it. Nothing in a Zeph deliverable is a recommendation to transact at any price, a valuation, an assurance report, or a substitute for confirmatory due diligence, legal advice or regulated advice.

Zeph does not guarantee that any transaction will occur, that any target will be available or willing to transact, or that any commercial outcome will follow from an engagement. A conclusion that no action should be taken is a legitimate and frequent result.

Sources and their limits

Work relies on public records, regulatory registers, filed accounts, primary sources and information provided by the client. Zeph does not independently audit or verify client-provided information, and public records may be incomplete, out of date or inaccurate at source.

Findings are graded and dated. Where evidence does not reach a conclusion, that is reported as unknown rather than estimated. Conclusions are stated as at the date of the deliverable and are not updated afterwards unless separately agreed.

Confidentiality

The existence and content of a client engagement are treated as confidential. Zeph does not publish client names, client deliverables or client decisions. Any case material shown publicly is independent research, anonymised, and was not commissioned by the companies referenced.

Intellectual property and licence

Zeph retains ownership of its methods, working materials and any underlying research assets. On payment in full, the client receives a non-exclusive licence to use the deliverable within its own organisation for the decision it was prepared for, including with its professional advisers. Onward publication, resale or distribution to third parties requires written consent.

Website content is protected by copyright. You may read and share links to it; you may not reproduce it substantially without permission.

Liability

Liability for a specific engagement is governed by the signed engagement terms for that engagement, which will set out any cap and exclusions. For this website, Zeph provides the content “as is” and excludes liability for reliance placed on general website content to the fullest extent permitted by law. Nothing excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud, or for anything else that cannot lawfully be excluded.

Governing law

These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales, and the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction.

Contact

Questions about these terms: hello@zephdesk.io.