Mergers & Acquisitions
M&A And Divestitures
Portfolios reshaped — by what is bought and what is sold.
Handle advises on M&A divestitures and acquisitions as two sides of portfolio management — evaluating which businesses to acquire, hold or exit, and structuring controlled separations that protect operational continuity and the value of what remains.
When this is needed
M&A Divestitures in the UAE: where the mandate begins.
- A business has become non-core or underperforming and may be worth more in another owner’s hands.
- A unit shares people, systems and functions with the group, and must be separated before it can be sold.
- The group is selling some assets while acquiring others, and both programmes must follow one portfolio logic.
- A sale has closed, and transitional services and post-closing obligations must be delivered without disruption.
Matters Handle leads
Portfolio transaction mandates.
Four mandate types. One portfolio, reshaped with control.
Portfolio & Asset Review
Which businesses to acquire, hold or exit.
Carve-Out & Separation Planning
Assets, teams and systems separated cleanly.
Deal Structuring & Risk Allocation
Structure, terms and risk set between the parties.
Transition & Exit Management
Handover, support arrangements and post-close obligations.
The scope
M&A And Divestitures — scope, made explicit.
A focused, premium mandate — with the portfolio and the business being separated at the center.
Buyer & Asset Positioning
The business prepared and presented to the right buyers.
Financial & Operational Impact
Effects on revenue mix, profit, debt and the remaining group analysed.
TSA Design
Transitional service agreements scoped and priced.
Separation Roadmap
Roles, milestones and dependencies set out.
Board Reporting
Progress and post-closing obligations reported to the board.
The mandate
Exit with the same discipline as entry.
Divestitures free capital, simplify operations and let leadership focus on higher-potential businesses. Handle builds the portfolio logic first, then evaluates which assets to add and which to release.
Separation is planned early. Stranded costs, shared functions, staff and customers are addressed before signing, and transition arrangements keep both the sold business and the remaining group stable.
What the mandate delivers
- Portfolio and asset review
- Carve-out and separation plans
- Deal structure and risk allocation
- Transition service agreements
- Separation roadmaps and milestones
- Post-closing obligation oversight
How the work runs
Four disciplines. One reshaped portfolio.
Every divestiture mandate is run with portfolio, separation, structuring and transition control.
01
Portfolio Logic
Acquire, hold or exit decisions tied to strategy.
02
Separation Planning
Shared functions and dependencies untangled.
03
Deal Structuring
Terms and risk allocated between seller and buyer.
04
Transition Management
Continuity and service stability through handover.
The Handle model
Practice-led. Never fragmented.
The transaction may begin here — it stays connected to strategy, capital and law.
Strategy & Operations
The work stays connected to market position, operating model, performance and execution governance.
M&A & Capital
The work stays aware of capital readiness, investor review, transaction logic and deployment discipline where relevant.
Legal & Regulatory
The work stays protected through structure, rights, governance, enforceability and regulatory or dispute readiness.
Why Handle
Two sides of one portfolio.
Handle treats acquisitions and divestitures as one portfolio discipline — and keeps each exit or entry connected to the group’s strategy, capital structure and legal obligations.
- Acquisition and divestiture under one view
- Carve-outs planned before signing
- Stranded cost exposure addressed early
- TSAs designed for continuity
- Board reporting through separation
- Partner-led mandates with institutional discipline
Before offering your business for M&A, you must raise it with discipline. Strengthen governance, restore financial clarity, and sharpen strategy. A parented business attracts investors with confidence, not discounts.
Mohamed abu El-MakaremManaging Partner & Chairman
Engagement paths
Where this work typically begins.
Growth & Expansion
When the asset must scale capacity, geography, capital, partnerships or market share.
Turnaround
When the asset must reset structure, capital, law, governance and operations under pressure.
Coverage
Connected across the transaction practice.
Handle advises on M&A divestitures for groups, conglomerates and family enterprises reshaping portfolios across the UAE and the wider region.
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Across the Handle model
Questions, answered
M&A Divestitures — questions, answered.
How Handle approaches M&A divestitures and portfolio reshaping.
How do M&A and divestitures work together?
Together they shape the portfolio — adding assets that fit and removing those that no longer do.
Why divest a business?
Divestitures free capital, simplify operations and let leadership focus on higher-potential businesses.
When should a business be considered for divestiture?
When it is non-core, underperforming or more valuable in another owner’s hands.
What does an M&A divestiture involve?
Carve-outs, transitional services, separation of shared functions and careful treatment of staff and customers.
What are the risks in a divestiture?
Disruption to remaining businesses, stranded costs, loss of key people and poorly structured transition arrangements.
Can acquisitions and divestitures run at the same time?
Yes. Many portfolio reshapes sell some assets while acquiring others.
How do divestitures affect the financial statements?
They change revenue mix, profit and debt, and may create one-off gains or restructuring charges.
What is a carve-out?
The separation of a business unit from a group into a stand-alone entity suitable for sale or listing.
How does Handle support M&A divestitures?
Handle designs the portfolio logic, evaluates candidates and structures carve-outs, processes and transition arrangements.
Why plan a divestiture early?
Early planning allows separation issues, stranded costs, TSAs and buyer positioning to be managed proactively.
Insights
Perspectives from live mandates.
Partner-led analysis on law, capital and strategy, shaped by boardroom realities across the UAE and the GCC.
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Work with Handle
Begin with M&A And Divestitures — kept connected to the whole Handle model.
When part of the portfolio must leave without disrupting the rest.
Request an initial review
When a separation must be controlled.
Set out the matter. A partner reviews it and responds with a defined route, strategy and accountable lead.
- Partner-level review of every request
- Strict confidentiality and privilege from first contact
- One accountable partner from review to execution
