M&A

Joint Venture Advisory

Commercial, governance and capital-structure advice for UAE and cross-border joint ventures and strategic alliances.

Joint Ventures & Alliances
Overview

Joint ventures and strategic alliances are structured partnerships in which companies combine resources for a shared commercial purpose, short of a full merger. Matchpoint structures and negotiates JVs and alliances between corporates.

As part of our Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory Services in the UAE practice, Matchpoint Partners has originated and led $2+ billion of transactions across four continents, and every mergers & acquisitions advisory services in the uae mandate is led by a partner, from first call to close.

Joint ventures and strategic alliances are structured partnerships in which companies combine resources for a shared commercial purpose — a JV creates a shared entity with pooled capital, while an alliance is a contractual partnership without a new entity. Matchpoint Partners structures and negotiates both, with governance, contribution, deadlock and exit provisions agreed up front to protect each partner.

Alliances and partnerships span commercial, capital and cross-border collaborations.
Alliances and partnerships span commercial, capital and cross-border collaborations.

Design the relationship for both operation and exit

Decision

Agree the strategic objective, scope, contributions, control and economic sharing before negotiating the legal vehicle or alliance agreement.

Evidence

Parties should test capability, funding commitments, intellectual property, exclusivity, customer ownership, governance, reserved matters, transfer restrictions, deadlock, default and exit.

Execution

Use a commercial term sheet and operating model before legal drafting, model future funding and distributions and resolve deadlock and exit outcomes while interests remain aligned.

How Matchpoint helps

Our role on joint ventures & alliances mandates

  • Joint-venture and SPV structuring
  • Strategic and commercial alliances
  • Governance and exit provisions
  • Cross-border partnerships
Track record

Select transactions

Representative mergers & acquisitions advisory services in the uae mandates led by Matchpoint partners.

F&B · Cross-border
$20m

Chinese-controlled Italian gelato brand JV / cross-border merger.

JV / M&A · US · CN · UK · IT
Questions, answered

Joint Ventures & Alliances — frequently asked questions

A JV creates a shared entity with pooled capital; an alliance is a contractual partnership without a new entity. We advise on the best fit.

Through governance, contribution, deadlock and exit provisions negotiated upfront.

Joint venture ownership should reflect each party’s contribution — capital, assets, technology, market access — rather than defaulting to an even split. Equal shareholdings without deadlock mechanisms are a common source of paralysis; many ventures work better with a clear majority partner or carefully designed governance for balanced ownership.

A joint venture is better than an acquisition when neither party wishes to sell, when risk and investment need to be shared, or when local partnership brings market access an outright purchase cannot. Acquisitions suit situations demanding full control and integration; JVs trade control for shared commitment and flexibility.

Joint ventures commonly fail through misaligned objectives between partners, ambiguous governance and decision rights, unequal commitment of resources and the absence of agreed exit provisions. Most failures trace back to formation: ventures structured with clear purpose, contributions and deadlock mechanisms survive the inevitable strategic divergence far better.

Mergers and acquisitions advisory is professional guidance and transaction execution for a company sale, acquisition, merger, divestment or strategic combination. The work can cover transaction strategy, valuation, buyer or target identification, materials, outreach, diligence, structure, negotiation, financing coordination and completion.

Mergers and acquisitions services can include sell-side advisory, buy-side advisory, company valuation, transaction strategy, target or buyer search, financial analysis, process materials, due-diligence coordination, bid comparison, term negotiation, acquisition financing coordination and post-merger-integration planning.

M&A advisory services connect the commercial objective to an executable transaction process. The adviser defines the route, prepares the evidence and valuation case, manages counterparties and information flow, coordinates diligence and specialist workstreams, compares terms, supports negotiation and maintains the path to signing and completion.

M&A transaction advisory is the analysis and execution support required to move an acquisition, sale or merger from initial decision to completion. It combines financial analysis, valuation, process management, counterparty coordination, diligence tracking, terms and decision materials.

A merger and acquisition consultant helps the client define the transaction objective, evaluate options, prepare the business or acquisition case, identify counterparties, manage the process and convert evidence into decisions on value, structure, terms, risks and timing.

A company should consider appointing an M&A adviser before approaching buyers or targets, sharing sensitive information, accepting exclusivity or anchoring a valuation. Early preparation provides time to reconcile financial information, test transaction routes, define approval criteria and control disclosure.

In the UAE, merger and acquisition consultants can support local and cross-border sales, acquisitions and combinations by defining the transaction perimeter, preparing the valuation and evidence base, mapping UAE, GCC and international counterparties, managing diligence and coordinating the commercial path to completion. Legal, tax, accounting and other specialist conclusions remain with qualified advisers.

The process begins with objectives, scope, readiness and decision criteria. It then moves through valuation, process design, buyer or target mapping, controlled outreach, information exchange, bids or offers, diligence, terms, approvals, signing and completion. The sequence varies with the transaction and evidence available.

Sell-side M&A advisory represents an owner or company seeking a buyer and manages positioning, marketing, bids and closing. Buy-side M&A advisory represents an acquirer and manages acquisition criteria, target search, approach, valuation, diligence, terms and completion.

The starting set normally includes the transaction objective, ownership and entity structure, historical financial statements, current management accounts, operating KPIs, forecast assumptions, debt and cash, material contracts, management responsibilities, known issues and the client's decision timetable. The exact list depends on the mandate.

M&A advisory fees depend on the scope, transaction size, complexity, readiness, geography and expected execution work. A proposed fee structure should be documented in an engagement letter and becomes effective only when the parties approve and sign it.

Matchpoint can support UAE clients on cross-border buyer and target mapping, valuation, transaction materials, outreach, diligence coordination, terms, financing interfaces and process control, subject to mandate fit, available evidence and an agreed engagement scope.

Engagements ordinarily combine a retainer with a success fee. Terms are agreed in writing before work begins and calibrated to the mandate’s size, scope and complexity.

Most sell-side and buy-side M&A processes run 4–9 months from mandate to completion, depending on diligence, regulatory approvals and negotiation.

A short, confidential scoping call and NDA; we structure the requirement and prepare materials, then run a competitive process across our 5,000+ investor and lender relationships, and negotiate to close — with a partner leading at every step.

Matchpoint Partners is based in the UAE and runs cross-border mandates across the UAE, KSA, India and the UK, with active deal activity in wider Europe, Singapore and the United States.

Matchpoint undertakes corporate finance, financing, M&A and fund-placement mandates from USD 5m upwards, subject to mandate fit, diligence, applicable regulation, capacity and a written engagement. The partner team has originated and led $2+ billion of transactions.

Use the enquiry form, email contact@matchpoint-partners.com, or call/WhatsApp +971 52 345 1119. Every mandate is led by a partner from the very first conversation.

Yes. Confidential information is handled under the engagement terms and any applicable non-disclosure agreement.

Interested in joint ventures & alliances?

Tell us your requirement and a partner will respond personally.

Google search question

How should a joint venture be structured in the UAE?

The structure should connect each party's contribution, the risks it controls, its decision rights and its economic return. The term sheet should address ownership, funding commitments, governance, reserved matters, operating responsibilities, transfer restrictions, deadlock, defaults, distributions, exit and any lender requirements before definitive documents are negotiated.

Partner selection

Choosing an operating or capital partner for a joint venture

Define required capability, capital, governance, economics, decision rights, risk allocation and exit before approaching candidates.

Use the partner-selection framework
Capital markets ecosystem

Investment roles, structures and decision criteria

Explore the participants and transaction options relevant to this practice. Each entry sets out a discussion scope, decision checks, a paid engagement starting point and the specialist responsibilities to confirm.

Institutional and Strategic Capital

Joint-Venture PartnersCME-035 · Institutional and Strategic Capital · Equity Investor
Ecosystem role
Equity Investor
Related asset class
Alternatives
Instrument context
Equity or co-investment

Mandate context: large-scale strategic, infrastructure and cross-border investments. The structure and rights are established by the specific transaction documents.

Decision focus: Policy fit and accountable capital decisions.

  • Mandate, approval authority and allocation constraints
  • Concentration, liquidity and valuation evidence
  • Conflicts, reporting and decision rights

Scope to discuss: Investor strategy, opportunity screening, fund or direct-deal diligence and capital access.

Paid engagement entry point: investor thesis and mandate brief; followed by screening, diligence or transaction execution.

Illustrative GCC scenario: An illustrative Qatar institutional allocation can be mapped to its investment policy, committee authorities, portfolio exposures and required manager or asset diligence. This is a hypothetical decision example.

What should be agreed before a mandate involving Joint-Venture Partners?

Define the investment or transaction objective, the authorised decision-maker, the evidence available, the requested deliverables and the next approval. Use the decision checks above to identify gaps; agree the workplan, delivery responsibilities and fee terms in writing.

Delivery and specialist boundary: Confirm decision authority, evidence access, conflicts, scope and applicable jurisdiction-specific permissions before execution. Legal, tax, fund-marketing, securities and Shariah questions require the relevant appointed specialist. Capital availability, investment returns and execution dates remain subject to assessment.

Discuss a paid scope

Operator-Led Buyers

Joint-Venture AcquirersCME-109 · Operator-Led Buyers · Buyer
Ecosystem role
Buyer
Related asset class
Private equity
Instrument context
Share purchase

Mandate context: owner-managed and management-led acquisitions. The structure and rights are established by the specific transaction documents.

Decision focus: Operator readiness and an executable ownership plan.

  • Operator capability and management continuity
  • Equity, debt and seller alignment
  • Governance, incentives and transition dependencies

Scope to discuss: Buy-side target search, screening, valuation, diligence and acquisition execution.

Paid engagement entry point: acquisition thesis and target-screening sprint; followed by diligence and deal execution.

Illustrative GCC scenario: An illustrative GCC management buyout can be screened for operator capacity, funding sources, management incentives and transition responsibilities. This is a hypothetical decision example.

What should be agreed before a mandate involving Joint-Venture Acquirers?

Define the investment or transaction objective, the authorised decision-maker, the evidence available, the requested deliverables and the next approval. Use the decision checks above to identify gaps; agree the workplan, delivery responsibilities and fee terms in writing.

Delivery and specialist boundary: Confirm decision authority, evidence access, conflicts, scope and applicable jurisdiction-specific permissions before execution. Legal, tax, fund-marketing, securities and Shariah questions require the relevant appointed specialist. Capital availability, investment returns and execution dates remain subject to assessment.

Discuss a paid scope

Sellers

Joint-Venture Partners Seeking an ExitCME-139 · Sellers · Seller
Ecosystem role
Seller
Related asset class
Private equity
Instrument context
Share or asset sale

Mandate context: sale, succession, exit and divestment processes. The structure and rights are established by the specific transaction documents.

Decision focus: Readiness, credible buyer fit and clean decision rights.

  • Seller authority and transaction perimeter
  • Financial evidence, valuation and buyer criteria
  • Confidentiality, process timetable and completion dependencies

Scope to discuss: Exit readiness, valuation, buyer process and transaction execution.

Paid engagement entry point: exit-readiness and valuation diagnostic; followed by buyer process and execution.

Illustrative GCC scenario: An illustrative family business sale in the UAE can begin with shareholder authority, a reconciled financial pack and agreed confidentiality and buyer-screening rules. This is a hypothetical decision example.

What should be agreed before a mandate involving Joint-Venture Partners Seeking an Exit?

Define the investment or transaction objective, the authorised decision-maker, the evidence available, the requested deliverables and the next approval. Use the decision checks above to identify gaps; agree the workplan, delivery responsibilities and fee terms in writing.

Delivery and specialist boundary: Confirm decision authority, evidence access, conflicts, scope and applicable jurisdiction-specific permissions before execution. Legal, tax, fund-marketing, securities and Shariah questions require the relevant appointed specialist. Capital availability, investment returns and execution dates remain subject to assessment.

Discuss a paid scope

Equity and Hybrid Capital

Joint-Venture EquityCME-202 · Equity and Hybrid Capital · Funding Instrument
Ecosystem role
Funding Instrument
Related asset class
Private equity
Instrument context
Equity or hybrid

Mandate context: equity raises, founder financing and growth investment. The structure and rights are established by the specific transaction documents.

Decision focus: Ownership economics across alternative structures.

  • Cash-flow rights, conversion and dilution
  • Governance, preferences and contingent payments
  • Valuation, exit and specialist documentation

Scope to discuss: Capital-structure design, financing options analysis and execution support.

Paid engagement entry point: financing-options and term-sheet assessment; followed by lender or investor process execution.

Illustrative GCC scenario: An illustrative UAE investment can compare ordinary, preferred or convertible terms using the same ownership, cash-flow and exit scenarios; actual rights depend on the documents. This is a hypothetical decision example.

What should be agreed before a mandate involving Joint-Venture Equity?

Define the investment or transaction objective, the authorised decision-maker, the evidence available, the requested deliverables and the next approval. Use the decision checks above to identify gaps; agree the workplan, delivery responsibilities and fee terms in writing.

Delivery and specialist boundary: Confirm decision authority, evidence access, conflicts, scope and applicable jurisdiction-specific permissions before execution. Legal, tax, fund-marketing, securities and Shariah questions require the relevant appointed specialist. Capital availability, investment returns and execution dates remain subject to assessment.

Discuss a paid scope

Further reading on diligence, market frameworks and applicable requirements. These resources do not verify an individual mandate or Matchpoint permission.

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