divestiture

American  

[dih-ves-ti-cher, -choor, dahy-] / dɪˈvɛs tɪ tʃər, -ˌtʃʊər, daɪ- /

Also divestment

noun

1. the act of divesting.

2. the state of being divested.

3. something, as property or investments, that has been divested.

   to reexamine the company's acquisitions and divestitures.

4. Also divesture the sale of business holdings or part of a company, especially under legal compulsion.

---

divestiture Cultural  

1. The act of a corporation or conglomerate in getting rid of a subsidiary company or division. In a tactic to pressure South Africa to end apartheid, during the 1980s many Americans and Europeans urged divestiture on corporations doing business in South Africa.

---

Etymology

Origin of divestiture

First recorded in 1595–1605; di- ² + (in)vestiture

Example Sentences

The Supersonic divestiture, which the analysts say hadn’t been previously telegraphed, introduces some short-term uncertainty around timing and deal terms.

From The Wall Street Journal

There would be no venue divestitures, though the company agreed to divest 13 exclusive booking agreements with amphitheaters, as well as open its amphitheaters to all promoters.

From The Wall Street Journal

General Mills expects its turnaround efforts to improve organic sales next year, but in the meantime, investments in new products and portfolio divestitures pressured fiscal third-quarter profitability.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Consistent with our strategy, this divestiture enables us to concentrate our capital, leadership and operational focus on the properties that we believe generate the strongest returns and offer the greatest long-term upside,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Torch Key’s focus is on complex deals such as carve-outs and divestitures, including buying companies with some challenges that need operational work, Reed said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• disinvestment
• divestment