Mills Oakley advised a founding minority shareholder and management in connection with the sale of their equity interests in the Ivy Collection (the group of Ivy branded restaurants in the UK), to an entity controlled by DIAFA, an affiliate of International Holding Company, the Abu Dhabi listed conglomerate.

With an overall transaction value of approximately £1.4 billion (including Annabel’s, Scott’s and the other hospitality brands and assets included in the sale), the deal is one of the most significant cross border transactions in the hospitality sector in 2026.  The transaction demonstrates the continued investor demand for premium hospitality, leisure and lifestyle assets and the growing appetite of international investors for iconic consumer-facing brands.

The matter was led by Patrick Johnson in the Sydney Corporate Advisory team. Mills Oakley worked closely with teams from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in London, together with Bedell Cristin in Jersey, reflecting the complexity and multi-jurisdictional nature of the transaction and the collaborative effort required to deliver a successful outcome.

Commenting on the transaction, Patrick said:

“This deal reflects the scale and sophistication of cross-border M&A activity in the premium hospitality sector. Working closely with colleagues in London and Jersey, we were able to help navigate a complex multi-jurisdictional process and deliver a successful outcome for our client.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer acted for the majority shareholder, Richard Caring and Norton Rose Fulbright acted for IHC.

Mills Oakley congratulates all parties involved in the transaction.