DIAFA, an Abu Dhabi–based luxury and hospitality investment platform affiliated with International Holding Company, has completed a majority acquisition of Richard Caring's hospitality portfolio in a deal valued at approximately £1.4 billion ($1.8bn). The transaction unites some of the world's most recognisable dining and members' club brands under a single global platform.
What the Deal Includes
The DIAFA acquisition encompasses three major business pillars from Caring's empire:
- The Ivy Brasseries — a nationwide UK and Ireland restaurant network - Caprice Holdings — the luxury restaurant portfolio featuring Scott's, Sexy Fish, and Noema - The Birley Clubs — London's most exclusive private members' clubs: Annabel's, George, Harry's Bar, and Mark's Club
Together, these brands represent a defining chapter in British luxury hospitality and an immediate global footprint for DIAFA's fast-expanding portfolio.
Richard Caring Stays as Executive Chairman
Richard Caring, one of the most influential figures in the global restaurant industry, will remain as Executive Chairman following the sale. His continued presence ensures strategic continuity and preserves the vision that built these brands into global benchmarks.
Caring stated that the partnership with DIAFA reflects a shared vision for taking established brands into new international markets — particularly the United States.
Annabel's New York and Global Expansion Plans
DIAFA and Richard Caring will jointly lead the group's next phase of international growth. Key expansion milestones include:
- A planned opening of Annabel's in New York - Continued international rollout of Scott's, Sexy Fish, and Noema - Further UK expansion of The Ivy Brasseries in 2026, with potential US openings to follow
The Ivy Brasseries network, already well established across the UK, is earmarked for one of the most aggressive international growth plans in the portfolio.
DIAFA's Broader Luxury Platform
With this acquisition, DIAFA now operates a comprehensive global luxury lifestyle group spanning luxury dining, private members' clubs, and social destination venues. Its existing holdings include:
- Azumi Group — operator of Zuma and ROKA - The h.wood Group — operator of Delilah, The Nice Guy, and Bird Streets Club
The platform is built around a clear consumer thesis: that experiences, authenticity, and meaningful connections are increasingly prioritised by high-net-worth audiences worldwide. DIAFA's strategy brings together a curated collection of globally recognised brands under a scalable, unified structure.
Ravi Thakran Named Group CEO
To lead this expanded platform, DIAFA has appointed Ravi Thakran as Group CEO. Thakran was previously Group Chairman of LVMH Asia and founder of L Capital Asia — the private equity arm backed by LVMH and Groupe Arnault — where he oversaw more than $4 billion in investments across 32 companies over more than three decades in global luxury.
Thakran said the transaction marks the beginning of a new phase in global luxury hospitality, one centred on building a portfolio of culturally significant brands and shaping the future of dining and lifestyle experiences.
Source
WAM
