Clifford Chance advised Millennium Invest on its acquisition of a stake in the Orient Express group from Accor Luxury & Lifestyle, a subsidiary of the Accor group.
Millennium Invest thus becomes the third shareholder of the Orient Express group, alongside Accor Luxury & Lifestyle and LVMH, as part of the strategic partnership entered into by the latter in 2024 to accelerate the development of Orient Express. Historically known for operating luxury trains for over 140 years, the iconic brand has recently unveiled the Orient Express Corinthian, the world’s largest sailing yacht, built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Sailing under the French flag, this 220-metre vessel embodies a new era of travel, combining cutting-edge naval innovation with French craftsmanship excellence. A second sister ship, the Orient Express Olympian, is currently under construction and will further expand the group’s offering, which also includes luxury hotels.
The Clifford Chance team comprised Catherine Naroz, partner, Elisabeth Kerlen, senior associate, and Louise Brunie Jean Charles, associate, on the corporate aspects, Pierre Goyat, partner, and Elise Poiraud, associate, on the tax aspects, David Gérard, partner, and Antoinette Gru, senior associate, on the real estate aspects, as well as Chloé Desreumaux, partner, and Ophélie Han Fing, associate, on the financing aspects.
