L Capital-owned Ku De Ta to re-brand as Ce La Vi

L Capital Asia, which is backed by luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, bought a 51% stake in Ku Dé Ta in March 2014. The naming dispute - between Ku Dé Ta and a beachfront club in Bali with the same name - predates the investment.

According to the Straits Times, the owners of the Bali club launched their legal battle 2010 - when the Singapore club opened - claiming that they had started using the name in 2000. Sanjay Gujral, L Capital's regional managing director, said the GP had made its investment following a favourable judgement by the Singapore high court in late 2013.

However, the Court of Appeal ruled last week that Ku Dé Ta in Singapore had to stop using the name. This follows a ruling in December that said Nine Squares, the licensor of the Ku Dé Ta trademark in Singapore, did not own the brand.

The rebranding - derived from the French phrase meaning "That's Life" - will be applied to the company's flagship Singapore venue located in Marina Bay Sands complex overlooking the harbor. The location recorded around $40 million in revenue and $10.7 million in EBITDA in 2013.

The company's Bangkok branch, and a third club that is expected to open in Hong Kong's California Tower soon, will also be rebranded. The company is looking to acquire more locations in Dubai, Rome, Miami, Beijing, New York and Tokyo.

• Tweet  
• Facebook  
• LinkedIn  
• Google plus  
• Save this article  
• Send to  

• Topics
• Consumer
• Portfolio management
• Southeast Asia
• Consumer
• L Capital Asia
• Singapore