Al Dente and Labelium Group announce joint strategic venture to fuel a new era of success for luxury brands

January 2024 — LT Capital has sold its stake in Al Dente to Labelium Group with the support of Charterhouse Capital Partners LLP, a UK private equity fund.

Founded in 2004, Al Dente is an international new-generation creative agency that draws on the culture of luxury brands, providing modernity and inspiration to future generations while protecting its DNA. From brand strategy to positioning and branding at large, the company conceptualizes storytelling and adopts a 360° approach to building business relationships with its clients. Al Dente has solid expertise in executing campaigns on all types of digital and traditional media, as well as a clear understanding of the luxury industry codes and the cultural aura of luxury brands. Its integration of the value chain with two in-house studios is perfectly adapted to the latest developments in the image world, providing a high level of reactivity and flexibility while preserving the creative momentum. Al Dente has a unique positioning in the market and benefits from significant growth dynamics: the digitalization of the luxury sector. The agency has demonstrated its ability to generate strong organic growth, relying on an historic and loyal client base composed of luxury brands, such as Boucheron, Pucci, Chopard, LVMH and Baccarat.

Labelium Group is a global, independent digital marketing consultancy that specializes in accelerating client growth through data-driven marketing strategies. With expertise across a range of digital channels, platforms and networks, the firm enables brands across all sectors, such as Sephora, L'Oréal and SFR, to maximize their online potential and effectively reach their target audiences. Having a network of 23 offices in 16 countries, Labelium provides a broad spectrum of services, from strategy consulting to day-to-day execution through to project and data management, in four main areas: media performance, retail performance, digital intelligence and strategy consulting. Since the Charterhouse fund invested in the group in 2021, Labelium has made a half-dozen acquisitions, operating a global buy-and-build platform.

LT Capital is a French private equity firm headquartered in Paris. It provides equity capital to fast-growing SMEs and supports entrepreneurs in their growth projects in France and abroad while adopting an environmental, societal and balanced governance approach. With more than 20 years of experience, LT Capital has supported 49 companies across several sectors, with tickets between US$3.2 million and US$16 million.

Our role in the transaction

Oaklins’ team in France supported Al Dente for the second time in its joint strategic venture with Labelium Group. The team shortlisted a number of potential acquirors and identified Labelium Group as the best candidate to accelerate Al Dente’s growth and development project, while directly benefiting from the combined services to offer comprehensive solutions to its luxury clients.