Ligue 1: OL Groupe wants to raise €52m to finance training and development centres

The board of directors of the OL Groupe, the holding company that owns Olympique Lyonnais (Ligue 1), unanimously approved the principle of launching a share capital increase with shareholders' preferential subscription rights, of a gross amount of approximately €52m, announced the OL Groupe on 04/05/2015. The project, which is planned "within weeks", is guaranteed by the bank Natixis.

The capital injection will primarily aim to finance the construction of new training and development centres based in Meyzieu and Décines (urban regions to the east of Lyon, FRA), as well as the development works and interior design of the Grand Stade de Lyon.

The OL Groupe also wishes to refinance the OCEANE 2015 bonds with the option of conversion into new or existing shares, issued in 2010 for the nominal amount of €24m and maturing in December 2015. The shares of OL Groupe fell 9.37% to €5.69 at the close of Euronext Paris on 05/05/2015.

• ICMI (the holding company belonging to Olympique Lyonnais president Jean-Michel Aulas, which holds 34.17% of OL Groupe) and Pathé (a French film production and…