Since opening its private stadium, OL Groupe has developed a high-performance business model, which has helped drive the substantial increase in our revenue and financial performance.
RECENTS EVENTS AND OUTLOOK
After the first two payments (€40M in total) linked to the LFP/CVC1 transaction in the 2022/23 financial year, the Group should benefit from the 3rd and final instalment (€50M) in 2023/2024, subject to completion of the forthcoming transactions between LFP and CVC Capital Partners.
The Group announced that it had reached a preliminary agreement with a group of leading global financial institutions to refinance the substantial majority of its debt and that of its subsidiary Olympique Lyonnais SASU, for a total of €320 M, on a long-term basis2. KBRA Europe and DBRS Morningstar have assigned an indicative financial rating of BBB+ and BBB respectivily for the proposed structure. The new financing is expected to close by December 31, 2023, subject to an agreement on the final documentation and the satisfaction of usual conditions.
Construction work on the LDLC Arena, 100% owned by OL Groupe, is completed. The new Arena was inaugurated on 23 November 2023, with over 11,000 spectators attending the Euroleague basketball match (LDLC Asvel/Bayern). The arena already has an extensive programme, including 11 LDLC Asvel Euroleague basketball matches, as well as numerous shows and events. Click on the following link to view the Arena's programme: LDLC Arena programme.
The Groupama Stadium also has a rich program of events lined up for the coming months, including some major concerts: Taylor Swift (2 and 3 June 2024), Rammstein (15 June 2024), Coldplay (22, 23 and 25 June 2024) as well as sporting events the France/England rugby match (16 March 2024 - 6 Nations Tournament), a French football team match (March 2024), 11 football matches (men's and women's) as part of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (July and August 2024), the opening and closing ceremonies of WorldSkills Lyon 2024 at the Groupama Stadium and the LDLC Arena (September 2024), and the TOP 14 semi-finals (June 2025).
On the sporting front, after a difficult start to the 23/24 season, the club is determinated to do everything it can to improve its performance in the short term and move closer to the top of the French Ligue 1 league table. The club's ambition for the future remains recurrent participation in the European Cup.
The 2023 summer transfer period was a very active one, in compliance with the framework for payroll and transfer compensation decided by the DNCG at the beginning of July 2023.
The operation announced last May by OL Groupe and Michele Kang to create a global multi-team structure dedicated to women's soccer should be completed shortly, subject to satisfaction of the final conditions precedent. At the end of this transaction, the OL Group should hold 48%3 of the share capital of a new company, to which the Olympique Lyonnais women's team and the Washington Spirit (NWSL team) will have been contributed. The new organization aims to acquire additional women's clubs in other countries.
Given the Group's and Michele Kang's future indirect stakes in OL Reign and Washington Spirit, both of which play in the American women's NWSL, OL Groupe is working on the disposal of its stake in OL Reign in order to eliminate any future conflict of interest within the NWSL and annual operating losses from this entity. A competitive auction process has been launched to identify a potential buyer for OL Reign.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
The Group intends to refocus on its activities related to men's football and to divest all or part of certain non-core assets, the proceeds from the sale of which could be used to invest in the training and development of young players and to reduce the Group's debt.
OL Groupe is considering the possibility of listing its shares (or those of a holding company belonging to the Eagle group) in the United States on the New York Stock Exchange, following a preliminary reorganization under which the Eagle Football group's stakes in the clubs Crystal Palace F. C, Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas and RWD Molenbeek would be transferred to OL Groupe. Such a listing, if carried out, could be announced in the first half of 2024.
In this context, the Company's objective is to further develop its capabilities, benefitting in particular from the resources and synergies (such as operational synergies between the aforementioned football clubs and the Company, notably relating to player transfers or player loans between such clubs, and the sharing of administrative and sport best practices), while retaining its identity, heritage and community base.
This is part of a global strategy, aimed at fostering collaboration between communities, clubs, the strengthening of competitive positions and enhancing fan experience, with the support of an investment consortium having significant experience in the ownership, management and development of sporting organizations.
In connection with this global strategy, it is also envisaged to broaden the corporate purpose of the Company and to change its legal name. Such changes will be subject to the approval of the next general shareholders' meeting.
In view of the redefinition of the Group's strategy, including the planned acquisitions and disposals of assets and the forthcoming refinancing, OL Groupe will communicate its longer-term objectives at a later date.
“This document contains indications about OL Groupe's objectives. The reader's attention is drawn to the fact that the achievement of these objectives may be affected by known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause OL Groupe's future results, performance and achievements to differ significantly from the objectives formulated or suggested. These factors may include changes in economic and business conditions, regulations, as well as risk factors detailed in OL Groupe's Half-Year Financial Report at 12/31/22 and in the forthcoming Universal Registration Document 2022/23. In addition, if you want to keep up with OL Groupe latest news, readers are also invited to consult the press releases published regularly on the "Recent announcements" page (https://investisseur.olympiquelyonnais.com/en/recent-announcements/financial-announcements.html). "
1 Reminder: Following the creation of the LFP's commercial subsidiary and the investment fund CVC Capital Partners' acquisition of a stake in the said subsidiary in July 2022 (€1.5bn for 13%), the L1 and L2 colleges and the LFP Board of Directors voted to distribute €1.13 billion to the clubs (split over several financial years), including a total allocation of €90 million to be received by Olympique Lyonnais
2 Read the press release dated 8 November 2023: https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-82831-231108-olg-cp-point-refinancement-en.pdf.
3 Without any voting rights.
