UPDATE ON THE NEWS SUMMER 2012

Winner of the Trophée des Champions in New York

Summer 2012 trading window

New sponsors and renewal of sponsorship agreements

Lyon, 10 September 2012

The summer of 2012 was an eventful period for OL Groupe. OL won the Trophée des Champions once again, and the Group continued to implement the strategic plan adopted by the Board of Directors. This plan aims to significantly reduce the payroll and return to structural operating breakeven no later than the 2013/14 financial year.

Trophée des Champions: OL wins its 24th trophy

After winning its fifth Coupe de France on 28 April 2012, OL defeated Montpellier to win its seventh Trophée des Champions in New York on 28 July. This was the club's 24th trophy, and its 17th since 2001.

Summer trading in line with strategy

In June, the Board of Directors confirmed its objectives for the 2012/13 season: substantially reduce the payroll and the amortisation expense on player registrations. This is to be accomplished by significantly reducing the number of player contracts, through transfer and expiry, and by integrating talented young players from the OL Academy.

In this context, OL has optimised its professional squad, while maintaining its ambitious targets.

Transfers, contract expiries and other departures during the period:

In a summer 2012 trading window impacted by a difficult macro-economic environment, OL transferred five players for a total of €24.5 million, plus incentives, as follows:

• Ishak Belfodil on 29 June 2012 to FC Parma for €2.5 million, plus incentives and 20% of the gain on any future transfer.

• Kim Kallström on 27 July 2012 to Moscow Spartak for €3 million plus €0.6 million in incentives.

• Jérémy Pied on 24 August 2012 to Nice for €3 million.

• Aly Cissokho on 23 August 2012 to FC Valencia for €5 million plus €1 million in incentives and up to €3.5 million of a future transfer.

• Hugo Lloris on 31 August 2012 to Tottenham for €10 million plus up to €5 million in incentives and 20% of the gain on a future transfer.

• Enzo Reale on 4 September 2012 to Lorient for €1 million plus up to 20% of the gain on a future transfer.

In addition, 10 players, most of whose contracts have expired, have left the club: Al Kamali, Cris, Ederson, Faure, Fontaine, Kolodzieczak, Mehamha, Mensah, Tafer and Valverde.

Lastly, two players have been loaned out for the 2012/13 season: Defourny to Rouen and Yattara to Troyes.

Acquisitions of player registrations and loan returns:

Investment in new players represented €8.75 million plus potential incentives:

• Milan Bivesac, from PSG, has signed a four-year contract. The amount of the transfer was €2.75 million plus incentives.

• Fabian Monzon, from Nice, has signed a four-year contract. The amount of the transfer was €3 million plus up to €1 million in incentives.

• Arnold Mvuemba, from FC Lorient, has signed a four-year contract. The amount of the transfer was €3 million plus up to €1 million in incentives and 20% of the gain on a future transfer.

In addition, Steed Malbranque, a free agent, has signed a one-year contract with the club.

In line with its strategy to train and integrate talented young players into the first team, the club has signed five new professional contracts with players coming out of the OL Academy: Maxime Blanc, Jordan Ferri, Sidy Koné, Samuel Umtiti and Anthony Martial. Lastly, two players on loan during the 2011/12 season have rejoined OL: Loïc Abenzoar and Mathieu Gorgelin.

As of 5 September 2012, the professional squad had 27 players, including 12 young players and 15 experienced players, vs. 29 players as of 31 August 2011. Twelve of the professional players were trained at OL.

Signature of a new sponsorship agreement with Hyundai and renewal of existing agreements

In a difficult economic context, Olympique Lyonnais signed on new partners and renewed certain existing agreements.

Hyundai Motor France, the world's fourth-largest carmaker, has become one of the club's major partners, with a presence on the front of players' shirts during both home and away Ligue 1 matches for the next two seasons, i.e. until 30 June 2014. 

Adidas, the club's kit manufacturer, Veolia, Groupama, Renault Trucks, MDA and Intermarché remain "shirt sponsors" of the first team, depending on the competition.

Concerning the women's team, a new three-year sponsorship agreement has been signed with April. With 10 titles since 2006, including the history-making triple in 2012 – Division 1, Coupe de France and Champions League – the women's team now has six major partners for the 2012/13 season: GDF-SUEZ, April, Vicat, Kéolis, Renault Trucks and Leroy Merlin.

For the first time, the young players' teams will also have "shirt sponsors" – Clairefontaine and Veolia – underscoring the success of the club's training programmes.

Sporting results to date

After the first four matchdays, the men's first team is in second place in the French Ligue 1 and is already qualified for the pool stage of the Europa League. OL's first Europa League match will be held at home on 20 September against Prague Sparta.

The women's team will start its championship season on 9 September and will play its first Champions League match on 26 September.

Next press release: Full-year 2011/12 earnings on 23 October 2012 after the market close.

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