OVERVIEW OF PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL IN FRANCE
THE WORLD OF BASKETBALL
450 MILLION PLAYERS WORLDWIDE
INTENSITY
PASSION
ACCESSIBILITY DYNAMISM VIRTUOSITY
INCLUSION
EXPERIENCE TEAM SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT
PROXIMITY DIVERSITY
EMOTION ENTERTAINMENT
UNIQUENESS UNIVERSALITY EXCELLENCE
STYLE
FRANCE, A LAND OF BASKETBALL
THE NO.1 INDOOR SPORT IN TERMS OF PLAYERS, ATTENDANCES AND MEDIA COVERAGE
> 725,000
Registered players
3,800 clubs
Olympic silver medalists in Tokyo in 2021
2NDteam sport after football
25 MILLION
French people interested in basketball
One of the only nations in the world capable of challenging Team USA
2.5 MILLION players in France
A POWERFUL NATIONWIDE PRESENCE CLUBS
SPREAD AROUND THE COUNTRY
With 36 clubs nationwide, the Betclic ÉLITE and PRO B leagues are close to fans, partner companies, spectators and the people of France, whatever their location.
MODERN AND MULTIFUNCTIONAL ARENAS
Accor Arena, Paris
16,000 seats - since 2015
LDLC Arena, Lyon
12,500 seats - since 2023
CO’Met, Orleans
10,000 seats - since 2023
Adidas Arena, Paris
8,000 seats - since 2024
Arena Saint-Étienne Métropole, Saint-Étienne
4,200 seats - since 2022
2022/23 SEASON
A COMMITMENT TO TV EXPOSURE
A HISTORIC BROADCAST AGREEMENT WITH
A ground-breaking partnership with L’Équipe, France’s leading sports media outlet.
One free-to-air match a week, with a dedicated primetime slot at 7pm on Sundays.
The only professional sport shown live and free to air each week.
Enhanced coverage of basketball across the entire L’Équipe ecosystem (newspaper, website, magazine, etc.).
100% OF BETCLIC ELITE STREAMED LIVE SKWEEK, EUROPE’S BASKETBALL
BROADCASTER
An ambitious platform committed to the development of French basketball.
The EuroLeague and EuroCup broadcaster, SKWEEK is pursuing large-scale projects with a view to positioning itself as a market player and content creator.
Quality production and broadcasting of every match.
A host of content, shows, dressing-room footage and more besides, available on all screens.
Worldwide coverage of Betclic ÉLITE matches on the NBA app
France supplies more NBA players than any country outside North America
STRONG TIES WITH THE NBA
A PARTNERSHIP UNIQUE IN THE WORLD
The venue of the annual NBA Paris Game, the French capital is the NBA’s destination of choice outside North America
A unique support program set up with the NBA and helping the Ligue Nationale de Basket’s (LNB) young players become the NBA stars of tomorrow
WHY INVEST IN A PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL CLUB IN FRANCE NOW?
WHY INVEST IN A PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL CLUB IN FRANCE?
PRO BASKETBALL IN FRANCE: STRENGTHS
l French professional basketball is healthier than ever: packed arenas, dramatic improvement in French clubs’ results in Europe, the only major sport in France with free-to-air coverage, and a historic partnership with the NBA (the only one of its kind in Europe).
l A sound and stable business model: clubs in good financial health overall, well-managed business models, and continued growth of revenues despite limited TV rights that expected to growth.
l Basketball, an economically viable sport for investors: attractive returns compared to other sports (football, rugby) and other countries (Spain, Italy, Germany), costs kept largely under control by clubs, player salaries not exorbitant, etc.
l A protective organisational and legal framework: role of the Ligue Nationale de Basket (LNB) and France’s national advisory and audit body: the Direction Nationale du Conseil et du Contrôle de Gestion des Clubs Professionnels (DNCCG).
l A favourable legal framework for investors: a range of legal statuses allowing new investors to acquire stakes in clubs, in contrast to Spain’s member ownership system and majority shareholder rules seen in Germany (50+1).
WHY INVEST IN A PROFESSIONAL
BASKETBALL CLUB IN FRANCE?
BUSINESS MODELS OF LNB CLUBS: A FAVOURABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR INVESTORS
l Generally healthy finances, with the vast majority of clubs (85% of them as of 30 June 2023) presenting a solid equity base, and the DNCCG ensuring the long-term viability of clubs.
l A very positive dynamic, with club revenues growing steadily and significantly since the pandemic, with record attendances (89% fill rate in the Betclic ÉLITE and 75% in PRO B in the 2022/23 season) at LNB arenas.
l Record revenues for LNB clubs at the end of the 2022/23 season, exceeding the EUR 100m mark in the Betclic ÉLITE for the first time and approaching EUR 50m in PRO B.
l A business model managed by the clubs: match revenue and sponsorship represent nearly 70% of club income in the Betclic ÉLITE and 60% in PRO B.
l Clubs open to new investors with the aim of becoming more competitive on the domestic and European scenes.
WHY INVEST IN A PROFESSIONAL
BASKETBALL CLUB IN FRANCE?
OVERVIEW OF PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL CLUBS 2023/24 SEASON
ADA BLOIS BASKET 41
AS MONACO BASKET
BCM GRAVELINES DUNKERQUE
CHOLET BASKET
CHORALE ROANNE BASKET
ELAN CHALON
ESSM LE PORTEL
JDA DIJON BASKET
JL BOURG BASKET
LDLC ASVEL
LE MANS SARTHE BASKET
LIMOGES CSP
METROPOLITANS 92
NANTERRE 92
PARIS BASKETBALL
SAINT-QUENTIN BASKET-BALL
SIG STRASBOURG
SLUC NANCY BASKET
AIX MAURIENNE SAVOIE BASKET
ALLIANCE SPORT ALSACE
ALM EVREUX BASKET EURE
ANTIBES SHARKS
ASC DENAIN VOLTAIRE
BOULAZAC BASKET DORDOGNE
CHAMPAGNE BASKET
ELAN BEARNAIS PAU LACQ ORTHEZ
ETOILE ANGERS BASKET
FOS PROVENCE BASKET
JA VICHY-CLERMONT METROPOLE
LILLE METROPOLE BASKET CLUB
NANTES BASKET HERMINE
ORLEANS LOIRET BASKET
POITIERS BASKET 86
ROUEN MÉTROPOLE BASKET
SAINT-CHAMOND BASKET VALLEE DU GIER
STADE ROCHELAIS BASKET
1,967,000 2,190,000 1,934,000 4,239,000 2,640,000 3,380,000 3,711,000 4,984,000 2,071,000 3,006,000 2,313,000 1,919,000 2,899,000 4,148,000 2,838,000 3,352,000 3,207,000 2,544,000
*Seelegalstatusbreakdownintheannex.Acronyms:SASP=SociétéAnonymeSportiveProfessionnelle(ProfessionalSportsCompany);SAM=SociétéAnonymeMonégasque(MonegasquePLC);SEM=Sociétéd’Économie Mixte(Public-PrivatePartnership);SAOS=SociétéAnonymeàObjetSportif(SportsPLC).
WHY INVEST
IN A PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL CLUB IN FRANCE?
BUSINESS MODEL OF CLUBS
WHY INVEST IN A PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL CLUB IN FRANCE?
THE CORRELATION BETWEEN FINANCE AND SPORT
Sports ranking and payroll 2022-2023
Clubs with budgets of less than EUR 4m have next to no chance of making the play-offs (there were no instances of this happening in the period studied).
However, clubs with budgets of more than EUR 6m were guaranteed to stay in the Betclic ÉLITE (no exceptions to this in the period studied).
Finally, nearly 90% of clubs with a budget in excess of EUR 8m qualify for the play-offs (only one exception in the period studied).
WHY
INVEST IN A PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL CLUB IN FRANCE?
BUSINESS MODEL OF CLUBS
HOW TO INVEST IN A PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL CLUB IN FRANCE
TWO OPTIONS
MAKE DIRECT CONTACT WITH CLUBS TARGETED BY POTENTIAL INVESTORS
LIGUE NATIONALE DE BASKET MAKES THE INTRODUCTION
In both cases, potential investors should contact the LNB as quickly as they can.
Attached as an annex is Article 68 of the LNB rules, which sets out the main requirements regarding the purchase of stakes in clubs, which is overseen by the LNB and the DNCCG in particular.
HOW TO INVEST IN A PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL CLUB IN FRANCE
THE LNB INVESTORS UNIT: SUPPORT FOR INVESTORS AND CLUBS
GOALS:
l To support clubs contemplating opening up to outside investors
l To develop business plans
l To liaise with investment banks and other specialist intermediaries
l To assist the various stakeholders throughout the stake-acquisition process and act as a facilitator
POINTS TO NOTE:
l The unit does not act as an investment bank
l No interference in the acquisition process itself
CONTACT: Rodolphe CADIO rodolphe.cadio@lnb.fr
Paul LAFONT paul.lafont@lnb.fr
ANNEXES
OVERVIEW OF THE LIGUE NATIONALE DE BASKET
A sports association, the LNB was founded in 1987 and brings together France’s professional basketball teams. Its mission is to organise and manage men’s professional championships and other events at the request of the FFBB.
l 18 clubs in the Betclic ÉLITE (16 from the 2024/25 season) and 18 in PRO B (20 from the 2024/25 season)
l Regular season and season-ending play-offs
l The bottom two clubs in each division are relegated to the division below
l Leaders Cup LNB, a knockout tournament involving the top eight clubs in the standings at the halfway stage of the season
l All-Star Game, between best foreign and French players in the LNB leagues
The LNB is run by a management committee made up of 17 representatives from the clubs, the FFBB and the clubs’, players’ and coaches’ unions. The committee is chaired by the president of the LNB, who is currently Philippe AUSSEUR, whose term of office runs until 30 June 2027
There are currently 25 permanent employees working in its six main departments:
LIGUE NATIONALE DE BASKET ORGANISATION CHART
PHILIPPE AUSSEUR PRESIDENT
MATHIEU DESVALOIS
EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT
FABRICE JOUHAUD GENERAL MANAGER
COMPETITIONS
DJILALI MEZIANE ETIENNE ROBERT PAUL LAFONT ANTOINE PEYRARD VIRGINIE DUVAL GUILLAUME CARREY LEGAL FINANCIAL PLANNING PARTNERSHIPS COMMUNICATION AND BRANDING ENTERTAINMENT
OVERVIEW OF THE DNCCG
What is the DNCCG?
In accordance with Article L.132-2 of the French Sport Code, the regulations of the French Basketball Federation (FFBB), the delegation agreement entered into by the FFBB and the LNB, and the LNB’s regulations (Article 30), the DNCCG is responsible for overseeing the administrative, financial and legal management of the LNB’s member clubs.
Objectives:
TO ENSURE the long-term viability of the sports organisations and companies that are members of or intend to join the LNB
TO PROMOTE respect for fair play
TO CONTRIBUTE to the application of financial rules pertaining to competitions
TO ASSESS the current and future financial health of clubs
OVERVIEW OF THE DNCCG
Article 68: Acquiring a shareholding in a club
All direct or indirect shareholdings acquired through an intermediary must comply with the regulations currently in force.
If any individual or legal entity acquires, either directly or indirectly, a stake that gives them significant influence within the terms of Article L 233-17-2 of the French Commercial Code, or that gives them, by any means, the power to control the management, administration or executive bodies of the sports company or its annual general meeting of shareholders, the club must produce the following documents relating to the proposed change of shareholder(s) no later than 30 days before the effective transfer of the shareholding:
l document detailing the legal structure resulting from the acquisition;
l a breakdown of share capital resulting from the transfer of ownership and a list of shareholdings down to the smallest shareholder;
l the deed of transfer of shares in draft or definitive form, if applicable, accompanied by the deed of guarantee of assets and liabilities;
l the due diligence report compiled by the buyer on the club, if applicable;
l the letter of intention and draft shareholders’ agreement, if existing;
l the acquisition budget in DNCCG format for the current season and the three-year business acquisition plans setting out the investment schedule;
l a detailed presentation of the flows generated by the acquisition and affecting capital and debt (current accounts, etc.);
l an independent background report on the buyer, if applicable;
l any information on the buyer with regard to their unsuitability as provided for by the law and regulations (undue influence, sports agent, etc.).
The club may, if necessary, be asked to provide other documents to allow the DNCCG to perform its audit duties.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF LEGAL STATUS
Minimum share capital
Min. and max. no. of shareholders
Min. % of organisation’s stake in capital
Executive remuneration
Distribution of dividends Rules governing access to capital
(except if APE)
Approval of management body and filing with local prefecture
Statutory auditors
of