14 October 2008 - Gide Loyrette Nouel Paris acted for the lenders financing the new Le Mans Stadium concession and in connection with Naming right negotiation:

On 6 October 2008, Vinci completed the arrangements for the financing of the new Le Mans Stadium.

At the end of a competitive tendering procedure launched in 2007, the special purpose company Le Mans Stadium (LMS), owned by Vinci Concessions, signed a concession agreement with the City of Le Mans for the design, financing, construction and operation of a new 25,000 seat stadium which will be the home of the city’s football club, Le Mans Union Club 72. The concession came into force on 7 July 2008 for a term of 35 years, including the period of the construction, due to last 2 years.

The financing involves an investment of € 102 million, comprising senior debt of € 39 million without any recourse against Vinci Concessions as shareholders, an € 11 million equity contribution to the concession holder by Vinci Concessions a combined € 49 million subsidy from various levels of local government and an initial € 3 million payment from Mutuelles du Mans Assurance (MMA) (plus payments of € 1 million per annum for the first ten years of the stadium’s operation) in consideration of the stadium naming right.

The stadium will be known as the “MMArena”. Selling the naming right is an original feature of the stadium’s financing package.

The senior debt was arranged by Calyon and partly subscribed by Caisse Régionale de Crédit Agricole Mutuel de l’Anjou et du Maine and Caisse Régionale de Crédit Agricole Mutuel de Normandie Seine. Calyon was advised by Gide Loyrette Nouel. The legal team, led by partner Thomas Courtel, included Marie Bouvet-Guiramand (project finance), Charles-Edouard Renault (IP, Telecommunications, Media & Technology), Hassen Chouchane, Thomas Binet, Jihene Choyak (structured finance) and Déborah Aflalo (derivatives).