Park Bench ‘complete’ Bordeaux takeover from Gérard Lopez | OneFootball

Girondins de Bordeaux have been taken over after an agreement was signed overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday between investment fund Park Bench and Gérard Lopez, bringing a turbulent saga to a close. According to Ici Gironde, the English fund has secured control.

The transaction is expected to proceed on terms outlined last week, including a debt continuation plan extended to 12 years rather than 10. Club receivables of €26m would be reduced to about €13m.

Lopez is expected to transfer his shares for a symbolic one euro, while waiving his claims and a better‑fortune clause. The package also includes a 50% cut to state liabilities, covering VAT of just over €5m and the same reduction for URSSAF debts of €4.2m.

The commercial court had set a Thursday deadline before moving to seek resolution of the plan, the first step towards liquidation. Bordeaux therefore avoid that route, and must now face the regional control commission of the Nouvelle‑Aquitaine league to validate the 2026-2027 budget and assess the takeover.

After that, the 32 members of the LFNA board, the 12 District presidents and the 20 colistiers of LFNA president François Grenet will decide which division the Marine et Blanc will enter, likely Group B of Regional 1. Bordeaux are expected to open away in the Basque Country on Sunday 17 October at 15:00 against Aviron Bayonnais reserves.

Source: L'Équipe

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”