Lazio, the Italian Serie A football club, plans to raise €118m ($104m) by issuing shares and convertible bonds, the latest in a spate of European football clubs to tap the equity markets.

Lazio's decision follows in the wake of Juventus, which floated at the end of 2001. Juventus' share price fell on the first day of trading, raising a note of caution for its rivals. Merrill Lynch and Banca IMI led that deal. Meanwhile, Inter Milan has hired Morgan Stanley and Interbanca to manage its IPO.