PARIS--Funds Colony Capital LLC and Eurazeo Tuesday said they will sell a nearly 10% stake in Accor SA, close to half the joint stake it has held in the French hotels group for years.

Colony Capital and Eurazeo said they intend to sell a total of 22.5 million shares through a private placement. The sale will increase the liquidity of Accor's shares by significantly increasing the free float, the funds said in a joint statement.

Colony and Eurazeo have been important shareholders for a decade. They together held close to 21% in Accor at the end of 2014, according to Accor's website.

The two funds had gradually increased their stake since 2005 and Colony was behind many boardroom battles and strategic shifts at the French group in recent years. In 2013, Accor named Sebastien Bazin, Colony's long running representative on Accor's board, as chief executive.

Spokeswomen for Colony and Accor weren't immediately available to comment on the planned sale.

Write to Ruth Bender at ruth.bender@wsj.com

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