Investment type
- Management buyout
Forest Holidays is the owner and operator of environmentally sensitive cabins set across Britain’s forests. Since the mid-1970s, the Company has sensitively created cabins under the guiding principles of sustainable woodland use and the preservation of the countryside and biodiversity.
In 2012 LDC completed a significant investment to support a management buyout and the roll-out of new Forest Holidays sites, while also supporting its sustainability strategy.
In 2017 Phoenix Equity Partners acquired a controlling stake in Forest Holidays with the Forestry Commission, LDC, and the management team each retained significant minority stakes. LDC continued to support the business up until 2022 when it agreed a merger with Sykes Holiday Cottages.
A decade long partnership to support growth
During LDC’s 10-year partnership with the business, the management team opened five new locations across the UK. To date, Forest Holidays has invested over £100m into Britain’s forests, increasing recreational use, improving facilities, and creating and maintaining trails. It has 12 forest locations with many in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park in Scotland.
I’m grateful for LDC’s long-term support and for backing our plans to continue to invest in our locations throughout the pandemic.”
Sykes shares Forest Holidays’ approach to sustainable tourism which strives to have a positive impact on the planet and local communities whilst providing memorable shared experiences for its customers. The combined business will be united by a common purpose to bring further benefits to nature, people and local communities.
Awards
Deal of the Year
Insider Midlands Dealmakers Awards 2022
Social Responsibility Management Team of the Year
Forest Holidays – Midlands BVCA Management Team Awards