The deal

Zip World set to fly with LDC backing

Zip World, the award-winning outdoor adventure business which features the world’s fastest zip line, has secured a significant minority investment from leading mid-market private equity investor LDC, supported by the company’s existing banking Partner, HSBC. The deal values the business at £45m.

The business runs adventure experiences across three scenic locations in the iconic Snowdonia mountain range in North Wales. It offers multiple activities including ziplines, an alpine rollercoaster, treetop adventure courses and subterranean playgrounds equipped with high-rope walks and nets.

Its site in Penrhyn Quarry is home to the world’s fastest zipwire Velocity 2, on which riders can travel at speeds of up to 125mph, and it boasts Europe’s highest giant swing Skyride at its location in Forest.

LDC’s investment will support Zip World’s ongoing growth strategy as it looks to add new attractions to its current sites and rollout its adventure experiences across the UK and beyond. The business is aiming to bring its exhilarating adventure experience to more customers with its ambition to double in size over the next three years.

Zip World, which was founded five years ago, has grown rapidly and today welcomes more than 400,000 adventure seekers to its sites each year. It now generates revenues of more than £14m.

LDC is backing Zip World’s ambitious management team, led by co-founder, Sean Taylor, and Managing Director David Stacey. Sean, an award-winning entrepreneur, has driven the strategy and growth of the business and David brings more than 23 years’ experience of running multi-site leisure businesses and was UK Operations Director at Virgin Active, before he joined Zip World in 2016.

Our Corporate Finance team in Bristol advised Zip World on the deal.

Commenting on the deal, Partner Mark Naughton said: “We were pleased to advise the team, providing support in developing the business plan, including financial forecasts and helped assess the financial terms of the offers received from funders. We wish them well in the next stage of their growth journey.”