overview

The Darwin Leisure Development Fund provides long-term investors with the opportunity to invest in the lucrative UK Holiday Park market. The Fund was launched following the success of the Darwin Leisure Property Fund.

The Darwin Leisure Development Fund owns a portfolio of holiday parks around the UK and the Fund aims to combine a secure return, which is well in excess of inflation, with business strategies that create sustainable shareholder value.

This new fund follows a similar operating model to the Darwin Leisure Property Fund with two important differences:

‍First, it focuses on parks with potential for redevelopment and sites which have planning permission that has not yet been implemented.

‍Second, unlike the Darwin Leisure Property Fund, this fund will utilise modest gearing, at a level of around 20%, to help finance acquisitions and redevelopment.

BENEFITS OF INVESTING

STABLE RETURNS

Stable, consistent returns of 10-12% per annum*
Capital growth, rather than income, is the driver of return and is achieved though:

- Exploitation of existing planning permissions.
- Development gains from new planning permissions.
- Modest level of gearing (max 20% at Fund level).
- Proven ’operational excellence’ model of management of parks post development.
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*Target return

UNCORRELATED

Uncorrelated Returns
Investing in the Darwin Leisure Development Fund provides a significant diversification benefit to investors as returns are uncorrelated from all mainstream assets, including real estate.

RISK

Asset Backed
The Fund is asset backed and makes non-speculative land purchases: properties added to portfolio are already zoned for holiday park use.

The business model generates stable and predictable revenue streams, ensuring consistency of returns.

DEMAND

- There are currently around 6,000 UK holiday parks which in 2018 UK generated a GVA of £5.3bn.
- Holiday parks have proved relatively resilient to the economic turmoil of the past few years.
- Holiday parks account for approximately 25% of all UK holiday trips and 31% of all holiday bed nights.

Considerable Demand
Holiday parks are an important component of the UK travel industry, accounting for around 17% of Britain’s entire holiday economy.

STABLE RETURNS

Stable, consistent returns of 6-8% per annum*
Generated through:
- Efficient operation of crematoria and bereavement services assets (operational excellence model)
- Development of new crematoria
‍
*Target return

UNCORRELATED

Uncorrelated Returns
Investing in the Darwin Bereavement Services Fund provides a significant diversification benefit to investors as returns are uncorrelated from all mainstream assets, including real estate.

RISK

Asset Backed
The Darwin Bereavement Services Fund invests in real assets, making them a lower risk alternative to equities, bonds and many other alternative investments.

DEMAND

Considerable Demand
Consistent demand for bereavement services (death rates are even forecast to rise over the next 10 years before dropping back to ‘normal’ levels)
Lack of supply in crematoria but particularly in burial space as many council cemeteries are close to full capacity