Scottish dental group looks to fill in portfolio with acquisitions

A dental group that says it is the largest north of the Border is seeking acquisitions as it looks to grow to 50 practices this year amid a bid to be Scotland’s “local dentist”.

Jim Hall founded Clyde Munro in 2015 with the acquisition of seven practices. Picture: Ian Georgeson.

Glasgow-based Clyde Munro is calling on principal dentists looking either for an exit or for a chance to focus on their clinical work to get in touch, as it renews its growth drive, following a turbulent period for the sector. The group aims to operate an expanding network of family practices across Scotland.

It said that in the last week alone, it has acquired two practices and has a further ten in the final stages of the acquisition process on heads of terms. It has also reported a surge in new enquiries since the start of lockdown, while all 42 of its practices around Scotland are now open.

Kirsty Dace, chief development officer with the group, said: “By being entirely dedicated to Scotland, our practices are benefiting from expertise and business management that is designed to give reassurance. We want a network of family dentists – and this separates us markedly from other groups.”

After changing hands, Cults Dental Practice has grown its services to exclusively offer cosmetic treatments. Picture: contributed.

Clyde Munro said that since its foundation in 2015 it has enjoyed rapid growth via acquisition, “with a network quite unlike any other groups”. It said its focus exclusively on Scotland has enabled it to take over and secure the future of some of the country’s most remote practices as well as those in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The group was created by Jim Hall, who established it with the acquisition of seven practices and the backing of private equity firm Synova Capital and Investec. It now has more than 200 dentists, 350 staff and 300,000 patients on its books.

Meanwhile, dental firm Oracare Scotland has acquired Cults Dental Practice in Aberdeen thanks to a funding package worth nearly £500,000 from Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

Under the new ownership, Cults Dental Practice has expanded its services to exclusively offer cosmetic treatments including dental implants, dermal fillers, Invisalign teeth-straightening options and Digital Smile Design technology. It will also continue to provide private and select NHS dental services, as well as emergency treatments.

Opportunities

Naga Narra and Saima Ikram, who now lead Cults Dental Practice, have also created three jobs – one hygienist and two dental nurse roles – boosting the existing team of seven. It is hoped that more job opportunities will become available as demand for the new procedures continues to rise.

Narra said: “The last six months have been incredibly challenging for the dental industry and we’re proud to finally be in a position to welcome new and existing clients to the surgery. The cosmetic treatments have already attracted a new customer base, which we expect will continue to grow.”

Carol Gray, senior relationship manager at RBS, said: “Helping Dr Narra and his team acquire the new practice has been rewarding for the team as we can see the passion they have for the industry. We wish the team the very best as they continue to grow their operation and services across Scotland.”

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