Portman Dental purchase Manchester Dental Group
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has announced the sale of Manchester dental group, Ocean Dental.
Ocean Dental is a hugely successful dental business with a significant patient reach across the region. It comprises two mixed-income practices in prime Manchester locations – Market Street and Fallowfield – with a total of seven surgeries and ample space to expand further.
Set up as a squat in 2011, Ocean Dental Manchester on Market Street enjoys one of the most prominent locations in the UK in the heart of Manchester city centre. The practice is situated on the second floor of one of Boots’ highest grossing stores on one of the country’s busiest shopping high streets.
Ocean Dental Fallowfield has been established for over 30 years and joined Ocean Dental group in 2008. The property, which has been completely modernised, enjoys a commanding position in a built-up residential area which is popular with students and young professionals.
The business was previously owned by Principals Dr Nilesh Bhatt and Dr Romina Gegau who have dramatically grown the practices over the last few years, but recently decided to sell to relieve themselves from management responsibilities and concentrate on pastures new.
After a confidential sales process with Christie & Co, the group has been purchased by Portman Dental Care as part of their ongoing UK acquisition plans.
Dr Nilesh Bhatt & Dr Romina Gegau comment, “Having successfully operated the Fallowfield practice for a few years we chose to set up the Boots clinic in 2011. The design and vision was to create a sanctuary for delivery dentisty based on educating our patients in a relaxed environment. Compassion and empathy being instrumental in all that we do.
From two surgeries initially, the practice has flourished into a busy four surgery clinic open six days a week. We wanted to concentrate on our family and hence wanted to find a partner that would continue to deliver our core values to the new owners. Christie & Co was the perfect partner.
We are now delighted to work closely with Portman Dental Care to further grow the clinic and continue with our patient values.
Andy Sloan, Business Development Director at Portman Dental Care, comments, “Following the opening of City Centre Dental & Implant Clinic in late 2021, the acquisition of Ocean now gives Portman significant coverage across Manchester City Centre. Our aim is to provide patients with exceptional levels of service and we will be constantly investing in technology and people to ensure this happens over the coming months.”
Jonathan Watson, Director at Christie & Co, who handled the sale comments, “I am enormously proud to have assisted on the sale of Ocean Dental Group to Portman Dental Care. It has been a real honour to have acted on such a high-profile transaction in Manchester city centre and I am delighted with the result for Nilesh and Romina. This is the latest example of the significant appetite for larger single sites and groups from corporate operators, who are making up for lost time following a challenging couple of years.”
The leasehold interest of Ocean Dental was sold off an undisclosed guide price.