Young dentists demonstrate confidence in their futures

The latest goodwill figures from NASDAL show that the average price paid for all dental practices is 100% of turnover with NHS and mixed practices still commanding higher than average values.

The survey for the quarter ending 31 October featured the sale of 60 practices where a NASDAL lawyer or accountant had been involved. The average sale price for an NHS practice was 117% of turnover, for a private practice 88%, and for a mixed practice, 110%.

Alan Suggett, a partner in UNW LLP, and the NASDAL member responsible for the survey, said that large NHS practices continued to be valued on a multiple of their profits rather than percentage of turnover and this tended to push up prices.

The latest survey showed that some large mixed practices in the London orbit were fetching prices as high as 160% of turnover compared to practices in Wales, the Midlands or the north where practices were often selling for lower than 100%.

Alan explained: ‘Because there are a number of transactions which vary significantly from the averages, care should be taken when using the results of the survey, which reflect averages based on figures for the entire country.’

He continued: ‘We are seeing the big traditional corporates moderating their approach a little and not being so acquisitive, but other buyers remain very keen, regardless of the uncertainty surrounding the reformed contract due soon.

‘My view is that young dentists continue to be optimistic about the future and those who buy practices are faring better than friends in different professions.’

John Grant, a dental specialist lawyer and partner in Goodman Grant, said that the current trend could not be ascribed to one single factor, but he agreed that young dentists were helping fuel prices. ‘They recognise that associate rates of pay are unsustainable and they believe that the best way forward is to own their own practice.’

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