What the launch of DeNovo Dental Partners means for the UK dental marketplace
On 28th February 2025, DeNovo Dental Partners launched into the market with the acquisition of six practices across the South of England, marking a significant step to revolutionise the UK dental sector with an innovative shared ownership model.
Business. Built around You.
Your expert business property advisers
But what does this mean for the UK dental marketplace? Hannah Haines, Head of Healthcare Consultancy at Christie & Co, explains.
What is DeNovo Dental Partners?
For years, independent dental practice vendors have faced limited options when selling their practices. Traditionally, these involve the complete transfer of operational control, with earn-out structures designed primarily to protect the corporate buyer, often resulting in unfavourable outcomes such as the loss of key staff, diminished morale, and earn-outs not being realised.
A side effect of these limited options is that the sales journey typically begins at retirement or as principals reach a point where the burden of running a business outweighs the benefits.
DeNovo is on a mission to transform the UK dental practice sector with a shared ownership model that offers a refreshing alternative option for principals planning for the future of their practice. Like other selling options, DeNovo Partners benefit from the release of capital from their business, but that is pretty much where the similarity ends. Rather than any holdback, DeNovo Partners are paid the full value of the business upfront, with the majority paid in cash and the rest in shares of the DeNovo parent company. Additionally, rather than the amount a seller receives being set at the sale date, DeNovo continues to incentivise Partners by rewarding them in future years for the growth of their practice. Finally, the issuance of shares in the parent company means the Partners reap the benefit of share value increase, resulting from both the growth in the individual practices as well as from the arbitrage that results as the parent company scales.
DeNovo’s unique model has drawn on best practices utilised around the world, from Australia to Canada, and is tried and tested. It creates a truly new opportunity for dentists to enjoy the benefits of both independent and dental group environments.
How did Christie & Co support DeNovo?
Our Consultancy and Valuation Services teams supported DeNovo through commercial due diligence and valuation advisory work for its funding partner.
What does the introduction of DeNovo Dental Partners mean for the wider market, and how will it impact sales going forward?
The entry of new buyers into the UK dental market is always warmly welcomed, particularly those offering alternative deal structures such as share equity.
For sellers, this translates into greater flexibility in how transactions are structured, allowing deals to be more closely aligned with individual priorities and longer-term goals.
Beyond the traditional full exit, practice owners are increasingly able to explore options that combine an upfront realisation of value with the opportunity to remain invested in their business’s future performance. Ultimately, more competition from buyers is a good thing for the marketplace.
If you would like to discuss how our consultancy team can help you with your business goals, get in touch with Hannah Haines, Head of Healthcare Consultancy at Christie & Co: hannah.haines@christie.com / 07736 617 008.