Christie & Co, a specialist business property adviser, announced the sale of King Dental & Associates Limited to private buyers.The financial terms were not disclosed.
King Dental & Associates Limited is a four-provider NHS dental practice in Carnforth, England with five surgeries.
The seller was Anne King, and her husband, Derek. In 1997, King established a single-surgery dental practice. King later acquired a second practice in 2004, and in 2007, she merged the two practices to form King Dental & Associates.
The private buyers are Dr. Adam Kantharia and Dr. Ibrahim Matadar.
Based in London, England, Christie & Co works across a plethora of sectors including dentistry, pharmacy, home health and childcare. It was founded in 1935 and annually sells more than 1,000 businesses, from small independent practices to large groups.
The LevinPro HC team spoke with Olivia McMaster, Senior Business Agent – Dental at Christie & Co, who was able to provide insight into the transaction. Christie & Co acted as the lead business agent and oversaw the entire process, which took approximately 12 months.
“We were responsible for initiating the first meeting with the client, appraising the business, bringing it to market and sourcing a suitable buyer,” said McMaster. “Once a buyer was secured, we acted as the intermediary between all parties involved (the buyer, seller and their respective legal teams) to ensure the transaction progressed smoothly.”
King’s decision to sell was driven by several factors, notably she wanted to retire. McMaster noted that King had “built a strong and successful business model” and that, under a new owner, there was “significant reach potential for further growth.”
“Additionally, the market for mixed/NHS dental practices is, and has consistently been, highly desirable,” said McMaster, “which made it an ideal time to sell with confidence in securing the right buyer.”
So, King’s decision to retire and sell her practice could not have come at a better time. Given the practice’s “dynamic operational model and its location” there were several buyers interested. But, Dr. Adam Kantharia and Dr. Ibrahim Matadar, beat out the other (primarily first-time) buyers because they aligned with King’s objectives and requirements.
“Given that the practice is owner-operated, it created an ideal opportunity for a pair of first-time buyers who were not only eager to engage directly in the practice but also willing to assume the hours previously dedicated by King,” said McMaster. “This alignment of aspirations and operational needs made them particularly well-suited to take over the practice and continue its legacy of success.”
Moving forward, the new owners intend on expanding the practice’s range of services, particularly in cosmetic dentistry, Invisalign and dental implants.
“With Ibrahim’s advanced training in implantology and our shared experience with Invisalign, we’re able to offer more comprehensive, in-house treatment options without patients needing to be referred elsewhere,” said Kantharia.
According to data captured in the LevinPro HC database, there have been 215 Physician Medical Group (PMG) transactions in 2025. There have also been 108 transactions in the dental specialty, with 15 of them with targets based in the United Kingdom.
According to McMaster, Christie & Co sold 125 practices in 2024. In the first quarter of 2025, it has brought 69 dental practices to market and advised on or sold 200 practices with a combined value of £268 million (more than $364.23 million USD).
When discussing the state of the PMG M&A market in the United Kingdom, McMaster highlighted several parallels with the U.S. healthcare landscape. A key commonality is the wave of physicians retiring and selling their practices. This has become widespread in both the United States and the United Kingdom and is contributing to a broader decline in the healthcare workforce.
“In the UK, there is a shortage of dentists wanting to work in NHS dentistry, with many moving over to treat privately,” McMaster noted.
The sentiment highlights the frustrations among providers with NHS compensation structures, which are often seen as inflexible and financially unrewarding compared to the private market.
Additionally, the strength of the current M&A market is encouraging more owners to consider divestment in the United Kingdom and the United States. High demand from investors is increasing valuations, giving practice owners a timely opportunity to capitalize on favorable deal terms. At the same time, the pressures on smaller practices are pushing many toward consolidation out of necessity, not just preference.
For more transactions that Christie & Co has worked on, explore the deals below:
