Irwin Mitchell Advises On The Sale

Irwin Mitchell has advised on the sale of Bolton-based Acodent Dental Laboratory to Swift Dental Laboratory for an undisclosed sum.

Manchester-based Swift is the UK’s largest privately-owned group of Dental laboratories and operates from six sites across the UK. Swift currently employs 170 people across the Group, and supplies a full range of crowns, bridges, implants, prosthetics and orthodontics to private and NHS Dental practices.

Acodent, which employed 115 people, had run into financial difficulties and on Wednesday 1 October the company directors announced that the business was closing with the loss of all jobs.

The following day, (2 October) Robert Adamson and Tim Askam from Mazars’ business restructuring team were appointed as joint administrators to Alpha Zahn Limited, which traded as Acodent.

The administrators entered into a trading licence agreement with Swift, enabling Acodent to continue to trade while its future and viability were assessed. (October 8).

The assets of Acodent were then purchased by a new company, which will become part of the Swift Dental Group, and will  continue to trade as Acodent. Swift has announced that they are recruiting to fulfil a number of roles in the new company.

Robert Adamson, joint administrator and partner in Mazars’ business restructuring team, said: “The purchase of Acodent is great news for the business, its customers and the local community. We have worked closely with former staff at Acodent to help them claim redundancy payments and we are pleased that Swift will shortly be announcing job vacancies at the company.”

Roy McGillivray, Managing Director  at Swift Dental Laboratory, added: “We were pleased to be asked by Mazars to be involved in the assessment of Acodent, and furthermore to be a major supporter of the new company going forward

“Swift Dental Group has a long history in the North West and an excellent reputation amongst its customers.

Andrew Walker, restructuring partner at the Leeds office of Irwin Mitchell advised Mazars.

If you want the most trusted and expert advice on selling your commercial entity, read more on how Irwin Mitchell handles mergers and acquisitions.