Immediate capital secures once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
Pharmacy
£2.558M
Aquisition
Dears Pharmacy Healthcare Group
Community pharmacy group
Founded 1990
Independent group Dears Pharmacy has been majority-owned by Mahyar and Sara Nickkho-Amiry since 2019. Their growth plan has seen the pharmacy and travel clinic expand from five to 24 stores across Scotland’s central belt of Edinburgh, Fife and Glasgow.
With a slow and steady approach, the couple gradually acquired seven independents from 2019 to 2022 and grew Dears’ network to 12. But when the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity came to bid for multiple LloydsPharmacy outlets at discounted prices, they accelerated their strategy and decided to think a lot bigger.
Mahyar spent weeks narrowing down the right locations before bidding for multiple Lloyds pharmacies in and around Fife, Glasgow and Edinburgh, with the goal of improving Dears’ market position by linking up and expanding its regional network.
For around a third of their market value, he secured 12 underperforming outlets with potential to be quickly turned around. Dears saw 15% prescription growth in Q1 of 2023, thanks to its centralised dispensing and private services. By rapidly replicating these efficiencies and services across its new branches, the company aims to hit top performance in time for the peak season of Christmas 2023.
“If you want the confidence to grow and the freedom to be able to move at pace, an RxBridge facility is the way forward.”
Their challenge
After successfully bidding for 12 Lloyds pharmacies, Dears had the chance to double its estate in one big move. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but Lloyds wanted 20% deposits on each property to secure the deal. Mahyar knew he could eventually secure enough funding from his bank, but not in time to pay these large deposits. Without immediate access to substantial capital, his dream acquisition would not happen.
When his financial advisor recommended RxBridge, Mahyar immediately saw the potential for an immediate, discretionary line of credit that he could use for acquisitions or anything else, such as automation, refits or acquiring medicines when prices are lowest.
Our solution
With years of sector experience, we’ve designed a finance facility specifically for pharmacies based on the business’s revenue stream, not the ‘goodwill’ of the assets. We offer more funding than other lenders (up to four times your monthly NHS income), a streamlined application and rapid risk assessment – so you get a decision in days, not months.
This meant we could quickly offer Dears a revolving line of credit and, with no fixed repayments and no restrictions on its use, they used this to pay the deposits. Their plan was to pay this off with the bank loan and then access the facility for future needs like refits, automation or further acquisitions.
RxBridge provides pharmacies with:
- More funding than other lenders (up to 4X monthly NHS receipts).
- Pharmacy specialists who understand your business.
- Quick decisions so you can move at pace.
- Flexible credit line with no set repayments.
- Only pay for the finance you use.
“I believe in the strength of relationships, not transactions, and RxBridge has the same outlook. We want to work with a lender who supports our ambitions.”
Ready to talk?
Find out how our financing can work for your business.
Call: +44 (0)20 7313 8088
or email: healthcare@tradebridge.com
