LEIPZIG, Germany: Lifco Group, a Swedish based industrial and dental trading group owned by Carl Bennet AB, has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire European Dental Partners (EDP) from private equity firm Silverfleet Capital. Following the acquisition, Lifco will become one of Europe´s leading distributors of consumables, equipment and technical services to dental offices and dental laboratories with market presence in 15 European countries. 

Lifcos activities include subsidiaries in 29 countries with sales in more than 40 countries. The Group is divided into six business areas: Dental Products, Machinery & Tools, Sawmill Equipment, Contract Manufacturing, Interiors for Vehicles and Environmental Technology. According to the company, Lifco Dental Group for many years has been the market leading distributor in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

In January 2011, Lifco entered the German market when acquiring the majority of the shares in NetDental GmbH, an internet based distributor of consumables to dentists and dental laboratories. With the addition of EDP, Lifco wants to expand its market presence in Germany and establish market positions in Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Croatia.

Furthermore, the acquisition of EDP ought to make Lifco one of Germany´s largest import based dental laboratories. After the acquisition, Lifco Dental Group will have a combined turnover of approximately SEK 3000 million (€336 million) and 1100 employees. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.
EDP, based in Lübeck, has an annual turnover of approximately 120 million Euros and employs around 630 people in nine countries. The company consists of two business areas, both within the dental industry - business area dental distribution and business area dental laboratory production.

Lifco states, after the acquisition of EDP the Lifco Group will have a total turnover of approximately SEK 6100 million (€638 million) and employ about 3000 people.