Pharmacy News | December 2022

Modiplus • December 12, 2022

As we wind down 2022, what does 2023 have in store for businesses and pharmacies in particular?


2022 was expected to be a year where growth would accelerate coming out of Covid lockdowns. People were looking to go out more, shop in retail malls (rather than online), travel, catch up with family & friends and do everything else they missed since the start of Covid. How different has it turned out! Government in chaos, war in Ukraine, high energy prices, high inflation, cost-of-living crisis, and high interest rate. 


Community pharmacists were also extremely optimistic as incomes had gone up due to all the Covid services. Those who sold in late 2020, 2021 and to September 2022 enjoyed the best prices for their pharmacies. However, since then, the market has turned slightly especially after the “mini” budget which was disastrous for many would be sellers & buyers. The banks got cautious and started pulling their lower interest rate offers. To add insult to injury The Bank of England has forecast that the current recession is likely to last to the end of 2023. The constant drip feed of negative news makes people nervous.


Pharmacists fear a lack of access to walk-in healthcare on the high street will drive patients to NHS services such as A&E, adding to pressure there. The trend also jeopardises government plans to shift more work from GPs to pharmacists. NHS data shows 34.1 per cent of pharmacies in England reported at least one unplanned closure since October 2021. The most common reason was staff shortages.


PSNC reported they are discussing a series of measures with the Department for Health and NHS England and seeking additional funding for pharmacies who are facing staff shortages while other costs continue to rise. Rising costs of medicines and supply issues without commensurate funding adds to ever mounting workload for contractors. Nurses planning to go on strike this month will no doubt add to workload pressures. 


Nevertheless, despite all the turmoil, the demand for pharmacies remains buoyant.


What we have noticed is that since the appointment of the new Prime Minster and the Chancellor, the market has settled down and interest rate expectations have anchored at around 4% rather than 5 or 6. New enquiries have picked up and demand for good pharmacies is remarkably high. There are many first-time buyers, small and medium sized groups with healthy appetite and are looking to grow their estate. Pharmacies with turnover of more than £750,000, 5,000 or more items, in the community or high street, with sensible rent and other overheads are sought after. The first-time buyers are looking for bigger shop fronts giving them an opportunity to provide services too. We have many buyers on our database looking to buy throughout the UK. 


With the recent acquisitions by Well and Avicenna, there is an appetite for larger group opportunities. We have also witnessed an increase in enquiries looking to sell their pharmacy by 29% this year compared to last year. Our findings show the reasons for sale apart from retirement is also due to the staff shortages, leading to additional stress and delays in hundreds of thousands of prescriptions. 


At Modiplus, we have had an extremely busy year. These are samples of pharmacies that we sold this year: 

We specialise in community pharmacy sector and have done so for over 30 years helping many pharmacists acquire their first pharmacy. With large multiples disposing and many smaller pharmacies coming on the market, we foresee this trend to continue into 2023. In 2022 we saw an increase in first time buyers’ registration on our books as well as existing owners looking to expand their portfolio. We have also registered several investors. 


We exhibited at the Pharmacy Show 2022 at NEC Birmingham in October and would like to thank those that visited our stand. It is always nice to see you and have a chat face to face!


We would also like to thank those that completed our client satisfaction survey earlier this year. We are pleased to inform you that we have donated £1,000 to Save the Children charity which has been posted on our social media platforms and we are immensely proud to support such a worthy cause. 


Selling your pharmacy is one of the most important decisions your will have to make, it pays to have experience on your side. 


If you would like to talk about how you could achieve a fantastic price for your pharmacy, please do contact us on 020 7380 3446 or 020 7380 3424 and ask for Sanja or Diana in the first instance. We would welcome the opportunity to have a chat with you.


Alternatively, if you would like a free valuation of your pharmacy, accounting, or tax advice through our associated company, please also contact us on the same numbers. Your query will be directed to the right person.


Season’s Greetings and wishing you a happy, healthy, and a peaceful new year.


This article is based on current legislation and practice and is for guidance only. Specific professional advice should be taken before acting on matters mentioned here. Should you require any advice please do not hesitate to contact us.

By Sanja Milosevic July 31, 2025
We trust you are enjoying the warm weather as we welcome you to our Summer Newsletter! Pharmacy market and selling activity The trend in the pharmacy sales market shows a continued activity with a mix of buyers and sellers, including large multiples and independent owners. We have seen large multiples disposing branches and there’s also a rise in first time buyers and small and mid-sized groups acquiring. Pharmacy contract and increase in funding The March 2025 funding deal looks promising and much needed boost for community pharmacies and a step in right direction compared to previous years. The Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) budget is to £3.073 billion for the 2025 / 2026 financial year, which will provide an uplift of over 30% compared to previous year. Additionally, an extra £215 million will be directed towards expanding existing Pharmacy First and other services. (Source: Community Pharmacy England) Outlook for pharmacies · Uncertainty in the budget – the upcoming autumn budget is expected to influence future activity in the pharmacy sales market. · Integration of technology and AI – technology, including AI and automation is playing a larger role in pharmacy operations and customer experience. · Growing role of pharmacies – pharmacies are taking on a larger role which may lead to further changes in the market. Factors influencing the sales market · Government policies – government regulations, particularly around funding and potential changes to CGT rules, can impact buying and selling decisions. · Economic growth and healthcare spending – increasing healthcare spending and an aging population are driving demand for pharmacy services. · Online pharmacy growth – the online pharmacy market is expanding, with companies like Pharmacy2U and others gaining market share. · Competition from online pharmacies – online pharmacies are becoming more popular, which may affect the traditional pharmacy model. Simplifying the sale of pharmacy and our checklist for a successful sale Selling a pharmacy can be daunting due to regulatory, financial and operational factors, but with the right strategy, we can help you streamline the process and avoid common pitfalls. Here is our recommendation for a smoother sale: - 1. Prepare early and get organised – collate key documents for the sale such as accounts, FP34s, VAT, returns, lease agreements, staff contract and compliance certificates. 2. Valuation – use pharmacy specialist agents to assess the value of your pharmacy based on profit multiples, dispensing volume etc (EBITDA workings). 3. Decide on the sale type – asset sale or company share sale where your accountant will be best to guide you. 4. Choose the right advisors – Broker helps you market the pharmacy and find a buyer. Please consider appointing a pharmacy specialist accountant and solicitor who have expertise to guide you through the whole sale process to completion. 5. Marketing the pharmacy – appoint a pharmacy specific broker such as Modiplus who will market your pharmacy in confidence and discreet. All buyers are vetted for funding and sign our confidentiality agreement allowing them to share sales information only with the bank, their accountant and solicitor. 6. Due diligence – you will be asked to use digital data rooms to share financials, FP34s, supplier contracts etc. Be transparent to disclose everything upfront to avoid delays or warranty claims. 7. Handle property efficiently – if leased, ensure that there’s at least 10 years left or obtain an extension. If freehold owned, prepare to sale the freehold or grant a new lease to the buyer. Please ensure lease terms meet buyer’s lender requirements. 8. Navigate NHS and GPhC requirements – For an asset sale, buyer must apply for transfer of NHS contract which usually takes between 2 to 4 months. For a share sale, no NHS approval is needed, however, notify NHS and GPhC of director / superintendent changes within 30 days. 9. Completion and handover – sign a Sale Purchase Agreement (SPA) or an Asset Purchase Agreement (APA), and hand over to the buyer. Other exciting news As we continue to grow, we are pleased to announce that our associated company Silver Levene was acquired by Xeinadin Group , a top 20 accountancy and business advisory firm in the UK. We highly recommend their pharmacy team of accountants with over 35 years of experience providing specialist accounting, tax and other advisory services to community pharmacies and pharmacists. For more information, please contact the pharmacy partners Mr Vinku Shah or Mr Shivam Modi on 020 7383 3200. Looking further ahead, we will be at The Pharmacy Show at NEC Birmingham on 12 and 13 October 2025 . If you are thinking of selling or buying a pharmacy, or looking for specialist pharmacy accountancy and tax advice, our team will be happy to discuss options with you at stand number M20 located next to the business theatre. Last month we participated with our associated company Silver Levene – A Xeinadin Company in the annual 10km London Legal Walk. The charity raised c£1m to support communities’ most vulnerable people and we thank you for your continued donations to support such a good cause. Legal and financial advisors Please engage a pharmacy specialist legal and financial advisor who will guide you through the process and assist you with any complex issues such as tax, legal contracts, etc. If you would like to sell/buy a pharmacy, need accounting or tax advice through our associated company Silver Levene – A Xeinadin Company, please contact us on 020 7383 3200. We have been providing specialist accounting and tax advisory services to community pharmacy for over 35 years. Your query will be directed to the right person. Silver Levene - A Xeinadin Company offers fixed price packages for accounting and tax services as well as valuations, cashflow and profit forecasts, raising loan finance, due diligence and accountancy work for asset and company sale transactions. Thinking of selling or buying? If you would like a free valuation or to talk about how you could achieve a fantastic price for your pharmacy, please do contact us on our direct dial number 020 7380 3446 and ask for Sanja . We would welcome the opportunity to have a chat with you. We look forward to hearing from you. This article is based on current legislation and practice and is for guidance only. Specific professional advice should be taken before acting on matters mentioned here.
By Modiplus February 26, 2025
Welcome to our Winter Newsletter! Pharmacy market trend and buyers’ appetite If you are thinking of selling your pharmacy, there is still a demand for pharmacies across the country as the market remains buoyant. The pharmacy market has seen an increase in the number of pharmacies entering the market and completed sales. This is driven by economic pressures, fiscal policies, lack of funding, and exit of larger multiples from the market, such as Lloyds Pharmacy and Boots, which has led to the rise of independents and consolidations. The appetite remains strong from the first-time buyers, with independent and smaller chains the most active in the pharmacy acquisitions. Valuation calculations We have also seen the valuation of pharmacies improving, and on average we are achieving a goodwill price of 85p to 90p in £1 of turnover for standard hour contracts. Demand for pharmacies with a turnover of more than £750k to £1.5m with healthy profits is particularly attractive for the first-time acquisitions or an existing independent operator looking to expand. Below is a range of estimated valuations, if you are looking to sell: -
By Modiplus August 29, 2024
Welcome to our Summer Newsletter and we trust that you are enjoying the late summer weather! This summer has been extraordinary so far, full of sporting events such as football, tennis, cricket and the Olympic games! We have been very busy in the last quarter, whereby we have seen the first-time buyer appetite remain strong. Similarly, we have seen an increase in the number of sales enquiries of smaller pharmacies while others are holding off awaiting the outcome of the new funding and success of Pharmacy First scheme. On average we are achieving goodwill price of between 85p to 90p in £1 of turnover at present. The average profit margin has shown an improvement to 32% despite medicine shortages. Data from Pharmacy First (NHSBSA) The launch of the Pharmacy First has gone off with a positive start, it has been very encouraging to see so many patients benefiting from this scheme, and your exceptional efforts in delivering these services have been commendable. However, we note that monthly payments are still critical, and concur that it is completely unreasonable for pharmacy to be penalised financially for the NHS’ failure to drive public and GP referrals. The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) has released figures for the Pharmacy First Service covering the period of February to April 2024 as follows: -