Business · Companies · 7 hrs ago
Vivanta closes all its dental clinics as it awaits EU decision
Vivanta has closed all its dental clinics after running short of money.
The Spanish group’s sale to Donte Group, which owns Vitaldent, expired on 21 October.
The proposed deal was held up while the European Commission considers whether the sale affects a €40 million public rescue loan given to Vivanta in 2022.
The insolvency process is now moving toward an orderly liquidation, with the closures intended to preserve the company’s remaining cash.
Donte Group’s offer covered 61 of about 130 clinics and included plans to take on 656 employees and continue 30,000 dental treatments.
The closure puts those clinics and treatments in uncertainty, while the insolvency process itself remains open.
A European Commission decision could allow new offers for all or part of the business, including a possible renewed bid from Donte Group.
Vivanta closed all its dental clinics in Spain on Monday as it awaited a European Commission opinion on a proposed sale.
The company said the closure was intended to preserve its remaining cash while it faced severe financial strain.
The offer from Donte Group, owner of Vitaldent, to buy part of Vivanta expired before the Commission issued its opinion.
The proposed deal was held up by a dispute over whether the buyer would have to take on Vivanta’s €40 million public loan.
The closure puts ongoing patient treatments and jobs at risk, while other sale options may remain possible.
- Who
- Vivanta, part of Grupo Aestes, closed its dental clinics.
- What
- It shut its remaining clinics in Spain while awaiting an EU opinion on a proposed sale to Donte Group.
- When
- Monday, 26 October 2026.
- Where
- Vivanta’s dental clinic network in Spain.
- Why
- To preserve its remaining liquidity while awaiting the European Commission’s opinion on the sale and the public loan.
SEPI
Donte Group
Public loan
SEPI
SEPI says Vivanta’s €40 million debt should transfer with the clinics and be assumed by the buyer.
Donte Group
Donte Group’s offer was for a unit of 61 clinics; the sources do not state its position on taking on the debt.
Sale approval
SEPI
SEPI opposed approval of the offer, arguing a change of owner would not remove the debt obligation.
Donte Group
Donte Group made an offer to buy part of Vivanta, which expired before the European Commission’s opinion.
SEPI granted Vivanta a €40 million public loan to help it avoid closure during the pandemic.
The insolvency administrator asked the court not to freeze the insolvency proceedings and warned of the company’s limited cash.
Donte Group’s purchase offer expired, according to El País.
Vivanta closed all its clinics while awaiting the European Commission’s opinion.
- Public loan
- €40 million, granted by SEPI in 2022
- Proposed buyer
- Donte Group, owner of Vitaldent
- Clinics in offer
- 61
- Vivanta network
- About 130 clinics
- Staff
- 1,335 active employees; the offer covered 656 contracts
- Treatments
- About 30,000 in progress or pending completion
2 sources
What people are saying
until the week of 16 to 22 October. At the end of that week, after the payments necessary to continue operations had been made, available cash would be 26,125 euros