C.H. CRUST (FARMS) LIMITED
- · Thesis: well-run, low negotiation leverage
Opportunity 82/100 (exceptional), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (83/100, director aged 71). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 3 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
Refinance opportunity
3 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 45.8y
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 45.8 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 35/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (55/100)Adequate coverage. AI outputs are reliable for the sections scored high; verify the rest in diligence.
Strong composite across quality, acquirability, and risk. High-priority target — progress to serious diligence.
Recent activity
Corporate timeline (26 events)Click to expand
- 2025-09-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-09-05📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-08-23➕ROBINSON, Guy Edward Charles appointeddirector
- 2024-08-23📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-08-01📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-08-01📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-07-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-08-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-11-13📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2019-11-13📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2019-11-13📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2019-08-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-09-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2017-08-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2016-09-08📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-smallaccounts · AA
- 2015-12-14📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-smallaccounts · AA
- 2013-10-26➖CRUST, Kathleen resigneddirector
- 1997-09-24🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Jacqueline Lynda Margaret Mackenzie
- 1997-08-17➕MACKENZIE, Jacqueline Lynda Margaret appointeddirector
- 1994-11-21➖CRUST, Kathleen resignedsecretary
- 1994-11-01➕MACKENZIE, Jacqueline Lynda Margaret appointedsecretary
- 1994-10-09➖CRUST, Charles Henry resigneddirector
- 1990-12-21🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 1984-07-18🔒Charge registered #2Lender: The Agricultural Mortgage Corporation PLC.
- 1980-10-22🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Midland Bank LTD
- 1978-04-12🏢Company incorporatedAs C.H. CRUST (FARMS) LIMITED
Owner dependency
The business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.
- +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 29 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 71 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
Strong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 71 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 29 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- supportingClean filings + long tenure: Disciplined long-tenure operator — classic lifestyle-business pattern that often sells quietly.
Red flags
cleanShareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Guy Edward Charles Robinson Individual · British · DOB 09/1980 · age 46 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 16/07/2019 |
Mrs Jacqueline Lynda Margaret Mackenzie Individual · British · DOB 04/1955 · age 71 | 25–50% | 25–50% | board control25-50% shares · 25-50% voting · board control | 06/04/2016 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Estate Of K Crust Deceasedceased 16/07/2019· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
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7 specific questions generated from this company's actual signals — liquidity, leverage, director age, charge count, red flags, age-of-company.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Exit-route ranking, improvement thesis, quiet-distress detector, covenant-pressure proxy, extraction monitor, approaching triggers, ownership drift, local cluster, value trap, debt capacity, archetype classification — 48+ scoring modules.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Company details
Registered office
Filing status
Officers (3 active · 3 resigned)
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Jacqueline Lynda Margaret Mackenzie | Debenture | 1 property | 24/09/1997 | — | |
| satisfied | The Agricultural Mortgage Corporation . The Agricultural Mortgage Corporation PLC. | Collateral charge. | 1 property | 18/07/1984 | 21/12/1990 | |
| outstanding | Midland Bank Midland Bank LTD | Charge | 1 property | 22/10/1980 | — |