JOHN MACLAREN & SONS (SCOTLAND) LIMITED

🌳Matureactive
01616670 · ltd · incorporated 1982-02-24
Investment thesis
Well-run mature business — low negotiation leverage; premium likely.
Why interesting: Textbook target; clean filings, stable trading.
Why risky: No pressure on seller; any deal likely at full price.
Opportunity decay
hardening · 12-months
Already tight — no obvious softening catalysts on the horizon.
  • · Thesis: well-run, low negotiation leverage
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Dec 2024
Net worth
£557.5k
book net assets
Opportunity
80/100
Exceptional
🔔
Follow this company (free)
Email alerts on filings, charges, director changes, gazette notices. No account needed.

Unsubscribe any time from any email. GDPR-respectful.

🔒Generate AI memo →🔒Outreach pack →🔒Corporate story →📑 Reports →Sign in to watch
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 46170
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
Pursue
Active trading company with a 72-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 80/100 (exceptional), bankability 57/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 72). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 5 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

9 live charges · 5 lenders · oldest 32.6y

35/100
too messy

Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.

  • · Oldest live charge is 32.6 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · 5 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
  • · Legal-friction score 30/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.

Data confidence

Overall: high (84/100)

Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.

Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
9 charges (9/9 with lender, 9/9 with type)
90
Directors & officers
15 officers (4 active, 15 linked, 11 with DOB)
85
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
21 connected companies via shared directors
90
Filing history
146 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
80/100Exceptional
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional 

Strong composite across quality, acquirability, and risk. High-priority target — progress to serious diligence.

Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
85
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.

Signals from accounts

Derived from iXBRL accounts · FRS 105 (micro)
Positive net assets
Net assets £557,491
Net assets shrinking
Down £64,360 YoY

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
—
Net Worth
£557k
↓ 10% YoY
Current Assets
£7k
↓ 91% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
£0£124k£249k£373k£497k£622kDec 2023Dec 2024

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 105 (micro)
Metric2024-12-312023-12-31
Total assets£557.5k£621.9k
Current assets£6.5k£70.1k
Net assets£557.5k£621.9k

Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.

🔒Filing-note intelligence

1 signal detected in this company's narrative notes — going-concern language, audit opinion, contingent liabilities, related-party transactions.

Available from the Pro tier upwards.

See pricing →

Recent activity

Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
0
filings
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (54 events)Click to expand
  1. 2025-09-26
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  2. 2024-10-07
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  3. 2024-09-30
    ➕
    BARCLAY, David Ellis appointed
    director
  4. 2024-09-27
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  5. 2023-09-26
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  6. 2022-10-05
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  7. 2021-08-25
    📄
    cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
  8. 2021-07-15
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  9. 2020-09-23
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  10. 2020-08-31
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  11. 2019-08-21
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  12. 2019-06-28
    ➕
    PURDIE, Caroline Amy appointed
    director
  13. 2019-06-28
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  14. 2019-03-13
    📍
    change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
    address · AD01
  15. 2018-06-27
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  16. 2018-02-02
    📄
    notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
  17. 2018-02-02
    📄
    notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
  18. 2018-02-02
    📄
    cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
  19. 2016-08-31
    ➖
    BARCLAY, Colin Shields resigned
    secretary
  20. 2016-07-07
    🔒
    Charge registered #9
    Lender: Clydesbank Bank PLC (Trading as Both Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank)
  21. 2016-07-07
    🔒
    Charge registered #8
    Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC (Trading as Both Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank)
  22. 2016-07-07
    🔒
    Charge registered #7
    Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC (Trading as Both Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank)
  23. 2015-12-10
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #5
  24. 2015-12-10
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #4
  25. 2015-12-10
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #3
  26. 2015-07-14
    🔒
    Charge registered #6
    Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC
  27. 2015-02-19
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #2
  28. 2007-01-23
    🔒
    Charge registered #5
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  29. 2006-03-30
    🔒
    Charge registered #4
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  30. 2003-09-23
    🔒
    Charge registered #3
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  31. 2003-07-17
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  32. 2001-04-06
    ➕
    BARCLAY, Colin Shields appointed
    director
  33. 2001-04-06
    ➕
    BARCLAY, Colin Shields appointed
    secretary
  34. 2001-04-06
    ➖
    GALBRAITH MCEWAN AND CO resigned
    corporate-secretary
  35. 2001-04-06
    ➖
    NICOL, James Walker resigned
    director
  36. 2001-04-01
    ➕
    BALL (NOMINEE FOR SPHERE TRUSTEES LTD), Stephen James appointed
    director
  37. 2001-04-01
    ➖
    HOOPER, David Vernon resigned
    director
  38. 2001-04-01
    ➖
    ROBINSON, Colin John resigned
    director
  39. 2001-02-21
    ➖
    THOMAS, John Eifion resigned
    director
  40. 1995-11-27
    ➖
    BALL, Stephen James resigned
    director
  41. 1995-11-27
    ➕
    THOMAS, John Eifion appointed
    director
  42. 1995-03-29
    ➖
    CURRIE, Harold James resigned
    secretary
  43. 1995-03-29
    ➕
    GALBRAITH MCEWAN AND CO appointed
    corporate-secretary
  44. 1995-03-06
    ➖
    CURRIE, Harold James resigned
    director
  45. 1995-03-06
    ➕
    NICOL, James Walker appointed
    director
  46. 1994-09-15
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #1
  47. 1994-03-31
    ➖
    CURRIE, Barbara Foy resigned
    secretary
  48. 1994-03-31
    ➕
    CURRIE, Harold James appointed
    secretary
  49. 1994-03-31
    ➕
    BALL, Stephen James appointed
    director
  50. 1994-03-31
    ➖
    CURRIE, Barbara Foy resigned
    director
Showing most recent 50 of 54 events

Owner dependency

73/100
High — earn-out structure required

Material founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.

FACTORS
  • -4 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
  • +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 25 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
  • +Founder age: Director aged approximately 72 — succession pressure is live.
  • +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.

Succession & seller-readiness

80/100
Likely off-market candidate

Strong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.

SIGNALS
  • primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 72 years old. Natural succession window is now.
  • primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 25 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

1 med ·
Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
medium

Multiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.

Shareholders & ownership

1 active beneficial owner
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Mr Stephen James Ball
Individual · British · DOB 03/1954 · age 72
——sig. influencesignificant influence31/10/2016
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
  • Mr Colin Shields Barclayceased 25/08/2021· significant influence
  • John Maclaren Limitedceased 31/10/2016· 75-100% shares

From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.

🔒Co-director network graph

Radial SVG graph showing every company connected via shared directors, colour-coded by status.

Available from the Pro tier upwards.

See pricing →

Similar companies

Active · Wholesale & distribution · DH postcode area
CompanyEst. valueTurnoverNet worthStaffAgeOppDirector
A & A GLOBAL SERVICES LTD→
16410349 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
———————
ACAR TRADING LTD→
14785038 · est 2023 · no financials extracted
————3y——
ACCAPI LTD→
08828475 · est 2013 · no financials extracted
————12y——
ACTIVE AIR SOLUTIONS LTD→
14060080 · est 2022 · no financials extracted
————3y——
ACTIVEDELUXEWEAR LIMITED→
16758732 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
———————
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING 3D TECHNOLOGY LTD→
10625771 · est 2017 · no financials extracted
————9y——
ALAGOZ INTERNATIONAL LTD→
15705679 · est 2024 · no financials extracted
————1y——
AMAZING ANTIQUES ETC. LTD.→
12025087 · est 2019 · no financials extracted
————6y——
AMAZING PACKAGING ETC. LTD.→
12777671 · est 2020 · no financials extracted
————5y——
ANGEL BLINDS & SHUTTERS LTD→
16220909 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
————1y——
ANI INTERNATIONAL LIMITED→
16817659 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
———————
ARBOR TIMBER AND BUILDERS MERCHANTS LIMITED→
03638374 · est 1998 · no financials extracted
————27y——
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions

8 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 →
🔒Advanced scoring suite

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

Statusactive
Typeltd
Incorporated1982-02-24
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC46170 — SIC 46170

Registered office

4 Millfield Close
Chester Le Street
Durham
DH2 3HZ
England

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-09-08
Last: 2025-08-25

Officers (4 active · 11 resigned)

BALL (NOMINEE FOR SPHERE TRUSTEES LTD), Stephen James→
director · ~72y · appointed 2001-04-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BARCLAY, Colin Shields→
director · ~68y · appointed 2001-04-06
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BARCLAY, David Ellis→
director · ~35y · appointed 2024-09-30
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
PURDIE, Caroline Amy→
director · ~43y · appointed 2019-06-28
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BARCLAY, Colin Shields→
secretary · appointed 2001-04-06 · resigned 2016-08-31
Resigned
CURRIE, Barbara Foy→
secretary · resigned 1994-03-31
Resigned
CURRIE, Harold James→
secretary · appointed 1994-03-31 · resigned 1995-03-29
Resigned
GALBRAITH MCEWAN AND CO→
corporate-secretary · appointed 1995-03-29 · resigned 2001-04-06
Resigned
BALL, Stephen James→
director · ~72y · appointed 1994-03-31 · resigned 1995-11-27
Resigned
CURRIE, Barbara Foy→
director · ~97y · resigned 1994-03-31
Resigned
CURRIE, Harold James→
director · ~102y · resigned 1995-03-06
Resigned
HOOPER, David Vernon→
director · ~79y · appointed 1994-03-31 · resigned 2001-04-01
Resigned
NICOL, James Walker→
director · ~79y · appointed 1995-03-06 · resigned 2001-04-06
Resigned
ROBINSON, Colin John→
director · ~80y · appointed 1994-03-31 · resigned 2001-04-01
Resigned
THOMAS, John Eifion→
director · ~72y · appointed 1995-11-27 · resigned 2001-02-21
Resigned

Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.

Mortgages & charges

9
Total charges
4
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:9 of 9 shown
TypeProperties
outstanding
Virgin Money
Clydesbank Bank PLC (Trading as Both Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank)
A registered charge1 property07/07/2016—
outstanding
Virgin Money
Clydesdale Bank PLC (Trading as Both Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank)
A registered charge1 property07/07/2016—
outstanding
Virgin Money
Clydesdale Bank PLC (Trading as Both Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank)
A registered charge1 property07/07/2016—
outstanding
Virgin Money
Clydesdale Bank PLC
A registered charge—14/07/2015—
satisfied
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
Standard security which was presented for registration in scotland on 18 april 2007 and1 property23/01/200710/12/2015
satisfied
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
A standard security which was presented for registration in scotland on the 11/04/2006 and1 property30/03/200610/12/2015
satisfied
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
Standard security which was presented for registration in scotland on 8 october 2003 and1 property23/09/200310/12/2015
satisfied
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
Debenture1 property17/07/200319/02/2015
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
Standard security1 property28/09/199315/09/1994
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (146 total)

accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2025-09-26
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-09-05
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2024-10-07
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2024-09-27
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-09-03
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2023-09-26
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-09-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2022-10-05
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-08-25
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-08-25
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2021-08-25
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2021-07-15
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2020-09-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-09-02
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2020-08-31