MCFARLANE & CO LTD

⚰️Wound downdissolved
04363040 · ltd · incorporated 2002-01-29
Investment thesis
Company dissolved — not a live target.
Why interesting: Historical record only; useful for precedent research.
Why risky: Not transactable.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
63/100
Worth a look
🔔
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: Accounting and auditing activities
Sector: Professional, scientific & technical
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)
Distressed unclear — structural issues outweigh the discount.

Opportunity 63/100 (worth a look), bankability 70/100. Strong seller-intent signal (78/100, director aged 78). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Resolve: Company dissolved. Company has been dissolved — it no longer legally exists. Any diligence here is historical only. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).

Data confidence

Overall: medium (57/100)

Adequate coverage. AI outputs are reliable for the sections scored high; verify the rest in diligence.

Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
Confirmed no charges registered
85
Directors & officers
6 officers (3 active, 6 linked, 4 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
6 connected companies via shared directors
63
Filing history
46 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
63/100Worth a look
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional 

Mixed signal. Worth opening the full target workup before deciding to pursue.

Business quality
30
Concerning — overdue filings or status flags present.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
67
Some moderate concerns — review flags.
Signal strength
90
Good data coverage for analysis.

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 (35 events)Click to expand
  1. 2018-05-15
    📄
    gazette-dissolved-voluntary
    gazette · GAZ2(A)
  2. 2018-05-15
    🏁
    Company dissolved
  3. 2018-02-27
    📄
    gazette-notice-voluntary
    gazette · GAZ1(A)
  4. 2018-02-20
    📄
    dissolution-application-strike-off-company
    dissolution · DS01
  5. 2018-01-19
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  6. 2017-01-10
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
    accounts · AA
  7. 2016-03-16
    📄
    annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholders
    annual-return · AR01
  8. 2016-03-16
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  9. 2016-03-01
    ➕
    MCFARLANE, Linda appointed
    director
  10. 2016-01-06
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
    accounts · AA
  11. 2015-02-16
    📄
    annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholders
    annual-return · AR01
  12. 2015-02-16
    📄
    change-person-secretary-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH03
  13. 2015-01-10
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
    accounts · AA
  14. 2014-02-02
    📄
    annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholders
    annual-return · AR01
  15. 2013-12-05
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
    accounts · AA
  16. 2013-02-12
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
    accounts · AA
  17. 2013-02-12
    📄
    annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholders
    annual-return · AR01
  18. 2012-02-27
    📄
    annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholders
    annual-return · AR01
  19. 2012-01-16
    📍
    change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address
    address · AD01
  20. 2011-10-25
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
    accounts · AA
  21. 2011-01-31
    📄
    annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholders
    annual-return · AR01
  22. 2010-12-03
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
    accounts · AA
  23. 2010-02-01
    📄
    annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholders
    annual-return · AR01
  24. 2010-02-01
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  25. 2010-01-09
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
    accounts · AA
  26. 2009-03-02
    📄
    legacy
    annual-return · 363a
  27. 2002-11-15
    ➕
    MCFARLANE, Malcolm John appointed
    director
  28. 2002-11-15
    ➖
    MCFARLANE, Linda resigned
    director
  29. 2002-01-29
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As MCFARLANE & CO LTD
  30. 2002-01-29
    ➕
    CAVANAGH, Danielle appointed
    secretary
  31. 2002-01-29
    ➕
    CHANCERY BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS LTD appointed
    corporate-secretary
  32. 2002-01-29
    ➖
    CHANCERY BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS LTD resigned
    corporate-secretary
  33. 2002-01-29
    ➕
    COWAN, Judy Rosalie appointed
    director
  34. 2002-01-29
    ➖
    COWAN, Judy Rosalie resigned
    director
  35. 2002-01-29
    ➕
    MCFARLANE, Linda appointed
    director

Owner dependency

100/100
Critical — business is the founder

The business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.

FACTORS
  • +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
  • +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "MCFARLANE" — strong identity link between founder and business.
  • +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 24 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
  • +Founder age: Director aged approximately 78 — succession pressure is live.
  • +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.

Succession & seller-readiness

96/100
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 78 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 24 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 24 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
  • supportingClean filings + long tenure: Disciplined long-tenure operator — classic lifestyle-business pattern that often sells quietly.

Red flags

1 high ·
Company dissolved
high

Company has been dissolved — it no longer legally exists. Any diligence here is historical only.

Evidence: Dissolved on 2018-05-15

Shareholders & ownership

1 active beneficial owner
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Mr Malcolm John Mcfarlane
Individual · English · DOB 09/1948 · age 78
50–75%
—50-75% shares29/01/2017

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 · Professional services · NE postcode area
CompanyEst. valueTurnoverNet worthStaffAgeOppDirector
ACCOUNTING INC. LTD→
11526506 · est 2018 · no financials extracted
————7y——
ACE HIGH CRM LTD→
15729987 · est 2024 · no financials extracted
————1y——
ACE RENTALS NORTH EAST LIMITED→
15485601 · est 2024 · no financials extracted
————2y——
ACES COMMERCIAL FINANCE LTD→
12262872 · est 2019 · no financials extracted
————6y——
ACF BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED→
06263902 · est 2007 · no financials extracted
————18y——
ACHIEVERS PROFESSIONAL CENTRE LIMITED→
15937899 · est 2024 · no financials extracted
————1y——
ACKLAM HALL MANAGEMENT LTD→
09358595 · est 2014 · no financials extracted
————11y——
ACOREENERGY LIMITED→
07932276 · est 2012 · no financials extracted
————14y——
ACREHALL SERVICES LTD→
07080619 · est 2009 · no financials extracted
————16y——
ACS CONSULTANCY SERVICES LTD→
15619350 · est 2024 · no financials extracted
————2y——
ACTIF CONSULTING LTD→
13589425 · est 2021 · no financials extracted
————4y——
ACTIVE ENERGY GENERATION LIMITED→
16665757 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
———————
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

Statusdissolved
Typeltd
Incorporated2002-01-29
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC69201 — Accounting and auditing activities

Registered office

Metropolitan House Longrigg
Swalwell
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE16 3AS

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: —
Last made up to: 2017-04-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: —
Last: —

Officers (0 active · 3 resigned)

CAVANAGH, Danielle→
secretary · appointed 2002-01-29
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
MCFARLANE, Linda→
director · ~71y · appointed 2016-03-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
MCFARLANE, Malcolm John→
director · ~78y · appointed 2002-11-15
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
CHANCERY BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS LTD→
corporate-secretary · appointed 2002-01-29 · resigned 2002-01-29
Resigned
COWAN, Judy Rosalie→
director · ~87y · appointed 2002-01-29 · resigned 2002-01-29
Resigned
MCFARLANE, Linda→
director · ~71y · appointed 2002-01-29 · resigned 2002-11-15
Resigned

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

Recent filings (46 total)

gazette-dissolved-voluntary
gazette · GAZ2(A)
2018-05-15
gazette-notice-voluntary
gazette · GAZ1(A)
2018-02-27
dissolution-application-strike-off-company
dissolution · DS01
2018-02-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2018-01-19
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2017-02-26
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
accounts · AA
2017-01-10
annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholders
annual-return · AR01
2016-03-16
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2016-03-16
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
accounts · AA
2016-01-06
annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholders
annual-return · AR01
2015-02-16
change-person-secretary-company-with-change-date
officers · CH03
2015-02-16
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
accounts · AA
2015-01-10
annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholders
annual-return · AR01
2014-02-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
accounts · AA
2013-12-05
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
accounts · AA
2013-02-12