RAMSAY & SONS (FORFAR) LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
SC024001 · ltd · incorporated 1946-04-03
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
—
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 24420
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 69-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (93/100, director aged 69). 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 63.4y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 63.4 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 (70/100)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
1 year of iXBRL accounts extracted (no YoY comparison) + narrative notes parsed
50
Lenders & charges
3 charges (3/3 with lender, 3/3 with type)
90
Directors & officers
8 officers (3 active, 8 linked, 5 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
101 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
79/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Key financials
1 year extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2024-12-31 |
|---|---|
| Average employees | 3700 |
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 (29 events)Click to expand
- 2025-10-31📄accounts-amended-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AAMD
- 2025-09-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-04-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-09-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-09-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-07-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-08-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-09-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-03-07📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2019-03-07📄capital-name-of-class-of-sharescapital · SH08
- 2018-09-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2017-09-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2016-06-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-smallaccounts · AA
- 2015-10-28📄annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholdersannual-return · AR01
- 2015-06-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2006-06-27➖LOWSON, Irene Petrie resigneddirector
- 2001-10-03➕LOWSON, Andrew Gordon appointedsecretary
- 2001-10-03➖LOWSON, Andrew Gordon resignedsecretary
- 2001-10-03➖LOWSON, Andrew Gordon resigneddirector
- 1995-08-25➕LOWSON, Andrew Gordon appointedsecretary
- 1995-08-25➖ROSS, John Lockhart resignedsecretary
- 1995-08-25➖ROSS, John Lockhart resigneddirector
- 1993-01-01➕LOWSON, Scott Ramsay appointeddirector
- 1986-03-06🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 1986-03-06🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 1985-03-15🔒Charge registered #3Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 1962-11-21🔒Charge registered #2Lender: National Commercial Bank of Scotland Limited
- 1962-11-21🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Wm.L.Grant & Ronald D.Hunter Both Solicitors, Perth
- 1946-04-03🏢Company incorporatedAs RAMSAY & SONS (FORFAR) LIMITED
Owner dependency
91/100
Critical — business is the founderThe 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.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 33 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 69 — succession pressure is live.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
86/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 69. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 33 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 80 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 med ·Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Shareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Scott Ramsay Lowson Individual · British · DOB 12/1962 · age 64 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 06/04/2016 |
Mr Andrew Gordon Lowson Individual · British · DOB 05/1957 · age 69 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 06/04/2016 |
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
Similar companies
Active · Manufacturing · DD postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LT'S FABRICATION & MAINTENANCE LTD→ SC863999 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| PARRY'S PREMIUM SERVICES LTD→ SC576888 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| PDR PRECISION ENGINEERING LTD→ SC623023 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| PHOENIX EQUIPMENT LTD→ SC616009 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| PROBAT LIMITED→ SC055262 · est 1974 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 52y | — | — |
| PURE ENERGY (REGEN) LIMITED→ SC597784 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| QUANTIC DESIGNS LTD.→ SC262524 · est 2004 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 22y | — | — |
| R ASSENTI MACHINERY LIMITED→ SC763823 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| R.BOYTER ELECTRICAL SERVICES LTD→ SC710075 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| RAMSAY FABRICATION LTD→ SC324300 · est 2007 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
| RAVENDALE COMPLETIONS LTD→ SC407446 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| RAVENSBY GLASS COMPANY LIMITED→ SC100482 · est 1986 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 39y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
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 →🔒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
Incorporated1946-04-03
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC24420 — SIC 24420
Registered office
61 West High Street
Forfar
DD8 1BG
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-10-11
Last: 2025-09-27
Officers (3 active · 5 resigned)
LOWSON, Andrew Gordon→
Activesecretary · appointed 2001-10-03
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
LOWSON, Scott Ramsay→
Activedirector · ~64y · appointed 1993-01-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
LOWSON, Andrew Gordon→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1995-08-25 · resigned 2001-10-03
ROSS, John Lockhart→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1995-08-25
LOWSON, Andrew Gordon→
Resigneddirector · ~94y · resigned 2001-10-03
LOWSON, Irene Petrie→
Resigneddirector · ~92y · resigned 2006-06-27
ROSS, John Lockhart→
Resigneddirector · ~104y · resigned 1995-08-25
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
3
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:3 of 3 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 15/03/1985 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group National Commercial Bank of Scotland Limited | Bond & disposition in security | 1 property | 21/11/1962 | 06/03/1986 | |
| satisfied | Wm.L.Grant & Ronald D.Hunter Both Solicitors, Perth | Bond & disposition in security | 1 property | 21/11/1962 | 06/03/1986 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (101 total)
accounts-amended-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AAMD
2025-10-31
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-09-29
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-09-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-10-01
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-04-30
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-10-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-09-13
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-10-03
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-09-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-10-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-07-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-12-01
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2020-08-28
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2019-10-31
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2019-09-20