PROBAT LIMITED

🌳Matureactive
SC055262 · ltd · incorporated 1974-03-18
Investment thesis
Established operating company — standard diligence applies, no dominant angle.
Why interesting: Live, filing, normal profile.
Why risky: No standout signals in either direction.
🔒Estimated value
Upgrade to see
Turnover
year to Dec 2024
Net worth
book net assets
Opportunity
75/100
Strong
🔔
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What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 28990
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
Pursue
Strong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.

Opportunity 75/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 7 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (77/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

15 live charges · 7 lenders · oldest 46.4y

45/100
clean up first

Refinance viable after a tidy-up — address the highlighted items first.

  • · Oldest live charge is 46.4 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · 7 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
  • · Legal-friction score 40/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
  • · Profitable and stable/growing — lender coverage supportable.

Data confidence

Overall: medium (77/100)

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
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
15 charges (15/15 with lender, 15/15 with type)
90
Directors & officers
10 officers (3 active, 10 linked, 7 with DOB)
84
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
161 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
🔒Estimated company valuation

Sector-multiple EBITDA, turnover, and NAV-proxy valuation range with confidence tier — derived from extracted iXBRL financials.

Available from the Pro tier upwards.

See pricing →
Opportunity Score
75/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional 

Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.

Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
75
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
69
Some moderate concerns — review flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.

Signals from accounts

Derived from iXBRL accounts · FRS 102
Profitable
Profit before tax £982,120

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
Net Worth
Current Assets
Current Liabilities
£0£0£0£0£0£0Dec 2023Dec 2024

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102
Metric2024-12-312023-12-31
Profit before tax£982.1k
Average employees545200

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

🔒Filing-note intelligence

2 signals 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
4
filings
  • 2 officers
  • 1 persons-with-significant-control
  • 1 change-of-name
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (61 events)Click to expand
  1. 2026-01-27
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC05
  2. 2026-01-22
    ✏️
    certificate-change-of-name-company
    change-of-name · CERTNM
  3. 2026-01-22
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  4. 2026-01-20
    THIMM, Christian appointed
    director
  5. 2026-01-20
    HARDT, Armin resigned
    director
  6. 2026-01-20
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  7. 2025-09-16
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-full
    accounts · AA
  8. 2024-09-23
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-group
    accounts · AA
  9. 2023-08-22
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  10. 2022-10-07
    📄
    accounts-amended-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AAMD
  11. 2022-09-29
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  12. 2022-01-10
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  13. 2021-12-31
    SIMON, Ernst Guenter resigned
    director
  14. 2021-12-21
    COUTTIE, Marc appointed
    secretary
  15. 2021-12-21
    IRELAND, Robert resigned
    secretary
  16. 2021-12-21
    HARDT, Armin appointed
    director
  17. 2021-12-21
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  18. 2021-12-21
    📄
    termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM02
  19. 2021-12-21
    📄
    appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP03
  20. 2021-07-19
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  21. 2020-10-07
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  22. 2019-06-05
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  23. 2019-06-01
    GORMAN, Joseph John appointed
    director
  24. 2019-04-24
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  25. 2019-01-31
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  26. 2019-01-14
    PFÖRSICH, Wolfgang Fridemann resigned
    director
  27. 2017-05-24
    🔒
    Charge registered #15
    Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
  28. 2017-05-22
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #14
  29. 2017-05-22
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #7
  30. 2017-05-19
    🔒
    Charge registered #16
    Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
  31. 2016-08-01
    PFÖRSICH, Wolfgang Fridemann appointed
    director
  32. 2016-05-20
    🔒
    Charge registered #14
    Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC (Trading as Both Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank) (Company Number SC001111)
  33. 2014-11-27
    ANDERSON, Stuart Simpson resigned
    director
  34. 2013-07-17
    ROBERTON, Iain Russell resigned
    director
  35. 2013-07-17
    SIMON, Ernst Guenter appointed
    director
  36. 2013-05-30
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #9
  37. 2004-06-03
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #13
  38. 2004-01-21
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #12
  39. 2004-01-21
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #11
  40. 2004-01-21
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #10
  41. 2004-01-21
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #8
  42. 2001-01-08
    🔒
    Charge registered #13
    Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
  43. 2000-11-30
    🔒
    Charge registered #12
    Lender: Low & Duff Self Administered Pension Scheme
  44. 1999-02-18
    🔒
    Charge registered #11
    Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
  45. 1999-01-29
    ANDERSON, Patricia Helen resigned
    secretary
  46. 1999-01-29
    IRELAND, Robert appointed
    secretary
  47. 1997-06-11
    🔒
    Charge registered #10
    Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
  48. 1990-02-05
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #4
  49. 1990-02-05
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #2
  50. 1989-07-17
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #6
Showing most recent 50 of 61 events

Owner dependency

66/100
High — earn-out structure required

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

FACTORS
  • +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
  • +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 58 — approaching natural succession window.

Succession & seller-readiness

46/100
Moderate signal

Some succession indicators present. Worth watching; approach if sector/strategy fits.

SIGNALS
  • secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 58. Early succession window.
  • secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.

Red flags

2 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.

Name changed recently
medium

Name changes can be benign (rebrand) but can also precede distress, phoenix activity, or buyer concealment.

Evidence: 2026-01-22: certificate-change-of-name-company

Group structure

Hamburg Dresdner Maschinenfabriken Verwaltungsgesellschaft Mbh is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.

🏛️
Hamburg Dresdner Maschinenfabriken Verwaltungsgesellschaft Mbh
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
ultimate parent
PROBAT LIMITED
This company · SC055262

Parent relationships inferred from Persons with Significant Control filings. Full subsidiary tree requires reverse-lookup (coming).

Shareholders & ownership

1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Hamburg Dresdner Maschinenfabriken Verwaltungsgesellschaft Mbh
Corporate entity
75100%
75–100%board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control06/04/2016

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

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Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions

6 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
Incorporated1974-03-18
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC28990 — SIC 28990

Registered office

Sir William Smith Road
Kirkton Industrial Estate
Arbroath
Angus
DD11 3RD

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-08-01
Last: 2025-07-18

Officers (3 active · 7 resigned)

COUTTIE, Marc
secretary · appointed 2021-12-21
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
GORMAN, Joseph John
director · ~58y · appointed 2019-06-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
THIMM, Christian
director · ~48y · appointed 2026-01-20
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
ANDERSON, Patricia Helen
secretary · resigned 1999-01-29
Resigned
IRELAND, Robert
secretary · appointed 1999-01-29 · resigned 2021-12-21
Resigned
ANDERSON, Stuart Simpson
director · ~80y · resigned 2014-11-27
Resigned
HARDT, Armin
director · ~52y · appointed 2021-12-21 · resigned 2026-01-20
Resigned
PFÖRSICH, Wolfgang Fridemann
director · ~57y · appointed 2016-08-01 · resigned 2019-01-14
Resigned
ROBERTON, Iain Russell
director · ~77y · resigned 2013-07-17
Resigned
SIMON, Ernst Guenter
director · ~70y · appointed 2013-07-17 · resigned 2021-12-31
Resigned

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

Mortgages & charges

15
Total charges
2
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:15 of 15 shown
TypeProperties
outstanding
Lloyds Banking Group
Bank of Scotland PLC
A registered charge1 property24/05/2017
outstanding
Lloyds Banking Group
Bank of Scotland PLC
A registered charge1 property19/05/2017
satisfied
Virgin Money
Clydesdale Bank PLC (Trading as Both Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank) (Company Number SC001111)
A registered charge20/05/201622/05/2017
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
Bond & floating charge1 property08/01/200103/06/2004
satisfied
Low & Duff Self Administered Pension Scheme
Standard security1 property30/11/200021/01/2004
satisfied
Virgin Money
Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
Standard security1 property18/02/199921/01/2004
satisfied
Virgin Money
Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
Standard security1 property11/06/199721/01/2004
satisfied
Virgin Money
Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
Standard security1 property03/07/198930/05/2013
satisfied
Virgin Money
Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
Standard security1 property03/07/198921/01/2004
satisfied
Virgin Money
Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
Floating charge1 property26/06/198922/05/2017
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
Standard security1 property18/12/198617/07/1989
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
Bond & floating charge1 property02/03/198117/07/1989
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
Bond & floating charge1 property27/01/198105/02/1990
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
Standard security1 property22/12/198005/02/1990
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Bank PLC
Standard security1 property20/12/197908/01/1981
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (161 total)

change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC05
2026-01-27
certificate-change-of-name-company
change-of-name · CERTNM
2026-01-22
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2026-01-22
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2026-01-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-09-16
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-07-29
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2024-09-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-07-18
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2023-08-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-08-21
accounts-amended-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AAMD
2022-10-07
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-09-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-09-05
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2022-01-10
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2021-12-21