PIE IN THE SKY LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
SC061852 · ltd · incorporated 1977-03-04
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.
Why now
Window steady · low confidence
Steady and tidy — no seller pressure yet. Approach only if an angle opens.
Opportunity decay
approaching window · 12-months
Approaching a transaction window — refinance or sale event plausible in the next 12 months.
- · Oldest live charge 44.5y old — refinance window within 12 months
What changed my view
Last 30 days
No material changes in the last 30 days.
Last 90 days
No snapshot from 90 days ago — start tracking from today.
Last 180 days
No snapshot from 180 days ago — start tracking from today.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Mar 2025
Net worth
£1.06M
book net assets
Opportunity
83/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: Other retail sale in non-specialised stores
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with exceptional profile and bankable structure.
Opportunity 83/100 (exceptional), bankability 80/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Discharge stale live charges. 1 live charge(s) created 15+ years ago — likely paid but undischarged. Clean register. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
2 live charges · oldest 44.5y
65/100
clean up first
Refinance viable after a tidy-up — address the highlighted items first.
- · Oldest live charge is 44.5 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Single lender — cleanest path to refinance.
- · Legal-friction score 30/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (79/100)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
2 charges (2/2 with lender, 2/2 with type)
90
Directors & officers
18 officers (6 active, 18 linked, 11 with DOB)
82
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
1 connected companies via shared directors
48
Filing history
116 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
83/100Exceptional
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
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · FRS 102Positive net assets
Net assets £1,058,394
Cash YoY
+41%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£846k
↑ 41% YoY
Net Worth
£1.1m
↑ 33% YoY
Current Assets
£1.3m
↑ 29% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2025-03-31 | 2024-03-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £1.06M | £794.5k |
| Current assets | £1.27M | £988.0k |
| Cash | £846.3k | £598.2k |
| Debtors | £13.4k | £11.7k |
| Net assets | £1.06M | £794.5k |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
2
filings
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 officers
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (42 events)Click to expand
- 2026-03-11📄change-person-secretary-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH03
- 2025-12-19📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2024-12-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2023-12-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2023-05-11📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-04-01➕HARMAN, Erin appointeddirector
- 2022-12-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2021-12-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2021-03-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2021-01-05📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2020-01-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2018-12-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2018-05-23📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2017-12-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2017-12-01➕FIELD, Chalan appointeddirector
- 2016-12-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-smallaccounts · AA
- 2015-11-06➖CZARNOTA, Ricky resigneddirector
- 2012-06-01➕DENOON, Abigail Louise appointeddirector
- 2011-05-31➖COLLINS, Jonathan resigneddirector
- 2007-01-18🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2005-08-30➖PRIMROSE, Anne resigneddirector
- 2003-07-31➕COLLINS, Jonathan appointeddirector
- 1998-06-12➕MCCARTHY, Brett appointedsecretary
- 1998-06-12➖MCCARTHY, Helen Catherine resignedsecretary
- 1994-03-01➕MCCARTHY, Helen Catherine appointedsecretary
- 1994-03-01➖SHAW, Karina resignedsecretary
- 1994-03-01➖MCCAFFERTY, John resigneddirector
- 1993-12-20➕MCCARTHY, Malcolm appointeddirector
- 1993-11-19➖RENSTEAD, George resigneddirector
- 1993-10-05➕MCCARTHY, Brett appointeddirector
- 1993-09-28➖FRASER, Wendy Ann resignedsecretary
- 1993-09-28➕SHAW, Karina appointedsecretary
- 1993-07-03➖MCCARTHY, Margaret resigneddirector
- 1992-06-01➕FRASER, Wendy Ann appointedsecretary
- 1992-03-31➖ALLANACH, Juliet resignedsecretary
- 1992-03-09➖HARCUS, Ronald John resignedsecretary
- 1992-03-04➕ALLANACH, Juliet appointedsecretary
- 1990-09-28➕HARCUS, Ronald John appointedsecretary
- 1990-09-28➖YOUNG, Elizabeth Munro resignedsecretary
- 1983-04-20🔒Charge registered #2Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 1982-02-03🔒Charge registered #1Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 1977-03-04🏢Company incorporatedAs PIE IN THE SKY LIMITED
Owner dependency
66/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- -5 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 33 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 61 — approaching natural succession window.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
70/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 61. Early succession window.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 33 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 49 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
cleanNo red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Brett Mccarthy Individual · British · DOB 07/1967 · age 59 | 50–75% | — | 50-75% shares | 06/04/2016 |
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 · Retail · TD postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRINGLE OF SCOTLAND LIMITED→ SC203627 · est 2000 | £5.89M £4.42M–£7.36M | £3.79M | — | 700 | 26y | 86 | 68y |
| MILESTONE GARDEN & LEISURE LIMITED→ SC285408 · est 2005 | £71.3k £53.5k–£89.1k | — | — | 55 | 21y | 83 | 59y |
| G.L.M.ROMANES LIMITED→ SC063993 · est 1978 | — | — | — | 9700 | 48y | 97 | 70y |
| GAME AND COUNTRY LIMITED→ SC365716 · est 2009 | — | — | — | 7 | 16y | 83 | 65y |
| AGRIPARTS (BORDERS) LIMITED→ 03068280 · est 1995 | — | — | — | — | 31y | 82 | 79y |
| COMMUNICARE MEDICAL LIMITED→ 03457637 · est 1997 | — | — | £14.2k | — | 28y | 82 | 69y |
| J & K MCNEILL LIMITED→ SC270043 · est 2004 | — | — | — | — | 21y | 82 | 58y |
| THE MAINSTREET TRADING COMPANY UK LTD→ SC283371 · est 2005 | — | — | — | 26 | 21y | 82 | 58y |
| AULD ALLIANCE TRADING COMPANY LIMITED→ SC338508 · est 2008 | — | — | — | — | 18y | 81 | 67y |
| KELSO WHOLEFOODS LIMITED→ SC252339 · est 2003 | — | — | £25.7k | — | 22y | 81 | 77y |
| NEW GREEN SHOP BERWICK LIMITED→ 14742188 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| PEARPAWQUILTING LTD→ 14469231 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1977-03-04
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC47190 — Other retail sale in non-specialised stores
Registered office
15 High Street
Selkirk
Scottish Borders
TD7 4BZ
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-03-19
Last: 2026-03-05
Officers (6 active · 12 resigned)
Active
DENOON, Abigail Louise→
Activedirector · ~53y · appointed 2012-06-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
FIELD, Chalan→
Activedirector · ~56y · appointed 2017-12-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
HARMAN, Erin→
Activedirector · ~42y · appointed 2023-04-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MCCARTHY, Brett→
Activedirector · ~59y · appointed 1993-10-05
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MCCARTHY, Malcolm→
Activedirector · ~61y · appointed 1993-12-20
View their other companies + combined net worth →
ALLANACH, Juliet→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1992-03-04 · resigned 1992-03-31
FRASER, Wendy Ann→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1992-06-01 · resigned 1993-09-28
HARCUS, Ronald John→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1990-09-28 · resigned 1992-03-09
MCCARTHY, Helen Catherine→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1994-03-01 · resigned 1998-06-12
SHAW, Karina→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1993-09-28 · resigned 1994-03-01
YOUNG, Elizabeth Munro→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1990-09-28
COLLINS, Jonathan→
Resigneddirector · ~55y · appointed 2003-07-31 · resigned 2011-05-31
CZARNOTA, Ricky→
Resigneddirector · ~74y · resigned 2015-11-06
MCCAFFERTY, John→
Resigneddirector · ~77y · resigned 1994-03-01
MCCARTHY, Margaret→
Resigneddirector · ~81y · resigned 1993-07-03
PRIMROSE, Anne→
Resigneddirector · ~108y · resigned 2005-08-30
RENSTEAD, George→
Resigneddirector · ~65y · resigned 1993-11-19
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
2
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:2 of 2 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 20/04/1983 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 03/02/1982 | 18/01/2007 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (116 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-03-18
change-person-secretary-company-with-change-date
officers · CH03
2026-03-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2025-12-19
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-05-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2024-12-26
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-03-07
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2023-12-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-10-08
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2023-05-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2022-12-31
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-12-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2021-12-31
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-11-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2021-03-31
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-01-05