EQUAL EXCHANGE LTD.

💤Zombieactive
SC078554 · private-limited-guarant-nsc · incorporated 1982-05-05
Investment thesis
Zombie company — trading but stalled; unlikely mover.
Why interesting: Quiet, steady; could be a succession or carve-out candidate with the right conversation.
Why risky: No growth signal; thin margin for error on price.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Mar 2025
Net worth
£2.2k
book net assets
Opportunity
77/100
Strong
🔔
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: Other education n.e.c.
Sector: Education
Investor take
Pursue
Asset-holding vehicle with a 77-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 77/100 (strong), bankability 85/100. Strong seller-intent signal (68/100, director aged 77). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Broaden director team. Sole director creates succession risk and reduces buyer comfort. Appoint a second director or strong #2. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

1 live charge · oldest 31.4y

45/100
under pressure

Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.

  • · Oldest live charge is 31.4 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · Single lender — cleanest path to refinance.
  • · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.

Data confidence

Overall: high (80/100)

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
1 charges (1/1 with lender, 1/1 with type)
90
Directors & officers
26 officers (2 active, 26 linked, 19 with DOB)
85
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
128 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
77/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional 

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

Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
70
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 · accounting standard not declared
Positive net assets
Net assets £2,181

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
—
Net Worth
£2k
↑ 71% YoY
Current Assets
£2k
↑ 60% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
£0£486£972£1k£2k£2kMar 2024Mar 2025

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown
Metric2025-03-312024-03-31
Total assets£2.2k£1.3k
Current assets£2.4k£1.5k
Net assets£2.2k£1.3k

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
5
filings
  • • 3 officers
  • • 1 accounts
  • • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (58 events)Click to expand
  1. 2025-12-22
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  2. 2025-11-30
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  3. 2025-11-30
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  4. 2025-11-30
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  5. 2025-11-17
    ➖
    BRIDGE, John Charles resigned
    director
  6. 2025-11-17
    ➖
    FAREY, Rachel resigned
    director
  7. 2025-11-17
    ➖
    LOCKHART, Norman resigned
    director
  8. 2024-12-23
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  9. 2023-12-24
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  10. 2022-12-29
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  11. 2021-12-24
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  12. 2020-12-29
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  13. 2020-01-08
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  14. 2019-01-09
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  15. 2018-01-08
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  16. 2017-05-30
    📍
    change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
    address · AD01
  17. 2017-01-11
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  18. 2016-02-01
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  19. 2008-10-31
    ➖
    SUTHERLAND, Mary resigned
    director
  20. 2005-08-30
    ➖
    DAVIDSON, Thomas George Christopher resigned
    director
  21. 2004-05-13
    ➕
    SUTHERLAND, Mary appointed
    director
  22. 2001-01-08
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #2
  23. 1996-01-18
    ➕
    BRIDGE, John Charles appointed
    director
  24. 1996-01-18
    ➕
    DAVIDSON, Thomas George Christopher appointed
    director
  25. 1994-12-19
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
  26. 1994-02-03
    ➕
    METEYARD, Martin Thomas appointed
    secretary
  27. 1994-02-03
    ➖
    ANDERSON, Heather resigned
    secretary
  28. 1994-02-03
    ➖
    ANDERSON, Heather resigned
    director
  29. 1994-02-03
    ➖
    BONNER, Michael Thomas resigned
    director
  30. 1994-02-03
    ➖
    COCHRANE, Marie Louise resigned
    director
  31. 1994-02-03
    ➕
    FAREY, Rachel appointed
    director
  32. 1994-02-03
    ➖
    O BRIEN, Kate resigned
    director
  33. 1992-12-16
    ➕
    ANDERSON, Heather appointed
    secretary
  34. 1992-11-18
    ➖
    CUNNISON, Belinda resigned
    director
  35. 1992-11-18
    ➖
    GRIMES, Alistair resigned
    director
  36. 1992-11-18
    ➖
    HUGHES, Marianne resigned
    director
  37. 1992-05-20
    ➖
    CONNOLLY, Paul Anthony resigned
    director
  38. 1991-11-28
    ➖
    GOUDIE, Ian Stuart resigned
    secretary
  39. 1991-11-28
    ➕
    BONNER, Michael Thomas appointed
    director
  40. 1991-11-28
    ➕
    COCHRANE, Marie Louise appointed
    director
  41. 1991-11-28
    ➖
    COLLIE, Grant Hazelwood resigned
    director
  42. 1991-11-28
    ➕
    CONNOLLY, Paul Anthony appointed
    director
  43. 1991-11-28
    ➕
    CUNNISON, Belinda appointed
    director
  44. 1991-11-28
    ➖
    GOUDIE, Ian Stuart resigned
    director
  45. 1991-11-28
    ➖
    HORTON, Christopher John resigned
    director
  46. 1991-11-28
    ➖
    MCKENZIE, Douglas Alexander resigned
    director
  47. 1991-11-28
    ➕
    O BRIEN, Kate appointed
    director
  48. 1991-04-18
    ➕
    ANDERSON, Heather appointed
    director
  49. 1990-11-08
    ➕
    COLLIE, Grant Hazelwood appointed
    director
  50. 1990-11-08
    ➖
    LOGAN, Anne Taylor resigned
    director
Showing most recent 50 of 58 events

Owner dependency

90/100
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
  • +Sole director: Only one active director — all governance concentrated on one person.
  • +Founder age: Director aged approximately 77 — succession pressure is live.

Succession & seller-readiness

85/100
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 77 years old. Natural succession window is now.
  • primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 44 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.

Red flags

1 med ·
3 director resignations in last 12 months
medium

Multiple recent departures can indicate governance disagreement, succession event, or preparation for sale/stress.

Evidence: BRIDGE, John Charles resigned 2025-11-17; FAREY, Rachel resigned 2025-11-17; LOCKHART, Norman resigned 2025-11-17

Shareholders & ownership

1 active beneficial owner
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Mr Martin Thomas Meteyard
Individual · Scottish · DOB 01/1949 · age 77
——sig. influencesignificant influence06/04/2016

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 · Education & training · EH postcode area
CompanyEst. valueTurnoverNet worthStaffAgeOppDirector
CLYDE STRENGTH LTD→
SC873978 · est 2026 · no financials extracted
———————
E C SCOTLAND LIMITED→
SC426926 · est 2012 · no financials extracted
————13y——
EDINBURGHITC LIMITED→
SC854648 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
———————
ETHOS ELEVATE LTD→
SC818888 · est 2024 · no financials extracted
————1y——
FABS ONLINE STUDENT PREP LTD→
SC809094 · est 2024 · no financials extracted
————1y——
FAST FORWARD (POSITIVE LIFESTYLES) LIMITED→
SC134443 · est 1991 · no financials extracted
————34y——
FET-LOR YOUTH CLUB→
SC179111 · est 1997 · no financials extracted
————28y——
FETTES COLLEGE→
SC719759 · est 2022 · no financials extracted
————4y——
FOOTBALL & SPORTS ACADEMY LTD→
SC849198 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
———————
FOREST SCHOOL TRAINING COLLABORATIVE LTD→
SC627264 · est 2019 · no financials extracted
————7y——
FRESH START IN EDUCATION (SCOTLAND) LTD→
SC591697 · est 2018 · no financials extracted
————8y——
FRSPORT LIMITED→
SC836799 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
————1y——
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
Typeprivate-limited-guarant-nsc
Incorporated1982-05-05
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC85590 — Other education n.e.c.

Registered office

12 Leyden Park
Bonnyrigg
Midlothian
EH19 2DE
Scotland

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-12-02
Last: 2025-11-18

Officers (2 active · 24 resigned)

METEYARD, Martin Thomas→
secretary · appointed 1994-02-03
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
METEYARD, Martin Thomas→
director · ~77y
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
ANDERSON, Heather→
secretary · appointed 1992-12-16 · resigned 1994-02-03
Resigned
GOUDIE, Ian Stuart→
secretary · resigned 1991-11-28
Resigned
ANDERSON, Heather→
director · ~67y · appointed 1991-04-18 · resigned 1994-02-03
Resigned
BONNER, Michael Thomas→
director · ~68y · appointed 1991-11-28 · resigned 1994-02-03
Resigned
BRIDGE, John Charles→
director · ~77y · appointed 1996-01-18 · resigned 2025-11-17
Resigned
COCHRANE, Marie Louise→
director · ~58y · appointed 1991-11-28 · resigned 1994-02-03
Resigned
COLLIE, Grant Hazelwood→
director · ~64y · appointed 1990-11-08 · resigned 1991-11-28
Resigned
CONNOLLY, Paul Anthony→
director · ~59y · appointed 1991-11-28 · resigned 1992-05-20
Resigned
CUNNISON, Belinda→
director · ~62y · appointed 1991-11-28 · resigned 1992-11-18
Resigned
DAVIDSON, Thomas George Christopher→
director · ~72y · appointed 1996-01-18 · resigned 2005-08-30
Resigned
DEVINE, Lynne J→
director · resigned 1990-01-05
Resigned
FAREY, Rachel→
director · ~64y · appointed 1994-02-03 · resigned 2025-11-17
Resigned
FRUDD, David John→
director · resigned 1989-11-04
Resigned
GOUDIE, Ian Stuart→
director · ~69y · resigned 1991-11-28
Resigned
GRIMES, Alistair→
director · ~75y · resigned 1992-11-18
Resigned
HORTON, Christopher John→
director · ~64y · appointed 1989-02-09 · resigned 1991-11-28
Resigned
HUGHES, Marianne→
director · ~72y · resigned 1992-11-18
Resigned
LOCKHART, Norman→
director · ~72y · resigned 2025-11-17
Resigned

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

Mortgages & charges

1
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:1 of 1 shown
TypeProperties
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
Bond & floating charge1 property19/12/199408/01/2001

Recent filings (128 total)

accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2025-12-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-12-02
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-11-30
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-11-30
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-11-30
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2024-12-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-11-29
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2023-12-24
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-11-29
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2022-12-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-11-26
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-12-24
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-11-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2020-12-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-12-01