QUILL SERVE LIMITED

🌳Matureactive

SC100347 · ltd · incorporated 1986-07-31

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 Apr 2025

Net worth

—

book net assets

Opportunity

80/100

Exceptional

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What this business does

Primary activity: Activities of head offices

Sector: Professional, scientific & technical

Investor take

Pursue

Active trading company with a 65-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 80/100 (exceptional), bankability 75/100. Strong seller-intent signal (83/100, director aged 65). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).

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

Lenders & charges

Confirmed no charges registered

Directors & officers

27 officers (3 active, 27 linked, 24 with DOB)

Ownership & PSC

1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared

Director network

2 connected companies via shared directors

Filing history

156 filings on record

Gazette notices

No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)

Opportunity Score

80/100Exceptional

PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional

Strong composite across quality, acquirability, and risk. High-priority target — progress to serious diligence.

Business quality

Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.

Acquirability

Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.

Risk profile

Few red flags.

Signal strength

Good data coverage for analysis.

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts

Cash

—

Net Worth

—

Current Assets

—

Current Liabilities

—

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102

Metric	2025-04-30	2024-04-30

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

Recent activity

Last 30 days

filing

• 1 accounts

Last 90 days

filing

• 1 accounts

Last 180 days

filings

• 2 accounts
• 1 confirmation-statement

Counts from Companies House filing history.

Corporate timeline (57 events)Click to expand

2026-05-15
📄
change-account-reference-date-company-current-shortened
accounts · AA01
2025-12-09
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2024-12-18
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2023-10-19
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2022-10-21
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2021-10-22
📄
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2021-10-22
📄
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2021-09-13
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2020-11-02
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2020-01-27
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2018-09-20
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2017-08-16
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2016-12-19
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2016-03-29
📄
annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholders
annual-return · AR01
2015-09-23
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2013-08-02
➖
PIGNATELLI, Paul Francis resigned
director
2011-02-25
➖
DEVINE, Joan Gabrielle resigned
director
2010-08-31
➖
BRADLEY, John Russell resigned
director
2009-12-31
➖
WESTBROOK, Bruce Richard resigned
director
2008-11-14
➖
THOMSON, David resigned
director
2005-12-16
➖
GARDINER, John resigned
director
2005-11-28
➖
HARDIE, James Fraser Mcbride resigned
director
2005-06-15
➖
OLIVER, Norman Robert resigned
director
2004-08-11
➕
RAE, Simon Scott appointed
director
2004-08-11
➕
PIGNATELLI, Paul Francis appointed
director
2004-04-20
➕
WALLACE, Andrew appointed
director
2004-04-20
➕
WESTBROOK, Bruce Richard appointed
director
2004-04-20
➖
WILLIAMSON, Andrew resigned
director
2003-01-20
➕
WILLIAMSON, Andrew appointed
director
2001-01-10
➕
SECRETAR SECURITIES LIMITED appointed
corporate-secretary
2001-01-10
➖
BIRD SEMPLE resigned
corporate-secretary
1999-11-23
➖
PATTERSON, Lindy Ann resigned
director
1998-12-16
➕
BRADLEY, John Russell appointed
director
1998-12-16
➕
HARDIE, James Fraser Mcbride appointed
director
1998-01-07
➕
DEVINE, Joan Gabrielle appointed
director
1998-01-07
➕
THOMSON, David appointed
director
1997-12-15
➖
MCIVER O.B.E, Malcolm resigned
director
1997-07-28
➖
SIBBALD, Graham Inglis resigned
director
1996-11-21
➕
OLIVER, Norman Robert appointed
director
1994-08-03
➖
SIBBALD, Graham Inglis resigned
director
1994-08-03
➖
SIMPSON, Peter John Hugh resigned
director
1994-08-01
➖
CUBIE, Andrew, Dr resigned
director
1994-07-29
➖
GILLIES, Malcolm John resigned
director
1994-07-18
➖
BROUGH, Gordon Haig resigned
director
1994-07-14
➖
NICOLSON, Fiona Margaret Mclean resigned
director
1994-07-12
➖
MCKENZIE, Morag Lennie resigned
director
1994-02-01
➕
BIRD SEMPLE appointed
corporate-secretary
1993-03-12
➖
FINLAYSON, William Alexander resigned
director
1992-12-31
➕
SIBBALD, Graham Inglis appointed
director
1991-05-01
➕
NICOLSON, Fiona Margaret Mclean appointed
director

Showing most recent 50 of 57 events

Owner dependency

83/100

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.
+Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 22 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
+Founder age: Director aged approximately 65 — succession pressure is live.

Succession & seller-readiness

86/100

Likely off-market candidate

Strong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.

SIGNALS

primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 65. 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 22 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 40 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

clean

No red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)

Group structure

Dla Piper International Nominees Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.

🏛️

Dla Piper International Nominees Limited

Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares

ultimate parent

⬇

QUILL SERVE LIMITED

This company · SC100347

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%

Name	Shares	Voting rights	Nature of control	Notified
Dla Piper International Nominees Limited Corporate entity	75–100%	—	75-100% shares	06/04/2016

2 historic (ceased) PSCs

Mr Simon Scott Raeceased 22/10/2021· significant influence
Andrew Wallaceceased 22/10/2021· significant influence

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 · EH postcode area

Company	Est. value	Turnover	Net worth	Staff	Age	Opp	Director
CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES EDINBURGH LIMITED→ SC091725 · est 1985	£131.60M £96.97M–£166.24M	£135.39M	—	135900	41y	85	67y
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) HOLDINGS LIMITED→ SC209010 · est 2000	£5.47M £4.03M–£6.91M	—	—	0	25y	85	60y
DSF (2003) LIMITED→ SC144009 · est 1993	£4.70M £3.46M–£5.93M	—	—	7	33y	87	61y
FCC (EAST AYRSHIRE) HOLDINGS LIMITED→ SC300470 · est 2006	£3.99M £2.94M–£5.03M	—	—	0	20y	87	60y
NWH HOLDINGS LIMITED→ SC303441 · est 2006	£3.67M £2.70M–£4.64M	—	—	373	19y	88	61y
BLYTH & BLYTH CONSULTING ENGINEERS LIMITED→ SC241155 · est 2002	£2.78M £2.05M–£3.52M	—	—	93	23y	87	85y
SIBCAS LIMITED→ SC052604 · est 1973	£1.88M £1.39M–£2.38M	—	—	165	53y	88	68y
HORIZON (GP) LIMITED→ SC493523 · est 2014	£45.2k £33.3k–£57.1k	—	—	6	11y	95	66y
BURNDENE INVESTMENTS LIMITED→ SC015613 · est 1929	£14.3k £10.5k–£18.0k	—	—	0	96y	83	63y
3 ED HOLDINGS 2 LIMITED→ SC328040 · est 2007 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	18y	83	65y
ABACUS FINANCIAL MARKETING LIMITED→ SC197503 · est 1999	—	—	£3.4k	—	26y	83	59y
ACCOUNTING & TAXATION SERVICE LTD→ SC360357 · est 2009 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	17y	83	58y

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

Incorporated1986-07-31

Jurisdictionscotland

Primary SIC70100 — Activities of head offices

Registered office

Collins House

Rutland Square

Edinburgh

EH1 2AA

Filing status

Accounts

Next due: 2027-01-31

Last made up to: 2025-04-30

Confirmation statement

Next due: 2027-02-12

Last: 2026-01-29

Officers (3 active · 24 resigned)

SECRETAR SECURITIES LIMITED→

corporate-secretary · appointed 2001-01-10

View their other companies + combined net worth →

Active

RAE, Simon Scott→

director · ~54y · appointed 2004-08-11

View their other companies + combined net worth →

Active

WALLACE, Andrew→

director · ~65y · appointed 2004-04-20

View their other companies + combined net worth →

Active

BIRD SEMPLE→

corporate-secretary · appointed 1994-02-01 · resigned 2001-01-10

Resigned

QUILL SERVE LIMITED→

corporate-nominee-secretary · resigned 1988-07-07

Resigned

BRADLEY, John Russell→

director · ~64y · appointed 1998-12-16 · resigned 2010-08-31

Resigned

BROUGH, Gordon Haig→

director · ~67y · appointed 1990-11-01 · resigned 1994-07-18

Resigned

CUBIE, Andrew, Dr→

director · ~80y · resigned 1994-08-01

Resigned

DEVINE, Joan Gabrielle→

director · ~60y · appointed 1998-01-07 · resigned 2011-02-25

Resigned

FINLAYSON, William Alexander→

director · ~75y · resigned 1993-03-12

Resigned

GARDINER, John→

director · ~70y · resigned 2005-12-16

Resigned

GILLIES, Malcolm John→

director · ~76y · resigned 1994-07-29

Resigned

HARDIE, James Fraser Mcbride→

director · ~67y · appointed 1998-12-16 · resigned 2005-11-28

Resigned

MACFARLANE, John→

director · ~77y · resigned 1990-04-25

Resigned

MCIVER O.B.E, Malcolm→

director · ~91y · resigned 1997-12-15

Resigned

MCKENZIE, Morag Lennie→

director · ~70y · resigned 1994-07-12

Resigned

NICOLSON, Fiona Margaret Mclean→

director · ~72y · appointed 1991-05-01 · resigned 1994-07-14

Resigned

OLIVER, Norman Robert→

director · ~74y · appointed 1996-11-21 · resigned 2005-06-15

Resigned

PATTERSON, Lindy Ann→

director · ~68y · appointed 1989-07-14 · resigned 1999-11-23

Resigned

PIGNATELLI, Paul Francis→

director · ~56y · appointed 2004-08-11 · resigned 2013-08-02

Resigned

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

Recent filings (156 total)

change-account-reference-date-company-current-shortened

accounts · AA01

2026-05-15

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates

confirmation-statement · CS01

2026-01-30

accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant

accounts · AA

2025-12-09

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates

confirmation-statement · CS01

2025-02-04

accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant

accounts · AA

2024-12-18

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates

confirmation-statement · CS01

2024-01-29

accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant

accounts · AA

2023-10-19

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates

confirmation-statement · CS01

2023-02-13

accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant

accounts · AA

2022-10-21

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates

confirmation-statement · CS01

2022-01-31

cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control

persons-with-significant-control · PSC07

2021-10-22

cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control

persons-with-significant-control · PSC07

2021-10-22

accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant

accounts · AA

2021-09-13

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates

confirmation-statement · CS01

2021-03-12

accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant

accounts · AA

2020-11-02