HAWTHORNBANK LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
SC117262 · ltd · incorporated 1989-04-12
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
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
80/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: Growing of cereals (except rice), leguminous crops and oil seeds
Sector: Agriculture, forestry & fishing
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 87-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 80/100 (exceptional), bankability 57/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 87). 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
4 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 12.5y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 12.5 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 30/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (55/100)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
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
4 charges (4/4 with lender, 4/4 with type)
90
Directors & officers
21 officers (4 active, 21 linked, 13 with DOB)
82
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
132 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
80/100Exceptional
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
75
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
1
filing
- • 1 address
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 address
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 address
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (57 events)Click to expand
- 2026-04-21📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2025-09-25📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-09-25📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-09-23🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Halfway Energy Park Limited
- 2025-09-23🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Halfway Energy Park Limited
- 2025-08-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-05-23📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2025-02-12📄second-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-dateconfirmation-statement · RP04CS01
- 2025-02-11📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2024-11-14📄change-corporate-secretary-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH04
- 2024-10-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-11-17📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2023-11-16➖HENDERSON, William Shields resigneddirector
- 2023-10-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-01-11📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-01-10📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-01-10📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2022-11-17➕ADAIR, Carolyn Joan appointeddirector
- 2022-11-17➕ADAIR, Mona Margaret appointeddirector
- 2022-11-17➕ADAIR, Robin Lindsay appointeddirector
- 2022-09-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-07-27➕MFMAC SECRETARIES LIMITED appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2022-07-27➖BEATTIE, Alistair Norman Watson resignedsecretary
- 2022-07-27📄appoint-corporate-secretary-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP04
- 2022-07-27📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2022-05-28📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2021-11-01➖ADAIR, Brian resigneddirector
- 2021-06-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2014-10-31➖DOCHERTY, Fiona resigneddirector
- 2014-10-31➖GUEST, Charles Drysdale Graham resigneddirector
- 2013-11-12➕GUEST, Charles Drysdale Graham appointeddirector
- 2013-11-12➖ROBERTSON, Alexander Dewar resigneddirector
- 2013-10-18🔒Charge registered #1Lender: George David Strawson
- 2013-10-17🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC
- 2008-08-04➕BEATTIE, Alistair Norman Watson appointedsecretary
- 2008-08-04➖HENDERSON, William Shields resignedsecretary
- 2007-07-02➕DOCHERTY, Fiona appointeddirector
- 2006-08-31➖DICKINS, Karin Louise Molyneux resigneddirector
- 2006-02-01➕DICKINS, Karin Louise Molyneux appointeddirector
- 2003-01-01➕HENDERSON, William Shields appointedsecretary
- 2003-01-01➕ROBERTSON, Alexander Dewar appointeddirector
- 2002-12-31➖MCDOUGAL, Duncan Arthur resignedsecretary
- 2002-12-31➖MCDOUGAL, Duncan Arthur resigneddirector
- 1996-08-02➕HENDERSON, William Shields appointeddirector
- 1996-08-01➖CUNNINGHAM, Robert Gibb resignedsecretary
- 1996-08-01➕MCDOUGAL, Duncan Arthur appointedsecretary
- 1996-07-02➖SPENCE, William St John Cogan resigneddirector
- 1994-09-01➖BEATTIE, Alistair Norman Watson resignedsecretary
- 1994-09-01➕CUNNINGHAM, Robert Gibb appointedsecretary
- 1994-09-01➖BEATTIE, Alistair Norman Watson resigneddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 57 events
Owner dependency
73/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 87 — succession pressure is live.
- +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
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 87 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 37 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
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 · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mrs Mona Margaret Adair Individual · British · DOB 03/1939 · age 87 | 75–100% | — | 75-100% shares | 23/12/2023 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Mr Brian Adairceased 01/11/2021· 75-100% shares
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
Similar companies
Active · Agriculture · EH postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES GAMMELL & SON LIMITED→ SC040633 · est 1964 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 61y | — | — |
| JAYMO&CO LTD→ SC877627 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| KARECOLE FARM STABLES LTD.→ SC448460 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| KASTELRUTH RACING AND BREEDING LIMITED→ SC221720 · est 2001 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 24y | — | — |
| KEITHHILL CATTLE COMPANY LIMITED→ SC239033 · est 2002 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 23y | — | — |
| KEVIN KEILLOR FISHING COMPANY LTD→ SC733742 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| KILDRUMMY ESTATES LIMITED→ SC068650 · est 1979 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 46y | — | — |
| KILMARTIN (SCOTLAND) LTD.→ SC418147 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| LEAFBROOK LIMITED→ SC182102 · est 1998 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 28y | — | — |
| LESLIE FARM SERVICES LTD→ SC616306 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| LINLITHGOW FARMS LIMITED→ SC426144 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| LITTLE BLUE TREE CIC→ SC809840 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
9 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
Incorporated1989-04-12
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC01110 — Growing of cereals (except rice), leguminous crops and oil seeds
Registered office
Level 5 9 Haymarket Square
Edinburgh
EH3 8RY
United Kingdom
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-06-11
Last: 2025-05-28
Officers (4 active · 17 resigned)
MFMAC SECRETARIES LIMITED→
Activecorporate-secretary · appointed 2022-07-27
View their other companies + combined net worth →
ADAIR, Carolyn Joan→
Activedirector · ~58y · appointed 2022-11-17
View their other companies + combined net worth →
ADAIR, Mona Margaret→
Activedirector · ~87y · appointed 2022-11-17
View their other companies + combined net worth →
ADAIR, Robin Lindsay→
Activedirector · ~59y · appointed 2022-11-17
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BEATTIE, Alistair Norman Watson→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2008-08-04 · resigned 2022-07-27
BEATTIE, Alistair Norman Watson→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1994-09-01
CUNNINGHAM, Robert Gibb→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1994-09-01 · resigned 1996-08-01
HENDERSON, William Shields→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2003-01-01 · resigned 2008-08-04
MCDOUGAL, Duncan Arthur→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1996-08-01 · resigned 2002-12-31
QUILL FORM LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1989-04-12 · resigned 1990-05-28
ADAIR, Brian→
Resigneddirector · ~91y · resigned 2021-11-01
BEATTIE, Alistair Norman Watson→
Resigneddirector · ~80y · resigned 1994-09-01
DICKINS, Karin Louise Molyneux→
Resigneddirector · ~58y · appointed 2006-02-01 · resigned 2006-08-31
DOCHERTY, Fiona→
Resigneddirector · ~56y · appointed 2007-07-02 · resigned 2014-10-31
GUEST, Charles Drysdale Graham→
Resigneddirector · ~79y · appointed 2013-11-12 · resigned 2014-10-31
HENDERSON, William Shields→
Resigneddirector · ~85y · appointed 1996-08-02 · resigned 2023-11-16
IRVINE, Lesley→
Resigneddirector · ~68y · resigned 1992-11-30
MCDOUGAL, Duncan Arthur→
Resigneddirector · ~89y · appointed 1994-01-01 · resigned 2002-12-31
ROBERTSON, Alexander Dewar→
Resigneddirector · ~84y · appointed 2003-01-01 · resigned 2013-11-12
SPENCE, William St John Cogan→
Resigneddirector · ~98y · resigned 1996-07-02
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
4
Total charges
4
Outstanding
3
Active lenders
Status:Lender:4 of 4 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Halfway Energy Park Halfway Energy Park Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 23/09/2025 | — | |
| outstanding | Halfway Energy Park Halfway Energy Park Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 23/09/2025 | — | |
| outstanding | George David Strawson | A registered charge | 1 property | 18/10/2013 | — | |
| outstanding | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 17/10/2013 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (132 total)
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2026-04-21
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-09-25
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-09-25
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-08-18
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-06-03
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2025-05-23
second-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-date
confirmation-statement · RP04CS01
2025-02-12
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
2025-02-11
change-corporate-secretary-company-with-change-date
officers · CH04
2024-11-14
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-10-09
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-05-28
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2023-11-17
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-10-09
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-05-29
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2023-01-11