MACRITCHIE BROS. LIMITED

🌳Matureactive
SC144373 · ltd · incorporated 1993-05-12
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 May 2025
Net worth
£1.78M
book net assets
Opportunity
75/100
Strong
🔔
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What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 49390
Sector: Transportation & storage
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
  • 49410Freight transport by road
  • 55100Hotels and similar accommodation
Investor take
Pursue
Active trading company with a 67-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 75/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 67). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 5 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

17 live charges · 5 lenders · oldest 31.8y

15/100
under pressure

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

  • · Oldest live charge is 31.8 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · 5 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
  • · Cashflow trend is negative — lender view likely cautious.

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, 3 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
17 charges (17/17 with lender, 17/17 with type)
90
Directors & officers
15 officers (4 active, 15 linked, 8 with DOB)
81
Ownership & PSC
3 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
126 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
75/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional 

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

Business quality
60
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
74
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.

Signals from accounts

Derived from iXBRL accounts · FRS 102
Positive net assets
Net assets £1,779,415
Cash draining
Cash down 44% YoY
Cash YoY
-44%
Year on year

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
£88k
↓ 44% YoY
Net Worth
£1.8m
↑ 2.2% YoY
Current Assets
£932k
↑ 10% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
£0£356k£712k£1.1m£1.4m£1.8mMay 2024May 2025

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102
Metric2025-05-312024-05-31
Total assets£2.01M£2.05M
Current assets£931.6k£846.4k
Cash£88.0k£156.0k
Debtors£830.2k£677.1k
Net assets£1.78M£1.74M

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

🔒Filing-note intelligence

3 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
2
filings
  • • 2 mortgage
Last 180 days
3
filings
  • • 2 mortgage
  • • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (72 events)Click to expand
  1. 2026-02-09
    📄
    mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
    mortgage · MR04
  2. 2026-02-09
    📄
    mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
    mortgage · MR04
  3. 2026-02-09
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #14
  4. 2026-02-09
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #12
  5. 2026-01-14
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  6. 2025-04-14
    📄
    mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
    mortgage · MR04
  7. 2025-04-14
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #17
  8. 2025-02-12
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  9. 2024-02-29
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  10. 2022-11-21
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  11. 2022-02-28
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  12. 2021-05-24
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  13. 2019-11-14
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  14. 2019-11-08
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
  15. 2019-10-29
    📄
    mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
    mortgage · MR01
  16. 2019-10-15
    🔒
    Charge registered #17
    Lender: Hsbc UK Bank PLC
  17. 2018-12-13
    📄
    termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM02
  18. 2018-12-13
    📄
    appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP03
  19. 2018-12-12
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  20. 2018-12-01
    ➕
    MACRITCHIE, Catriona Jane appointed
    secretary
  21. 2018-12-01
    ➖
    MACRITCHIE, John Smith resigned
    secretary
  22. 2018-02-07
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  23. 2014-10-08
    🔒
    Charge registered #16
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  24. 2014-10-08
    🔒
    Charge registered #15
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  25. 2014-10-08
    🔒
    Charge registered #14
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  26. 2013-10-15
    🔒
    Charge registered #13
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  27. 2013-10-15
    🔒
    Charge registered #12
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  28. 2013-10-15
    🔒
    Charge registered #11
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  29. 2013-10-11
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #9
  30. 2013-10-11
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #8
  31. 2013-10-11
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #7
  32. 2013-10-11
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #6
  33. 2013-10-11
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #4
  34. 2013-10-11
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #1
  35. 2013-10-02
    🔒
    Charge registered #10
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  36. 2012-10-16
    🔒
    Charge registered #9
    Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC
  37. 2011-09-14
    🔒
    Charge registered #8
    Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC
  38. 2007-03-13
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #5
  39. 2005-06-22
    🔒
    Charge registered #7
    Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
  40. 2004-01-20
    🔒
    Charge registered #6
    Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
  41. 2003-11-11
    ➕
    MACRITCHIE, John Smith appointed
    director
  42. 1999-11-30
    ➖
    MACRITCHIE, John Smith resigned
    director
  43. 1999-10-25
    🔒
    Charge registered #5
    Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
  44. 1999-10-25
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #3
  45. 1998-04-02
    🔒
    Charge registered #4
    Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
  46. 1998-03-18
    ➕
    MACRITCHIE, Murdo Angus appointed
    director
  47. 1998-02-18
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #2
  48. 1997-10-08
    ➕
    MACRITCHIE, Donald Macdonald appointed
    director
  49. 1997-10-08
    ➖
    MACLEOD, Margaret Mackenzie resigned
    secretary
  50. 1997-10-08
    ➕
    MACRITCHIE, John Smith appointed
    secretary
Showing most recent 50 of 72 events

Owner dependency

98/100
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
  • +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "MACRITCHIE" — strong identity link between founder and business.
  • +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 29 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
  • +Founder age: Director aged approximately 67 — succession pressure is live.
  • +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.

Succession & seller-readiness

80/100
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 67. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
  • primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 29 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 33 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

1 med · 1 low
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.

5 live charges
low

Heavily leveraged with multiple live security positions — understand the capital structure before proceeding.

Shareholders & ownership

3 active beneficial owners
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Mr Murdo Angus Macritchie
Individual · British · DOB 06/1961 · age 65
25–50%
—25-50% shares06/04/2016
Mr Donald Macdonald Macritchie
Individual · Scottish · DOB 09/1964 · age 62
25–50%
—25-50% shares06/04/2016
Mr John Smith Macritchie
Individual · British · DOB 04/1959 · age 67
25–50%
—25-50% shares06/04/2016

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 →

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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
Typeltd
Incorporated1993-05-12
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC49390 — SIC 49390

Registered office

No 1 Carse Industrial Estate
Inverness
IV3 8LL

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2027-02-28
Last made up to: 2025-05-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-05-25
Last: 2025-05-11

Officers (4 active · 11 resigned)

MACRITCHIE, Catriona Jane→
secretary · appointed 2018-12-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
MACRITCHIE, Donald Macdonald→
director · ~62y · appointed 1997-10-08
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
MACRITCHIE, John Smith→
director · ~67y · appointed 2003-11-11
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
MACRITCHIE, Murdo Angus→
director · ~65y · appointed 1998-03-18
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
HENDERSON, Catriona Jane→
secretary · appointed 1993-10-22 · resigned 1994-10-07
Resigned
HENDERSON, Susan Patricia→
secretary · appointed 1993-05-25 · resigned 1993-10-22
Resigned
MACLEOD, Margaret Mackenzie→
secretary · appointed 1994-10-07 · resigned 1997-10-08
Resigned
MACRITCHIE, John Smith→
secretary · appointed 1997-10-08 · resigned 2018-12-01
Resigned
OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED→
corporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1993-05-12 · resigned 1993-05-25
Resigned
HENDERSON, Catriona Jane→
director · ~57y · appointed 1993-05-25 · resigned 1993-10-22
Resigned
HENDERSON, Susan Patricia→
director · ~85y · appointed 1993-05-25 · resigned 1993-10-22
Resigned
MACLEOD, Margaret Mackenzie→
director · ~64y · appointed 1995-10-01 · resigned 1997-10-08
Resigned
MACRITCHIE, John Smith→
director · ~67y · appointed 1997-10-08 · resigned 1999-11-30
Resigned
SMITH, Jessie Graham→
director · ~86y · appointed 1993-10-22 · resigned 1997-10-08
Resigned
JORDANS (SCOTLAND) LIMITED→
corporate-nominee-director · appointed 1993-05-12 · resigned 1993-05-25
Resigned

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

Mortgages & charges

17
Total charges
5
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:17 of 17 shown
TypeProperties
satisfied
HSBC
Hsbc UK Bank PLC
A registered charge1 property15/10/201914/04/2025
outstanding
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
A registered charge1 property08/10/2014—
outstanding
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
A registered charge1 property08/10/2014—
satisfied
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
A registered charge1 property08/10/201409/02/2026
outstanding
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
A registered charge1 property15/10/2013—
satisfied
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
A registered charge1 property15/10/201309/02/2026
outstanding
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
A registered charge1 property15/10/2013—
outstanding
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
A registered charge1 property02/10/2013—
satisfied
Virgin Money
Clydesdale Bank PLC
Standard security1 property16/10/201211/10/2013
satisfied
Virgin Money
Clydesdale Bank PLC
Floating charge1 property14/09/201111/10/2013
satisfied
Virgin Money
Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
Standard security1 property22/06/200511/10/2013
satisfied
Virgin Money
Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
Standard security1 property20/01/200411/10/2013
satisfied
Virgin Money
Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
Standard security1 property25/10/199913/03/2007
satisfied
Virgin Money
Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
Floating charge1 property02/04/199811/10/2013
satisfied
Century Building Society
Standard security1 property10/11/199525/10/1999
satisfied
Virgin Money
Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
Floating charge1 property23/10/199518/02/1998
satisfied
Century Building Society
Standard security1 property22/07/199411/10/2013
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (126 total)

mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2026-02-09
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2026-02-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2026-01-14
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-05-13
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-04-14
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-02-12
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-05-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-02-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-05-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-11-21
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-05-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-02-28
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-06-17
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-05-24
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-06-01