MINERVA SERVICES (SCOTLAND) LIMITED

💤Zombieactive
SC155404 · ltd · incorporated 1995-01-17
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 Dec 2023
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
82/100
Exceptional
🔔
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: Management consultancy activities other than financial management
Sector: Professional, scientific & technical
Investor take
Pursue
Active trading company with a 72-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 82/100 (exceptional), bankability 85/100. Strong seller-intent signal (93/100, director aged 72). 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

2 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 21.9y

30/100
under pressure

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

  • · Oldest live charge is 21.9 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
  • · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.

Data confidence

Overall: medium (74/100)

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
1 year of iXBRL accounts extracted (no YoY comparison) + narrative notes parsed
50
Lenders & charges
2 charges (2/2 with lender, 2/2 with type)
90
Directors & officers
12 officers (2 active, 12 linked, 7 with DOB)
82
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
10 connected companies via shared directors
75
Filing history
114 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
82/100Exceptional
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
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.

Key financials

1 year extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102
Metric2023-12-31
Average employees300

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
1
filing
  • • 1 officers
Last 90 days
1
filing
  • • 1 officers
Last 180 days
5
filings
  • • 1 officers
  • • 1 incorporation
  • • 1 resolution
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (43 events)Click to expand
  1. 2026-05-20
    📄
    change-corporate-secretary-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH04
  2. 2025-12-22
    📄
    memorandum-articles
    incorporation · MA
  3. 2025-12-22
    📄
    resolution
    resolution · RESOLUTIONS
  4. 2025-12-10
    📍
    change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
    address · AD01
  5. 2025-10-09
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  6. 2024-12-23
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  7. 2024-12-18
    ➖
    MCPHERSON, Margaret Walker resigned
    director
  8. 2024-10-29
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  9. 2023-09-29
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  10. 2022-11-01
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  11. 2021-09-28
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  12. 2020-12-15
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  13. 2020-12-01
    ➖
    MOODIE, Peter Harkess resigned
    director
  14. 2020-10-26
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  15. 2019-09-26
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  16. 2018-09-10
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  17. 2018-02-01
    ➕
    MOODIE, Peter Harkess appointed
    director
  18. 2018-02-01
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  19. 2018-02-01
    📄
    change-corporate-secretary-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH04
  20. 2016-04-06
    ➕
    MCPHERSON, Margaret Walker appointed
    director
  21. 2013-08-23
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #2
  22. 2004-09-28
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #1
  23. 2004-09-14
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: Clydesdale Bank Asset Finance Limited
  24. 2004-07-02
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
  25. 2003-11-28
    ➖
    MCPHERSON, Fiona resigned
    director
  26. 1999-09-28
    ➕
    ADDLESHAW GODDARD (SCOTLAND) SECRETARIAL LIMITED appointed
    corporate-secretary
  27. 1999-09-28
    ➕
    MCPHERSON, Malcolm Henry appointed
    director
  28. 1999-09-28
    ➖
    PERCY, Melvyn John resigned
    secretary
  29. 1999-09-28
    ➕
    MCPHERSON, Fiona appointed
    director
  30. 1999-09-28
    ➖
    PERCY, Andrew Mark resigned
    director
  31. 1999-09-28
    ➖
    PERCY, Melvyn John resigned
    director
  32. 1998-07-10
    ➖
    HBJ 396 LIMITED resigned
    corporate-director
  33. 1998-02-19
    ➖
    COCKBURN, John Robert resigned
    director
  34. 1998-02-19
    ➕
    HBJ 396 LIMITED appointed
    corporate-director
  35. 1995-01-18
    ➕
    PERCY, Melvyn John appointed
    secretary
  36. 1995-01-18
    ➖
    HBJ SECRETARIAL LIMITED resigned
    corporate-secretary
  37. 1995-01-18
    ➕
    COCKBURN, John Robert appointed
    director
  38. 1995-01-18
    ➕
    PERCY, Andrew Mark appointed
    director
  39. 1995-01-18
    ➕
    PERCY, Melvyn John appointed
    director
  40. 1995-01-18
    ➖
    HENDERSON BOYD JACKSON LIMITED resigned
    corporate-director
  41. 1995-01-17
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As MINERVA SERVICES (SCOTLAND) LIMITED
  42. 1995-01-17
    ➕
    HBJ SECRETARIAL LIMITED appointed
    corporate-secretary
  43. 1995-01-17
    ➕
    HENDERSON BOYD JACKSON LIMITED appointed
    corporate-director

Owner dependency

100/100
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.
  • +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 27 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
  • +Founder age: Director aged approximately 72 — succession pressure is live.

Succession & seller-readiness

100/100
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 72 years old. Natural succession window is now.
  • primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
  • primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 27 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 31 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.)

Shareholders & ownership

1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Mr Malcolm Henry Mcpherson
Individual · British · DOB 05/1954 · age 72
75–100%
75–100%75-100% shares · 75-100% voting30/06/2016

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 · Professional services · TD postcode area
CompanyEst. valueTurnoverNet worthStaffAgeOppDirector
PLEXUS CORP. LIMITED→
SC207257 · est 2000
£4.8k
£3.5k–£6.0k
——026y8560y
KSA GROUP LTD→
03316444 · est 1997
———150029y8367y
LEITHEN MARINE LIMITED→
SC329813 · est 2007
——£1.31M—18y8385y
LITTLEDANE LIMITED→
SC225303 · est 2001
——£7.89M—24y8370y
ANDY PURVES LIMITED→
SC254901 · est 2003
———322y8258y
DEANS ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS ADVISORS LTD.→
SC185950 · est 1998
———180028y8262y
EYESTORE LIMITED→
SC242820 · est 2003
————23y8280y
P AND D INNS LTD→
06828315 · est 2009
——£2.4k—17y8268y
COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES LIMITED→
SC343015 · est 2008
——£12.9k—18y8164y
E.N.B.G. LIMITED→
SC281556 · est 2005
——£291—21y8164y
24 CAPITAL LIMITED→
07038101 · est 2009
——£10.8k—16y8061y
ABBEYSIDE CONSULTANCY LIMITED→
SC329539 · est 2007
———10018y8068y
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
Incorporated1995-01-17
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC70229 — Management consultancy activities other than financial management

Registered office

Maple Tree House
Tweedmount Road
Melrose
TD6 9ST
Scotland

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-01-01
Last: 2025-12-18

Officers (2 active · 10 resigned)

ADDLESHAW GODDARD (SCOTLAND) SECRETARIAL LIMITED→
corporate-secretary · appointed 1999-09-28
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
MCPHERSON, Malcolm Henry→
director · ~72y · appointed 1999-09-28
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
PERCY, Melvyn John→
secretary · appointed 1995-01-18 · resigned 1999-09-28
Resigned
HBJ SECRETARIAL LIMITED→
corporate-secretary · appointed 1995-01-17 · resigned 1995-01-18
Resigned
COCKBURN, John Robert→
director · ~78y · appointed 1995-01-18 · resigned 1998-02-19
Resigned
MCPHERSON, Fiona→
director · ~71y · appointed 1999-09-28 · resigned 2003-11-28
Resigned
MCPHERSON, Margaret Walker→
director · ~62y · appointed 2016-04-06 · resigned 2024-12-18
Resigned
MOODIE, Peter Harkess→
director · ~74y · appointed 2018-02-01 · resigned 2020-12-01
Resigned
PERCY, Andrew Mark→
director · ~66y · appointed 1995-01-18 · resigned 1999-09-28
Resigned
PERCY, Melvyn John→
director · ~71y · appointed 1995-01-18 · resigned 1999-09-28
Resigned
HBJ 396 LIMITED→
corporate-director · appointed 1998-02-19 · resigned 1998-07-10
Resigned
HENDERSON BOYD JACKSON LIMITED→
corporate-director · appointed 1995-01-17 · resigned 1995-01-18
Resigned

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

Mortgages & charges

2
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:2 of 2 shown
TypeProperties
satisfied
Virgin Money
Clydesdale Bank Asset Finance Limited
Marine mortgage1 property14/09/200423/08/2013
satisfied
Virgin Money
Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
Marine mortgage1 property02/07/200428/09/2004

Recent filings (114 total)

change-corporate-secretary-company-with-change-date
officers · CH04
2026-05-20
memorandum-articles
incorporation · MA
2025-12-22
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2025-12-22
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-12-18
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2025-12-10
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2025-10-09
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-01-17
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-12-23
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-10-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-01-18
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-09-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-01-18
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-11-01
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-01-17
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-09-28