PENTLAND FERRIES
🌳Matureactive
SC171283 · private-unlimited · incorporated 1997-01-13
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
approaching window · 12-months
Approaching a transaction window — refinance or sale event plausible in the next 12 months.
- · Oldest live charge 25.3y old — refinance window within 12 months
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
80/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 50100
Sector: Transportation & storage
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with exceptional profile and bankable structure.
Opportunity 80/100 (exceptional), bankability 75/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Discharge stale live charges. 1 live charge(s) created 15+ years ago — likely paid but undischarged. Clean register. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
20 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 25.3y
50/100
clean up first
Refinance viable after a tidy-up — address the highlighted items first.
- · Oldest live charge is 25.3 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · Legal-friction score 40/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (57/100)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
20 charges (20/20 with lender, 20/20 with type)
90
Directors & officers
8 officers (5 active, 8 linked, 6 with DOB)
85
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
1 connected companies via shared directors
48
Filing history
122 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
85
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
2
filings
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 persons-with-significant-control
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (73 events)Click to expand
- 2026-01-13📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2025-09-18📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-18📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-18📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-18📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-18📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-18📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-18📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-18📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-18📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-18📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-18📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-18📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-18📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-18📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-18📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-18📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-18📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-18📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-18🔓Charge satisfied #19
- 2025-09-18🔓Charge satisfied #20
- 2025-09-18🔓Charge satisfied #18
- 2025-09-18🔓Charge satisfied #17
- 2025-09-18🔓Charge satisfied #16
- 2025-09-18🔓Charge satisfied #15
- 2025-09-18🔓Charge satisfied #14
- 2025-09-18🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 2025-09-18🔓Charge satisfied #12
- 2025-09-18🔓Charge satisfied #11
- 2025-09-18🔓Charge satisfied #9
- 2025-09-18🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2025-09-18🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2025-09-18🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2025-09-18🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2025-09-18🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2025-09-18🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2025-09-18🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2025-03-20📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-03-19📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-03-19📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-03-19📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2022-04-16➖BANKS, Susan Rose resignedsecretary
- 2022-04-16➖BANKS, Susan Rose resigneddirector
- 2019-08-29🔒Charge registered #19Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2019-08-27🔒Charge registered #20Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2018-06-22🔒Charge registered #18Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2018-06-22🔒Charge registered #17Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2017-06-15🔒Charge registered #16Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2017-06-15🔒Charge registered #15Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2017-06-15🔒Charge registered #14Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
Showing most recent 50 of 73 events
Owner dependency
66/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- -5 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 29 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 64 — approaching natural succession window.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
80/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 64. 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 29 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 ·Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Andrew Alfred Banks Individual · British · DOB 04/1962 · age 64 | 50–75% | 50–75% | 50-75% shares · 50-75% voting | 06/04/2016 |
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 · Transport & logistics · KW postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCADIE & REEVE LIMITED→ SC320832 · est 2007 | — | — | — | — | 19y | 83 | 60y |
| ORKNEY MARINAS LIMITED→ SC215601 · est 2001 | — | — | — | 4 | 25y | 81 | 80y |
| CAITHNESS SEACOAST LTD→ SC291271 · est 2005 | — | — | £25.4k | — | 20y | 80 | 67y |
| JOHN O'GROATS FERRIES LIMITED→ SC144259 · est 1993 | — | — | £389.4k | — | 33y | 80 | 88y |
| MEIKLEJOHNS TAXIS LIMITED→ SC439983 · est 2013 | — | — | £241.8k | — | 13y | 79 | 64y |
| ORKNEY FERRIES LIMITED→ SC036770 · est 1961 | — | — | £8.88M | — | 64y | 79 | 73y |
| AAM HAULAGE LTD→ SC517958 · est 2015 | — | — | — | 100 | 10y | 78 | 66y |
| LITTLEJOHN REMOVALS LIMITED→ SC541126 · est 2016 | — | — | £49.5k | — | 9y | 78 | 62y |
| RENDALL HAULAGE SERVICES LTD→ SC531106 · est 2016 | — | — | — | 0 | 10y | 78 | 61y |
| ROBERT CRAIGIE LTD→ SC433995 · est 2012 | — | — | — | 100 | 13y | 78 | 61y |
| JOHN JOLLY (1978) LIMITED→ SC065701 · est 1978 | — | — | £969.8k | — | 47y | 77 | 48y |
| ORBITAL SHAREHOLDING LTD→ SC400455 · est 2011 | — | — | — | 0 | 15y | 77 | 49y |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
6 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-unlimited
Incorporated1997-01-13
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC50100 — SIC 50100
Registered office
Ceol Na Mara
St Margarets Hope
Orkney
KW17 2SW
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: —
Last made up to: 2012-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-01-27
Last: 2026-01-13
Officers (5 active · 3 resigned)
BANKS, David Andrew→
Activedirector · ~34y · appointed 2014-11-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BANKS, Laura Anne→
Activedirector · ~37y · appointed 2014-11-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BANKS JNR, Andrew Alfred→
Activedirector · ~64y · appointed 1997-01-13
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SCOLLIE, Kathryn Mary→
Activedirector · ~38y · appointed 2014-11-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
WILSON, Jennifer Alice→
Activedirector · ~33y · appointed 2014-11-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BANKS, Susan Rose→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1997-01-13 · resigned 2022-04-16
OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1997-01-13 · resigned 1997-01-13
BANKS, Susan Rose→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2002-08-30 · resigned 2022-04-16
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
20
Total charges
2
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:20 of 20 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 29/08/2019 | 18/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 27/08/2019 | 18/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | — | 22/06/2018 | 18/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | — | 22/06/2018 | 18/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | — | 15/06/2017 | 18/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 15/06/2017 | 18/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | — | 15/06/2017 | 18/09/2025 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | — | 15/06/2017 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | First priority ship mortgage | 1 property | 25/07/2008 | 18/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | Deed of assignment of earnings and insurances | 1 property | 23/07/2008 | 18/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | Deed of covenant | 1 property | 23/07/2008 | 18/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | First priority ship mortgage | 1 property | 25/04/2007 | 18/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | First priority ship mortgage | 1 property | 25/04/2007 | 18/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Deed of covenant | 1 property | 28/03/2007 | 18/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Deed of covenant | 1 property | 28/03/2007 | 18/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Deed of assignment of earnings and insurances | 1 property | 28/03/2007 | 18/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Deed of assignment of design contract | 1 property | 28/03/2007 | 18/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Deed of assignment of building contract and performance guarantee | 1 property | 28/03/2007 | 18/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Deed of assignment of earnings and insurances | 1 property | 28/03/2007 | 18/09/2025 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 15/03/2001 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (122 total)
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-01-13
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2026-01-13
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-09-18
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-09-18
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-09-18
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-09-18
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-09-18
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-09-18
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-09-18
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-09-18
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-09-18
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-09-18
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-09-18
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-09-18
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-09-18