DONALD FARMS LIMITED

🌳Matureactive
SC173156 · ltd · incorporated 1997-03-03
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.
Why now
Window steady · low confidence
Steady and tidy — no seller pressure yet. Approach only if an angle opens.
Opportunity decay
approaching window · 12-months
Approaching a transaction window — refinance or sale event plausible in the next 12 months.
  • · Oldest live charge 27.9y old — refinance window within 12 months
What changed my view
Last 30 days

No material changes in the last 30 days.

Last 90 days

No snapshot from 90 days ago — start tracking from today.

Last 180 days

No snapshot from 180 days ago — start tracking from today.

🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Apr 2025
Net worth
£877.2k
book net assets
Opportunity
77/100
Strong
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What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 01500
Sector: Agriculture, forestry & fishing
Investor take
Pursue
Active trading company with a 69-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 77/100 (strong), bankability 75/100. Strong seller-intent signal (78/100, director aged 69). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

4 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 27.9y

70/100
ready

Refinance conversation should be productive — structure clean and timing right.

  • · Oldest live charge is 27.9 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
  • · Legal-friction score 15/100 — clean.

Data confidence

Overall: high (81/100)

Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.

Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
4 charges (4/4 with lender, 4/4 with type)
90
Directors & officers
7 officers (3 active, 7 linked, 5 with DOB)
84
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
7 connected companies via shared directors
66
Filing history
104 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
77/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional 

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

Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
70
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.

Signals from accounts

Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declared
Positive net assets
Net assets £877,170
Cash YoY
-2%
Year on year

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
£21k
↓ 2.0% YoY
Net Worth
£877k
↑ 1.1% YoY
Current Assets
£742k
~ YoY
Current Liabilities
—
£0£175k£351k£526k£702k£877kApr 2024Apr 2025

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown
Metric2025-04-302024-04-30
Total assets£877.2k£867.9k
Current assets£741.8k£742.8k
Cash£21.2k£21.7k
Debtors£720.6k£721.2k
Net assets£877.2k£867.9k

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

🔒Filing-note intelligence

1 signal 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
0
filings
Last 180 days
1
filing
  • • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (36 events)Click to expand
  1. 2025-08-22
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  2. 2024-09-17
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  3. 2024-03-26
    📄
    change-account-reference-date-company-current-extended
    accounts · AA01
  4. 2023-11-15
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  5. 2023-10-13
    📄
    mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
    mortgage · MR01
  6. 2023-10-12
    🔒
    Charge registered #4
    Lender: Cala Management Limited (SC013655)
  7. 2022-12-28
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  8. 2022-05-05
    📄
    capital-alter-shares-subdivision
    capital · SH02
  9. 2022-05-04
    📄
    resolution
    resolution · RESOLUTIONS
  10. 2022-05-04
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
  11. 2021-09-06
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  12. 2021-03-11
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
  13. 2021-03-11
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  14. 2020-10-13
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  15. 2019-12-17
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  16. 2018-12-21
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  17. 2018-08-24
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
  18. 2018-08-24
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  19. 2017-04-01
    ➕
    BUYERS, Mark James appointed
    director
  20. 2016-12-10
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #3
  21. 2014-08-20
    ➖
    DONALD, Bertha Mary resigned
    director
  22. 2014-07-02
    ➖
    DONALD, William Sainsbury resigned
    director
  23. 2013-04-26
    ➕
    BUYERS, Shona Mary appointed
    director
  24. 2011-04-05
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #1
  25. 2004-08-26
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #2
  26. 1998-09-07
    🔒
    Charge registered #3
    Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
  27. 1998-09-07
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
  28. 1998-07-14
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
  29. 1998-05-08
    ➕
    DONALD, Bertha Mary appointed
    director
  30. 1997-03-03
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As DONALD FARMS LIMITED
  31. 1997-03-03
    ➕
    BUYERS, Shona Mary appointed
    secretary
  32. 1997-03-03
    ➕
    REID, Brian appointed
    nominee-secretary
  33. 1997-03-03
    ➖
    REID, Brian resigned
    nominee-secretary
  34. 1997-03-03
    ➕
    DONALD, William Sainsbury appointed
    director
  35. 1997-03-03
    ➕
    MABBOTT, Stephen appointed
    nominee-director
  36. 1997-03-03
    ➖
    MABBOTT, Stephen resigned
    nominee-director

Owner dependency

81/100
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.
  • +Founder age: Director aged approximately 69 — succession pressure is live.
  • +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.

Succession & seller-readiness

79/100
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 69. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
  • secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
  • secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 13 years.
  • 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
medium

Multiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.

Shareholders & ownership

1 active beneficial owner
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Mrs Shona Mary Buyers
Individual · British · DOB 08/1965 · age 61
50–75%
50–75%50-75% shares · 50-75% voting06/04/2016

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 · Agriculture · AB postcode area
CompanyEst. valueTurnoverNet worthStaffAgeOppDirector
EAST COAST VINERS (PEAS AND BEANS) LIMITED→
SC465480 · est 2013
£8.08M
£6.21M–£9.94M
£13.37M—180012y8579y
TREETOP FORESTRY LIMITED→
SC292083 · est 2005
£5.00M
£3.85M–£6.15M
£12.98M—460020y8772y
ALTNAHARRA ESTATE LIMITED→
SC228455 · est 2002
£634.2k
£487.8k–£780.5k
——824y8571y
CHALLENGE FISHING COMPANY LIMITED→
SC192237 · est 1998
———627y8369y
FORTRIE FARMS LIMITED→
SC158055 · est 1995
———1031y8376y
GARDINER ICM LIMITED→
SC197812 · est 1999
——£2.60M—26y8364y
LORANTHUS FISHING COMPANY LIMITED→
SC312585 · est 2006
———019y8370y
M B AQUARIUS LIMITED→
SC259115 · est 2003
———022y8370y
M.V. QUANTUS LIMITED→
SC150141 · est 1994
——£32.29M—32y8369y
MEARNS TRACTORS LIMITED→
SC261246 · est 2003
———122y8362y
SHANNON FISHING LIMITED→
SC157000 · est 1995
——£24.40M—31y8379y
UNITED FISH SELLING LIMITED→
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———20044y8372y
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
Incorporated1997-03-03
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC01500 — SIC 01500

Registered office

42 Queens Road
Aberdeen
AB15 4YE
Scotland

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2027-01-31
Last made up to: 2025-04-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-03-17
Last: 2026-03-03

Officers (3 active · 4 resigned)

BUYERS, Shona Mary→
secretary · appointed 1997-03-03
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BUYERS, Mark James→
director · ~69y · appointed 2017-04-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BUYERS, Shona Mary→
director · ~61y · appointed 2013-04-26
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
REID, Brian→
nominee-secretary · appointed 1997-03-03 · resigned 1997-03-03
Resigned
DONALD, Bertha Mary→
director · ~93y · appointed 1998-05-08 · resigned 2014-08-20
Resigned
DONALD, William Sainsbury→
director · ~93y · appointed 1997-03-03 · resigned 2014-07-02
Resigned
MABBOTT, Stephen→
nominee-director · ~76y · appointed 1997-03-03 · resigned 1997-03-03
Resigned

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

Mortgages & charges

4
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:4 of 4 shown
TypeProperties
outstanding
Cala Management (SC013655)
Cala Management Limited (SC013655)
A registered charge1 property12/10/2023—
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
Standard security1 property07/09/199810/12/2016
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
Standard security1 property07/09/199826/08/2004
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
Bond & floating charge1 property14/07/199805/04/2011
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (104 total)

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-03-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-08-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-03-03
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-09-17
change-account-reference-date-company-current-extended
accounts · AA01
2024-03-26
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-03-05
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-11-15
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2023-10-13
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-03-30
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-12-28
capital-alter-shares-subdivision
capital · SH02
2022-05-05
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2022-05-04
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2022-05-04
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-03-08
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-09-06