D R MACLEOD (HAULAGE) LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
SC224918 · ltd · incorporated 2001-11-02
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 closing · medium confidence
Getting harder to buy — profile has hardened into "well run hard buy" recently.
- · Investment thesis: unclassified → well_run_hard_buy
- · Deal-killer verdict: complicated → clean
Opportunity decay
hardening · 12-months
Already tight — no obvious softening catalysts on the horizon.
- · Thesis: well-run, low negotiation leverage
What changed my view
Last 30 days
Picture improved over the last 30 days — 1 positive signal vs 0 negative.
- ·Investment thesis: unclassified → well_run_hard_buy
- ↑Deal-killer verdict: complicated → clean
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 Jul 2025
Net worth
£247.9k
book net assets
Opportunity
77/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Freight transport by road
Sector: Transportation & storage
Investor take
PursueAsset-holding vehicle with a 71-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 77/100 (strong), bankability 77/100. Strong seller-intent signal (73/100, director aged 71). 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 21.4y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 21.4 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Cashflow trend is negative — lender view likely cautious.
Data confidence
Overall: high (87/100)Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.
Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
3 years of iXBRL accounts extracted + narrative notes parsed
95
Lenders & charges
4 charges (4/4 with lender, 4/4 with type)
90
Directors & officers
6 officers (4 active, 6 linked, 4 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 6 total, 6 with control declared
90
Director network
7 connected companies via shared directors
66
Filing history
80 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 declaredPositive net assets
Net assets £247,911
Net assets shrinking
Down £119,465 YoY
Cash draining
Cash down 76% YoY
Cash YoY
-76%
Year on year
Key financials
3 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£228k
↓ 76% YoY
Net Worth
£248k
↓ 33% YoY
Current Assets
£244k
↓ 75% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2025-07-31 | 2024-07-31 | 2023-07-31 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £247.9k | £367.4k | £6.51M |
| Current assets | £243.7k | £973.6k | £3.22M |
| Cash | £227.6k | £948.0k | £2.44M |
| Debtors | £16.1k | £25.5k | £775.5k |
| Net assets | £247.9k | £367.4k | £6.45M |
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
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (38 events)Click to expand
- 2026-04-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-01-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-05-14✏️certificate-change-of-name-companychange-of-name · CERTNM
- 2024-05-14📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2024-05-07📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC02
- 2024-05-06📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2024-05-06📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2024-05-06📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2024-05-03📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2024-05-03📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2024-05-03📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2024-05-03📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2024-04-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-10-06📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-10-06📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2023-10-05➕MACIVER, Dawn Campbell appointeddirector
- 2023-06-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-05-31📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-05-31🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2023-05-23📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-05-23📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-05-23🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2023-05-23🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2023-04-27📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2022-09-23📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2022-09-22🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance LTD
- 2022-06-20🔒Charge registered #3Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2022-04-08➖MACLEOD, Donald Roderick Graham resigneddirector
- 2017-11-10🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2015-03-06➕MACLEOD, Mark appointeddirector
- 2015-02-16➕MACLEOD, Margaret appointeddirector
- 2012-02-13🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Lloyds Tsb Commercial Finance Limited
- 2005-01-06🔒Charge registered #1Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2001-11-02🏢Company incorporatedAs D R MACLEOD (HAULAGE) LIMITED
- 2001-11-02➕MACLEOD, Margaret appointedsecretary
- 2001-11-02➕OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2001-11-02➖OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED resignedcorporate-secretary
- 2001-11-02➕MACLEOD, Donald Roderick Graham appointeddirector
Owner dependency
88/100
Critical — business is the founderThe 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 "MACLEOD" — strong identity link between founder and business.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 71 — succession pressure is live.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
65/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 71 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- 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.
Group structure
D R Macleod (Haulage) Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
D R Macleod (Haulage) Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
D R MACLEOD (HAULAGE) LIMITED
This company · SC224918
Parent relationships inferred from Persons with Significant Control filings. Full subsidiary tree requires reverse-lookup (coming).
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
D R Macleod (Haulage) Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 02/05/2024 |
5 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Mrs Margaret Macleodceased 02/05/2024· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control
- Mrs Dawn Campbell Maciverceased 02/05/2024· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control
- Mr Mark Macleodceased 02/05/2024· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control
- The Executor Of The Late Mr Macleodceased 02/05/2024· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control
- Mr Donald Roderick Graham Macleodceased 08/04/2022· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control
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 · HS postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M MACIVER (MINIBUSES) LIMITED→ SC296127 · est 2006 | — | — | — | 400 | 20y | 82 | 66y |
| MACLEOD GARAGES LTD→ SC309587 · est 2006 | — | — | £92.1k | — | 19y | 82 | 75y |
| HEBRIDES HAULAGE LIMITED→ SC155933 · est 1995 | — | — | £1.54M | — | 31y | 81 | 64y |
| GALSON-STORNOWAY MOTOR SERVICES LIMITED→ SC026537 · est 1948 | — | — | £233.0k | — | 77y | 80 | 61y |
| HEBRIDEAN TRANSPORT LTD→ SC372807 · est 2010 | — | — | £5.9k | — | 16y | 80 | 65y |
| MACKAY TRANSPORT LIMITED→ SC396413 · est 2011 | — | — | — | — | 15y | 80 | 58y |
| 247 TAXIS AND COURIERS LTD→ SC484974 · est 2014 | — | — | £12.1k | — | 11y | 79 | 63y |
| D A TRAVEL LTD→ SC298530 · est 2006 | — | — | £1.09M | — | 20y | 78 | 47y |
| LOCHS MOTOR TRANSPORT LIMITED→ SC025065 · est 1947 | — | — | £1.95M | — | 79y | 78 | 51y |
| INSTOW LINE MARINE SERVICES LIMITED→ SC587443 · est 2018 | — | — | £33.9k | — | 8y | 77 | 59y |
| CLM TRANSPORT (STORNOWAY) LTD→ SC831315 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | 76 | 60y |
| LADY ANNE WILDLIFE CRUISES LIMITED→ SC802015 · est 2024 | — | — | £25.7k | — | 2y | 76 | 77y |
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
Incorporated2001-11-02
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC49410 — Freight transport by road
Registered office
Customs House
Quay Street
Stornoway
Isle Of Lewis
HS1 2XX
Scotland
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-04-30
Last made up to: 2025-07-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-11-14
Last: 2025-10-31
Officers (4 active · 2 resigned)
Active
MACIVER, Dawn Campbell→
Activedirector · ~50y · appointed 2023-10-05
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MACLEOD, Margaret→
Activedirector · ~71y · appointed 2015-02-16
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MACLEOD, Mark→
Activedirector · ~42y · appointed 2015-03-06
View their other companies + combined net worth →
OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 2001-11-02 · resigned 2001-11-02
MACLEOD, Donald Roderick Graham→
Resigneddirector · ~70y · appointed 2001-11-02 · resigned 2022-04-08
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
4
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:4 of 4 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance LTD | A registered charge | — | 22/09/2022 | 23/05/2023 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | 2 properties | 20/06/2022 | 31/05/2023 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Commercial Finance Limited | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 13/02/2012 | 23/05/2023 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 06/01/2005 | 10/11/2017 |
Recent filings (80 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2026-04-21
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-11-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-01-23
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-11-08
certificate-change-of-name-company
change-of-name · CERTNM
2024-05-14
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2024-05-14
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
2024-05-07
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2024-05-06
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2024-05-06
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2024-05-06
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
2024-05-03
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
2024-05-03
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
2024-05-03
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2024-05-03
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2024-04-30