SANDY THAIN CAR SALES LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
SC256739 · ltd · incorporated 2003-09-29
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 May 2025
Net worth
£2.23M
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 45112
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueAsset-holding vehicle with a 63-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 85/100. Strong seller-intent signal (80/100, director aged 63). 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
3 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 22.0y
30/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 22.0 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (77/100)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
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
3 charges (3/3 with lender, 3/3 with type)
90
Directors & officers
3 officers (1 active, 3 linked, 2 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 4 total, 4 with control declared
90
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
74 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
79/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
80
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 £2,231,207
Cash YoY
+48%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£1.1m
↑ 48% YoY
Net Worth
£2.2m
↑ 17% YoY
Current Assets
£1.9m
↑ 27% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2025-05-31 | 2024-05-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £2.23M | £1.90M |
| Current assets | £1.86M | £1.46M |
| Cash | £1.05M | £712.9k |
| Debtors | £84.1k | £62.3k |
| Net assets | £2.23M | £1.90M |
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
0
filings
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (29 events)Click to expand
- 2025-09-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-12-13📄accounts-amended-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AAMD
- 2024-12-05📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-11-13📄capital-return-purchase-own-sharescapital · SH03
- 2023-10-31📄capital-cancellation-sharescapital · SH06
- 2023-10-26📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2023-10-20➖GRAY, Douglas Simpson resignedsecretary
- 2023-10-20➖GRAY, Douglas Simpson resigneddirector
- 2023-10-20📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2023-10-20📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2023-10-20📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2023-10-20📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2023-07-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-09-08📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-10-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-11-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-02-25📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-12-19📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2017-10-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2017-01-27🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2017-01-27🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2010-10-02🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2007-08-30🔒Charge registered #3Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2004-05-27🔒Charge registered #2Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2004-05-17🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Black Horse Limited
- 2003-09-29🏢Company incorporatedAs SANDY THAIN CAR SALES LIMITED
- 2003-09-29➕CAMERON, Michael David appointeddirector
- 2003-09-29➕GRAY, Douglas Simpson appointedsecretary
- 2003-09-29➕GRAY, Douglas Simpson appointeddirector
Owner dependency
93/100
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
- +Sole director: Only one active director — all governance concentrated on one person.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 23 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 63 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
95/100
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 63. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 23 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 23 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 · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Michael David Cameron Individual · British · DOB 02/1963 · age 63 | 75–100% | 75–100% | 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting | 06/04/2016 |
3 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Mr Douglas Simpson Grayceased 20/10/2023· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
- Mr Michael David Cameronceased 06/04/2016· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
- Mr Douglas Simpson Grayceased 06/04/2016· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
Similar companies
Active · Automotive · AB postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORTH EAST CUSTOM COATINGS LIMITED→ SC738283 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| PETERHEAD MOTORS LIMITED→ SC113777 · est 1988 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 37y | — | — |
| PITSTOP (ABERDEEN) LIMITED→ SC279770 · est 2005 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 21y | — | — |
| PREMNAY GARAGE LIMITED→ SC553025 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| ROBIX CAR SERVICES & RECOVERY LTD→ SC882029 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ROSEBANK GARAGE LTD→ SC838355 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| RWRMOTORS LTD→ SC694869 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| SHAW'S MBM LIMITED→ SC161838 · est 1995 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 30y | — | — |
| SJD MOTORS LTD→ SC571377 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| STATION GARAGE (KINTORE) LIMITED→ SC266008 · est 2004 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 22y | — | — |
| SWACKIE AUTOS LTD→ SC855644 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| TAWSE TYRE CO LIMITED→ SC064673 · est 1978 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 47y | — | — |
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
Incorporated2003-09-29
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC45112 — SIC 45112
Registered office
1 Midmill Business Park
Kintore
Inverurie
Aberdeenshire
AB51 0TG
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-02-28
Last made up to: 2025-05-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-10-16
Last: 2025-10-02
Officers (1 active · 2 resigned)
CAMERON, Michael David→
Activedirector · ~63y · appointed 2003-09-29
View their other companies + combined net worth →
GRAY, Douglas Simpson→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2003-09-29 · resigned 2023-10-20
GRAY, Douglas Simpson→
Resigneddirector · ~69y · appointed 2003-09-29 · resigned 2023-10-20
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
3
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:3 of 3 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 30/08/2007 | 27/01/2017 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 27/05/2004 | 27/01/2017 | |
| satisfied | Black Horse Black Horse Limited | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 17/05/2004 | 02/10/2010 |
Recent filings (74 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-10-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-09-29
accounts-amended-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AAMD
2024-12-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-12-05
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-10-04
capital-return-purchase-own-shares
capital · SH03
2023-11-13
capital-cancellation-shares
capital · SH06
2023-10-31
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2023-10-26
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2023-10-20
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2023-10-20
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2023-10-20
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2023-10-20
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-10-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-07-27
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-10-06