GOWRIE CONTRACTS LIMITED
- 43999Other specialised construction activities n.e.c.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (93/100, director aged 73). 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
3 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 15.5y
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 15.5 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (79/100)Adequate coverage. AI outputs are reliable for the sections scored high; verify the rest in diligence.
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsHover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2024-08-31 | 2023-08-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Average employees | 2600 | 2500 |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
2 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
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Corporate timeline (24 events)Click to expand
- 2025-03-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-01-17📄change-person-secretary-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH03
- 2025-01-17📄change-person-secretary-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH03
- 2024-03-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-03-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-05-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-05-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-05-25📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-05-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-05-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-02-07📄capital-alter-shares-subdivisioncapital · SH02
- 2017-05-15📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2016-10-08📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2016-10-08🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2016-08-02📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2016-08-02🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2016-07-27📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2016-07-21🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ)
- 2015-03-26🔒Charge registered #2Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2010-10-20🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2006-10-30🏢Company incorporatedAs GOWRIE CONTRACTS LIMITED
- 2006-10-30➕HENDERSON, Martin Gavin appointedsecretary
- 2006-10-30➕HENDERSON, James Gavin appointeddirector
- 2006-10-30➕HENDERSON, Martin Gavin appointeddirector
Owner dependency
The business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.
- +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 20 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 73 — succession pressure is live.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
Strong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 73 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 20 years.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 20 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 ·Multiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Shareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr James Gavin Henderson Individual · British · DOB 08/1953 · age 73 | 25–50% | — | 25-50% shares | 06/04/2016 |
Mr Martin Gavin Henderson Individual · British · DOB 04/1973 · age 53 | 25–50% | — | 25-50% shares | 06/04/2016 |
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
Radial SVG graph showing every company connected via shared directors, colour-coded by status.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
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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 →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
Registered office
Filing status
Officers (3 active · 0 resigned)
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ) | A registered charge | — | 21/07/2016 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | — | 26/03/2015 | 02/08/2016 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 20/10/2010 | 08/10/2016 |