WILLOWROAD LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
SC342252 · ltd · incorporated 2008-05-01
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 Aug 2024
Net worth
£114.6k
book net assets
Opportunity
71/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate
Sector: Real estate
Investor take
Special-situation opportunityDistressed property with salvageable qualities — special-situations priority.
Opportunity 71/100 (strong), bankability 60/100. Strong seller-intent signal (65/100, director aged 63). 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 (58/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
2 live charges · oldest 17.8y
45/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 17.8 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Single lender — cleanest path to refinance.
- · 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
2 charges (2/2 with lender, 2/2 with type)
90
Directors & officers
8 officers (1 active, 8 linked, 5 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
83 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
🔒Estimated company valuation
Sector-multiple EBITDA, turnover, and NAV-proxy valuation range with confidence tier — derived from extracted iXBRL financials.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Opportunity Score
71/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
50
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
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 £114,570
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
£115k
↑ 4.0% YoY
Current Assets
£1k
↑ 11% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2024-08-30 | 2023-08-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £143.3k | £144.1k |
| Current assets | £1.0k | £917 |
| Net assets | £114.6k | £110.1k |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
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 (37 events)Click to expand
- 2025-05-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2025-01-08📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2024-11-09📄gazette-filings-brought-up-to-dategazette · DISS40
- 2024-10-29📄gazette-notice-compulsorygazette · GAZ1
- 2024-05-30📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2023-05-15📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-11-23📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2022-03-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-08-03📄gazette-filings-brought-up-to-dategazette · DISS40
- 2021-08-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-07-27📄gazette-notice-compulsorygazette · GAZ1
- 2020-01-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2020-01-14🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2019-11-16📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2019-11-16🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2019-09-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-09-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2019-09-19📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-extendedaccounts · AA01
- 2019-09-19📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2017-12-15➕MCMAHON, Gerard appointeddirector
- 2017-12-15➖MACASKILL, Malcolm Ross resigneddirector
- 2016-11-02➖ANDERSON, John resigneddirector
- 2016-11-01➕MACASKILL, Malcolm Ross appointeddirector
- 2015-09-25➕ANDERSON, John appointeddirector
- 2015-09-25➖GREEN, Ian resigneddirector
- 2015-09-24➖ANDERSON, John resignedsecretary
- 2015-09-24➖ANDERSON, John resigneddirector
- 2015-09-24➕GREEN, Ian appointeddirector
- 2009-08-20🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Aib Group (UK) PLC
- 2008-08-05🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Aib Group (UK) PLC
- 2008-06-12➕ANDERSON, John appointedsecretary
- 2008-06-12➖BRIAN REID LTD. resignedcorporate-secretary
- 2008-06-12➕ANDERSON, John appointeddirector
- 2008-06-12➖STEPHEN MABBOTT LTD. resignedcorporate-director
- 2008-05-01🏢Company incorporatedAs WILLOWROAD LIMITED
- 2008-05-01➕BRIAN REID LTD. appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2008-05-01➕STEPHEN MABBOTT LTD. appointedcorporate-director
Owner dependency
83/100
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.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 63 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
75/100
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.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 18 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
Red flags
1 med ·Has insolvency history
mediumCompanies House flags prior insolvency events. Review the insolvency filings for context.
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Gerard Mcmahon Individual · British · DOB 09/1963 · age 63 | 75–100% | — | 75-100% shares | 15/12/2017 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Mr Malcolm Ross Macaskillceased 15/12/2017· 75-100% shares
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
Similar companies
Active · Property · EH postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CODEBASE LTD→ SC437306 · est 2012 | — | £11.72M | — | 9600 | 13y | 84 | 60y |
| RETTIE & COMPANY LIMITED→ SC144330 · est 1993 | — | — | — | 179 | 33y | 87 | 66y |
| CARDROSS ESTATES LIMITED→ SC129609 · est 1991 | — | — | — | 0 | 35y | 85 | 63y |
| 10 CABOT SQUARE I UNIT TRUST LP LIMITED→ SC312220 · est 2006 | — | — | — | 0 | 19y | 83 | 61y |
| 10 CABOT SQUARE II UNIT TRUST LP LIMITED→ SC312226 · est 2006 | — | — | — | 0 | 19y | 83 | 61y |
| 1ST&68TH ENTERPRISES LTD→ SC245182 · est 2003 | — | — | — | 200 | 23y | 83 | 58y |
| 20 CABOT SQUARE I UNIT TRUST LP LIMITED→ SC312214 · est 2006 | — | — | — | 0 | 19y | 83 | 61y |
| 20 CABOT SQUARE II UNIT TRUST LP LIMITED→ SC312229 · est 2006 | — | — | — | 0 | 19y | 83 | 61y |
| BRUCE & COMPANY LIMITED→ SC190660 · est 1998 | — | — | — | 200 | 27y | 83 | 63y |
| BUCCLEUCH PROPERTY (NEWTOWN ST BOSWELLS) LIMITED→ SC341348 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | 83 | 61y |
| BUCCLEUCH PROPERTY (SHERIFFHALL SOUTH) LIMITED→ SC327090 · est 2007 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | 83 | 61y |
| WYLES PROPERTY GROUP LTD→ SC869076 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
8 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
Incorporated2008-05-01
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC68209 — Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate
Registered office
O
17b Glasgow Road
Bathgate
EH48 2AB
Scotland
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-05-30
Last made up to: 2024-08-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-02-15
Last: 2026-02-01
Officers (1 active · 7 resigned)
MCMAHON, Gerard→
Activedirector · ~63y · appointed 2017-12-15
View their other companies + combined net worth →
ANDERSON, John→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2008-06-12 · resigned 2015-09-24
BRIAN REID LTD.→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 2008-05-01 · resigned 2008-06-12
ANDERSON, John→
Resigneddirector · ~75y · appointed 2015-09-25 · resigned 2016-11-02
ANDERSON, John→
Resigneddirector · ~75y · appointed 2008-06-12 · resigned 2015-09-24
GREEN, Ian→
Resigneddirector · ~63y · appointed 2015-09-24 · resigned 2015-09-25
MACASKILL, Malcolm Ross→
Resigneddirector · ~67y · appointed 2016-11-01 · resigned 2017-12-15
STEPHEN MABBOTT LTD.→
Resignedcorporate-director · appointed 2008-05-01 · resigned 2008-06-12
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
2
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:2 of 2 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Aib Group (UK) Aib Group (UK) PLC | Floating charge | 1 property | 20/08/2009 | 16/11/2019 | |
| satisfied | Aib Group (UK) Aib Group (UK) PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 05/08/2008 | 14/01/2020 |
Recent filings (83 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-02-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2025-05-07
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-02-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2025-01-08
gazette-filings-brought-up-to-date
gazette · DISS40
2024-11-09
gazette-notice-compulsory
gazette · GAZ1
2024-10-29
change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortened
accounts · AA01
2024-05-30
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-02-15
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-05-15
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-02-15
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2022-11-23
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-03-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-02-02
gazette-filings-brought-up-to-date
gazette · DISS40
2021-08-03
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-08-02