ALEXANDER RANKINE LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
SC170017 · ltd · incorporated 1996-11-20
Investment thesis
Established operating company — standard diligence applies, no dominant angle.
Why interesting: Live, filing, normal profile.
Why risky: No standout signals in either direction.
Opportunity decay
approaching window · 12-months
Approaching a transaction window — refinance or sale event plausible in the next 12 months.
- · Oldest live charge 28.6y old — refinance window within 12 months
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Oct 2024
Net worth
£705.4k
book net assets
Opportunity
71/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Sale of new cars and light motor vehicles
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
Special-situation opportunityDistressed automotive with salvageable qualities — special-situations priority.
Opportunity 71/100 (strong), bankability 65/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Biggest value-creation lever: Resolve: Confirmation statement overdue. Annual confirmation statement not filed on time. Required statutory filing — overdue is a strong discipline signal. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
4 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 28.6y
70/100
ready
Refinance conversation should be productive — structure clean and timing right.
- · Oldest live charge is 28.6 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · Legal-friction score 15/100 — clean.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (79/100)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
4 charges (4/4 with lender, 4/4 with type)
90
Directors & officers
13 officers (4 active, 13 linked, 8 with DOB)
82
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
100 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
71/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
60
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
59
Some moderate concerns — review flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declaredPositive net assets
Net assets £705,427
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
£705k
↑ 3.6% YoY
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2024-10-31 | 2023-10-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £705.4k | £681.1k |
| Debtors | £319.1k | £289.1k |
| Net assets | £705.4k | £681.1k |
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
1
filing
- • 1 officers
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 officers
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 officers
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (47 events)Click to expand
- 2026-04-09➖PROW, Robert Muir resigneddirector
- 2026-04-09📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-07-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-04-14📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-03-24➕BEATTIE, Richard Gordon appointeddirector
- 2025-03-24➖BEATTIE, Richard Gordon resigneddirector
- 2025-03-24📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2024-07-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-10-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-10-24📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2023-10-23📄administrative-restoration-companyrestoration · RT01
- 2023-06-27📄gazette-dissolved-compulsorygazette · GAZ2
- 2023-05-16📄dissolved-compulsory-strike-off-suspendeddissolution · DISS16(SOAS)
- 2023-04-11📄gazette-notice-compulsorygazette · GAZ1
- 2022-07-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-02-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-02-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-03-12📄gazette-filings-brought-up-to-dategazette · DISS40
- 2020-12-29📄gazette-notice-compulsorygazette · GAZ1
- 2019-07-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-07-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2016-11-30➕MCALLISTER, Paula Avril appointeddirector
- 2016-11-30➕NIVEN, Alastair James Mckinlay appointeddirector
- 2011-12-08🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2011-12-07🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2011-12-01🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC
- 2011-11-14🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC
- 2001-06-07➕PROW, Robert Muir appointedsecretary
- 2001-06-07➖MCGILL, Jacqueline resignedsecretary
- 1997-10-27🔒Charge registered #2Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 1997-09-22➕NIVEN, James appointeddirector
- 1997-09-22➕MCGILL, Jacqueline appointedsecretary
- 1997-09-22➖RANKINE, Gladys Maureen resignedsecretary
- 1997-09-22➕PROW, Robert Muir appointeddirector
- 1997-09-22➖RANKINE, Gladys Maureen resigneddirector
- 1997-09-22➖RANKINE, James Alexander resigneddirector
- 1997-09-22➖SHAW, Kenneth Cameron resigneddirector
- 1997-09-05🔒Charge registered #1Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 1996-12-05➕RANKINE, Gladys Maureen appointedsecretary
- 1996-12-05➖OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1996-12-05➕RANKINE, Gladys Maureen appointeddirector
- 1996-12-05➕RANKINE, James Alexander appointeddirector
- 1996-12-05➕SHAW, Kenneth Cameron appointeddirector
- 1996-12-05➖JORDANS (SCOTLAND) LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-director
- 1996-11-20🏢Company incorporatedAs ALEXANDER RANKINE LIMITED
- 1996-11-20➕OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1996-11-20➕JORDANS (SCOTLAND) LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-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
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 29 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 84 — succession pressure is live.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
85/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 84 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 29 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 29 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
Red flags
1 high · 1 med ·Confirmation statement overdue
highAnnual confirmation statement not filed on time. Required statutory filing — overdue is a strong discipline signal.
Evidence: Next due: 2026-02-03
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| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Robert Muir Prow Individual · British · DOB 08/1943 · age 83 | — | — | sig. influencesignificant influence | 01/01/2017 |
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 · Automotive · G postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A PLUS AUTO REPAIRS LIMITED→ SC746716 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| A TO Z TRANSMISSION SERVICES LTD→ SC754123 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| A&R AUTOS LTD→ SC668933 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| A1 MOTORS (SCOTLAND) LIMITED→ SC443991 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| ABT AUTOCARE LTD→ SC844464 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ACCELER8 AUTO SERVICES LTD→ SC804074 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ACEONE AUTOS LTD→ SC816676 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ALI AUTO MOTORS LTD→ SC794999 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ALLIANCE ENTERPRISE UK LTD→ SC755607 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| AMT MECHANICAL LIMITED→ SC571027 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| ANDERSON GARAGE LTD→ SC711130 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| ANGUS MOTORS (BARRHEAD) LIMITED→ SC235393 · est 2002 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 23y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1996-11-20
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC45111 — Sale of new cars and light motor vehicles
Registered office
2 Albert Street
Helensburgh
G84 7SG
Scotland
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-07-31
Last made up to: 2024-10-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-02-03OVERDUE
Last: 2025-01-20
Officers (4 active · 9 resigned)
Active
MCALLISTER, Paula Avril→
Activedirector · ~48y · appointed 2016-11-30
View their other companies + combined net worth →
NIVEN, Alastair James Mckinlay→
Activedirector · ~54y · appointed 2016-11-30
View their other companies + combined net worth →
NIVEN, James→
Activedirector · ~84y · appointed 1997-09-22
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MCGILL, Jacqueline→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1997-09-22 · resigned 2001-06-07
RANKINE, Gladys Maureen→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1996-12-05 · resigned 1997-09-22
OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1996-11-20 · resigned 1996-12-05
BEATTIE, Richard Gordon→
Resigneddirector · ~73y · appointed 2025-03-24 · resigned 2025-03-24
PROW, Robert Muir→
Resigneddirector · ~83y · appointed 1997-09-22 · resigned 2026-04-09
RANKINE, Gladys Maureen→
Resigneddirector · ~100y · appointed 1996-12-05 · resigned 1997-09-22
RANKINE, James Alexander→
Resigneddirector · ~98y · appointed 1996-12-05 · resigned 1997-09-22
SHAW, Kenneth Cameron→
Resigneddirector · ~66y · appointed 1996-12-05 · resigned 1997-09-22
JORDANS (SCOTLAND) LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 1996-11-20 · resigned 1996-12-05
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
4
Total charges
2
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:4 of 4 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 01/12/2011 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 14/11/2011 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 27/10/1997 | 07/12/2011 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 05/09/1997 | 08/12/2011 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (100 total)
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2026-04-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-07-30
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-04-14
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-03-24
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-02-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-07-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-02-07
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-10-27
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-10-27
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2023-10-24
administrative-restoration-company
restoration · RT01
2023-10-23
gazette-dissolved-compulsory
gazette · GAZ2
2023-06-27
dissolved-compulsory-strike-off-suspended
dissolution · DISS16(SOAS)
2023-05-16
gazette-notice-compulsory
gazette · GAZ1
2023-04-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-07-22