SANDLAW FARMING COMPANY
🌳Matureactive
SC175386 · private-unlimited · incorporated 1997-05-13
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.
Opportunity decay
hardening · 12-months
Already tight — no obvious softening catalysts on the horizon.
- · Thesis: well-run, low negotiation leverage
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Post-harvest crop activities
Sector: Agriculture, forestry & fishing
Investor take
PursueActive trading company. Family succession underway — not a classic acquisition target.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 77/100. Same-surname younger director in place — likely family handover, not open to sale. 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 (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
3 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 28.6y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 28.6 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 (60/100)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
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
3 charges (3/3 with lender, 3/3 with type)
90
Directors & officers
4 officers (2 active, 4 linked, 2 with DOB)
80
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
17 connected companies via shared directors
90
Filing history
48 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.
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
- 2023-06-07📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2023-06-06➕DUNCAN, Rachael Jenny Margaret appointeddirector
- 2023-06-06📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2017-10-16📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2017-10-16🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2016-05-20📄annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholdersannual-return · AR01
- 2015-05-15📄annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholdersannual-return · AR01
- 2014-05-07📄annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholdersannual-return · AR01
- 2013-05-07📄annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholdersannual-return · AR01
- 2012-05-29📄annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholdersannual-return · AR01
- 2011-05-06📄annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholdersannual-return · AR01
- 2010-05-25📄annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholdersannual-return · AR01
- 2010-05-12📄legacymortgage · MG03s
- 2010-05-12🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2009-12-08📄legacymortgage · MG01s
- 2009-12-03🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC
- 2009-05-11📄legacyannual-return · 363a
- 2009-04-27📄legacyofficers · 288b
- 2009-04-27📍legacyaddress · 287
- 2009-03-20➖MACLAY MURRAY & SPENS LLP resignedcorporate-secretary
- 2008-05-06📄legacyannual-return · 363a
- 2007-12-28➖IAIN SMITH & COMPANY resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2007-12-28➕MACLAY MURRAY & SPENS LLP appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2002-09-17🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2001-10-24🔒Charge registered #2Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 1997-09-11🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 1997-05-13🏢Company incorporatedAs SANDLAW FARMING COMPANY
- 1997-05-13➕DUNCAN, Alfred John appointeddirector
- 1997-05-13➕IAIN SMITH & COMPANY appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
Owner dependency
91/100
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
- +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
- +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
46/100
Moderate signalSome succession indicators present. Worth watching; approach if sector/strategy fits.
SIGNALS
- primaryFamily succession underway: Not a takeover target — DUNCAN, Rachael Jenny Margaret (same surname) appointed 2023-06-06. Pattern consistent with intra-family handover.
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 84 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 29 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- 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 Alfred John Duncan Individual · British · DOB 11/1942 · age 84 | 75–100% | 75–100% | 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting | 06/04/2016 |
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 · Agriculture · AB postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A & R MCBAIN LIMITED→ SC803304 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ALEXANDER FARMS LIMITED→ SC141797 · est 1992 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 33y | — | — |
| ALEXANDER JACK (FISHING) LIMITED→ SC259254 · est 2003 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 22y | — | — |
| ANNOCHIE FARMS LTD→ SC761170 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| ARL FISHING COMPANY LIMITED→ SC242164 · est 2003 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 23y | — | — |
| ARNON FISHING LTD.→ SC311439 · est 2006 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 19y | — | — |
| ASBS FISHING COMPANY LTD→ SC684476 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| BALMARA LTD→ SC776387 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| BBD FISHING LTD→ SC644064 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| BBP ROSE LTD→ SC629529 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| BERRYDEN FISHING LTD→ SC712622 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| BIOSCAPES LIMITED→ SC077210 · est 1982 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 44y | — | — |
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
Typeprivate-unlimited
Incorporated1997-05-13
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC01630 — Post-harvest crop activities
Registered office
Muirden Farm
Turriff
Aberdeenshire
AB53 4NH
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: —
Last made up to: —
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-05-09
Last: 2025-04-25
Officers (2 active · 2 resigned)
DUNCAN, Alfred John→
Activedirector · ~84y · appointed 1997-05-13
View their other companies + combined net worth →
DUNCAN, Rachael Jenny Margaret→
Activedirector · ~34y · appointed 2023-06-06
View their other companies + combined net worth →
IAIN SMITH & COMPANY→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1997-05-13 · resigned 2007-12-28
MACLAY MURRAY & SPENS LLP→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 2007-12-28 · resigned 2009-03-20
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 | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank PLC | Floating charge | 1 property | 03/12/2009 | 16/10/2017 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 24/10/2001 | 12/05/2010 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Floating charge | 1 property | 11/09/1997 | 17/09/2002 |
Recent filings (48 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-05-09
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-04-26
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2023-06-07
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2023-06-06
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-05-03
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-05-10
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-06-11
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-04-27
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2019-04-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2018-05-04
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2017-10-16
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2017-05-10
annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholders
annual-return · AR01
2016-05-20
annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholders
annual-return · AR01
2015-05-15
annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholders
annual-return · AR01
2014-05-07