FENTON BARNS (SCOTLAND) LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
SC196782 · ltd · incorporated 1999-06-02
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
approaching window · 12-months
Approaching a transaction window — refinance or sale event plausible in the next 12 months.
- · Oldest live charge 26.8y old — refinance window within 12 months
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
83/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: Wholesale of meat and meat products
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 62-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 83/100 (exceptional), bankability 75/100. Strong seller-intent signal (70/100, director aged 62). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Discharge stale live charges. 2 live charge(s) created 15+ years ago — likely paid but undischarged. Clean register. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
4 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 26.8y
50/100
clean up first
Refinance viable after a tidy-up — address the highlighted items first.
- · Oldest live charge is 26.8 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · Legal-friction score 30/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (61/100)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
4 charges (4/4 with lender, 4/4 with type)
90
Directors & officers
16 officers (2 active, 16 linked, 12 with DOB)
85
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
20 connected companies via shared directors
90
Filing history
120 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
83/100Exceptional
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Strong composite across quality, acquirability, and risk. High-priority target — progress to serious diligence.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
85
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
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 (58 events)Click to expand
- 2025-09-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2025-09-23📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2025-09-23📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2025-09-23📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2024-12-19➖SUTHERLAND, Darren resigneddirector
- 2024-12-19📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-09-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2024-09-23📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2024-09-23📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2024-09-23📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2024-01-08➕WOOD, Thomas appointeddirector
- 2024-01-08📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-11-30➖BOWIE, Allan Russell resigneddirector
- 2023-11-30📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2023-10-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2023-10-04📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2023-10-04📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2023-10-04📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2023-02-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2023-02-07📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2023-02-07📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2023-02-07📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2022-06-06➕BOWIE, Allan Russell appointeddirector
- 2022-06-06📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2022-06-06📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2022-06-03➖CLARK, Nicholas Rodger resigneddirector
- 2020-11-06➖HILL, Alan George resigneddirector
- 2020-11-02➕CLARK, Nicholas Rodger appointeddirector
- 2018-06-11➖GODFREY, Susan Mary resignedsecretary
- 2018-06-11➖GODFREY, Susan Mary resigneddirector
- 2016-12-15🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2016-12-15🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2013-09-04➕HILL, Alan George appointeddirector
- 2013-09-04➕SUTHERLAND, Darren appointeddirector
- 2012-12-06🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2011-07-01➖SINCLAIR, Mark resigneddirector
- 2010-08-02➖GODFREY, Martyn resigneddirector
- 2008-11-30➖RUTHERFORD, David resigneddirector
- 2007-05-01➕GODFREY, Wayne appointeddirector
- 2005-12-15🔒Charge registered #3Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 2004-12-31➖HUTCHESON, William Scott resigneddirector
- 2004-12-31➕RUTHERFORD, David appointeddirector
- 2003-01-31➖JOHNSTONE, Denise resigneddirector
- 2002-01-03➕JOHNSTONE, Denise appointeddirector
- 2002-01-03➕SINCLAIR, Mark appointeddirector
- 2000-06-22➖MACLAY MURRAY & SPENS LLP resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1999-07-26🔒Charge registered #2Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 1999-07-16🔒Charge registered #1Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 1999-06-22➕GODFREY, Susan Mary appointedsecretary
- 1999-06-22➕GODFREY, Martyn appointeddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 58 events
Owner dependency
76/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
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 19 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 62 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
59/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 62. Early succession window.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 19 years.
- supportingClean filings + long tenure: Disciplined long-tenure operator — classic lifestyle-business pattern that often sells quietly.
Red flags
cleanNo red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)
Group structure
Importo Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Importo Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
FENTON BARNS (SCOTLAND) LIMITED
This company · SC196782
Parent relationships inferred from Persons with Significant Control filings. Full subsidiary tree requires reverse-lookup (coming).
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Importo Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 21/01/2019 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Browns Food Group Limitedceased 21/01/2019· 75-100% shares
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 · Wholesale & distribution · DG postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABSOLUTE VITAMINS LIMITED→ SC787572 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ARLA FOODS NAIRN LIMITED→ SC188780 · est 1998 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 27y | — | — |
| BALTUS LIMITED→ SC505940 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| BORDER BIOFUELS LIMITED→ SC443328 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| BORDERS GOURMET LIMITED→ SC407944 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| BRIGSTON & CO WHOLESALE LIMITED→ SC623627 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| CARDZONE (OVERSEAS) LIMITED→ SC553925 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| COST2BUILD TRADE WINDOWS LTD→ SC604074 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| DES SAINTS & TRADE LIMITED→ SC871117 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ETB TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED→ SC224120 · est 2001 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 24y | — | — |
| FIREPLACES DIRECT BY ROBERT NICHOLSON LTD→ SC399986 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| GRT MACHINERY LIMITED→ SC482582 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
6 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
Incorporated1999-06-02
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC46320 — Wholesale of meat and meat products
Registered office
Unit 1 Greystone Avenue
Kelloholm
Sanquhar
DG4 6RB
Scotland
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-06-07
Last: 2025-05-24
Officers (2 active · 14 resigned)
GODFREY, Wayne→
Activedirector · ~55y · appointed 2007-05-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
WOOD, Thomas→
Activedirector · ~62y · appointed 2024-01-08
View their other companies + combined net worth →
GODFREY, Susan Mary→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1999-06-22 · resigned 2018-06-11
MACLAY MURRAY & SPENS LLP→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1999-06-02 · resigned 2000-06-22
BOWIE, Allan Russell→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 2022-06-06 · resigned 2023-11-30
CLARK, Nicholas Rodger→
Resigneddirector · ~57y · appointed 2020-11-02 · resigned 2022-06-03
GODFREY, Martyn→
Resigneddirector · ~77y · appointed 1999-06-22 · resigned 2010-08-02
GODFREY, Susan Mary→
Resigneddirector · ~67y · appointed 1999-06-22 · resigned 2018-06-11
HILL, Alan George→
Resigneddirector · ~59y · appointed 2013-09-04 · resigned 2020-11-06
HUTCHESON, William Scott→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 1999-06-22 · resigned 2004-12-31
JOHNSTONE, Denise→
Resigneddirector · ~60y · appointed 2002-01-03 · resigned 2003-01-31
RUTHERFORD, David→
Resigneddirector · ~57y · appointed 2004-12-31 · resigned 2008-11-30
SINCLAIR, Mark→
Resigneddirector · ~83y · appointed 2002-01-03 · resigned 2011-07-01
SUTHERLAND, Darren→
Resigneddirector · ~54y · appointed 2013-09-04 · resigned 2024-12-19
VINDEX LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 1999-06-02 · resigned 1999-06-22
VINDEX SERVICES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 1999-06-02 · resigned 1999-06-22
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 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 06/12/2012 | 15/12/2016 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Floating charge | 1 property | 15/12/2005 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 26/07/1999 | 15/12/2016 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Floating charge | 1 property | 16/07/1999 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (120 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduary
accounts · AA
2025-09-23
legacy
accounts · PARENT_ACC
2025-09-23
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2025-09-23
legacy
other · GUARANTEE2
2025-09-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-06-04
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-12-19
accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduary
accounts · AA
2024-09-23
legacy
accounts · PARENT_ACC
2024-09-23
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2024-09-23
legacy
other · GUARANTEE2
2024-09-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-06-05
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2024-01-08
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2023-11-30
accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduary
accounts · AA
2023-10-04
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2023-10-04