BINSCARTH LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
SC251665 · ltd · incorporated 2003-06-24
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 22.5y old — refinance window within 12 months
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Mar 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
82/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 01500
Sector: Agriculture, forestry & fishing
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
- 91030Operation of historical sites and buildings and similar visitor attractions
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 70-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 82/100 (exceptional), bankability 80/100. Strong seller-intent signal (83/100, director aged 70). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Discharge stale live charges. 1 live charge(s) created 15+ years ago — likely paid but undischarged. Clean register. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
1 live charge · oldest 22.5y
65/100
clean up first
Refinance viable after a tidy-up — address the highlighted items first.
- · Oldest live charge is 22.5 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Single lender — cleanest path to refinance.
- · 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.
Company profile
address, 2 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
1 charges (1/1 with lender, 1/1 with type)
90
Directors & officers
8 officers (3 active, 8 linked, 4 with DOB)
80
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
1 connected companies via shared directors
48
Filing history
86 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
82/100Exceptional
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
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2025-03-31 | 2024-03-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Average employees | 0 | 200 |
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
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (33 events)Click to expand
- 2025-12-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2025-07-01📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2025-07-01📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-12-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2024-06-26📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-extendedaccounts · AA01
- 2024-06-26📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2024-06-26📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2024-06-26📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-06-26📍change-sail-address-company-with-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD02
- 2023-07-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2023-06-23➖WAUGH, Katie Jane resigneddirector
- 2023-06-23📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2023-06-23📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-07-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2021-07-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2020-10-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2020-06-30📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2020-06-30📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2019-07-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2015-11-01➕MACRAE, John Andrew Scarth appointeddirector
- 2015-11-01➕WAUGH, Katie Jane appointeddirector
- 2013-08-14➖HARCUS, Alastair resigneddirector
- 2009-10-26➕MACRAE, John Andrew Scarth appointedsecretary
- 2009-10-26➖MACRAE, Jane resignedsecretary
- 2003-10-28🔒Charge registered #1Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 2003-06-24🏢Company incorporatedAs BINSCARTH LIMITED
- 2003-06-24➕MACRAE, Malcolm Robert Scarth, Major appointeddirector
- 2003-06-24➕MACRAE, Jane appointedsecretary
- 2003-06-24➕OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2003-06-24➖OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2003-06-24➕HARCUS, Alastair appointeddirector
- 2003-06-24➕JORDANS (SCOTLAND) LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-director
- 2003-06-24➖JORDANS (SCOTLAND) LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-director
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 23 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 70 — succession pressure is live.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
96/100
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 70 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 23 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 23 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
cleanNo red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)
Shareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Major Malcolm Robert Scarth Macrae Individual · British · DOB 01/1956 · age 70 | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 24/06/2017 |
Mr John Andrew Scarth Macrae Individual · British · DOB 03/1990 · age 36 | — | — | sig. influencesignificant influence | 24/06/2017 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Ms Katie Jane Waughceased 23/06/2023· significant influence
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 · KW postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALBA RENEWABLES LTD→ SC302001 · est 2006 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 19y | — | — |
| B RIDLAND LTD→ SC419164 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| BRECK FARM LIMITED→ SC282508 · est 2005 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 21y | — | — |
| C MACKAY LTD→ SC828234 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| FAREWELL FARMS LTD→ SC325263 · est 2007 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
| FORSIE FARM LTD→ SC246224 · est 2003 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 23y | — | — |
| GEORGE MORE (WICK) LTD→ SC272782 · est 2004 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 21y | — | — |
| GOW FISHING COMPANY LTD→ SC591252 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| HALCYON FISHING LTD→ SC881146 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| HAMLY HILL LIMITED→ SC280580 · est 2005 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 21y | — | — |
| HEATHER K LIMITED→ SC227901 · est 2002 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 24y | — | — |
| HENDERSONSWORLD LTD→ SC552387 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
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
Typeltd
Incorporated2003-06-24
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC01500 — SIC 01500
Registered office
Binscarth
Finstown
Orkney
KW17 2JZ
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-07-07
Last: 2025-06-23
Officers (3 active · 5 resigned)
MACRAE, John Andrew Scarth→
Activesecretary · appointed 2009-10-26
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MACRAE, John Andrew Scarth→
Activedirector · ~36y · appointed 2015-11-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MACRAE, Malcolm Robert Scarth, Major→
Activedirector · ~70y · appointed 2003-06-24
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MACRAE, Jane→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2003-06-24 · resigned 2009-10-26
OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2003-06-24 · resigned 2003-06-24
HARCUS, Alastair→
Resigneddirector · ~63y · appointed 2003-06-24 · resigned 2013-08-14
WAUGH, Katie Jane→
Resigneddirector · ~39y · appointed 2015-11-01 · resigned 2023-06-23
JORDANS (SCOTLAND) LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 2003-06-24 · resigned 2003-06-24
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
1
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:1 of 1 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 28/10/2003 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (86 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2025-12-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-07-01
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2025-07-01
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-07-01
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2024-12-17
change-account-reference-date-company-previous-extended
accounts · AA01
2024-06-26
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-06-26
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2024-06-26
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2024-06-26
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2024-06-26
change-sail-address-company-with-old-address-new-address
address · AD02
2024-06-26
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2023-07-31
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-06-23
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2023-06-23
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2023-06-23