JOHN DICKSON & SON LIMITED

🌳Matureactive
SC019411 · ltd · incorporated 1936-11-12
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 26.8y old — refinance window within 12 months
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Dec 2024
Net worth
£-11.4k
book net assets
Opportunity
74/100
Strong
🔔
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What this business does
Primary activity: Other retail sale of new goods in specialised stores (other than commercial art galleries and opticians)
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)
Distressed active trading company — structural issues outweigh the discount.

Opportunity 74/100 (strong), bankability 85/100. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: distressed disposal / insolvency (65/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

2 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 26.8y

70/100
ready

Refinance conversation should be productive — structure clean and timing right.

  • · Oldest live charge is 26.8 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
  • · Legal-friction score 20/100 — clean.

Data confidence

Overall: high (82/100)

Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.

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
19 officers (2 active, 19 linked, 13 with DOB)
84
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
10 connected companies via shared directors
75
Filing history
182 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
74/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional 

Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.

Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
50
Some acquirability indicators.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.

Signals from accounts

Derived from iXBRL accounts · FRS 102
Negative net assets
Liabilities exceed assets by £11,378

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
£61k
Net Worth
-£11k
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
-£11k£3k£17k£32k£46k£61kDec 2023Dec 2024

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102
Metric2024-12-312023-12-31
Total assets£-1.4k—
Cash£60.8k—
Net assets£-11.4k—
Average employees—400

Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.

🔒Filing-note intelligence

4 signals 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 (52 events)Click to expand
  1. 2025-12-11
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  2. 2025-03-11
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  3. 2025-03-11
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  4. 2024-12-19
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  5. 2024-02-05
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  6. 2023-01-26
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  7. 2022-07-11
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  8. 2022-07-01
    ➖
    LAING, Alasdair North Grant resigned
    director
  9. 2021-09-30
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  10. 2020-12-24
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  11. 2019-10-08
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  12. 2019-10-08
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  13. 2019-09-11
    📄
    gazette-filings-brought-up-to-date
    gazette · DISS40
  14. 2019-09-10
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  15. 2019-09-03
    📄
    gazette-notice-compulsory
    gazette · GAZ1
  16. 2019-01-24
    📄
    notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
  17. 2019-01-24
    📄
    cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
  18. 2019-01-24
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  19. 2019-01-24
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  20. 2019-01-22
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #2
  21. 2019-01-18
    ➕
    BUCKNELL, Zoe Claire appointed
    director
  22. 2019-01-18
    ➕
    DAESCHLER, Jean-Pierre appointed
    director
  23. 2019-01-18
    ➖
    BURNESS PAULL LLP resigned
    corporate-secretary
  24. 2019-01-18
    ➖
    PALMER, Charles Robert resigned
    director
  25. 2018-12-05
    ➖
    PALMER, Rebecca Sparks resigned
    director
  26. 2015-02-24
    ➖
    SPARROW, Lionel Dennis resigned
    director
  27. 2007-09-06
    ➕
    SPARROW, Lionel Dennis appointed
    director
  28. 2006-08-12
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #1
  29. 2006-07-26
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: Charles Robert Palmer
  30. 2005-09-01
    ➕
    BURNESS PAULL LLP appointed
    corporate-secretary
  31. 2005-09-01
    ➖
    BURNESS SOLICITORS resigned
    corporate-nominee-secretary
  32. 2004-05-13
    ➖
    HODGE, Gilbert Wayne resigned
    director
  33. 2002-08-23
    ➕
    PALMER, Charles Robert appointed
    director
  34. 2002-08-23
    ➕
    PALMER, Rebecca Sparks appointed
    director
  35. 2002-07-18
    ➖
    WIGHT, Edward resigned
    director
  36. 1999-06-25
    ➖
    THYNE, Francis Seton resigned
    secretary
  37. 1999-06-25
    ➕
    BURNESS SOLICITORS appointed
    corporate-nominee-secretary
  38. 1999-06-25
    ➖
    ARCHER, Gilbert Baird resigned
    director
  39. 1999-06-25
    ➕
    HODGE, Gilbert Wayne appointed
    director
  40. 1999-06-25
    ➕
    LAING, Alasdair North Grant appointed
    director
  41. 1999-06-25
    ➖
    MACDONALD, Peter Cameron resigned
    director
  42. 1999-06-25
    ➖
    THYNE, Francis Seton resigned
    director
  43. 1999-06-25
    ➖
    THYNE, William resigned
    director
  44. 1999-06-25
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
  45. 1998-07-16
    ➖
    DAVIDSON, John Marr resigned
    director
  46. 1996-01-01
    ➕
    WIGHT, Edward appointed
    director
  47. 1992-06-16
    ➖
    DAVIDSON, John Marr resigned
    secretary
  48. 1992-06-16
    ➕
    THYNE, Francis Seton appointed
    secretary
  49. 1989-09-01
    ➕
    DAVIDSON, John Marr appointed
    secretary
  50. 1989-09-01
    ➖
    RITTY, Richard Lambton resigned
    secretary
Showing most recent 50 of 52 events

Owner dependency

58/100
Moderate — manageable with handover

Some founder dependency, but not acute. A structured handover period should cover most risk.

FACTORS
  • +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.

Succession & seller-readiness

46/100
Moderate signal

Some succession indicators present. Worth watching; approach if sector/strategy fits.

SIGNALS
  • secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 89 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.

Red flags

clean
No red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)

Group structure

The Albion Gunmakers Group Ltd is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.

🏛️
The Albion Gunmakers Group Ltd
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
ultimate parent
⬇
JOHN DICKSON & SON LIMITED
This company · SC019411

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%
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
The Albion Gunmakers Group Ltd
Corporate entity
75–100%
75–100%board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control18/01/2019
1 historic (ceased) PSC
  • Mr. Charles Robert Palmerceased 18/01/2019· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control

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 →

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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
Incorporated1936-11-12
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC47789 — Other retail sale of new goods in specialised stores (other than commercial art galleries and opticians)

Registered office

The Steading
Dunkeld House Hotel
Dunkeld
Perthshire
PH8 0HX
United Kingdom

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-06-30
Last: 2025-06-16

Officers (2 active · 17 resigned)

BUCKNELL, Zoe Claire→
director · ~53y · appointed 2019-01-18
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
DAESCHLER, Jean-Pierre→
director · ~54y · appointed 2019-01-18
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
DAVIDSON, John Marr→
secretary · appointed 1989-09-01 · resigned 1992-06-16
Resigned
RITTY, Richard Lambton→
secretary · resigned 1989-09-01
Resigned
THYNE, Francis Seton→
secretary · appointed 1992-06-16 · resigned 1999-06-25
Resigned
BURNESS PAULL LLP→
corporate-secretary · appointed 2005-09-01 · resigned 2019-01-18
Resigned
BURNESS SOLICITORS→
corporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1999-06-25 · resigned 2005-09-01
Resigned
ARCHER, Gilbert Baird→
director · ~84y · resigned 1999-06-25
Resigned
DAVIDSON, John Marr→
director · ~103y · resigned 1998-07-16
Resigned
HODGE, Gilbert Wayne→
director · ~81y · appointed 1999-06-25 · resigned 2004-05-13
Resigned
LAING, Alasdair North Grant→
director · ~77y · appointed 1999-06-25 · resigned 2022-07-01
Resigned
MACDONALD, Peter Cameron→
director · ~89y · resigned 1999-06-25
Resigned
PALMER, Charles Robert→
director · ~92y · appointed 2002-08-23 · resigned 2019-01-18
Resigned
PALMER, Rebecca Sparks→
director · ~92y · appointed 2002-08-23 · resigned 2018-12-05
Resigned
RITTY, Richard Lambton→
director · resigned 1989-09-01
Resigned
SPARROW, Lionel Dennis→
director · ~94y · appointed 2007-09-06 · resigned 2015-02-24
Resigned
THYNE, Francis Seton→
director · ~87y · resigned 1999-06-25
Resigned
THYNE, William→
director · ~89y · resigned 1999-06-25
Resigned
WIGHT, Edward→
director · ~80y · appointed 1996-01-01 · resigned 2002-07-18
Resigned

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
TypeProperties
satisfied
Charles Robert Palmer
Floating charge1 property26/07/200622/01/2019
satisfied
Virgin Money
Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
Floating charge1 property25/06/199912/08/2006

Recent filings (182 total)

accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-12-11
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-08-11
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-03-11
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-03-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-12-19
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-07-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-02-05
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-07-25
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-01-26
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-07-11
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2022-07-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-09-30
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-07-19
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2020-12-24
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-07-14