JOHN S.DUNCAN LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
SC035444 · ltd · incorporated 1960-06-30
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.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Dec 2024
Net worth
£8.0k
book net assets
Opportunity
75/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Non-trading company
Sector: Professional, scientific & technical
Investor take
PursueDormant / non-trading with a 77-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 75/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. Strong seller-intent signal (83/100, director aged 77). Asset purchase likely safer than share purchase given structural signals. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 7 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (45/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
12 live charges · 7 lenders · oldest 46.9y
25/100
too messy
Structure is too messy for a clean refinance right now — clean up first or expect bespoke terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 46.9 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 7 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 55/100 (high).
Data confidence
Overall: high (83/100)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
12 charges (12/12 with lender, 12/12 with type)
90
Directors & officers
17 officers (3 active, 17 linked, 9 with DOB)
81
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
132 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
🔒Estimated company valuation
Sector-multiple EBITDA, turnover, and NAV-proxy valuation range with confidence tier — derived from extracted iXBRL financials.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Opportunity Score
75/100Strong
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
74
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declaredPositive net assets
Net assets £8,000
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
£8k
~ YoY
Current Assets
£8k
~ YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2024-12-31 | 2023-12-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £8.0k | £8.0k |
| Current assets | £8.0k | £8.0k |
| Net assets | £8.0k | £8.0k |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (59 events)Click to expand
- 2025-06-25📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2024-08-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2024-01-11📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-01-03➖J W FISHING VESSEL MANAGEMENT LIMITED resignedcorporate-director
- 2023-07-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2022-06-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2021-07-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2020-07-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2019-08-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2018-08-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2017-08-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2016-07-14📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-smallaccounts · AA
- 2016-07-14📄appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP03
- 2016-07-14📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2016-06-20➕GOOD, Graham appointedsecretary
- 2016-06-20➖MCKENZIE, Lindsay resignedsecretary
- 2016-01-11📄annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholdersannual-return · AR01
- 2015-06-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-smallaccounts · AA
- 2013-01-08➕MCKENZIE, Lindsay appointedsecretary
- 2013-01-08➖SPROULE, Lorraine resignedsecretary
- 2009-10-01➕GOOD, Graham appointeddirector
- 2004-08-18➖HISLOP, Mitchell resignedsecretary
- 2004-08-18➕SPROULE, Lorraine appointedsecretary
- 2004-07-30➕J W HOLDINGS LIMITED appointedcorporate-director
- 2004-07-30➖AUCKLAND, Robert Ian resigneddirector
- 2004-07-30➖GARRETT, Nicholas John resigneddirector
- 2004-07-30➖WOOD, Ian Clark, Sir resigneddirector
- 2004-07-30➕J W FISHING VESSEL MANAGEMENT LIMITED appointedcorporate-director
- 2004-05-19➖GARRETT, Edwin Charles resigneddirector
- 2004-02-02➖THOMSON, Kenneth Mathieson resigneddirector
- 2003-03-14➖AUCKLAND, Robert Ian resignedsecretary
- 2003-03-14➕HISLOP, Mitchell appointedsecretary
- 2000-09-27➖PENNY, John Raffan resigneddirector
- 1999-06-04➕THOMSON, Kenneth Mathieson appointeddirector
- 1999-03-08➕GARRETT, Nicholas John appointeddirector
- 1999-01-08➕AUCKLAND, Robert Ian appointedsecretary
- 1999-01-08➖CROSSAN, Finlay George resignedsecretary
- 1996-12-31➖SHEARER, Donald Dunnett resigneddirector
- 1995-07-31🔒Charge registered #16Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 1994-01-07➕AUCKLAND, Robert Ian appointeddirector
- 1993-12-31➖BURNET, Peter resigneddirector
- 1990-05-31➕BURNET, Peter appointeddirector
- 1989-12-13🔒Charge registered #15Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 1988-11-06➕PENNY, John Raffan appointeddirector
- 1988-08-19🔒Charge registered #14Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 1987-08-06🔒Charge registered #13Lender: Highlands & Islands Development Board
- 1984-03-12🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 1984-03-12🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 1984-03-12🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 1984-03-12🔓Charge satisfied #3
Showing most recent 50 of 59 events
Owner dependency
98/100
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.
- +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "LIMITED" — strong identity link between founder and business.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 22 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 77 — succession pressure is live.
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 77 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 22 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 66 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
1 med · 1 lowCharge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
8 live charges
lowHeavily leveraged with multiple live security positions — understand the capital structure before proceeding.
Group structure
Kinlochbervie Fishselling Co Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Kinlochbervie Fishselling Co Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares
⬇
JOHN S.DUNCAN LIMITED
This company · SC035444
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Kinlochbervie Fishselling Co Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | — | 75-100% shares | 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 · Holding company · AB postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COWRIE HOLDINGS LIMITED→ SC700069 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| DUGUID PROPERTY HOLDINGS LTD→ SC876768 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| FIDONA PROPERTY LIMITED→ SC835551 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| G A ENGINEERING (GROUP) LIMITED→ SC448644 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| G B ENGLAND HOLDINGS LIMITED→ SC808864 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| GOLDEN SQUARE NOMINEES LIMITED→ SC066084 · est 1978 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 47y | — | — |
| HB ENTERPRISES (SCOTLAND) LTD.→ SC338386 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
| HERD HOLDINGS LIMITED→ SC254945 · est 2003 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 22y | — | — |
| HFA LIMITED→ SC129298 · est 1991 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 35y | — | — |
| HOME CARE (SCOTLAND) HOLDINGS 2 LTD→ SC841874 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| HRN GROUP LIMITED→ SC721321 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| HY GLA PHARMA LTD→ SC749847 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1960-06-30
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC74990 — Non-trading company
Registered office
Blenheim House
Fountainhall Road
Aberdeen
AB15 4DT
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-01-14
Last: 2025-12-31
Officers (3 active · 14 resigned)
Active
GOOD, Graham→
Activedirector · ~77y · appointed 2009-10-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
J W HOLDINGS LIMITED→
Activecorporate-director · appointed 2004-07-30
View their other companies + combined net worth →
AUCKLAND, Robert Ian→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1999-01-08 · resigned 2003-03-14
CROSSAN, Finlay George→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1999-01-08
HISLOP, Mitchell→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2003-03-14 · resigned 2004-08-18
MCKENZIE, Lindsay→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2013-01-08 · resigned 2016-06-20
SPROULE, Lorraine→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2004-08-18 · resigned 2013-01-08
AUCKLAND, Robert Ian→
Resigneddirector · ~66y · appointed 1994-01-07 · resigned 2004-07-30
BURNET, Peter→
Resigneddirector · ~80y · appointed 1990-05-31 · resigned 1993-12-31
GARRETT, Edwin Charles→
Resigneddirector · ~94y · resigned 2004-05-19
GARRETT, Nicholas John→
Resigneddirector · ~65y · appointed 1999-03-08 · resigned 2004-07-30
PENNY, John Raffan→
Resigneddirector · ~91y · appointed 1988-11-06 · resigned 2000-09-27
SHEARER, Donald Dunnett→
Resigneddirector · ~92y · resigned 1996-12-31
THOMSON, Kenneth Mathieson→
Resigneddirector · ~85y · appointed 1999-06-04 · resigned 2004-02-02
WOOD, Ian Clark, Sir→
Resigneddirector · ~84y · resigned 2004-07-30
J W FISHING VESSEL MANAGEMENT LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-director · appointed 2004-07-30 · resigned 2024-01-03
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
12
Total charges
8
Outstanding
6
Active lenders
Status:Lender:12 of 12 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Mortgage | 1 property | 31/07/1995 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Shipping mortgage | 1 property | 13/12/1989 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Shipping mortgage | 1 property | 19/08/1988 | — | |
| outstanding | Highlands & Islands Development Board | Mortgage | 1 property | 06/08/1987 | — | |
| outstanding | H I D B | Fishing vessel mortgage | 1 property | 14/02/1983 | — | |
| outstanding | H I D B | Mortgage | 1 property | 23/09/1982 | — | |
| satisfied | Highlands and Islands Development Board | Mortgage | 1 property | 26/04/1982 | 12/03/1984 | |
| satisfied | H I D B | Mortgage | 1 property | 10/12/1981 | 12/03/1984 | |
| satisfied | Highlands and Islands Development Board | Mortgage | 1 property | 09/04/1981 | 12/03/1984 | |
| satisfied | H I D B | Mortgage | 1 property | 23/12/1980 | 12/03/1984 | |
| outstanding | Highlands and Island Development Board | Mortgage | 1 property | 02/11/1979 | — | |
| outstanding | Highlands & Islands Development Board, Bridge House, 27 Bank St. Inverness | Mortgage | 1 property | 21/05/1979 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (132 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-01-12
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2025-06-25
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-01-08
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2024-08-13
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-01-11
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-01-05
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2023-07-06
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-01-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2022-06-28
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-01-07
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2021-07-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-01-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2020-07-24
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-01-08
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2019-08-07