DUNCAN TAYLOR SCOTCH WHISKY LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
SC036622 · ltd · incorporated 1961-07-05
Investment thesis
Zombie company — trading but stalled; unlikely mover.
Why interesting: Quiet, steady; could be a succession or carve-out candidate with the right conversation.
Why risky: No growth signal; thin margin for error on price.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Dec 2023
Net worth
£9.36M
book net assets
Opportunity
73/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 46342
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.
Opportunity 73/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 6 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
8 live charges · 6 lenders · oldest 27.5y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 27.5 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 6 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (73/100)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
1 year of iXBRL accounts extracted (no YoY comparison) + narrative notes parsed
50
Lenders & charges
8 charges (8/8 with lender, 8/8 with type)
90
Directors & officers
17 officers (2 active, 17 linked, 11 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
7 connected companies via shared directors
66
Filing history
158 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
73/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
60
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
70
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 £9,361,059
Key financials
1 year extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£21k
Net Worth
£9.4m
Current Assets
£40m
Current Liabilities
—
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2023-12-31 |
|---|---|
| Total assets | £39.19M |
| Current assets | £39.54M |
| Cash | £21.3k |
| Debtors | £13.92M |
| Net assets | £9.36M |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
2 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 (59 events)Click to expand
- 2026-01-08📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-07-03📄mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-numbermortgage · 466(Scot)
- 2025-06-30📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-06-24📄mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-numbermortgage · 466(Scot)
- 2025-06-24📄mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-numbermortgage · 466(Scot)
- 2025-06-24📄mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-numbermortgage · 466(Scot)
- 2025-06-18🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Ferovinum LTD
- 2024-12-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2024-04-26📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2024-04-26📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2024-04-24📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-04-11➖SHAND, Euan Coutts resigneddirector
- 2023-10-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2023-05-02📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2022-11-14📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2021-09-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2020-11-30📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2020-11-30📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2020-11-13➕SMITH, Shawn Blackston appointeddirector
- 2020-11-13➖MCLEOD, Kirsty Alison resigneddirector
- 2020-11-10📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2020-10-22📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC05
- 2019-03-26🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) Limited
- 2018-01-01➕MCLEOD, Kirsty Alison appointeddirector
- 2012-05-30➖WATT, Mark William resigneddirector
- 2009-09-01➕WATT, Mark William appointeddirector
- 2008-11-25🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2008-05-14➕STRONACHS SECRETARIES LIMITED appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2008-05-14➖STRONACHS resignedcorporate-secretary
- 2008-01-21🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2007-04-17🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2007-03-14🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) Limited
- 2007-03-05🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2006-03-23➖GORDON, Alan resigneddirector
- 2002-02-14🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Independent Merchant Securities Limited
- 2002-01-31➖MCLIMANS, Charles Patrick resignedsecretary
- 2002-01-31➕STRONACHS appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2002-01-31➖GELLES, Steven resigneddirector
- 2002-01-31➖GOLDSTEIN, Stuart resigneddirector
- 2002-01-31➕GORDON, Alan appointeddirector
- 2002-01-31➖GROSS, Matthew Henry resigneddirector
- 2002-01-31➕SHAND, Euan Coutts appointeddirector
- 2002-01-31➖THOMSON, Eric resigneddirector
- 2002-01-31🔒Charge registered #2Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 2001-06-01➕THOMSON, Eric appointeddirector
- 2001-02-12🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2000-10-11➕MCLIMANS, Charles Patrick appointedsecretary
- 2000-05-01➖WALLENS, Elsie resignedsecretary
- 1998-10-28➖GROSS, John Jacob resigneddirector
- 1998-10-21🔒Charge registered #1Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
Showing most recent 50 of 59 events
Owner dependency
83/100
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
- +Sole director: Only one active director — all governance concentrated on one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 58 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
65/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 58. Early succession window.
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 65 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
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.
5 live charges
lowHeavily leveraged with multiple live security positions — understand the capital structure before proceeding.
Group structure
Duncan Taylor & Company Holdings Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Duncan Taylor & Company Holdings Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
DUNCAN TAYLOR SCOTCH WHISKY LIMITED
This company · SC036622
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Duncan Taylor & Company Holdings Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 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 · Wholesale & distribution · AB postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AOSS LIMITED→ SC555542 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| DEVERON DIRECT LIMITED→ SC510203 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| FERGUSON LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT LIMITED→ SC582777 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| FIDELIS SCOTLAND LIMITED→ SC375372 · est 2010 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
| FIFTEEN93 LIMITED→ SC778197 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| FIRST J&J LIMITED→ SC836741 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| FLAMBOYANT VENTURES LTD→ SC804379 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| FLIRTIES PRODUCTS AND TRAINING LTD→ SC421229 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| FLUID POWER SCOTLAND LTD→ SC735060 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| FOREST FARM DAIRY LTD→ SC662363 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| FORKS CORKS LTD→ SC864660 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| FORTYLOVE LIMITED→ SC823329 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1961-07-05
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC46342 — SIC 46342
Registered office
28 Albyn Place
Aberdeen
AB10 1YL
United Kingdom
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-10-22
Last: 2025-10-08
Officers (2 active · 15 resigned)
STRONACHS SECRETARIES LIMITED→
Activecorporate-secretary · appointed 2008-05-14
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SMITH, Shawn Blackston→
Activedirector · ~58y · appointed 2020-11-13
View their other companies + combined net worth →
GROSS, Stephen Jeremy→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1991-12-02 · resigned 1996-04-29
MCLIMANS, Charles Patrick→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2000-10-11 · resigned 2002-01-31
THOMSON, John Maxwell→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1992-10-01
WALLENS, Elsie→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1996-04-29 · resigned 2000-05-01
STRONACHS→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 2002-01-31 · resigned 2008-05-14
GELLES, Steven→
Resigneddirector · ~69y · appointed 1996-01-30 · resigned 2002-01-31
GOLDSTEIN, Stuart→
Resigneddirector · ~75y · appointed 1996-01-30 · resigned 2002-01-31
GORDON, Alan→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2002-01-31 · resigned 2006-03-23
GROSS, John Jacob→
Resigneddirector · ~117y · resigned 1998-10-28
GROSS, Matthew Henry→
Resigneddirector · ~55y · appointed 1996-01-30 · resigned 2002-01-31
MCLEOD, Kirsty Alison→
Resigneddirector · ~53y · appointed 2018-01-01 · resigned 2020-11-13
SHAND, Euan Coutts→
Resigneddirector · ~70y · appointed 2002-01-31 · resigned 2024-04-11
THOMSON, Eric→
Resigneddirector · ~83y · appointed 2001-06-01 · resigned 2002-01-31
THOMSON, John Maxwell→
Resigneddirector · ~88y · resigned 1992-10-01
WATT, Mark William→
Resigneddirector · ~46y · appointed 2009-09-01 · resigned 2012-05-30
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
8
Total charges
5
Outstanding
2
Active lenders
Status:Lender:8 of 8 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Ferovinum Ferovinum LTD | A registered charge | — | 18/06/2025 | — | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) Limited | A registered charge | — | 26/03/2019 | — | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 21/01/2008 | — | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) Limited | Floating charge | 1 property | 14/03/2007 | — | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Floating charge | 1 property | 05/03/2007 | — | |
| satisfied | Independent Merchant Securities Independent Merchant Securities Limited | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 14/02/2002 | 25/11/2008 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Floating charge | 1 property | 31/01/2002 | 17/04/2007 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Floating charge | 1 property | 21/10/1998 | 12/02/2001 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (158 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2026-01-08
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-10-08
mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-number
mortgage · 466(Scot)
2025-07-03
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-06-30
mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-number
mortgage · 466(Scot)
2025-06-24
mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-number
mortgage · 466(Scot)
2025-06-24
mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-number
mortgage · 466(Scot)
2025-06-24
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-01-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2024-12-30
memorandum-articles
incorporation · MA
2024-04-26
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2024-04-26
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-04-24
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-01-08
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2023-10-27
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2023-05-02