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.
Why now
Window steady · low confidence
Steady and stalled — no momentum either way. Needs an approach trigger.
What changed my view
Last 30 days
No material changes in the last 30 days.
Last 90 days
No material changes in the last 90 days.
Last 180 days
No snapshot from 180 days ago — start tracking from today.
🔒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 27.8y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 27.8 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
0
filings
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN DAVIDSON (PIPES) LIMITED→ SC050397 · est 1972 | £15.21M £11.41M–£19.01M | £79.83M | — | 25000 | 54y | 83 | 61y |
| S&JD ROBERTSON NORTH AIR LIMITED→ SC051614 · est 1972 | £9.86M £7.39M–£12.32M | £47.30M | — | 40900 | 53y | 83 | 59y |
| QUALITY FOOD PRODUCTS (ABERDEEN) LIMITED→ SC046323 · est 1969 | £7.30M £5.48M–£9.13M | — | — | 67 | 57y | 83 | 59y |
| WELLHEAD ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES LIMITED→ SC123707 · est 1990 | £993.4k £745.1k–£1.24M | — | — | 15 | 36y | 83 | 73y |
| MO & CO (UK) LIMITED→ SC236096 · est 2002 | £860.4k £645.3k–£1.08M | — | — | 2100 | 23y | 82 | 86y |
| KEITH BUILDERS MERCHANTS LIMITED→ SC217157 · est 2001 | £155.6k £116.7k–£194.6k | — | — | 39 | 25y | 84 | 58y |
| APEX TUBULARS LIMITED→ SC331461 · est 2007 | — | — | — | 600 | 18y | 83 | 63y |
| GPH BUILDERS MERCHANTS LIMITED→ SC378341 · est 2010 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | 83 | 71y |
| ABERDEEN OFFICE SUPPLIES LIMITED→ SC238550 · est 2002 | — | — | £59.2k | — | 23y | 82 | 67y |
| D. RUDDIMAN LIMITED→ SC031624 · est 1956 | — | — | £15.2k | — | 70y | 82 | 96y |
| GOOD TASTE SCOTLAND LIMITED→ SC314261 · est 2007 | — | — | £50.0k | — | 19y | 82 | 70y |
| GPH BUILDERS MERCHANTS (2006) LIMITED→ SC208072 · est 2000 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 26y | 82 | 71y |
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