BLACKWELL (SCOTLAND) LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
SC225154 · ltd · incorporated 2001-11-09
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.
Why now
Window steady · low confidence
Steady and tidy — no seller pressure yet. Approach only if an angle opens.
Opportunity decay
approaching window · 12-months
Approaching a transaction window — refinance or sale event plausible in the next 12 months.
- · Oldest live charge 22.2y old — refinance window within 12 months
What changed my view
Last 30 days
No material changes in the last 30 days.
Last 90 days
No snapshot from 90 days ago — start tracking from today.
Last 180 days
No snapshot from 180 days ago — start tracking from today.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
77/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Non-trading company
Sector: Professional, scientific & technical
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: dormant / non-trading with strong profile and bankable structure.
Opportunity 77/100 (strong), bankability 85/100. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
4 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 22.2y
70/100
ready
Refinance conversation should be productive — structure clean and timing right.
- · Oldest live charge is 22.2 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · Legal-friction score 20/100 — clean.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (61/100)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
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
4 charges (4/4 with lender, 4/4 with type)
90
Directors & officers
22 officers (4 active, 22 linked, 17 with DOB)
85
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
18 connected companies via shared directors
90
Filing history
127 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
77/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
70
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
2
filings
- • 1 accounts
- • 1 officers
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (70 events)Click to expand
- 2026-02-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2025-12-01📄replacement-filing-of-director-appointment-with-nameofficers · RP01AP01
- 2025-01-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2024-07-29📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2024-04-17📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2024-04-16➕ASHWORTH, Karen Deborah appointeddirector
- 2024-01-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2024-01-17📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2024-01-17📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-01-16➕SKIPPER, Kate appointeddirector
- 2024-01-16➖HILLYARD, Emma Louise resigneddirector
- 2023-09-06📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-extendedaccounts · AA01
- 2023-01-20📄change-account-reference-date-company-current-extendedaccounts · AA01
- 2022-12-09📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC02
- 2022-12-09📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2022-12-08📄second-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-dateconfirmation-statement · RP04CS01
- 2022-12-05➕JOHNSTON, Fiona appointedsecretary
- 2022-12-05📄appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP03
- 2022-11-23📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2022-11-10📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2022-06-16📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-06-16📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2022-06-14➖MOLLOY, Jane resigneddirector
- 2022-06-10➖SULLIVAN, Elisabeth resignedsecretary
- 2022-05-31➖EUSTACE, Timothy resignedsecretary
- 2022-05-31➖EUSTACE, Timothy resigneddirector
- 2022-05-31📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2022-05-31📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-03-29➕DAUNT, Achilles James appointeddirector
- 2022-03-29➕SULLIVAN, Elisabeth appointedsecretary
- 2022-03-29➕MOLLOY, Jane appointeddirector
- 2022-03-29📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2017-07-18➖WILLEMITE, Katherine Elizabeth resigneddirector
- 2017-06-19➕HILLYARD, Emma Louise appointeddirector
- 2013-06-30➖LITTLE, Mark John James resigneddirector
- 2013-03-28➕WILLEMITE, Katherine Elizabeth appointeddirector
- 2011-04-28➖HUTCHINGS, Andrew resigneddirector
- 2010-02-26🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2010-01-31➖OSBORNE, Martyn John resigneddirector
- 2010-01-30🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2010-01-28➕EUSTACE, Timothy appointeddirector
- 2010-01-28➕HUTCHINGS, Andrew appointeddirector
- 2010-01-28➕LITTLE, Mark John James appointeddirector
- 2010-01-21🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2008-08-31➖GUNN, Vincent Anthony resigneddirector
- 2007-07-07🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2007-04-02🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2006-12-29🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Burdale Financial Limited
- 2006-12-22🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Burdale Financial Limited
- 2006-09-29➖BLACKWELL, Philip Basil resigneddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 70 events
Owner dependency
58/100
Moderate — manageable with handoverSome founder dependency, but not acute. A structured handover period should cover most risk.
FACTORS
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 63 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
50/100
Moderate signalSome succession indicators present. Worth watching; approach if sector/strategy fits.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 63. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
Red flags
1 med ·Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Group structure
Waterstones Booksellers Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Waterstones Booksellers Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
BLACKWELL (SCOTLAND) LIMITED
This company · SC225154
Parent relationships inferred from Persons with Significant Control filings. Full subsidiary tree requires reverse-lookup (coming).
Shareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Waterstones Booksellers Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 07/08/2022 |
Dr Paul Elliott Singer Individual · American · DOB 08/1944 · age 82 | — | — | board controlboard control · firm interest | 28/02/2022 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Blackwell Limitedceased 07/08/2022· 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 →Similar companies
Active · Holding company · EH postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE TUITEAM COMPANY LIMITED→ SC189123 · est 1998 | £1.27M £1.08M–£1.46M | — | £1.27M | — | 27y | 83 | 85y |
| GLENDINNING ASSETS LIMITED→ SC185169 · est 1998 | £898.3k £763.5k–£1.03M | — | £898.3k | — | 28y | 82 | 69y |
| MDW SCOTLAND LTD→ SC206317 · est 2000 | £395.2k £335.9k–£454.5k | — | £395.2k | — | 26y | 82 | 76y |
| PWP HOLDINGS LIMITED→ SC177994 · est 1997 | £179.2k £152.3k–£206.1k | — | £179.2k | — | 28y | 82 | 67y |
| D.C. AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS LIMITED→ SC215245 · est 2001 | £13.2k £11.2k–£15.2k | — | £13.2k | — | 25y | 82 | 71y |
| HISTORIC LOTHIAN PROTECTION & DEVELOPMENT LIMITED→ SC231712 · est 2002 | £9.4k £8.0k–£10.8k | — | £9.4k | — | 24y | 82 | 73y |
| CRAIGLEITH ELECTRONICS LIMITED→ SC162758 · est 1996 | £6.1k £5.2k–£7.0k | — | £6.1k | — | 30y | 82 | 71y |
| HOT SPRING PORTABLE SPAS (SCOTLAND) LIMITED→ SC148582 · est 1994 | £3.0k £2.6k–£3.5k | — | £3.0k | — | 32y | 82 | 65y |
| CP WAREHOUSING LIMITED→ SC247121 · est 2003 | £2.4k £2.0k–£2.7k | — | £2.4k | — | 23y | 83 | 79y |
| MURRAY CAPITAL GROUP LIMITED→ SC375630 · est 2010 | £1.0k £850–£1.1k | — | £1.0k | — | 16y | 82 | 75y |
| BALFOUR & MANSON PROPERTY LTD.→ SC041493 · est 1964 | £401 £341–£461 | — | £401 | — | 61y | 82 | 66y |
| BLACKCRAIG WINDFARM HOLDINGS LIMITED→ SC502633 · est 2015 | — | — | — | 0 | 11y | 89 | 44y |
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
Incorporated2001-11-09
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC74990 — Non-trading company
Registered office
Blackwell Bookshop
53 - 62 South Bridge
Edinburgh
EH1 1YS
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-01-31
Last made up to: 2025-05-03
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-11-10
Last: 2025-10-27
Officers (4 active · 18 resigned)
Active
ASHWORTH, Karen Deborah→
Activedirector · ~51y · appointed 2024-04-16
View their other companies + combined net worth →
DAUNT, Achilles James→
Activedirector · ~63y · appointed 2022-03-29
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SKIPPER, Kate→
Activedirector · ~46y · appointed 2024-01-16
View their other companies + combined net worth →
EUSTACE, Timothy→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2002-04-17 · resigned 2022-05-31
SULLIVAN, Elisabeth→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2022-03-29 · resigned 2022-06-10
MACROBERTS - (FIRM)→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2001-11-09 · resigned 2002-04-17
BLACKWELL, Philip Basil→
Resigneddirector · ~68y · appointed 2002-07-31 · resigned 2006-09-29
EUSTACE, Timothy→
Resigneddirector · ~81y · appointed 2010-01-28 · resigned 2022-05-31
FIELD, Terry→
Resigneddirector · ~67y · appointed 2002-04-17 · resigned 2002-09-16
GUNN, Vincent Anthony→
Resigneddirector · ~60y · appointed 2006-09-29 · resigned 2008-08-31
HILLYARD, Emma Louise→
Resigneddirector · ~56y · appointed 2017-06-19 · resigned 2024-01-16
HUTCHINGS, Andrew→
Resigneddirector · ~60y · appointed 2010-01-28 · resigned 2011-04-28
LITTLE, Mark John James→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 2010-01-28 · resigned 2013-06-30
MOLLOY, Jane→
Resigneddirector · ~50y · appointed 2022-03-29 · resigned 2022-06-14
MYERS, Dominic Peter→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2002-07-31 · resigned 2005-07-19
NEIL, Michael Hugh→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2002-07-31 · resigned 2005-06-06
OSBORNE, Martyn John→
Resigneddirector · ~69y · appointed 2006-09-29 · resigned 2010-01-31
STEPHENSON, Neil Ian Mackenzie→
Resigneddirector · ~80y · appointed 2002-07-31 · resigned 2005-09-30
WALSH HILL, Steven Philip→
Resigneddirector · ~58y · appointed 2002-04-17 · resigned 2004-03-04
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
4
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:4 of 4 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Standard security | 3 properties | 02/04/2007 | 26/02/2010 | |
| satisfied | Burdale Financial Burdale Financial Limited | Standard security | 1 property | 29/12/2006 | 21/01/2010 | |
| satisfied | Burdale Financial Burdale Financial Limited | Floating charge | 1 property | 22/12/2006 | 30/01/2010 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Floating charge | 1 property | 05/03/2004 | 07/07/2007 |
Recent filings (127 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2026-02-02
replacement-filing-of-director-appointment-with-name
officers · RP01AP01
2025-12-01
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-10-27
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2025-01-23
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-11-11
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2024-07-29
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2024-04-17
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2024-01-30
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2024-01-17
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-01-17
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-12-07
change-account-reference-date-company-previous-extended
accounts · AA01
2023-09-06
change-account-reference-date-company-current-extended
accounts · AA01
2023-01-20
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
2022-12-09
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2022-12-09