THE STEAMSHIP SIR WALTER SCOTT TRUST
🌳Matureactive
SC271149 · private-limited-guarant-nsc-limited-exemption · incorporated 2004-07-26
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
hardening · 12-months
Already tight — no obvious softening catalysts on the horizon.
- · Thesis: well-run, low negotiation leverage
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
83/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: Other amusement and recreation activities n.e.c.
Sector: Arts, entertainment & recreation
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 94-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 83/100 (exceptional), bankability 80/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 94). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
1 live charge · oldest 2.8y
50/100
clean up first
Refinance viable after a tidy-up — address the highlighted items first.
- · Newest facility, 2.8 years old — likely still in initial term.
- · Single lender — cleanest path to refinance.
- · Legal-friction score 20/100 — clean.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (60/100)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
1 charges (1/1 with lender, 1/1 with type)
90
Directors & officers
19 officers (7 active, 19 linked, 14 with DOB)
85
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 4 total, 4 with control declared
90
Director network
12 connected companies via shared directors
81
Filing history
89 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
83/100Exceptional
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Strong composite across quality, acquirability, and risk. High-priority target — progress to serious diligence.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
85
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
2
filings
- • 2 officers
Last 180 days
2
filings
- • 2 officers
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (50 events)Click to expand
- 2026-03-17📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2026-03-11📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2025-11-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2025-10-28📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2025-10-27📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2025-04-01➕SMITH, Colin James, Dr appointeddirector
- 2024-12-11📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2024-12-04➕WALLACE, Tom Vlaminck appointeddirector
- 2024-12-04➖WALLACE, Tom Vlaminck resigneddirector
- 2024-07-26📄accounts-amended-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AAMD
- 2024-02-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2023-08-23📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2023-08-18🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2023-01-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2023-01-16📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2022-12-09📄accounts-amended-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AAMD
- 2022-03-28📄accounts-amended-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AAMD
- 2022-02-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2021-02-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2019-12-11📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2018-12-05📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2018-06-18➕DUNSMUIR, Gordon William appointeddirector
- 2018-02-15➕MCMILLAN, James Stewart appointeddirector
- 2017-06-19➖MOSSON, Alexander Francis, Deputy Lieutenant resigneddirector
- 2016-03-01➖DENNY, Robin David Leslie resigneddirector
- 2015-12-03➕FRASER, James Briengan appointeddirector
- 2015-10-22➖MICKLETHWAITE, Leslie resignedsecretary
- 2015-09-28➖COOK, Peter Alister Evan resigneddirector
- 2015-09-23➖MCALPINE, William Hepburn, Sir resigneddirector
- 2015-03-26➕MOSSON, Alexander Francis, Deputy Lieutenant appointeddirector
- 2014-06-13➖ELLIS, Graham Elliott resigneddirector
- 2012-07-11➕DENNY, Robin David Leslie appointeddirector
- 2008-12-05➕WALKER, Robert Thomas Andrew appointedsecretary
- 2008-12-05➕PETRIE, William appointeddirector
- 2008-12-05➕MICKLETHWAITE, Leslie appointedsecretary
- 2008-09-20➖AXFORD, Thomas James Bernard resignedsecretary
- 2007-07-17➕COOK, Peter Alister Evan appointeddirector
- 2007-07-17➖MICKLETHWAITE, Leslie resigneddirector
- 2006-03-01➕JOWITT, Paul William, Professor appointeddirector
- 2006-03-01➖ALEXANDER, Alan, Professor resigneddirector
- 2005-07-05➕AXFORD, Thomas James Bernard appointedsecretary
- 2005-07-05➖D.W. COMPANY SERVICES LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2005-02-04➕ALEXANDER, Alan, Professor appointeddirector
- 2005-02-04➕ELLIS, Graham Elliott appointeddirector
- 2005-02-04➕MCALPINE, William Hepburn, Sir appointeddirector
- 2005-02-04➕MICKLETHWAITE, Leslie appointeddirector
- 2005-02-04➖D.W. DIRECTOR 1 LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-director
- 2004-07-26🏢Company incorporatedAs THE STEAMSHIP SIR WALTER SCOTT TRUST
- 2004-07-26➕D.W. COMPANY SERVICES LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2004-07-26➕D.W. DIRECTOR 1 LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-director
Owner dependency
65/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- -6 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 20 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 94 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
80/100
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 94 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 20 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- supportingClean filings + long tenure: Disciplined long-tenure operator — classic lifestyle-business pattern that often sells quietly.
Red flags
cleanNo red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)
Shareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr James Briengan Fraser Individual · British · DOB 12/1954 · age 72 | — | — | sig. influencesignificant influence | 06/04/2016 |
Professor Paul William Jowitt Individual · British · DOB 08/1950 · age 76 | — | — | sig. influencesignificant influence | 06/04/2016 |
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Mr William Petrieceased 25/08/2022· significant influence
- Deputy Lieutenant Alexander Francis Mossonceased 27/07/2017· significant influence
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 · Leisure & entertainment · KA postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBT TRAVEL LIMITED→ SC299214 · est 2006 | £4.59M £3.57M–£5.61M | £12.93M | — | 2400 | 20y | 93 | 58y |
| ARDROSSAN WINTON ROVERS FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED→ SC139602 · est 1992 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 33y | 83 | 74y |
| L A BOWL (SCOTLAND) LTD.→ SC392300 · est 2011 | — | — | — | — | 15y | 83 | 82y |
| M & M THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS LTD→ SC235693 · est 2002 | — | — | — | — | 23y | 83 | 62y |
| WICKED COSTUMES LIMITED→ SC347295 · est 2008 | — | — | £1.61M | — | 17y | 83 | 62y |
| BEITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST→ SC394148 · est 2011 | — | — | £1.89M | — | 15y | 82 | 74y |
| CLYDE MARINA LIMITED→ SC155326 · est 1995 | — | — | £1.09M | — | 31y | 82 | 82y |
| HIREABAND LIMITED→ SC233093 · est 2002 | — | — | — | 600 | 23y | 82 | 61y |
| MRC FITNESS & LEISURE LIMITED→ SC087814 · est 1984 | — | — | £20.1k | — | 42y | 82 | 69y |
| LOCHRANZA AND CATACOL SEA SOCIETY C.I.C→ SC324636 · est 2007 | — | — | £27.6k | — | 18y | 81 | 83y |
| NETHERTHIRD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GROUP→ SC384419 · est 2010 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 15y | 81 | 67y |
| PIONEER FLYING COMPANY LIMITED→ SC160218 · est 1995 | — | — | £24.0k | — | 30y | 81 | 82y |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
7 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
Typeprivate-limited-guarant-nsc-limited-exemption
Incorporated2004-07-26
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC93290 — Other amusement and recreation activities n.e.c.
Registered office
Bank Chambers
31 The Square
Cumnock
Ayrshire
KA18 1AT
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-11-30
Last made up to: 2025-02-28
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-08-09
Last: 2025-07-26
Officers (7 active · 12 resigned)
WALKER, Robert Thomas Andrew→
Activesecretary · appointed 2008-12-05
View their other companies + combined net worth →
DUNSMUIR, Gordon William→
Activedirector · ~76y · appointed 2018-06-18
View their other companies + combined net worth →
FRASER, James Briengan→
Activedirector · ~72y · appointed 2015-12-03
View their other companies + combined net worth →
JOWITT, Paul William, Professor→
Activedirector · ~76y · appointed 2006-03-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MCMILLAN, James Stewart→
Activedirector · ~69y · appointed 2018-02-15
View their other companies + combined net worth →
PETRIE, William→
Activedirector · ~94y · appointed 2008-12-05
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SMITH, Colin James, Dr→
Activedirector · ~66y · appointed 2025-04-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
AXFORD, Thomas James Bernard→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2005-07-05 · resigned 2008-09-20
MICKLETHWAITE, Leslie→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2008-12-05 · resigned 2015-10-22
D.W. COMPANY SERVICES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2004-07-26 · resigned 2005-07-05
ALEXANDER, Alan, Professor→
Resigneddirector · ~83y · appointed 2005-02-04 · resigned 2006-03-01
COOK, Peter Alister Evan→
Resigneddirector · ~68y · appointed 2007-07-17 · resigned 2015-09-28
DENNY, Robin David Leslie→
Resigneddirector · ~89y · appointed 2012-07-11 · resigned 2016-03-01
ELLIS, Graham Elliott→
Resigneddirector · ~102y · appointed 2005-02-04 · resigned 2014-06-13
MCALPINE, William Hepburn, Sir→
Resigneddirector · ~90y · appointed 2005-02-04 · resigned 2015-09-23
MICKLETHWAITE, Leslie→
Resigneddirector · ~83y · appointed 2005-02-04 · resigned 2007-07-17
MOSSON, Alexander Francis, Deputy Lieutenant→
Resigneddirector · ~86y · appointed 2015-03-26 · resigned 2017-06-19
WALLACE, Tom Vlaminck→
Resigneddirector · ~47y · appointed 2024-12-04 · resigned 2024-12-04
D.W. DIRECTOR 1 LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 2004-07-26 · resigned 2005-02-04
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
1
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:1 of 1 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 18/08/2023 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (89 total)
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2026-03-17
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2026-03-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2025-11-13
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-10-28
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2025-10-27
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-09-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2024-12-11
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-08-02
accounts-amended-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AAMD
2024-07-26
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2024-02-29
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2023-08-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-07-26
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2023-01-27
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2023-01-16
accounts-amended-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AAMD
2022-12-09