BRIAN JOHNSTON & CO. (INSURANCE SERVICES) LIMITED

🌳Matureactive
01075399 · ltd · incorporated 1972-10-06
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.
Opportunity decay
approaching window · 12-months
Approaching a transaction window — refinance or sale event plausible in the next 12 months.
  • · Oldest live charge 46.5y old — refinance window within 12 months
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Dec 2025
Net worth
£701.5k
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
🔔
Follow this company (free)
Email alerts on filings, charges, director changes, gazette notices. No account needed.

Unsubscribe any time from any email. GDPR-respectful.

🔒Generate AI memo →🔒Outreach pack →🔒Corporate story →📑 Reports →Sign in to watch
What this business does
Primary activity: Non-life insurance
Sector: Financial & insurance
Investor take
Pursue
Active trading company with a 93-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 75/100. Strong seller-intent signal (73/100, director aged 93). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Discharge stale live charges. 1 live charge(s) created 15+ years ago — likely paid but undischarged. Clean register. Most likely exit: strategic trade sale (73/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

4 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 46.5y

50/100
clean up first

Refinance viable after a tidy-up — address the highlighted items first.

  • · Oldest live charge is 46.5 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
  • · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.

Data confidence

Overall: high (88/100)

Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.

Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
3 years of iXBRL accounts extracted + narrative notes parsed
95
Lenders & charges
4 charges (4/4 with lender, 4/4 with type)
90
Directors & officers
13 officers (4 active, 13 linked, 8 with DOB)
82
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
10 connected companies via shared directors
75
Filing history
142 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
79/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional 

Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.

Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.

Signals from accounts

Derived from iXBRL accounts · FRS 105 (micro)
Positive net assets
Net assets £701,531

Key financials

3 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
—
Net Worth
£702k
↑ 15% YoY
Current Assets
£38k
↑ 139% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
£0£140k£281k£421k£561k£702kDec 2023Dec 2024Dec 2025

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 105 (micro)
Metric2025-12-312024-12-312023-12-31
Total assets£701.5k£612.0k£628.6k
Current assets£38.1k£16.0k£26.2k
Net assets£701.5k£612.0k£628.6k

Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.

🔒Filing-note intelligence

1 signal 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
1
filing
  • • 1 accounts
Last 90 days
1
filing
  • • 1 accounts
Last 180 days
2
filings
  • • 1 accounts
  • • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (42 events)Click to expand
  1. 2026-07-09
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  2. 2025-07-07
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  3. 2025-02-03
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  4. 2024-09-11
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  5. 2023-09-05
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  6. 2023-08-08
    📄
    resolution
    resolution · RESOLUTIONS
  7. 2023-07-21
    📄
    resolution
    resolution · RESOLUTIONS
  8. 2023-07-21
    📄
    capital-name-of-class-of-shares
    capital · SH08
  9. 2023-07-14
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
  10. 2022-09-12
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  11. 2021-09-06
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  12. 2020-08-04
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  13. 2019-10-17
    📄
    capital-name-of-class-of-shares
    capital · SH08
  14. 2019-10-17
    📄
    capital-variation-of-rights-attached-to-shares
    capital · SH10
  15. 2019-10-17
    📄
    resolution
    resolution · RESOLUTIONS
  16. 2019-07-26
    📄
    change-account-reference-date-company-current-extended
    accounts · AA01
  17. 2019-04-01
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  18. 2016-07-25
    ➕
    WELLS, Michael David appointed
    director
  19. 2016-06-03
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #4
  20. 2016-05-06
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #3
  21. 2016-05-06
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #2
  22. 2013-11-01
    ➕
    BURKE, John Joseph appointed
    secretary
  23. 2013-10-31
    ➖
    TUFFIELD, Mark Dominic resigned
    secretary
  24. 2010-04-07
    ➕
    JOHNSTON, David William appointed
    director
  25. 2009-09-23
    ➕
    TUFFIELD, Mark Dominic appointed
    secretary
  26. 2009-09-23
    ➕
    BRIAN JOHNSTON & CO. (INSURANCE SERVICES) LIMITED appointed
    corporate-secretary
  27. 2009-09-23
    ➖
    BRIAN JOHNSTON & CO. (INSURANCE SERVICES) LIMITED resigned
    corporate-secretary
  28. 2009-09-04
    ➖
    PARKER, David Edward resigned
    secretary
  29. 2003-09-29
    ➖
    COBHAM, Karl David resigned
    director
  30. 2002-09-01
    ➕
    PARKER, David Edward appointed
    secretary
  31. 2002-08-31
    ➖
    FIFE, Michael Francis Thomas resigned
    secretary
  32. 2002-08-31
    ➖
    FIFE, Michael Francis Thomas resigned
    director
  33. 2000-07-31
    ➖
    PRESTON, Travers Edward Lawrence resigned
    director
  34. 2000-02-05
    ➖
    DEE, Christopher Henry Roberts resigned
    director
  35. 1999-04-09
    ➕
    COBHAM, Karl David appointed
    director
  36. 1995-01-17
    ➖
    PONSFORD, Ronald Frederick resigned
    director
  37. 1994-03-01
    ➕
    PONSFORD, Ronald Frederick appointed
    director
  38. 1985-12-23
    🔒
    Charge registered #4
    Lender: Halifax Building Society.
  39. 1981-01-28
    🔒
    Charge registered #3
    Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
  40. 1981-01-07
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: Halifax Building Society.
  41. 1980-01-10
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
  42. 1972-10-06
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As BRIAN JOHNSTON & CO. (INSURANCE SERVICES) LIMITED

Owner dependency

98/100
Critical — business is the founder

The business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.

FACTORS
  • +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "JOHNSTON" — strong identity link between founder and business.
  • +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 16 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
  • +Founder age: Director aged approximately 93 — succession pressure is live.
  • +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.

Succession & seller-readiness

83/100
Likely off-market candidate

Strong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.

SIGNALS
  • primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 93 years old. Natural succession window is now.
  • secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 16 years.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 54 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 ·
Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
medium

Multiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.

Shareholders & ownership

1 active beneficial owner
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Mr Brian Johnston
Individual · British · DOB 09/1933 · age 93
50–75%
—50-75% shares06/04/2016

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 · Financial services · RH postcode area
CompanyEst. valueTurnoverNet worthStaffAgeOppDirector
ANTHRACITES PROPERTIES LIMITED→
15404045 · est 2024 · no financials extracted
————2y——
APEX-INS CONSULTANTS LIMITED→
16051146 · est 2024 · no financials extracted
————1y——
BLACK TIER CAPITAL LTD→
16418564 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
———————
BORDER OAK INVESTMENTS LIMITED→
15153052 · est 2023 · no financials extracted
————2y——
BP WEALTH MANAGEMENT LIMITED→
09381701 · est 2015 · no financials extracted
————11y——
BRELLTEG TRADING LTD→
10516267 · est 2016 · no financials extracted
————9y——
BRIDGE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD→
12835228 · est 2020 · no financials extracted
————5y——
BRIGHT SQUARE PENSIONS LIMITED→
10860717 · est 2017 · no financials extracted
————8y——
BRISTOW STAFF PENSION SCHEME TRUSTEES LIMITED→
02663634 · est 1991 · no financials extracted
————34y——
BRITANNIA RESEARCH LTD→
14249101 · est 2022 · no financials extracted
————3y——
BROKES LODGE ESTATE GARDENS INVESTMENT LIMITED→
13307769 · est 2021 · no financials extracted
————5y——
BROMIGE LIMITED→
05889192 · est 2006 · no financials extracted
————19y——
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
Typeltd
Incorporated1972-10-06
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC65120 — Non-life insurance

Registered office

1-3 Linkfield Corner
Redhill
Surrey
RH1 1BL

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2027-09-30
Last made up to: 2025-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-02-16
Last: 2026-02-02

Officers (4 active · 9 resigned)

BURKE, John Joseph→
secretary · appointed 2013-11-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
JOHNSTON, Brian→
director · ~93y
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
JOHNSTON, David William→
director · ~63y · appointed 2010-04-07
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
WELLS, Michael David→
director · ~46y · appointed 2016-07-25
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
FIFE, Michael Francis Thomas→
secretary · resigned 2002-08-31
Resigned
PARKER, David Edward→
secretary · appointed 2002-09-01 · resigned 2009-09-04
Resigned
TUFFIELD, Mark Dominic→
secretary · appointed 2009-09-23 · resigned 2013-10-31
Resigned
BRIAN JOHNSTON & CO. (INSURANCE SERVICES) LIMITED→
corporate-secretary · appointed 2009-09-23 · resigned 2009-09-23
Resigned
COBHAM, Karl David→
director · ~74y · appointed 1999-04-09 · resigned 2003-09-29
Resigned
DEE, Christopher Henry Roberts→
director · ~80y · resigned 2000-02-05
Resigned
FIFE, Michael Francis Thomas→
director · ~90y · resigned 2002-08-31
Resigned
PONSFORD, Ronald Frederick→
director · ~80y · appointed 1994-03-01 · resigned 1995-01-17
Resigned
PRESTON, Travers Edward Lawrence→
director · ~104y · resigned 2000-07-31
Resigned

Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.

Mortgages & charges

4
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:4 of 4 shown
TypeProperties
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
Halifax Building Society.
Mortgage1 property23/12/198503/06/2016
satisfied
Barclays
Barclays Bank PLC
Legal charge1 property28/01/198106/05/2016
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
Halifax Building Society.
Mortgage1 property07/01/198106/05/2016
outstanding
Barclays
Barclays Bank PLC
Legal charge1 property10/01/1980—
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (142 total)

accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2026-07-09
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-02-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2025-07-07
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-02-05
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-02-03
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2024-09-11
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-02-12
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2023-09-05
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2023-08-08
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2023-07-21
capital-name-of-class-of-shares
capital · SH08
2023-07-21
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2023-07-14
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-02-03
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2022-09-12
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-02-04