FRANK JOHNSTON (TRACTORS) LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
01339137 · ltd · incorporated 1977-11-17
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
hardening · 12-months
Already tight — no obvious softening catalysts on the horizon.
- · Thesis: well-run, low negotiation leverage
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 46610
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 69-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (68/100, director aged 69). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 4 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
4 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 33.1y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 33.1 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 35/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (58/100)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
6 officers (3 active, 6 linked, 4 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
5 connected companies via shared directors
60
Filing history
107 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
70
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
0
filings
Last 180 days
0
filings
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (27 events)Click to expand
- 2025-10-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2024-10-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2023-12-23📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2023-12-21🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Hsbc UK Bank PLC
- 2023-10-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2023-01-30📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2023-01-27📄change-person-secretary-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH03
- 2023-01-27📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2022-09-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2021-10-15📄change-account-reference-date-company-current-extendedaccounts · AA01
- 2021-08-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2020-10-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2019-08-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2018-07-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2017-12-05📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2017-12-05🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2017-06-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2016-11-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-mediumaccounts · AA
- 2012-12-19➖JOHNSTON, Francis Howard David resigneddirector
- 2012-05-10🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Trustees of Frank Johnston Pension Scheme
- 2011-11-23➕JOHNSTON, Lorna appointeddirector
- 2000-12-27🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Ing Lease (UK) Twelve Limited
- 1993-06-01🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Midland Bank PLC,
- 1992-03-04➕JOHNSTON, Lorna appointedsecretary
- 1992-03-04➖JOHNSTON, Ada resignedsecretary
- 1992-03-04➖JOHNSTON, Ada resigneddirector
- 1977-11-17🏢Company incorporatedAs FRANK JOHNSTON (TRACTORS) LIMITED
Owner dependency
96/100
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
- +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
- +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "JOHNSTON" — strong identity link between founder and business.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 69 — succession pressure is live.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
79/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 69. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 15 years.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 49 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
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 Howard Johnston Individual · British · DOB 09/1957 · age 69 | 50–75% | 50–75% | 50-75% shares · 50-75% voting | 30/06/2016 |
Miss Lorna Johnston Individual · British · DOB 08/1960 · age 66 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 30/06/2016 |
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 · CA postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUMBRIA COAL LIMITED→ 11250172 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| CUMBRIA COMPOSITE DECKING AND TIMBER LTD→ 12641560 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| CUMBRIAN MARKETING LIMITED→ 02610805 · est 1991 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 34y | — | — |
| CW AGRITECH LTD→ 13165885 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| D W TOPPIN LIMITED→ 06650955 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 17y | — | — |
| DRAINWISE (CIVILS) LTD→ 11359849 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| EASY FUELS NE LTD→ 10875556 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| ECHOWEARVORTEX LTD→ 16320010 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ECO CROPS LTD→ 15361787 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ECO WOOD BRIQUETTES LTD→ 15313711 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| FORTH ENGINEERING (CUMBRIA) LIMITED→ 04106328 · est 2000 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 25y | — | — |
| FRANK TAYLOR LIMITED→ 06204708 · est 2007 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 19y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1977-11-17
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC46610 — SIC 46610
Registered office
4 Montgomery Way
Rosehill Industrial Estate
Carlisle
CA1 2RW
United Kingdom
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-07-30
Last: 2025-07-16
Officers (3 active · 3 resigned)
Active
Active
JOHNSTON, Lorna→
Activedirector · ~66y · appointed 2011-11-23
View their other companies + combined net worth →
JOHNSTON, Ada→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1992-03-04
JOHNSTON, Ada→
Resigneddirector · ~101y · resigned 1992-03-04
JOHNSTON, Francis Howard David→
Resigneddirector · ~101y · resigned 2012-12-19
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
4
Total charges
3
Outstanding
3
Active lenders
Status:Lender:4 of 4 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc UK Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 21/12/2023 | — | |
| outstanding | Trustees of Frank Johnston Pension Scheme | Standard security | 1 property | 10/05/2012 | — | |
| satisfied | Ing Lease (UK) Twelve Ing Lease (UK) Twelve Limited | Assignment | 1 property | 27/12/2000 | 05/12/2017 | |
| outstanding | Midland Bank , Midland Bank PLC, | Fixed and floating charge | 1 property | 01/06/1993 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (107 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2025-10-06
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-07-29
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2024-10-07
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-07-29
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2023-12-23
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2023-10-04
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-07-27
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2023-01-30
change-person-secretary-company-with-change-date
officers · CH03
2023-01-27
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2023-01-27
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2022-09-27
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-07-25
change-account-reference-date-company-current-extended
accounts · AA01
2021-10-15
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2021-08-06
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-07-20