ABERDEEN ASIA FOCUS PLC
🌳Matureactive
03106339 · plc · incorporated 1995-09-20
Investment thesis
Looks cheap but ownership + security both unclear — probable value trap.
Why interesting: Headline metrics may be attractive.
Why risky: No PSC visibility combined with multiple live charges; transacting likely slow and expensive.
Opportunity decay
approaching window · 12-months
Approaching a transaction window — refinance or sale event plausible in the next 12 months.
- · Oldest live charge 18.0y old — refinance window within 12 months
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
77/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Activities of investment trusts
Sector: Financial & insurance
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 66-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 77/100 (strong), bankability 75/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 66). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: strategic trade sale (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
2 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 18.0y
70/100
ready
Refinance conversation should be productive — structure clean and timing right.
- · Oldest live charge is 18.0 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · Legal-friction score 20/100 — clean.
Data confidence
Overall: low (50/100)Sparse data coverage. Treat AI-generated outputs as preliminary. Manual diligence essential.
Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
2 charges (2/2 with lender, 2/2 with type)
90
Directors & officers
22 officers (6 active, 22 linked, 21 with DOB)
89
Ownership & PSC
No PSCs filed (unusual — worth investigating)
35
Director network
4 connected companies via shared directors
57
Filing history
654 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
1
filing
- • 1 capital
Last 90 days
4
filings
- • 3 capital
- • 1 officers
Last 180 days
12
filings
- • 9 capital
- • 1 officers
- • 1 resolution
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (66 events)Click to expand
- 2026-05-07📄capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-datecapital · SH03
- 2026-04-20📄capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-datecapital · SH03
- 2026-04-17📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2026-04-12➖COOPER, Lindsay William Ernest resigneddirector
- 2026-02-28📄capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-datecapital · SH03
- 2026-02-16📄capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-datecapital · SH03
- 2026-01-20📄capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-datecapital · SH03
- 2025-12-29📄capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-datecapital · SH03
- 2025-12-20📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2025-12-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-12-11📄capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-datecapital · SH03
- 2025-12-03📄capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-datecapital · SH03
- 2025-12-03📄capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-datecapital · SH03
- 2025-11-19📄capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-datecapital · SH03
- 2025-11-13📄legacymiscellaneous · ANNOTATION
- 2025-11-13📄capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-datecapital · SH03
- 2025-11-10📄capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-datecapital · SH03
- 2025-11-10📄capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-datecapital · SH03
- 2025-11-10📄capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-datecapital · SH03
- 2025-11-10📄capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-datecapital · SH03
- 2025-11-10📄capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-datecapital · SH03
- 2025-11-04📄capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-datecapital · SH03
- 2025-10-14✏️certificate-change-of-name-companychange-of-name · CERTNM
- 2025-10-14📄capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-datecapital · SH03
- 2025-10-14📄capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-datecapital · SH03
- 2025-05-30🔒Charge registered #2Lender: The Law Debenture Trust Corporation P.L.C.
- 2024-03-01➕CURLING, Davina Cordelia appointeddirector
- 2023-12-05➕MACDONALD, Lucy Henrietta appointeddirector
- 2023-12-05➖MCDONNELL, Randal Alexander St John, Earl Of Antrim resigneddirector
- 2022-11-30➖CAYZER, Nigel Kenneth, Mr. resigneddirector
- 2022-07-13➕FINN, Alexander William Galletly Gonzalez appointeddirector
- 2022-06-15➕COOPER, Lindsay William Ernest appointeddirector
- 2022-04-14➖GUTHRIE, Debbie Jane resigneddirector
- 2020-12-01➖YEA, Philip Edward resigneddirector
- 2020-11-27➖GILBERT, Martin James resigneddirector
- 2020-11-27➖YOUNG, Hugh resigneddirector
- 2020-06-03➕SHANMUGANATHAN, Krishna appointeddirector
- 2020-03-31➖FUKUDA OBE, Haruko resigneddirector
- 2019-03-31➖MAUDE, Christopher Simon resigneddirector
- 2019-01-16➕BLACK, Charlotte Mary appointeddirector
- 2019-01-16➕GUTHRIE, Debbie Jane appointeddirector
- 2016-11-29➖HADSLEY-CHAPLIN, Mark Robert resigneddirector
- 2014-01-23➕YEA, Philip Edward appointeddirector
- 2013-12-03➖KEMP, Alan Scott resigneddirector
- 2013-07-01➕HADSLEY-CHAPLIN, Mark Robert appointeddirector
- 2013-07-01➕MCDONNELL, Randal Alexander St John, Earl Of Antrim appointeddirector
- 2011-06-14🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2008-06-05🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2007-05-16➕MAUDE, Christopher Simon appointeddirector
- 2006-10-10➖SAUNDERS, Iain Ogilvy Swain resigneddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 66 events
Owner dependency
55/100
Moderate — manageable with handoverSome founder dependency, but not acute. A structured handover period should cover most risk.
FACTORS
- -5 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 66 — succession pressure is live.
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 66. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
Red flags
1 med ·Name changed recently
mediumName changes can be benign (rebrand) but can also precede distress, phoenix activity, or buyer concealment.
Evidence: 2025-10-14: certificate-change-of-name-company
🔒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
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2X IGNITE LIMITED→ 15873885 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 3 RED GROUPS LIMITED→ 16590338 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3G CAPITAL INVESTMENTS LTD→ 13578756 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| 3MG INTERNATIONAL LIMITED→ 13272866 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| 68-33 COMPANY LIMITED→ 15139238 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 6K CAPITAL LTD→ 15882048 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 7 PEMBRIDGE LIMITED→ 14681486 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| 7IM INVESTMENT AND RETIREMENT SOLUTIONS LIMITED→ 10902511 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| A AND E CORPORATE MEMBER LIMITED→ 09225704 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| ABCOR FINANCE NO3 LIMITED→ 14208886 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| ABCOR SERVICES LIMITED→ 16234881 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ABERDEEN CORPORATE FINANCE LIMITED→ 16025827 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
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
Typeplc
Incorporated1995-09-20
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC64301 — Activities of investment trusts
Registered office
280 Bishopsgate
London
EC2M 4AG
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-01-31
Last made up to: 2025-07-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-10-04
Last: 2025-09-20
Officers (6 active · 16 resigned)
ABRDN HOLDINGS LIMITED→
Activecorporate-secretary · appointed 1995-09-20
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BLACK, Charlotte Mary→
Activedirector · ~66y · appointed 2019-01-16
View their other companies + combined net worth →
CURLING, Davina Cordelia→
Activedirector · ~62y · appointed 2024-03-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
FINN, Alexander William Galletly Gonzalez→
Activedirector · ~65y · appointed 2022-07-13
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MACDONALD, Lucy Henrietta→
Activedirector · ~63y · appointed 2023-12-05
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SHANMUGANATHAN, Krishna→
Activedirector · ~52y · appointed 2020-06-03
View their other companies + combined net worth →
AJMERA, Radhika→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 2001-05-22 · resigned 2004-09-16
CAYZER, Nigel Kenneth, Mr.→
Resigneddirector · ~72y · appointed 1995-09-28 · resigned 2022-11-30
COOPER, Lindsay William Ernest→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 2022-06-15 · resigned 2026-04-12
ELSTOB, Eric Carl→
Resigneddirector · ~83y · appointed 1995-09-28 · resigned 2003-10-28
FUKUDA OBE, Haruko→
Resigneddirector · ~80y · appointed 2003-01-30 · resigned 2020-03-31
GILBERT, Martin James→
Resigneddirector · ~71y · appointed 1995-09-20 · resigned 2020-11-27
GUTHRIE, Debbie Jane→
Resigneddirector · ~71y · appointed 2019-01-16 · resigned 2022-04-14
HADSLEY-CHAPLIN, Mark Robert→
Resigneddirector · ~65y · appointed 2013-07-01 · resigned 2016-11-29
HAMES, Peter John→
Resigneddirector · ~65y · appointed 1998-09-28 · resigned 2004-09-16
KEMP, Alan Scott→
Resigneddirector · ~82y · appointed 1996-05-16 · resigned 2013-12-03
MAUDE, Christopher Simon→
Resigneddirector · ~82y · appointed 2007-05-16 · resigned 2019-03-31
MCDONNELL, Randal Alexander St John, Earl Of Antrim→
Resigneddirector · ~59y · appointed 2013-07-01 · resigned 2023-12-05
SAUNDERS, Iain Ogilvy Swain→
Resigneddirector · ~79y · appointed 2004-09-16 · resigned 2006-10-10
WEE, Sin Tho→
Resigneddirector · ~78y · appointed 1995-09-28 · resigned 2000-01-31
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
2
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:2 of 2 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | The Law Debenture Trust Corporation P.L.C. | A registered charge | 1 property | 30/05/2025 | — | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Security agreement | 1 property | 05/06/2008 | 14/06/2011 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (654 total)
capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-date
capital · SH03
2026-05-07
capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-date
capital · SH03
2026-04-20
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2026-04-17
capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-date
capital · SH03
2026-02-28
capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-date
capital · SH03
2026-02-16
capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-date
capital · SH03
2026-01-20
capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-date
capital · SH03
2025-12-29
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2025-12-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-12-18
capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-date
capital · SH03
2025-12-11
capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-date
capital · SH03
2025-12-03
capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-date
capital · SH03
2025-12-03
capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-date
capital · SH03
2025-11-19
legacy
miscellaneous · ANNOTATION
2025-11-13
capital-return-purchase-own-shares-treasury-capital-date
capital · SH03
2025-11-13