JOHN SMITH & SON GROUP LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
SC006905 · ltd · incorporated 1908-09-24
Investment thesis
Established operating company — standard diligence applies, no dominant angle.
Why interesting: Live, filing, normal profile.
Why risky: No standout signals in either direction.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
80/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: Business and domestic software development
Sector: Information & communication
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
- 85590Other education n.e.c.
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 74-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 80/100 (exceptional), bankability 62/100. Strong seller-intent signal (65/100, director aged 74). 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: strategic trade sale (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
9 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 50.8y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 50.8 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 30/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
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, 2 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
9 charges (9/9 with lender, 9/9 with type)
90
Directors & officers
33 officers (7 active, 33 linked, 26 with DOB)
86
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
18 connected companies via shared directors
90
Filing history
200 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
80/100Exceptional
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
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (91 events)Click to expand
- 2026-03-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-10-28📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC05
- 2025-10-24📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC02
- 2025-10-24📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2025-10-20📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2025-10-16📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2025-09-29📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-07-10📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2025-07-01➕MAHONEY, Richard Hugo Wyndham appointeddirector
- 2025-03-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-03-05📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-05-05📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2023-03-27📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-03-23➕DALE, Nicholas Siegfried appointeddirector
- 2023-02-20📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC02
- 2023-02-20📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2023-02-08📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-01-25📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2021-01-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2020-10-06📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2020-10-06📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2020-10-06🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 2020-10-06🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2020-08-27🔒Charge registered #11Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2019-02-06➖GRAY, James Richard resigneddirector
- 2019-01-04➖BURSEY, Sam resigneddirector
- 2016-06-24➕MARSHALL, David Craig appointeddirector
- 2015-12-10➖LEITCH, Alan James Melville resigneddirector
- 2015-11-10➕BURSEY, Sam appointeddirector
- 2015-07-29➕FOOKS, Matthew Guy appointedsecretary
- 2015-07-29➖ADAMS, Edward Laurence John resignedsecretary
- 2015-01-20➕ADAMS, Edward Laurence John appointedsecretary
- 2014-10-13➖MOORE, Andrew John resigneddirector
- 2014-08-01➖JEYES, Peter Martin resignedsecretary
- 2012-03-02➖JEYES, Peter Martin resigneddirector
- 2011-12-15➖GRAY, Robert William resigneddirector
- 2011-12-01➕LAKE, Peter William appointeddirector
- 2011-10-05🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2011-04-30➖ANDERSON, William Taylor Campbell resigneddirector
- 2007-12-31➖FIELD, Terence Frederick resigneddirector
- 2007-02-12➕GRAY, Robert William appointeddirector
- 2006-06-01➕MOORE, Andrew John appointeddirector
- 2004-07-01➕LEITCH, Alan James Melville appointeddirector
- 2004-06-30➖HOLLOWAY, David John resigneddirector
- 2003-11-16➕HOLLOWAY, David John appointeddirector
- 2003-06-19➕LINDSAY, Stuart Robert appointeddirector
- 2002-12-11➖HILL, Robin Gordon resigneddirector
- 2002-12-11➖SUGDEN, Christopher resigneddirector
- 2002-09-17➕FIELD, Terence Frederick appointeddirector
- 2001-11-29➕GRAY, Peter Leigh appointeddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 91 events
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 24 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 74 — 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 74 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 24 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
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
Js Aspire Group Holdings Ltd is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Js Aspire Group Holdings Ltd
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
JOHN SMITH & SON GROUP LIMITED
This company · SC006905
Parent relationships inferred from Persons with Significant Control filings. Full subsidiary tree requires reverse-lookup (coming).
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Js Aspire Group Holdings Ltd Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 06/10/2025 |
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Cubit Group Ltdceased 06/10/2025· 75-100% shares
- Mr Peter Leigh Grayceased 20/02/2023· significant influence · firm interest
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
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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
Incorporated1908-09-24
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC62012 — Business and domestic software development
Registered office
Building 1 9 Haymarket Square
Edinburgh
EH3 8RY
United Kingdom
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-02-28
Last made up to: 2025-06-01
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-10-15
Last: 2025-10-01
Officers (7 active · 26 resigned)
FOOKS, Matthew Guy→
Activesecretary · appointed 2015-07-29
View their other companies + combined net worth →
DALE, Nicholas Siegfried→
Activedirector · ~56y · appointed 2023-03-23
View their other companies + combined net worth →
GRAY, Peter Leigh→
Activedirector · ~59y · appointed 2001-11-29
View their other companies + combined net worth →
LAKE, Peter William→
Activedirector · ~68y · appointed 2011-12-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
LINDSAY, Stuart Robert→
Activedirector · ~74y · appointed 2003-06-19
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MAHONEY, Richard Hugo Wyndham→
Activedirector · ~56y · appointed 2025-07-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MARSHALL, David Craig→
Activedirector · ~51y · appointed 2016-06-24
View their other companies + combined net worth →
ADAMS, Edward Laurence John→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2015-01-20 · resigned 2015-07-29
JEYES, Peter Martin→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2001-11-29 · resigned 2014-08-01
NOTARANGELO, Pietro Raffaele→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1997-10-01 · resigned 2000-10-30
SHEARER, Robert Coutts→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2000-10-30 · resigned 2001-11-29
TURNER, David J→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1997-09-30
ANDERSON, William Taylor Campbell→
Resigneddirector · ~78y · appointed 2001-11-29 · resigned 2011-04-30
ANDERSON, William Taylor Campbell→
Resigneddirector · ~78y · resigned 2001-11-29
BURSEY, Sam→
Resigneddirector · ~50y · appointed 2015-11-10 · resigned 2019-01-04
CLOW, Robert George Menzies→
Resigneddirector · ~92y · resigned 2000-10-30
DOUGLAS, Joan→
Resigneddirector · ~63y · appointed 1998-11-01 · resigned 2000-01-28
FIELD, Terence Frederick→
Resigneddirector · ~67y · appointed 2002-09-17 · resigned 2007-12-31
GRAHAM, John Michael Denning→
Resigneddirector · ~82y · resigned 2000-10-30
GRAY, James Richard→
Resigneddirector · ~60y · appointed 2001-11-29 · resigned 2019-02-06
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
9
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:9 of 9 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 27/08/2020 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 05/10/2011 | 06/10/2020 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 04/08/1999 | 20/11/2001 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 04/08/1999 | 20/11/2001 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Floating charge | 1 property | 24/06/1999 | 06/10/2020 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 1 property | 03/07/1992 | 20/11/2001 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Floating charge | 1 property | 14/02/1992 | 24/08/1999 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 1 property | 14/05/1985 | 07/09/1999 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 1 property | 16/07/1975 | 27/08/1999 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (200 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2026-03-04
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC05
2025-10-28
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
2025-10-24
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2025-10-24
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2025-10-20
memorandum-articles
incorporation · MA
2025-10-16
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-10-02
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-09-29
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-07-10
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-03-06
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-10-14
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2024-03-05
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-10-09
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2023-05-05
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2023-03-27