JAMES JOHNSTON & CO. OF ELGIN LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
SC022553 · ltd · incorporated 1943-09-25
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
83/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: Weaving of textiles
Sector: Manufacturing
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
- 14190SIC 14190
- 46410Wholesale of textiles
- 47190Other retail sale in non-specialised stores
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 70-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 83/100 (exceptional), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 70). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 3 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 · 3 lenders · oldest 12.6y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 12.6 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 38/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (59/100)Adequate coverage. AI outputs are reliable for the sections scored high; verify the rest in diligence.
Company profile
address, 4 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
25 officers (6 active, 25 linked, 21 with DOB)
87
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
6 connected companies via shared directors
63
Filing history
213 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
0
filings
Last 180 days
0
filings
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (62 events)Click to expand
- 2025-05-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2025-01-06📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-09-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2024-07-22📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-07-03➖BANNERMAN, Nicholas Alastair Charles resigneddirector
- 2024-04-02📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-03-15➖URQUHART, Ian George Masson resigneddirector
- 2023-11-09📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2023-11-08📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2023-11-03🔒Charge registered #4Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC as Security Agent
- 2023-11-01🔒Charge registered #3Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC as Security Agent
- 2023-09-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2023-07-05➖GAFFNEY, Christopher James Martin resignedsecretary
- 2023-07-05📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2022-12-06📄capital-name-of-class-of-sharescapital · SH08
- 2022-12-02📄capital-variation-of-rights-attached-to-sharescapital · SH10
- 2022-12-02📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2022-10-14📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2022-10-14📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2022-09-21➕WALLACE, Johanna Margaret appointeddirector
- 2022-09-21📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2022-07-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2021-12-15📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2021-12-14➖COTTON, Simon James resigneddirector
- 2021-09-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2020-07-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2016-04-20➖WATERS, Donald Henry resigneddirector
- 2015-05-05➕URQUHART, Jennifer Mollie appointeddirector
- 2015-05-05➕WIKSTROM, Martha Shaffer appointeddirector
- 2014-03-03🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2014-02-14🔒Charge registered #2Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2013-12-12➖SUGDEN, James Edward resigneddirector
- 2013-11-04➕COTTON, Simon James appointeddirector
- 2013-09-25🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2013-04-03➖DRACUP, James Brian Hedley resigneddirector
- 2011-07-29➖ARCHIBALD, Graeme Clark resignedsecretary
- 2011-07-29➖ARCHIBALD, Graeme Clark resigneddirector
- 2011-07-05➕GAFFNEY, Christopher James Martin appointedsecretary
- 2011-06-20➕GAFFNEY, Christopher James Martin appointeddirector
- 2010-02-01➕BANNERMAN, Nicholas Alastair Charles appointeddirector
- 2005-04-01➕URQUHART, Neil Edward appointeddirector
- 2005-03-31➖HARRISON, Robert resigneddirector
- 2002-01-01➕HARRISON, David Alexander appointeddirector
- 2002-01-01➕DRACUP, James Brian Hedley appointeddirector
- 2001-12-21➖MONTGOMERY, Donald resigneddirector
- 2001-07-11➖HARRISON, John Alexander Don resigneddirector
- 2001-06-04➖SANDS, Graeme Craig resigneddirector
- 2000-05-02➖HARRISON, Edward Paton resigneddirector
- 1999-03-22➕SANDS, Graeme Craig appointeddirector
- 1999-02-01➕WATERS, Donald Henry appointeddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 62 events
Owner dependency
73/100
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 70 — succession pressure is live.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
90/100
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 70 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 24 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 83 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Jennifer Mollie Urquhart Individual · British · DOB 04/1978 · age 48 | 25–50% | — | 25-50% shares | 06/04/2016 |
Mr Neil Edward Urquhart Individual · British · DOB 06/1975 · age 51 | 25–50% | — | 25-50% shares | 06/04/2016 |
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.
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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
Incorporated1943-09-25
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC13200 — Weaving of textiles
Registered office
Newmill
Elgin
IV30 4AF
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-07-09
Last: 2025-06-25
Officers (6 active · 19 resigned)
GAFFNEY, Christopher James Martin→
Activedirector · ~55y · appointed 2011-06-20
View their other companies + combined net worth →
HARRISON, David Alexander→
Activedirector · ~66y · appointed 2002-01-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
URQUHART, Jennifer Mollie→
Activedirector · ~48y · appointed 2015-05-05
View their other companies + combined net worth →
URQUHART, Neil Edward→
Activedirector · ~51y · appointed 2005-04-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
WALLACE, Johanna Margaret→
Activedirector · ~50y · appointed 2022-09-21
View their other companies + combined net worth →
WIKSTROM, Martha Shaffer→
Activedirector · ~70y · appointed 2015-05-05
View their other companies + combined net worth →
ARCHIBALD, Graeme Clark→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1992-03-01 · resigned 2011-07-29
GAFFNEY, Christopher James Martin→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2011-07-05 · resigned 2023-07-05
QUIRIE, Edward Ian Ernest→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1992-03-01
ANDERSON, Alan James Hutcheon→
Resigneddirector · ~94y · resigned 1989-12-31
ARCHIBALD, Graeme Clark→
Resigneddirector · ~76y · appointed 1992-03-01 · resigned 2011-07-29
BANNERMAN, Nicholas Alastair Charles→
Resigneddirector · ~60y · appointed 2010-02-01 · resigned 2024-07-03
BOYD, Michael→
Resigneddirector · appointed 1990-04-01 · resigned 1990-07-04
COTTON, Simon James→
Resigneddirector · ~57y · appointed 2013-11-04 · resigned 2021-12-14
DRACUP, James Brian Hedley→
Resigneddirector · ~68y · appointed 2002-01-01 · resigned 2013-04-03
HARRISON, Edward Paton→
Resigneddirector · ~108y · resigned 2000-05-02
HARRISON, John Alexander Don→
Resigneddirector · ~94y · resigned 2001-07-11
HARRISON, Robert→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 1999-01-01 · resigned 2005-03-31
MONTGOMERY, Donald→
Resigneddirector · ~79y · appointed 1990-04-01 · resigned 2001-12-21
POLLOCK, Kenneth Andrew→
Resigneddirector · ~78y · appointed 1993-11-01 · resigned 1995-10-23
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
4
Total charges
3
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:4 of 4 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC as Security Agent | A registered charge | 1 property | 03/11/2023 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC as Security Agent | A registered charge | 1 property | 01/11/2023 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 14/02/2014 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 25/09/2013 | 03/03/2014 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (213 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-06-27
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2025-05-23
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-01-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2024-09-27
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-07-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-06-25
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-04-02
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2023-11-09
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2023-11-08
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2023-09-12
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-07-05
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2023-07-05
capital-name-of-class-of-shares
capital · SH08
2022-12-06
capital-variation-of-rights-attached-to-shares
capital · SH10
2022-12-02
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2022-12-02