HOLMSTON DEVELOPMENTS PLC
⚰️Wound downdissolved
SC071807 · plc · incorporated 1980-06-11
Investment thesis
Company dissolved — not a live target.
Why interesting: Historical record only; useful for precedent research.
Why risky: Not transactable.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
50/100
Worth a look
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 8514
Sector: Education
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)Distressed unclear — structural issues outweigh the discount.
Opportunity 50/100 (worth a look), bankability 50/100. Strong seller-intent signal (78/100, director aged 84). Biggest value-creation lever: Resolve: Company dissolved. Company has been dissolved — it no longer legally exists. Any diligence here is historical only. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (30/100). Current lenders should be on monthly review.
🏦
Refinance opportunity
7 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 45.2y
40/100
too messy
Structure is too messy for a clean refinance right now — clean up first or expect bespoke terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 45.2 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · Legal-friction score 50/100 (high).
Data confidence
Overall: low (49/100)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
7 charges (7/7 with lender, 7/7 with type)
90
Directors & officers
21 officers (3 active, 21 linked, 15 with DOB)
84
Ownership & PSC
No PSCs filed (unusual — worth investigating)
35
Director network
4 connected companies via shared directors
57
Filing history
90 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
50/100Worth a look
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Mixed signal. Worth opening the full target workup before deciding to pursue.
Business quality
10
Concerning — overdue filings or status flags present.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
41
Multiple red flags — proceed with caution.
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 (65 events)Click to expand
- 2016-01-26📄gazette-dissolved-compulsorygazette · GAZ2
- 2016-01-26🏁Company dissolved
- 2015-11-10📄gazette-notice-compulsorygazette · GAZ1
- 2006-04-07⚠️liquidation-voluntary-return-of-final-meeting-scotlandinsolvency · 4.26(Scot)
- 2000-12-22⚠️liquidation-compulsory-appointment-provisional-liquidator-scotlandinsolvency · 4.9(Scot)
- 2000-12-18📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2000-12-18📍legacyaddress · 287
- 2000-11-29📄legacyofficers · 288b
- 2000-11-29📄legacyofficers · 288a
- 2000-11-24➕GRIER, Frieda appointedsecretary
- 2000-11-24➖BROWN, David John resignedsecretary
- 2000-11-24➖BROWN, David John resigneddirector
- 2000-11-20📄legacyofficers · 288a
- 2000-11-13📄legacyofficers · 288b
- 2000-11-09➕GRIER, Frieda appointeddirector
- 2000-10-30📍legacyaddress · 287
- 2000-10-19➖MCKIE, Robert Alastair resigneddirector
- 2000-02-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-full-groupaccounts · AA
- 2000-02-07📄legacyannual-return · 363s
- 1999-06-14📍legacyaddress · 287
- 1999-06-07📄legacyofficers · 288b
- 1999-04-22📄legacyofficers · 288a
- 1999-04-21📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 1999-04-09➕BROWN, David John appointeddirector
- 1999-04-06➖CAMPBELL, Joseph resigneddirector
- 1999-03-04📄legacyannual-return · 363s
- 1999-02-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-full-groupaccounts · AA
- 1998-10-19📄legacymortgage · 410(Scot)
- 1998-10-07🔒Charge registered #11Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 1998-06-10📄legacyofficers · 288a
- 1998-06-01➕BROWN, David John appointedsecretary
- 1998-06-01📄legacyofficers · 288b
- 1998-05-29➖CAIRNS, Thomas resignedsecretary
- 1998-05-29➖CAIRNS, Thomas resigneddirector
- 1998-04-29📍legacyaddress · 287
- 1998-03-13📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 1998-03-12📄legacyannual-return · 363s
- 1997-03-07➖GRIER, Frieda resigneddirector
- 1997-03-07➖MILLER, William Brown resigneddirector
- 1997-03-07➖MOFFAT, James Harkness resigneddirector
- 1996-04-03➖MCARTHUR, Gordon Borland resigneddirector
- 1996-04-03➖THORNE, Colin Leslie resigneddirector
- 1996-03-28🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 1996-03-28🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 1994-01-27➖AITKEN, William resigneddirector
- 1993-03-18➖MCARTHUR, Gordon Borland resigneddirector
- 1993-02-23➕THORNE, Colin Leslie appointeddirector
- 1993-02-12➖GRAHAM, James Lowery resigneddirector
- 1992-10-28➕GRAHAM, James Lowery appointeddirector
- 1992-10-12🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
Showing most recent 50 of 65 events
Owner dependency
83/100
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.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 26 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 84 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
96/100
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 84 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 26 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 46 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
2 high · 1 med ·Company dissolved
highCompany has been dissolved — it no longer legally exists. Any diligence here is historical only.
Evidence: Dissolved on 2016-01-26
2 insolvency-related filings on record
highFilings relating to insolvency, liquidation, or administration exist in the company's history. Review before proceeding.
Evidence: 2006-04-07: liquidation-voluntary-return-of-final-meeting-scotland; 2000-12-22: liquidation-compulsory-appointment-provisional-liquidator-scotland
Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
🔒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 · Education & training · KA postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRIENDS OF PORTENCROSS CASTLE→ SC186097 · est 1998 | — | — | £83.5k | — | 27y | 83 | 79y |
| GALLOWAY TRAINING LIMITED→ SC121428 · est 1989 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 36y | 83 | 79y |
| WELLINGTON SCHOOL (AYR) LIMITED→ SC026589 · est 1948 | — | — | £4.21M | — | 77y | 83 | 82y |
| MINDSTORE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED→ SC270146 · est 2004 | — | — | £1.16M | — | 21y | 82 | 71y |
| RAINBOW COTTAGE NURSERY LIMITED→ SC282206 · est 2005 | — | — | — | 30 | 21y | 82 | 78y |
| BENSLIE TRAINING LIMITED→ SC365040 · est 2009 | — | — | — | — | 16y | 81 | 62y |
| THE YOUNG PROGRAMME LIMITED→ SC282589 · est 2005 | — | — | £152.1k | — | 21y | 81 | 68y |
| CRAIGHEAD NURSERIES LTD→ SC521313 · est 2015 | — | — | £89.8k | — | 10y | 80 | 75y |
| SMART SOLUTIONS SCOTLAND LIMITED→ SC262136 · est 2004 | — | — | £834 | — | 22y | 80 | 62y |
| UNIVERSAL EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED→ SC261812 · est 2004 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 22y | 80 | 78y |
| CRAIGIE DEVELOPMENT LIMITED→ SC094927 · est 1985 | — | — | — | 0 | 40y | 79 | 89y |
| THE LITTLE ART SCHOOL GLASGOW LIMITED→ SC526953 · est 2016 | — | — | — | 2 | 10y | 79 | 59y |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
11 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
Statusdissolved
Typeplc
Incorporated1980-06-11
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC8514 — SIC 8514
Registered office
4 Wellington Square
Ayr
Ayrshire
KA7 1EN
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: —
Last made up to: 1999-09-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: —
Last: —
Officers (0 active · 18 resigned)
Active
GRIER, Frieda→
Activedirector · ~83y · appointed 2000-11-09
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BROWN, David John→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1998-06-01 · resigned 2000-11-24
CAIRNS, Thomas→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1998-05-29
AITKEN, William→
Resigneddirector · ~104y · resigned 1994-01-27
BROWN, David John→
Resigneddirector · ~57y · appointed 1999-04-09 · resigned 2000-11-24
CAIRNS, Thomas→
Resigneddirector · ~72y · resigned 1998-05-29
CAMPBELL, Joseph→
Resigneddirector · ~87y · resigned 1999-04-06
GRAHAM, James Lowery→
Resigneddirector · ~94y · appointed 1992-10-28 · resigned 1993-02-12
GRIER, Frieda→
Resigneddirector · ~83y · resigned 1997-03-07
HENDERSON, Fgs→
Resigneddirector · resigned 1991-09-12
MCARTHUR, Gordon Borland→
Resigneddirector · ~74y · appointed 1992-04-28 · resigned 1996-04-03
MCARTHUR, Gordon Borland→
Resigneddirector · ~74y · appointed 1992-04-28 · resigned 1993-03-18
MCKIE, Robert Alastair→
Resigneddirector · ~87y · resigned 2000-10-19
MCNAUGHT, Pc→
Resigneddirector · resigned 1990-12-07
MILLER, William Brown→
Resigneddirector · ~94y · resigned 1997-03-07
MOFFAT, James Harkness→
Resigneddirector · ~107y · resigned 1997-03-07
THORNE, Colin Leslie→
Resigneddirector · ~74y · appointed 1993-02-23 · resigned 1996-04-03
WATERS, John Gerard→
Resigneddirector · ~74y · appointed 1989-11-29 · resigned 1992-08-16
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
7
Total charges
3
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:7 of 7 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 1 property | 07/10/1998 | — | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 1 property | 12/10/1992 | 28/03/1996 | |
| outstanding | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 1 property | 09/08/1988 | — | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 1 property | 02/08/1985 | 28/03/1996 | |
| outstanding | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Floating charge | 1 property | 21/05/1985 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 08/08/1983 | 13/02/1986 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 09/03/1981 | 30/07/1985 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (90 total)
gazette-dissolved-compulsory
gazette · GAZ2
2016-01-26
gazette-notice-compulsory
gazette · GAZ1
2015-11-10
liquidation-voluntary-return-of-final-meeting-scotland
insolvency · 4.26(Scot)
2006-04-07
liquidation-compulsory-appointment-provisional-liquidator-scotland
insolvency · 4.9(Scot)
2000-12-22
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2000-12-18
legacy
address · 287
2000-12-18
legacy
officers · 288b
2000-11-29
legacy
officers · 288a
2000-11-29
legacy
officers · 288a
2000-11-20
legacy
officers · 288b
2000-11-13
legacy
address · 287
2000-10-30
accounts-with-accounts-type-full-group
accounts · AA
2000-02-21
legacy
annual-return · 363s
2000-02-07
legacy
address · 287
1999-06-14
legacy
officers · 288b
1999-06-07