THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
SC083022 · ltd · incorporated 1983-05-06
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
80/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 11010
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with exceptional profile and acceptable with review structure.
Opportunity 80/100 (exceptional), bankability 67/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 8 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
15 live charges · 8 lenders · oldest 34.8y
25/100
too messy
Structure is too messy for a clean refinance right now — clean up first or expect bespoke terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 34.8 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 8 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 45/100 (high).
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
15 charges (15/15 with lender, 15/15 with type)
90
Directors & officers
42 officers (4 active, 42 linked, 30 with DOB)
84
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
6 connected companies via shared directors
63
Filing history
258 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
0
filings
Last 180 days
0
filings
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (120 events)Click to expand
- 2025-09-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-09-26📄mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-numbermortgage · 466(Scot)
- 2025-09-26📄mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-numbermortgage · 466(Scot)
- 2025-09-24📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-09-23📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-23📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-23📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-23📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-23📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-23📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-23📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-23🔓Charge satisfied #13
- 2025-09-23🔓Charge satisfied #12
- 2025-09-23🔓Charge satisfied #11
- 2025-09-23🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 2025-09-23🔓Charge satisfied #9
- 2025-09-23🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2025-09-23🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2025-09-22🔒Charge registered #15Lender: Santander UK PLC (As Security Trustee)
- 2024-10-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-03-11📄mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-numbermortgage · 466(Scot)
- 2024-02-27📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2024-02-24📄mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-numbermortgage · 466(Scot)
- 2024-02-24📄mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-numbermortgage · 466(Scot)
- 2024-02-08🔒Charge registered #14Lender: Ferovinum LTD
- 2023-10-05📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-08-08📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2023-07-28➖DAMEN, Jan Willem resigneddirector
- 2023-05-17➕MCCARTER, William appointeddirector
- 2023-05-17📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-01-24➖RIDLEY, David John resigneddirector
- 2023-01-24📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-09-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-06-23➖SKIPWORTH, Paul Henry resigneddirector
- 2021-09-06➕AITKEN, Douglas Henderson appointedsecretary
- 2021-09-06➖BREMNER, William Alexander resignedsecretary
- 2021-06-25➖AITKEN, Neil Peter James resigneddirector
- 2021-01-19🔒Charge registered #13Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2020-09-17➕DANE, Andrew William appointeddirector
- 2020-09-17➖BREMNER, William Alexander resigneddirector
- 2019-12-20🔒Charge registered #12Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2019-12-20🔒Charge registered #11Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2019-12-17🔒Charge registered #10Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2017-11-17🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2017-04-06➕RIDLEY, David John appointeddirector
- 2016-05-31➕AITKEN, Neil Peter James appointeddirector
- 2016-05-13➖MILES, Paul Julian resigneddirector
- 2016-05-13🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Rbs Invoice Finance Limited
- 2016-05-04🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2016-05-03🔓Charge satisfied #5
Showing most recent 50 of 120 events
Owner dependency
68/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 21 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 61 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
60/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 61. Early succession window.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 21 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
The Artisanal Spirits Company Plc is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
The Artisanal Spirits Company Plc
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares
⬇
THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY LIMITED
This company · SC083022
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Artisanal Spirits Company Plc Corporate entity | 75–100% | — | 75-100% shares | 01/07/2016 |
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 · Food & drink · EH postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRODIE MELROSE DRYSDALE & CO. LIMITED→ SC201590 · est 1999 | £1.45M £1.07M–£1.84M | £8.61M | — | 3300 | 26y | 84 | 63y |
| BELLA & DUKE LIMITED→ SC547789 · est 2016 | £447.4k £329.6k–£565.1k | — | — | 134 | 9y | 83 | 67y |
| HAMLYNS OF SCOTLAND LIMITED→ SC176949 · est 1997 | £99.9k £73.6k–£126.2k | £27.47M | — | 5400 | 28y | 86 | 80y |
| SALTIRE PATISSERIE LTD.→ SC295828 · est 2006 | — | — | — | 15 | 20y | 83 | 63y |
| SCOT CHIP LIMITED→ SC258060 · est 2003 | — | — | £1.13M | — | 22y | 83 | 61y |
| THE PREMIUM BAKERY LIMITED→ SC316253 · est 2007 | — | — | £420.7k | — | 19y | 83 | 69y |
| CAWOODS (FISHCURERS) LIMITED→ SC034153 · est 1959 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 66y | 82 | 60y |
| S LUCA OF MUSSELBURGH LIMITED→ SC296882 · est 2006 | — | — | £1.65M | — | 20y | 82 | 69y |
| ARTISAN ROAST LIMITED→ SC327756 · est 2007 | — | — | — | 3600 | 18y | 81 | 62y |
| GRAMPIAN OAT PRODUCTS LIMITED→ SC176950 · est 1997 | — | — | — | 0 | 28y | 81 | 80y |
| MOROCCO GOLD LIMITED→ SC370625 · est 2009 | — | — | £249.9k | — | 16y | 81 | 72y |
| TRAQUAIR HOUSE BREWERY LIMITED→ SC172147 · est 1997 | — | — | — | 300 | 29y | 81 | 62y |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
6 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
Incorporated1983-05-06
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC11010 — SIC 11010
Registered office
The Vaults
87 Giles Street
Leith
Edinburgh
EH6 6BZ
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-07-08
Last: 2025-06-24
Officers (4 active · 38 resigned)
AITKEN, Douglas Henderson→
Activesecretary · appointed 2021-09-06
View their other companies + combined net worth →
DANE, Andrew William→
Activedirector · ~43y · appointed 2020-09-17
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
MCCARTER, William→
Activedirector · ~42y · appointed 2023-05-17
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BREMNER, William Alexander→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2015-04-20 · resigned 2021-09-06
CULLEN, Peter Beszant→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2001-01-23 · resigned 2001-07-01
FLEMING, Martha Jayne→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2005-06-01 · resigned 2015-03-27
HILLS, Phillip Francis Logan→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1989-10-07
MACDONALD, Alison Erica→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2004-06-25 · resigned 2005-05-31
MCKAY, Douglas Charles→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1993-01-22 · resigned 1996-05-28
SAYWOOD, Joan Carol→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2001-07-01 · resigned 2004-06-24
SAYWOOD, Joan Carol→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1996-05-28 · resigned 2001-01-23
BIGGART BAILLIE & GIFFORD WS→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · resigned 1992-12-03
AITKEN, Neil Peter James→
Resigneddirector · ~55y · appointed 2016-05-31 · resigned 2021-06-25
BREMNER, William Alexander→
Resigneddirector · ~53y · appointed 2015-09-01 · resigned 2020-09-17
CULLEN, Peter Beszant→
Resigneddirector · ~89y · appointed 1998-01-21 · resigned 2007-09-30
DAMEN, Jan Willem→
Resigneddirector · ~55y · appointed 2015-09-01 · resigned 2023-07-28
DANA, Anne→
Resigneddirector · ~84y · appointed 1995-03-26 · resigned 1997-07-27
DANA, Anne→
Resigneddirector · ~84y · resigned 1990-05-11
DARKE, Adrian→
Resigneddirector · ~80y · resigned 1995-03-26
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
15
Total charges
2
Outstanding
2
Active lenders
Status:Lender:15 of 15 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Santander Santander UK PLC (As Security Trustee) | A registered charge | — | 22/09/2025 | — | |
| outstanding | Ferovinum Ferovinum LTD | A registered charge | — | 08/02/2024 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 19/01/2021 | 23/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 20/12/2019 | 23/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 20/12/2019 | 23/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 17/12/2019 | 23/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 17/11/2017 | 23/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | NatWest Group Rbs Invoice Finance Limited | A registered charge | — | 13/05/2016 | 23/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | — | 22/04/2016 | 23/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | — | 11/08/2015 | 04/05/2016 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 24/07/2015 | 03/05/2016 | |
| satisfied | The Scottish Ministers | Standard security | 2 properties | 17/03/2009 | 22/08/2015 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 22/02/1994 | 18/09/2004 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 06/05/1993 | 18/09/2004 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 18/07/1991 | 25/05/1993 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (258 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-09-29
mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-number
mortgage · 466(Scot)
2025-09-26
mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-number
mortgage · 466(Scot)
2025-09-26
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-09-24
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-09-23
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-09-23
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-09-23
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-09-23
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-09-23
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-09-23
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-09-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-06-24
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2024-10-03
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-07-22
mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-number
mortgage · 466(Scot)
2024-03-11