J.W.G. LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
SC088858 · ltd · incorporated 1984-07-11
Investment thesis
Zombie company — trading but stalled; unlikely mover.
Why interesting: Quiet, steady; could be a succession or carve-out candidate with the right conversation.
Why risky: No growth signal; thin margin for error on price.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
72/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 46342
Sector: Wholesale & retail
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
- 46390Non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.
Opportunity 72/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. 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. 3 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (38/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
13 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 41.5y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 41.5 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (57/100)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
13 charges (13/13 with lender, 13/13 with type)
90
Directors & officers
5 officers (1 active, 5 linked, 3 with DOB)
82
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
137 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
72/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
60
Some acquirability indicators.
Risk profile
69
Some moderate concerns — review flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Last 180 days
5
filings
- • 2 change-of-name
- • 1 accounts
- • 1 incorporation
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (47 events)Click to expand
- 2026-05-05📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2026-02-10✏️certificate-re-registration-public-limited-company-to-privatechange-of-name · CERT10
- 2026-02-10📄re-registration-memorandum-articlesincorporation · MAR
- 2026-02-10📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2026-02-10✏️reregistration-public-to-private-companychange-of-name · RR02
- 2025-07-22➖HEPBURN, Anna Mary resigneddirector
- 2025-07-22📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-07-22📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2025-07-22📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2025-07-22📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2025-07-22📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-07-22🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2025-07-08📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2025-06-26📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-06-26🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 2024-09-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2023-08-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2023-01-19➖HEPBURN, George Garland resigneddirector
- 2023-01-19📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-07-11📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2021-07-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2020-02-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2019-06-24➖MORTON FRASER SECRETARIES LIMITED resignedcorporate-secretary
- 2009-11-23➖FOGGO, Thomas Clark resignedsecretary
- 2009-11-23➕MORTON FRASER SECRETARIES LIMITED appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2004-11-26🔒Charge registered #15Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2004-11-26🔒Charge registered #14Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2004-11-26🔒Charge registered #13Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2004-09-29🔓Charge satisfied #11
- 2004-09-29🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2004-09-29🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2004-09-29🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2004-09-10🔒Charge registered #12Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2004-04-01➕JOHNSTON, Iain Robert appointeddirector
- 2002-05-23🔒Charge registered #11Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 1995-06-28🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 1995-04-06🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 1994-04-22🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 1994-04-22🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 1994-04-08🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 1994-03-21🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 1994-03-21🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 1989-05-31🔒Charge registered #4Lender: George Craig & Sons Limited
- 1988-10-26🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 1987-11-02🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 1984-10-29🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 1984-07-11🏢Company incorporatedAs J.W.G. LIMITED
Owner dependency
85/100
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
- +Sole director: Only one active director — all governance concentrated on one person.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 22 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
Succession & seller-readiness
75/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 22 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 42 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 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.
Name changed 2 times
mediumName changes can be benign (rebrand) but can also precede distress, phoenix activity, or buyer concealment.
Evidence: 2026-02-10: certificate-re-registration-public-limited-company-to-private; 2026-02-10: reregistration-public-to-private-company
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Iain Robert Johnston Individual · British · DOB 07/1971 · age 55 | 50–75% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 22/07/2025 |
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Anna Hepburnceased 22/07/2025· 50-75% shares · 50-75% voting · significant influence
- George Hepburnceased 19/01/2023· 50-75% shares · 50-75% voting · significant influence
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 · Wholesale & distribution · ZE postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAMIESON AND SMITH (SHETLAND WOOL BROKERS) LIMITED→ SC028516 · est 1951 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 74y | 78 | 62y |
| JOHN TULLOCH (SHETLAND PRODUCTS) LIMITED→ SC026382 · est 1948 | — | — | £1.58M | — | 77y | 78 | 63y |
| L WILLIAMSON LIMITED→ SC274059 · est 2004 | — | — | £3.34M | — | 21y | 77 | 54y |
| R S HENDERSON LIMITED→ SC228534 · est 2002 | — | — | £2.93M | — | 24y | 77 | 56y |
| 60N BOND LTD→ SC848232 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | 76 | 59y |
| AM MARKETING LIMITED→ SC361755 · est 2009 | — | — | £402.2k | — | 16y | 75 | 49y |
| QA WINDOWS LIMITED→ SC438024 · est 2012 | — | — | — | 100 | 13y | 74 | 48y |
| EQC DIRECT LIMITED→ SC744029 · est 2022 | — | — | — | — | 3y | 71 | 35y |
| GLOBUS (SHETLAND) LIMITED→ SC149147 · est 1994 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 32y | 70 | 56y |
| BLUESHELL LTD→ SC736852 · est 2022 | — | — | £-548 | — | 3y | 61 | 58y |
| QUALITY PRODUCTS DIRECT LIMITED→ SC721543 · est 2022 | — | — | £-38.4k | — | 4y | 56 | 46y |
| REARO SUPPLIES LIMITED→ SC061616 · est 1977 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 49y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1984-07-11
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC46342 — SIC 46342
Registered office
Gremista Industrial Estate
Lerwick
Isle Of Shetland
ZE1 0PX
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-04-30
Last made up to: 2025-07-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-08-14
Last: 2025-07-31
Officers (1 active · 4 resigned)
JOHNSTON, Iain Robert→
Activedirector · ~55y · appointed 2004-04-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
FOGGO, Thomas Clark→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 2009-11-23
MORTON FRASER SECRETARIES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 2009-11-23 · resigned 2019-06-24
HEPBURN, Anna Mary→
Resigneddirector · ~80y · resigned 2025-07-22
HEPBURN, George Garland→
Resigneddirector · ~78y · resigned 2023-01-19
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
13
Total charges
4
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:13 of 13 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 26/11/2004 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 26/11/2004 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 26/11/2004 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 10/09/2004 | — | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 1 property | 23/05/2002 | 29/09/2004 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 1 property | 28/06/1995 | 26/06/2025 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 1 property | 06/04/1995 | 22/07/2025 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 1 property | 21/03/1994 | 29/09/2004 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 2 properties | 21/03/1994 | 29/09/2004 | |
| satisfied | George Craig & Sons George Craig & Sons Limited | Standard security | 1 property | 31/05/1989 | 08/04/1994 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 1 property | 26/10/1988 | 22/04/1994 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 1 property | 02/11/1987 | 22/04/1994 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Floating charge | 1 property | 29/10/1984 | 29/09/2004 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (137 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2026-05-05
certificate-re-registration-public-limited-company-to-private
change-of-name · CERT10
2026-02-10
re-registration-memorandum-articles
incorporation · MAR
2026-02-10
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2026-02-10
reregistration-public-to-private-company
change-of-name · RR02
2026-02-10
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-07-31
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-07-22
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2025-07-22
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
2025-07-22
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2025-07-22
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-07-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2025-07-08
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-06-26
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2024-09-12
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-08-05