JOHN MILLER LIMITED
📈Growthactive
SC098434 · ltd · incorporated 1986-04-15
Investment thesis
Growth-phase business — story-led; valuation sensitive to momentum.
Why interesting: Trading is scaling; acquirers paying for trajectory get disproportionate leverage.
Why risky: Price often leads fundamentals; dependency on founder often high.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
£11.59M
year to Mar 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Freight transport by road
Sector: Transportation & storage
Investor take
PursueActive trading company. Family succession underway — not a classic acquisition target.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Same-surname younger director in place — likely family handover, not open to sale. 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 (78/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
5 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 33.2y
45/100
clean up first
Refinance viable after a tidy-up — address the highlighted items first.
- · Oldest live charge is 33.2 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
- · Profitable and stable/growing — lender coverage supportable.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (79/100)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
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
5 charges (5/5 with lender, 5/5 with type)
90
Directors & officers
10 officers (4 active, 10 linked, 7 with DOB)
84
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
128 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
🔒Estimated company valuation
Sector-multiple EBITDA, turnover, and NAV-proxy valuation range with confidence tier — derived from extracted iXBRL financials.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Opportunity Score
79/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · FRS 102Profitable
Profit before tax £681,409
Turnover YoY
+1%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2025-03-31 | 2024-03-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Turnover | £11.59M | £11.43M |
| Gross profit | £1.71M | £1.35M |
| Operating profit | £821.4k | £489.5k |
| Profit before tax | £681.4k | £376.0k |
| Average employees | 6900 | 6000 |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
2 signals detected in this company's narrative notes — going-concern language, audit opinion, contingent liabilities, related-party transactions.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
2
filings
- • 1 accounts
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (41 events)Click to expand
- 2025-12-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-mediumaccounts · AA
- 2024-12-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-mediumaccounts · AA
- 2023-12-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-11-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-11-09📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2022-11-09📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2022-11-09📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2022-10-13➕MILLER, Ewan Robert appointeddirector
- 2022-10-13📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2022-10-13📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-10-12➖CARSON, David Lewis resigneddirector
- 2022-10-05📄change-person-secretary-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH03
- 2022-01-10📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2022-01-10📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2021-12-15📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-12-19📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-11-25📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2020-11-25📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2020-10-06📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2020-10-06📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2020-08-05📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2016-09-06🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC
- 2016-06-28🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2016-05-10🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2016-03-01🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC (Trading as Both Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank) (Company Number SC001111)
- 2013-09-03➖HUNTER, John Robert Birkley resigneddirector
- 2011-11-14🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC
- 2010-02-16➕CARTER, Fiona Helena appointedsecretary
- 2010-02-16➖MILLER, Helen Margaret Burnett resignedsecretary
- 2008-03-01🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2007-10-22➕CARSON, David Lewis appointeddirector
- 2004-05-31➖MCNINCH, Gordon Robert resigneddirector
- 2002-11-01➕MCNINCH, Gordon Robert appointeddirector
- 2001-09-01🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC
- 2001-04-06➕HUNTER, John Robert Birkley appointeddirector
- 1998-12-21➕MILLER, Helen Margaret Burnett appointeddirector
- 1998-12-21➖GORDON, David Taylor resignedsecretary
- 1998-12-21➕MILLER, Helen Margaret Burnett appointedsecretary
- 1998-12-21➖GORDON, David Taylor resigneddirector
- 1993-01-29🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Hill Samuel Commercial Finance Limited
- 1986-04-15🏢Company incorporatedAs JOHN MILLER LIMITED
Owner dependency
98/100
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
- +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "MILLER" — strong identity link between founder and business.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 27 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 72 — succession pressure is live.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
50/100
Moderate signalSome succession indicators present. Worth watching; approach if sector/strategy fits.
SIGNALS
- primaryFamily succession underway: Not a takeover target — MILLER, Ewan Robert (same surname) appointed 2022-10-13. Pattern consistent with intra-family handover.
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 72 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 27 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 40 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
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.
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr John Henry James Miller Individual · British · DOB 10/1954 · age 72 | 25–50% | 25–50% | board control25-50% shares · 25-50% voting · board control | 06/04/2016 |
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Mrs Helen Margaret Burnett Millerceased 10/01/2022· 25-50% shares
- Mr Ewan Robert Millerceased 10/01/2022· 25-50% shares
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 · Transport & logistics · DG postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MC CALL'S COACHES LIMITED→ SC293378 · est 2005 | — | — | £154.1k | — | 20y | 83 | 62y |
| A J SLAVIN & SONS LIMITED→ SC262782 · est 2004 | — | — | — | 3 | 22y | 82 | 59y |
| CALGOW TRANSPORT LIMITED→ SC209835 · est 2000 | — | — | — | 100 | 25y | 82 | 66y |
| FINNIE HEAVY HAULAGE LIMITED→ SC230925 · est 2002 | — | — | £3.05M | — | 23y | 82 | 59y |
| G A TRANSPORT LIMITED→ SC261778 · est 2004 | — | — | — | 1 | 22y | 82 | 67y |
| LINES DISTRIBUTION SERVICES LIMITED→ SC246460 · est 2003 | — | — | — | 2700 | 23y | 82 | 63y |
| MARTIN JOLLY TRUCK HIRE LIMITED→ SC117282 · est 1989 | — | — | — | 2700 | 37y | 82 | 75y |
| ANNANDALE COMMUNITY TRANSPORT SERVICES→ SC200686 · est 1999 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 26y | 81 | 92y |
| HAULAGE EXPRESS LIMITED→ SC031221 · est 1955 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 70y | — | — |
| J MCCULLOCH & SON LTD→ SC685363 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| JARDINE LOGISTICS LIMITED→ SC363669 · est 2009 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
| P.S.RIDGWAY LIMITED→ SC059996 · est 1976 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 49y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1986-04-15
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC49410 — Freight transport by road
Registered office
123 Irish Street
Dumfries
DG1 2PE
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-12-16
Last: 2025-12-02
Officers (4 active · 6 resigned)
CARTER, Fiona Helena→
Activesecretary · appointed 2010-02-16
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MILLER, Ewan Robert→
Activedirector · ~33y · appointed 2022-10-13
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MILLER, Helen Margaret Burnett→
Activedirector · ~63y · appointed 1998-12-21
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
GORDON, David Taylor→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1998-12-21
MILLER, Helen Margaret Burnett→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1998-12-21 · resigned 2010-02-16
CARSON, David Lewis→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2007-10-22 · resigned 2022-10-12
GORDON, David Taylor→
Resigneddirector · ~75y · resigned 1998-12-21
HUNTER, John Robert Birkley→
Resigneddirector · ~56y · appointed 2001-04-06 · resigned 2013-09-03
MCNINCH, Gordon Robert→
Resigneddirector · ~71y · appointed 2002-11-01 · resigned 2004-05-31
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
5
Total charges
2
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:5 of 5 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 06/09/2016 | — | |
| outstanding | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank PLC (Trading as Both Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank) (Company Number SC001111) | A registered charge | — | 01/03/2016 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 14/11/2011 | 28/06/2016 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 01/09/2001 | 10/05/2016 | |
| satisfied | Hill Samuel Commercial Finance Hill Samuel Commercial Finance Limited | Floating charge | 1 property | 29/01/1993 | 01/03/2008 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (128 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-medium
accounts · AA
2025-12-18
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-12-15
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-12-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-medium
accounts · AA
2024-12-18
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-12-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2023-12-13
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-12-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2022-11-22
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2022-11-09
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2022-11-09
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2022-11-09
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2022-10-13
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2022-10-13
change-person-secretary-company-with-change-date
officers · CH03
2022-10-05
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-01-10