ARK ENTERPRISES LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
SC121528 · ltd · incorporated 1989-11-23
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
—
year to Dec 2024
Net worth
£398.3k
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Other retail sale in non-specialised stores
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueAsset-holding vehicle with a 65-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 75/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 65). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
Data confidence
Overall: medium (72/100)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
1 year of iXBRL accounts extracted (no YoY comparison) + narrative notes parsed
50
Lenders & charges
Confirmed no charges registered
85
Directors & officers
26 officers (4 active, 26 linked, 18 with DOB)
84
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
4 connected companies via shared directors
57
Filing history
133 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
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
75
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
90
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · FRS 102Positive net assets
Net assets £398,346
Key financials
1 year extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£183k
Net Worth
£398k
Current Assets
£461k
Current Liabilities
—
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2024-12-31 |
|---|---|
| Total assets | £398.3k |
| Current assets | £460.5k |
| Cash | £183.4k |
| Debtors | £22.0k |
| Net assets | £398.3k |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (63 events)Click to expand
- 2025-09-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-10-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2023-09-08📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-01-03➕DAVIS, Fiona Lesley appointeddirector
- 2023-01-03📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2022-12-16📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-12-09➖MITCHELL, Thomas, Dr resigneddirector
- 2022-12-01📄gazette-filings-brought-up-to-dategazette · DISS40
- 2022-11-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-11-29📄gazette-notice-compulsorygazette · GAZ1
- 2021-10-14📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-12-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-12-02📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2020-07-09➕FIELD, David Anthony appointeddirector
- 2020-07-09📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2020-01-31➖SMITH, Barbara resigneddirector
- 2019-05-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2018-05-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2017-12-05📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2017-05-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2017-04-27➖KAYE, David Stanley resigneddirector
- 2014-10-30➖HUTCHISON, Douglas Chalmers resigneddirector
- 2013-04-25➕SMITH, Barbara appointeddirector
- 2013-04-25➖WEST, Christopher David, Professor resigneddirector
- 2012-09-04➕WEST, Christopher David, Professor appointeddirector
- 2012-02-28➕KAYE, David Stanley appointeddirector
- 2011-06-24➕STEWART, James Scott appointeddirector
- 2011-06-24➕HUTCHISON, Douglas Chalmers appointeddirector
- 2011-06-24➖WILSON, Gary Henry resigneddirector
- 2011-06-24➖WINDMILL, David Michael resigneddirector
- 2011-05-27➕MITCHELL, Thomas, Dr appointeddirector
- 2009-06-05➕STEWART, James Scott appointedsecretary
- 2009-06-05➖HILL, Gareth David resignedsecretary
- 2009-06-05➖BLOW, Timothy Norman Spencer resigneddirector
- 2009-06-05➕WILSON, Gary Henry appointeddirector
- 2006-12-14➕BLOW, Timothy Norman Spencer appointeddirector
- 2006-09-29➖GARDINER, Graeme Elliot resignedsecretary
- 2006-09-29➕HILL, Gareth David appointedsecretary
- 2005-06-30➕GARDINER, Graeme Elliot appointedsecretary
- 2005-06-30➖JOHNSTON, Graeme resignedsecretary
- 2004-11-01➖GARDINER, Graeme Elliot resignedsecretary
- 2004-11-01➕JOHNSTON, Graeme appointedsecretary
- 2004-07-27➕GARDINER, Graeme Elliot appointedsecretary
- 2004-07-27➖MELDRUM, Rucelle resignedsecretary
- 2003-04-30➖DOUGLAS MILLER, Robert Peter resigneddirector
- 2003-04-30➖LAING, Anthony Rupert resigneddirector
- 2003-04-30➖SCOTT MONCRIEFF, Priscilla Bridget resigneddirector
- 2002-11-21➖ELLIOT, Henry Theodore resigneddirector
- 2002-05-10➕WINDMILL, David Michael appointeddirector
- 2001-10-01➕MELDRUM, Rucelle appointedsecretary
Showing most recent 50 of 63 events
Owner dependency
65/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 65 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
73/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 65. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 15 years.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 36 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.)
Group structure
The Royal Zoological Society Of Scotland is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
The Royal Zoological Society Of Scotland
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
ARK ENTERPRISES LIMITED
This company · SC121528
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 Royal Zoological Society Of Scotland Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 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.
See pricing →Similar companies
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A TO Z CRAFT LTD→ SC831232 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ARTISANS SCOTLAND LTD→ SC458889 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| ASIAWITHYOU LIMITED→ SC737228 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| ATHOLL FORECOURT LIMITED→ SC840850 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AURORA MOSS LIMITED→ SC800824 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| AURUM ESSENTIALS LTD→ SC833287 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AVA CONVENIENCE STORE LTD→ SC877497 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AVENUE STORES LIMITED→ SC224704 · est 2001 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 24y | — | — |
| AWESOME GOLF LIMITED→ SC405557 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| AYEPHONE LTD→ SC884442 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AZTONE LIMITED→ SC080004 · est 1982 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 43y | — | — |
| BACCHUS&LIBER LTD→ SC393359 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 15y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1989-11-23
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC47190 — Other retail sale in non-specialised stores
Registered office
Edinburgh Zoo
Murrayfield
Edinburgh
EH12 6TS
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-12-07
Last: 2025-11-23
Officers (4 active · 22 resigned)
STEWART, James Scott→
Activesecretary · appointed 2009-06-05
View their other companies + combined net worth →
DAVIS, Fiona Lesley→
Activedirector · ~65y · appointed 2023-01-03
View their other companies + combined net worth →
FIELD, David Anthony→
Activedirector · ~59y · appointed 2020-07-09
View their other companies + combined net worth →
STEWART, James Scott→
Activedirector · ~63y · appointed 2011-06-24
View their other companies + combined net worth →
GARDINER, Graeme Elliot→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2005-06-30 · resigned 2006-09-29
GARDINER, Graeme Elliot→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2004-07-27 · resigned 2004-11-01
HILL, Gareth David→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2006-09-29 · resigned 2009-06-05
JOHNSTON, Graeme→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2004-11-01 · resigned 2005-06-30
MELDRUM, Rucelle→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2001-10-01 · resigned 2004-07-27
WAUGH, David Reginald, Dr→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1998-11-30 · resigned 2001-09-30
WHEATER, Roger John→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1998-11-30
BLOW, Timothy Norman Spencer→
Resigneddirector · ~72y · appointed 2006-12-14 · resigned 2009-06-05
DOUGLAS MILLER, Robert Peter→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 2000-08-24 · resigned 2003-04-30
ELLIOT, Lady→
Resigneddirector · ~99y · appointed 1991-11-23 · resigned 2001-04-25
ELLIOT, Henry Theodore→
Resigneddirector · ~69y · appointed 2001-10-01 · resigned 2002-11-21
HUTCHISON, Douglas Chalmers→
Resigneddirector · ~68y · appointed 2011-06-24 · resigned 2014-10-30
KAYE, David Stanley→
Resigneddirector · ~69y · appointed 2012-02-28 · resigned 2017-04-27
LAING, Anthony Rupert→
Resigneddirector · ~71y · appointed 1998-05-14 · resigned 2003-04-30
MAHAFFY, Andrew Gibson→
Resigneddirector · ~101y · resigned 1997-12-09
MASSON, Gordon Melville→
Resigneddirector · ~81y · appointed 1997-11-25 · resigned 2000-05-05
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Recent filings (133 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-12-03
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-09-26
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-01-28
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2024-10-04
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-12-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-09-08
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2023-01-03
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-12-16
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2022-12-16
gazette-filings-brought-up-to-date
gazette · DISS40
2022-12-01
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-11-30
gazette-notice-compulsory
gazette · GAZ1
2022-11-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-01-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-10-14
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-12-22