ABERFORTH SMALLER COMPANIES TRUST PLC

🌳Matureactive
SC126524 · plc · incorporated 1990-07-30
Investment thesis
Established operating company — standard diligence applies, no dominant angle.
Why interesting: Live, filing, normal profile.
Why risky: No standout signals in either direction.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
78/100
Strong
🔔
Follow this company (free)
Email alerts on filings, charges, director changes, gazette notices. No account needed.

Unsubscribe any time from any email. GDPR-respectful.

🔒Generate AI memo →🔒Outreach pack →🔒Corporate story →📑 Reports →Sign in to watch
What this business does
Primary activity: Activities of investment trusts
Sector: Financial & insurance
Investor take
Pursue
Active trading company with a 73-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 78/100 (strong), bankability 75/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 73). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: strategic trade sale (73/100).

Data confidence

Overall: low (52/100)

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
Confirmed no charges registered
85
Directors & officers
26 officers (6 active, 26 linked, 23 with DOB)
88
Ownership & PSC
No PSCs filed (unusual — worth investigating)
35
Director network
13 connected companies via shared directors
84
Filing history
538 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
78/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional 

Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.

Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
70
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
90
Good data coverage for analysis.

Recent activity

Last 30 days
1
filing
  • • 1 capital
Last 90 days
18
filings
  • • 16 capital
  • • 1 accounts
  • • 1 resolution
Last 180 days
25
filings
  • • 23 capital
  • • 1 accounts
  • • 1 resolution
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (72 events)Click to expand
  1. 2026-05-12
    📄
    capital-cancellation-shares
    capital · SH06
  2. 2026-04-17
    📄
    capital-cancellation-shares
    capital · SH06
  3. 2026-04-17
    📄
    capital-cancellation-shares
    capital · SH06
  4. 2026-04-17
    📄
    capital-return-purchase-own-shares
    capital · SH03
  5. 2026-04-17
    📄
    capital-return-purchase-own-shares
    capital · SH03
  6. 2026-03-27
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-full
    accounts · AA
  7. 2026-03-20
    📄
    capital-cancellation-shares
    capital · SH06
  8. 2026-03-20
    📄
    capital-return-purchase-own-shares
    capital · SH03
  9. 2026-03-18
    📄
    capital-return-purchase-own-shares
    capital · SH03
  10. 2026-03-16
    📄
    resolution
    resolution · RESOLUTIONS
  11. 2026-03-12
    📄
    capital-return-purchase-own-shares
    capital · SH03
  12. 2026-03-12
    📄
    capital-return-purchase-own-shares
    capital · SH03
  13. 2026-03-10
    📄
    capital-cancellation-shares
    capital · SH06
  14. 2026-03-10
    📄
    capital-cancellation-shares
    capital · SH06
  15. 2026-02-27
    📄
    capital-return-purchase-own-shares
    capital · SH03
  16. 2026-02-27
    📄
    capital-return-purchase-own-shares
    capital · SH03
  17. 2026-02-25
    📄
    capital-cancellation-shares
    capital · SH06
  18. 2026-02-25
    📄
    capital-cancellation-shares
    capital · SH06
  19. 2026-01-29
    📄
    capital-return-purchase-own-shares
    capital · SH03
  20. 2026-01-29
    📄
    capital-return-purchase-own-shares
    capital · SH03
  21. 2026-01-29
    📄
    capital-return-purchase-own-shares
    capital · SH03
  22. 2026-01-27
    📄
    capital-cancellation-shares
    capital · SH06
  23. 2026-01-27
    📄
    capital-cancellation-shares
    capital · SH06
  24. 2026-01-27
    📄
    capital-cancellation-shares
    capital · SH06
  25. 2025-12-17
    📄
    capital-return-purchase-own-shares
    capital · SH03
  26. 2023-03-02
    ➖
    LE BLAN, Julia resigned
    director
  27. 2022-10-10
    ➕
    BAINS, Jasbir Singh appointed
    director
  28. 2022-03-03
    ➕
    DIMOND, Patricia Marie appointed
    director
  29. 2022-03-03
    ➖
    HAY-PLUMB, Paula Maria resigned
    director
  30. 2021-03-02
    ➖
    RAE, Richard Anthony resigned
    director
  31. 2020-09-01
    ➕
    STEWART, Victoria Katerine appointed
    director
  32. 2019-02-28
    ➖
    TRICKETT, Stephen Paul resigned
    director
  33. 2019-01-26
    ➕
    DAVIDSON, Richard Gavin appointed
    director
  34. 2018-03-01
    ➕
    WARNER, Martin Russell appointed
    director
  35. 2018-03-01
    ➖
    JEFFCOAT, David John resigned
    director
  36. 2014-10-17
    ➖
    MARSH, Paul Rodney resigned
    director
  37. 2014-02-27
    ➖
    NIMMO, Walter Sneddon, Professor resigned
    director
  38. 2014-01-29
    ➕
    HAY-PLUMB, Paula Maria appointed
    director
  39. 2014-01-29
    ➕
    LE BLAN, Julia appointed
    director
  40. 2013-03-05
    ➖
    BUCHAN, Hamish Noble resigned
    director
  41. 2013-01-30
    ➕
    TRICKETT, Stephen Paul appointed
    director
  42. 2012-03-07
    ➖
    CRAN, John Edward Gordon resigned
    director
  43. 2012-01-26
    ➕
    RAE, Richard Anthony appointed
    director
  44. 2011-03-02
    ➖
    CHIAPPELLI, Marco Luigi Autimio resigned
    director
  45. 2010-03-03
    ➖
    SHAW, David Robert resigned
    director
  46. 2009-07-22
    ➕
    JEFFCOAT, David John appointed
    director
  47. 2005-12-01
    ➕
    ABERFORTH PARTNERS LLP appointed
    corporate-secretary
  48. 2005-12-01
    ➖
    ABERFORTH PARTNERS LLP resigned
    corporate-secretary
  49. 2005-02-23
    ➖
    HUGHES, William Young resigned
    director
  50. 2004-07-16
    ➕
    MARSH, Paul Rodney appointed
    director
Showing most recent 50 of 72 events

Owner dependency

55/100
Moderate — manageable with handover

Some founder dependency, but not acute. A structured handover period should cover most risk.

FACTORS
  • -5 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
  • +Founder age: Director aged approximately 73 — succession pressure is live.

Succession & seller-readiness

70/100
Strong succession signal

Multiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.

SIGNALS
  • primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 73 years old. Natural succession window is now.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 36 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.

Red flags

clean
No red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)
🔒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 · Financial services · EH postcode area
CompanyEst. valueTurnoverNet worthStaffAgeOppDirector
AMATI GLOBAL INVESTORS LIMITED→
SC199908 · est 1999
£8.90M
£6.47M–£11.33M
——280026y8466y
CS MANAGERS LTD→
SC231678 · est 2002
£1.50M
£1.09M–£1.91M
——120023y8677y
GBCP VII (GENERAL PARTNER) LIMITED→
SC253395 · est 2003 · no financials extracted
————22y8362y
NOBLE GROSSART LIMITED→
SC046265 · est 1969 · no financials extracted
————57y8372y
PREMIER COMMERCIAL LIMITED→
SC160330 · est 1995
——£282.5k—30y8361y
RIA CAPITAL MARKETS LIMITED→
SC226461 · est 2001 · no financials extracted
————24y8358y
SCOTIA WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD.→
SC267795 · est 2004
———130022y8358y
ALAN STEEL (ASSET MANAGEMENT) LIMITED→
SC058014 · est 1975
———4450y8262y
ALEX HAMMOND-CHAMBERS & COMPANY→
SC126819 · est 1990 · no financials extracted
————35y8284y
BANDRON LIMITED→
SC082385 · est 1983
———40043y8271y
BRIDGEPOINT EUROPE (SGP) LTD→
SC332267 · est 2007 · no financials extracted
————18y8261y
FAMILY & BUSINESS ASSURANCE (SERVICES) LIMITED→
SC347357 · est 2008
——£50.9k—17y8267y
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
Typeplc
Incorporated1990-07-30
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC64301 — Activities of investment trusts

Registered office

14 Melville Street
Edinburgh
EH3 7NS

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2027-06-30
Last made up to: 2025-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-08-13
Last: 2025-07-30

Officers (6 active · 20 resigned)

ABERFORTH PARTNERS LLP→
corporate-secretary · appointed 2005-12-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BAINS, Jasbir Singh→
director · ~60y · appointed 2022-10-10
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
DAVIDSON, Richard Gavin→
director · ~58y · appointed 2019-01-26
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
DIMOND, Patricia Marie→
director · ~66y · appointed 2022-03-03
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
STEWART, Victoria Katerine→
director · ~55y · appointed 2020-09-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
WARNER, Martin Russell→
director · ~73y · appointed 2018-03-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
MINTO, Bruce Watson→
secretary · appointed 1990-07-31 · resigned 1990-11-19
Resigned
ABERFORTH PARTNERS LLP→
corporate-secretary · appointed 1990-11-19 · resigned 2005-12-01
Resigned
BRUCE, Roderick Lawrence→
nominee-director · ~78y · appointed 1990-07-31 · resigned 1990-11-19
Resigned
BUCHAN, Hamish Noble→
director · ~82y · appointed 2003-11-11 · resigned 2013-03-05
Resigned
CHIAPPELLI, Marco Luigi Autimio→
director · ~82y · appointed 2001-07-17 · resigned 2011-03-02
Resigned
CRAN, John Edward Gordon→
director · ~75y · appointed 2001-07-17 · resigned 2012-03-07
Resigned
HAY-PLUMB, Paula Maria→
director · ~66y · appointed 2014-01-29 · resigned 2022-03-03
Resigned
HUGHES, William Young→
director · ~86y · appointed 1990-11-19 · resigned 2005-02-23
Resigned
JEFFCOAT, David John→
director · ~76y · appointed 2009-07-22 · resigned 2018-03-01
Resigned
LE BLAN, Julia→
director · ~72y · appointed 2014-01-29 · resigned 2023-03-02
Resigned
MACKENZIE, Finlay, Dr→
director · ~92y · appointed 1990-11-19 · resigned 2002-02-26
Resigned
MARSH, Paul Rodney→
director · ~79y · appointed 2004-07-16 · resigned 2014-10-17
Resigned
MILLER, Keith Manson→
director · ~77y · appointed 1990-11-19 · resigned 2004-02-25
Resigned
MINTO, Bruce Watson→
director · ~69y · appointed 1990-07-31 · resigned 1990-11-19
Resigned

Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.

Recent filings (538 total)

capital-cancellation-shares
capital · SH06
2026-05-12
capital-cancellation-shares
capital · SH06
2026-04-17
capital-cancellation-shares
capital · SH06
2026-04-17
capital-return-purchase-own-shares
capital · SH03
2026-04-17
capital-return-purchase-own-shares
capital · SH03
2026-04-17
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2026-03-27
capital-cancellation-shares
capital · SH06
2026-03-20
capital-return-purchase-own-shares
capital · SH03
2026-03-20
capital-return-purchase-own-shares
capital · SH03
2026-03-18
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2026-03-16
capital-return-purchase-own-shares
capital · SH03
2026-03-12
capital-return-purchase-own-shares
capital · SH03
2026-03-12
capital-cancellation-shares
capital · SH06
2026-03-10
capital-cancellation-shares
capital · SH06
2026-03-10
capital-return-purchase-own-shares
capital · SH03
2026-02-27