JOHN ROSS (CHEMISTS) LIMITED

🌳Matureactive

SC209292 · ltd · incorporated 2000-07-14

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

—

year to Nov 2024

Net worth

—

book net assets

Opportunity

79/100

Strong

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What this business does

Primary activity: Dispensing chemist in specialised stores

Sector: Wholesale & retail

Investor take

Pursue

Active trading company with a 71-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (83/100, director aged 71). 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 (65/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

11 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 24.8y

35/100

too messy

Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.

· Oldest live charge is 24.8 years old — likely at or near maturity.
· 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
· Legal-friction score 40/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.

Data confidence

Overall: high (80/100)

Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.

Company profile

address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date

100

Financials

2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed

Lenders & charges

11 charges (11/11 with lender, 11/11 with type)

Directors & officers

8 officers (3 active, 8 linked, 5 with DOB)

Ownership & PSC

1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared

Director network

5 connected companies via shared directors

Filing history

94 filings on record

Gazette notices

No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)

Opportunity Score

79/100Strong

PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional

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

Business quality

Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.

Acquirability

Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.

Risk profile

Few red flags.

Signal strength

100

Good data coverage for analysis.

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts

Cash

—

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	2024-11-30	2023-11-30
Average employees	47	5200

Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.

🔒Filing-note intelligence

3 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

filings

Last 90 days

filings

Last 180 days

filings

Counts from Companies House filing history.

Corporate timeline (53 events)Click to expand

2025-08-29
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-08-30
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-08-31
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-04-05
📍
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2023-04-05
📄
appoint-corporate-secretary-company-with-name-date
officers · AP04
2023-04-05
📄
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2023-03-29
➕
STRONACHS SECRETARIES LIMITED appointed
corporate-secretary
2023-03-29
➖
RAEBURN CHRISTIE CLARK & WALLACE LLP resigned
corporate-secretary
2022-08-31
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-08-31
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2020-09-16
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2020-01-07
📄
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2020-01-07
🔓
Charge satisfied #1
2019-12-20
📄
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2019-12-20
📄
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2019-12-20
📄
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2019-12-20
📄
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2019-12-20
📄
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2019-12-20
📄
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2019-12-20
📄
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2019-12-20
📄
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2019-12-20
🔓
Charge satisfied #9
2019-12-20
🔓
Charge satisfied #8
2019-12-20
🔓
Charge satisfied #7
2019-12-20
🔓
Charge satisfied #5
2019-12-20
🔓
Charge satisfied #4
2019-12-20
🔓
Charge satisfied #3
2019-12-20
🔓
Charge satisfied #2
2019-12-09
📄
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2019-12-03
🔒
Charge registered #11
Lender: Santander UK PLC
2019-12-03
🔒
Charge registered #10
Lender: Santander UK PLC
2019-11-28
🔓
Charge satisfied #6
2019-08-01
➕
RAEBURN CHRISTIE CLARK & WALLACE LLP appointed
corporate-secretary
2019-07-31
➖
RAEBURN CHRISTIE CLARK & WALLACE resigned
corporate-secretary
2015-01-26
➕
HARROLD, Carmen Helen appointed
director
2011-07-08
➖
FOWLER, Joyce Lynn resigned
director
2009-02-18
🔒
Charge registered #9
Lender: Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC
2008-12-29
🔒
Charge registered #8
Lender: Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC
2008-09-03
🔒
Charge registered #7
Lender: Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC
2008-08-18
🔒
Charge registered #6
Lender: Aah Pharmaceuticals Limited and Another
2004-09-03
➖
PIEROG, Marion Elaine resigned
director
2003-08-20
➕
FOWLER, Joyce Lynn appointed
director
2003-05-05
🔒
Charge registered #5
Lender: Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC
2002-12-04
➕
PIEROG, Marion Elaine appointed
director
2002-06-12
🔒
Charge registered #4
Lender: Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC
2001-09-25
🔒
Charge registered #3
Lender: Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC
2001-07-13
🔒
Charge registered #2
Lender: Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC
2001-06-27
🔒
Charge registered #1
Lender: Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC
2000-07-14
🏢
Company incorporated
As JOHN ROSS (CHEMISTS) LIMITED
2000-07-14
➕
ROSS, John appointed
director

Showing most recent 50 of 53 events

Owner dependency

98/100

Critical — business is the founder

The business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.

FACTORS

+Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
+Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "ROSS" — strong identity link between founder and business.
+Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 26 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
+Founder age: Director aged approximately 71 — succession pressure is live.

Succession & seller-readiness

96/100

Likely off-market candidate

Strong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.

SIGNALS

primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 71 years old. Natural succession window is now.
secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 26 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 26 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

medium

Multiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.

Shareholders & ownership

1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%

Name	Shares	Voting rights	Nature of control	Notified
Mr John Ross Individual · British · DOB 08/1955 · age 71	75–100%	75–100%	75-100% shares · 75-100% voting	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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KSM25 LTD→ SC875775 · est 2026 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
LAUREL ICON LIMITED→ SC215890 · est 2001 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	25y	—	—
LB TOY ZONE LTD→ SC825701 · est 2024 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	1y	—	—
LOKALI LTD→ SC777694 · est 2023 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	2y	—	—
LUMSDEN LOGS LTD→ SC877398 · est 2026 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
LUTHER FARM SHOP LTD→ SC554333 · est 2017 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	9y	—	—
MAKING WAY LTD→ SC621281 · est 2019 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	7y	—	—
MANN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS LIMITED→ SC817410 · est 2024 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	1y	—	—
MARBLE ESTATE LINK LTD→ SC777960 · est 2023 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	2y	—	—
MARK'S FRESH FISH LTD.→ SC355456 · est 2009 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	17y	—	—
MARKET COMMUNE LTD→ SC868486 · est 2025 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
MARSHALL'S FARM SHOP LIMITED→ SC368670 · est 2009 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	16y	—	—

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

Incorporated2000-07-14

Jurisdictionscotland

Primary SIC47730 — Dispensing chemist in specialised stores

Registered office

28 Albyn Place

Aberdeen

AB10 1YL

United Kingdom

Filing status

Accounts

Next due: 2026-08-31

Last made up to: 2024-11-30

Confirmation statement

Next due: 2026-07-28

Last: 2025-07-14

Officers (3 active · 5 resigned)

STRONACHS SECRETARIES LIMITED→

corporate-secretary · appointed 2023-03-29

View their other companies + combined net worth →

Active

HARROLD, Carmen Helen→

director · ~60y · appointed 2015-01-26

View their other companies + combined net worth →

Active

ROSS, John→

director · ~71y · appointed 2000-07-14

View their other companies + combined net worth →

Active

RAEBURN CHRISTIE CLARK & WALLACE→

corporate-secretary · appointed 2000-07-14 · resigned 2019-07-31

Resigned

RAEBURN CHRISTIE CLARK & WALLACE LLP→

corporate-secretary · appointed 2019-08-01 · resigned 2023-03-29

Resigned

FOWLER, Joyce Lynn→

director · ~64y · appointed 2003-08-20 · resigned 2011-07-08

Resigned

OGSTON, Graeme Leslie→

director · ~77y · appointed 2000-07-14 · resigned 2000-07-14

Resigned

PIEROG, Marion Elaine→

director · ~56y · appointed 2002-12-04 · resigned 2004-09-03

Resigned

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

Mortgages & charges

Total charges

Outstanding

Active lenders

Status:Lender:11 of 11 shown

		Type	Properties
outstanding	Santander Santander UK PLC	A registered charge	—	03/12/2019	—
outstanding	Santander Santander UK PLC	A registered charge	—	03/12/2019	—
satisfied	Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC	Standard security	1 property	18/02/2009	20/12/2019
satisfied	Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC	Standard security	1 property	29/12/2008	20/12/2019
satisfied	Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC	Standard security	1 property	03/09/2008	20/12/2019
satisfied	Aah Pharmaceuticals and Another Aah Pharmaceuticals Limited and Another	Bond & floating charge	1 property	18/08/2008	28/11/2019
satisfied	Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC	Standard security	1 property	05/05/2003	20/12/2019
satisfied	Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC	Standard security	1 property	12/06/2002	20/12/2019
satisfied	Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC	Standard security	1 property	25/09/2001	20/12/2019
satisfied	Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC	Standard security	1 property	13/07/2001	20/12/2019
satisfied	Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Scotland PLC	Bond & floating charge	1 property	27/06/2001	07/01/2020

Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (94 total)

accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full

accounts · AA

2025-08-29

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates

confirmation-statement · CS01

2025-07-22

accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full

accounts · AA

2024-08-30

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates

confirmation-statement · CS01

2024-07-23

accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full

accounts · AA

2023-08-31

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates

confirmation-statement · CS01

2023-08-07

change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address

address · AD01

2023-04-05

appoint-corporate-secretary-company-with-name-date

officers · AP04

2023-04-05

termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date

officers · TM02

2023-04-05

accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full

accounts · AA

2022-08-31

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates

confirmation-statement · CS01

2022-07-27

accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full

accounts · AA

2021-08-31

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates

confirmation-statement · CS01

2021-07-21

accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full

accounts · AA

2020-09-16

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates

confirmation-statement · CS01

2020-07-20