DUNCAN TAYLOR & COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
SC226358 · ltd · incorporated 2001-12-17
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
—
year to Dec 2023
Net worth
£121.9k
book net assets
Opportunity
77/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Other business support service activities n.e.c.
Sector: Administrative & support services
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.
Opportunity 77/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. 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. 4 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
4 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 24.2y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 24.2 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (73/100)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
4 charges (4/4 with lender, 4/4 with type)
90
Directors & officers
7 officers (2 active, 7 linked, 5 with DOB)
84
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
7 connected companies via shared directors
66
Filing history
107 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
77/100Strong
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
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declaredPositive net assets
Net assets £121,854
Key financials
1 year extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
£122k
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2023-12-31 |
|---|---|
| Total assets | £121.9k |
| Net assets | £121.9k |
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
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (38 events)Click to expand
- 2026-01-08📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2024-12-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2024-06-21📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2024-06-21📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2024-05-22📄capital-cancellation-sharescapital · SH06
- 2024-05-20📄capital-return-purchase-own-sharescapital · SH03
- 2024-04-26📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2024-04-26📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2024-04-24📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-04-11➖SHAND, Euan Coutts resigneddirector
- 2023-10-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2023-05-02📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2023-05-02📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2022-11-14📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2022-05-30📄mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-numbermortgage · 466(Scot)
- 2022-05-26📄mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-numbermortgage · 466(Scot)
- 2022-05-19📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2022-05-12🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) Limited
- 2021-09-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2021-03-03📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2021-03-03📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2020-11-13➕SMITH, Shawn Blackston appointeddirector
- 2020-11-13➖WOON, Teo Kok resigneddirector
- 2014-11-03➕WOON, Teo Kok appointeddirector
- 2008-11-25🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2008-05-14➕STRONACHS SECRETARIES LIMITED appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2008-05-14➖STRONACHS resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2007-04-17🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2007-03-14🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2006-03-23➖GORDON, Alan resigneddirector
- 2002-01-31🔒Charge registered #2Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 2002-01-31🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Independent Merchant Securities Limited
- 2002-01-28➕GORDON, Alan appointeddirector
- 2002-01-28➖RENNIE, David Alan resignednominee-director
- 2002-01-28➕SHAND, Euan Coutts appointeddirector
- 2001-12-17🏢Company incorporatedAs DUNCAN TAYLOR & COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED
- 2001-12-17➕STRONACHS appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2001-12-17➕RENNIE, David Alan appointednominee-director
Owner dependency
83/100
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.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 58 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
65/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 58. Early succession window.
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 24 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
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 · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Shawn Blackston Smith Individual · American · DOB 08/1968 · age 58 | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 13/11/2020 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Mr Euan Coutts Shandceased 24/05/2024· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
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 · Trade services · AB postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRDB ENTERPRISES LTD→ SC835635 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| DREAMIER HAIR LTD→ SC726200 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| DRM CORROSION SERVICES LTD→ SC450945 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| DROCHEDLIE GREEN ENERGY LTD.→ SC434002 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| DRUM CANDLERIGGS LIMITED→ SC623992 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| DRUM CAPITAL PROJECTS (PORT HAMILTON) LTD→ SC831488 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| DRUMFEARN FACILITY SERVICES LTD→ SC835778 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| DRYBURGH SUBSEA ENGINEERING SERVICES LTD→ SC223505 · est 2001 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 24y | — | — |
| DSM RADIOLOGY SERVICES LTD→ SC479000 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| DUALCLEAN LTD→ SC524250 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| DUNWILCO (194) LIMITED→ SC121527 · est 1989 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 36y | — | — |
| DURABUILD LIMITED→ SC352078 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 17y | — | — |
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
Incorporated2001-12-17
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC82990 — Other business support service activities n.e.c.
Registered office
28 Albyn Place
Aberdeen
AB10 1YL
United Kingdom
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-10-22
Last: 2025-10-08
Officers (2 active · 5 resigned)
STRONACHS SECRETARIES LIMITED→
Activecorporate-secretary · appointed 2008-05-14
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SMITH, Shawn Blackston→
Activedirector · ~58y · appointed 2020-11-13
View their other companies + combined net worth →
STRONACHS→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2001-12-17 · resigned 2008-05-14
GORDON, Alan→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2002-01-28 · resigned 2006-03-23
RENNIE, David Alan→
Resignednominee-director · ~73y · appointed 2001-12-17 · resigned 2002-01-28
SHAND, Euan Coutts→
Resigneddirector · ~70y · appointed 2002-01-28 · resigned 2024-04-11
WOON, Teo Kok→
Resigneddirector · ~58y · appointed 2014-11-03 · resigned 2020-11-13
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
4
Total charges
2
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:4 of 4 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) Limited | A registered charge | — | 12/05/2022 | — | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Floating charge | 1 property | 14/03/2007 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Floating charge | 1 property | 31/01/2002 | 17/04/2007 | |
| satisfied | Independent Merchant Securities Independent Merchant Securities Limited | Floating charge | 1 property | 31/01/2002 | 25/11/2008 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (107 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2026-01-08
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-10-08
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-02-10
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2024-12-30
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2024-06-21
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2024-06-21
capital-cancellation-shares
capital · SH06
2024-05-22
capital-return-purchase-own-shares
capital · SH03
2024-05-20
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2024-04-26
memorandum-articles
incorporation · MA
2024-04-26
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-04-24
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-02-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2023-10-27
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2023-05-02
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2023-05-02