BEN NICHOLSON LIMITED
⚰️Wound downdissolved
SC240364 · ltd · incorporated 2002-12-02
Investment thesis
Company dissolved — not a live target.
Why interesting: Historical record only; useful for precedent research.
Why risky: Not transactable.
Opportunity decay
approaching window · 12-months
Approaching a transaction window — refinance or sale event plausible in the next 12 months.
- · Oldest live charge 23.4y old — refinance window within 12 months
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
53/100
Worth a look
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 5248
Sector: Transportation & storage
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)Distressed unclear — structural issues outweigh the discount.
Opportunity 53/100 (worth a look), bankability 55/100. Strong seller-intent signal (75/100, director aged 64). Biggest value-creation lever: Resolve: Company dissolved. Company has been dissolved — it no longer legally exists. Any diligence here is historical only. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (58/100). Current lenders should be on monthly review.
🏦
Refinance opportunity
3 live charges · oldest 23.4y
55/100
too messy
Structure is too messy for a clean refinance right now — clean up first or expect bespoke terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 23.4 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Single lender — cleanest path to refinance.
- · Legal-friction score 45/100 (high).
Data confidence
Overall: low (50/100)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
3 charges (3/3 with lender, 3/3 with type)
90
Directors & officers
5 officers (2 active, 5 linked, 2 with DOB)
78
Ownership & PSC
No PSCs filed (unusual — worth investigating)
35
Director network
10 connected companies via shared directors
75
Filing history
35 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
53/100Worth a look
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Mixed signal. Worth opening the full target workup before deciding to pursue.
Business quality
10
Concerning — overdue filings or status flags present.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
49
Multiple red flags — proceed with caution.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
0
filings
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (40 events)Click to expand
- 2014-01-30⚠️gazette-dissolved-liquidationgazette · GAZ2
- 2014-01-30🏁Company dissolved
- 2013-10-30⚠️liquidation-voluntary-return-of-final-meeting-scotlandinsolvency · 4.26(Scot)
- 2010-10-22📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2010-05-29📄dissolved-compulsory-strike-off-suspendeddissolution · DISS16(SOAS)
- 2010-05-28📄legacymortgage · MG02s
- 2010-05-28📄legacymortgage · MG02s
- 2010-05-28🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2010-05-28🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2010-05-07📄gazette-notice-compulsorygazette · GAZ1
- 2010-03-02📄appoint-person-director-company-with-nameofficers · AP01
- 2009-11-15➕FRASER, Gillian Margaret appointeddirector
- 2009-04-01📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-smallaccounts · AA
- 2009-03-04📄legacyannual-return · 363a
- 2009-03-04📄legacyofficers · 288b
- 2008-12-01➖NICHOLSON, Michelle resignedsecretary
- 2008-07-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-smallaccounts · AA
- 2007-12-05📄legacyannual-return · 363a
- 2007-08-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-smallaccounts · AA
- 2007-01-05📄legacyannual-return · 363a
- 2006-10-18📄legacyannual-return · 363s
- 2006-09-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-smallaccounts · AA
- 2005-10-24📄legacyofficers · 288b
- 2005-10-24📄legacyofficers · 288a
- 2005-09-14➖BUTLER, Alexander Lowe resignedsecretary
- 2005-09-14➕NICHOLSON, Michelle appointedsecretary
- 2005-09-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-smallaccounts · AA
- 2005-01-27📄legacyannual-return · 363s
- 2005-01-14📄legacymortgage · 410(Scot)
- 2005-01-12🔒Charge registered #3Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2004-12-11📄legacymortgage · 410(Scot)
- 2004-11-23🔒Charge registered #2Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2004-10-11📄legacyofficers · 288b
- 2004-10-11📄legacyofficers · 288a
- 2004-09-30➕BUTLER, Alexander Lowe appointedsecretary
- 2004-09-30➖BUTLER, David Alexander resignedsecretary
- 2003-02-24🔒Charge registered #1Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2002-12-02🏢Company incorporatedAs BEN NICHOLSON LIMITED
- 2002-12-02➕NICHOLSON, Benjamin Adam appointeddirector
- 2002-12-02➕BUTLER, David Alexander appointedsecretary
Owner dependency
91/100
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
- +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 "NICHOLSON" — strong identity link between founder and business.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 24 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 64 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
86/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 64. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 24 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 24 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
2 high ·Company dissolved
highCompany has been dissolved — it no longer legally exists. Any diligence here is historical only.
Evidence: Dissolved on 2014-01-30
2 insolvency-related filings on record
highFilings relating to insolvency, liquidation, or administration exist in the company's history. Review before proceeding.
Evidence: 2014-01-30: gazette-dissolved-liquidation; 2013-10-30: liquidation-voluntary-return-of-final-meeting-scotland
🔒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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN MILLER LIMITED→ SC098434 · est 1986 | £3.29M £2.46M–£4.11M | £11.59M | — | 6900 | 40y | 84 | 72y |
| CURRIE EUROPEAN TRANSPORT LIMITED→ SC062686 · est 1977 | £269.3k £202.0k–£336.7k | — | — | 20200 | 48y | 84 | 59y |
| 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 | — | — | — | 0 | 25y | 82 | 66y |
| FINNIE HEAVY HAULAGE LIMITED→ SC230925 · est 2002 | — | — | £3.05M | — | 24y | 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 | — | — | — | 31 | 37y | 82 | 75y |
| SOLWAY TRANSPORT LIMITED→ SC260833 · est 2003 | — | — | £808.9k | — | 22y | 82 | 67y |
| THOMAS POWLEY & SON LIMITED→ SC281002 · est 2005 | — | — | — | 800 | 21y | 82 | 59y |
| W D & A HALEY LIMITED→ SC259218 · est 2003 | — | — | £286.9k | — | 22y | 82 | 64y |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
9 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
Statusdissolved
Typeltd
Incorporated2002-12-02
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC5248 — SIC 5248
Registered office
38 Terregles Street
Dumfries
Dumfries & Galloway
DG2 9AT
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: —
Last made up to: 2008-11-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: —
Last: —
Officers (0 active · 3 resigned)
FRASER, Gillian Margaret→
Activedirector · ~63y · appointed 2009-11-15
View their other companies + combined net worth →
NICHOLSON, Benjamin Adam→
Activedirector · ~64y · appointed 2002-12-02
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BUTLER, Alexander Lowe→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2004-09-30 · resigned 2005-09-14
BUTLER, David Alexander→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2002-12-02 · resigned 2004-09-30
NICHOLSON, Michelle→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2005-09-14 · resigned 2008-12-01
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
3
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:3 of 3 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 12/01/2005 | 28/05/2010 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 23/11/2004 | 28/05/2010 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 24/02/2003 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (35 total)
gazette-dissolved-liquidation
gazette · GAZ2
2014-01-30
liquidation-voluntary-return-of-final-meeting-scotland
insolvency · 4.26(Scot)
2013-10-30
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2010-10-22
dissolved-compulsory-strike-off-suspended
dissolution · DISS16(SOAS)
2010-05-29
legacy
mortgage · MG02s
2010-05-28
legacy
mortgage · MG02s
2010-05-28
gazette-notice-compulsory
gazette · GAZ1
2010-05-07
appoint-person-director-company-with-name
officers · AP01
2010-03-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
accounts · AA
2009-04-01
legacy
annual-return · 363a
2009-03-04
legacy
officers · 288b
2009-03-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
accounts · AA
2008-07-02
legacy
annual-return · 363a
2007-12-05
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
accounts · AA
2007-08-03
legacy
annual-return · 363a
2007-01-05