DTC MERCHANTS LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
SC299941 · ltd · incorporated 2006-03-30
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
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
78/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 46730
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 81-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 78/100 (strong), bankability 77/100. Strong seller-intent signal (73/100, director aged 81). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 5 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
7 live charges · 5 lenders · oldest 18.5y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 18.5 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 5 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (59/100)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
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
7 charges (7/7 with lender, 7/7 with type)
90
Directors & officers
14 officers (3 active, 14 linked, 8 with DOB)
81
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 4 total, 4 with control declared
90
Director network
11 connected companies via shared directors
78
Filing history
114 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
75
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (59 events)Click to expand
- 2025-07-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2025-07-09📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2025-07-09📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2025-07-09📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2024-10-28📄second-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-dateconfirmation-statement · RP04CS01
- 2024-07-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2024-07-07📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2024-07-07📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2024-07-07📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2023-06-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2022-06-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2022-05-20📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2022-05-09📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2022-01-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-01-14🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2021-12-06📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2021-07-13📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2021-07-13📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2021-07-12➕CROXSON, Neil Michael appointeddirector
- 2021-07-12➖SMITH, Mark Jonathan resigneddirector
- 2021-06-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-05-20📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2021-05-13➕TINSLEY, Kate Helena appointeddirector
- 2021-04-01🔒Charge registered #7Lender: U.S. Bank Trustees Limited
- 2020-11-10🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2020-11-10🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2020-11-10🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2020-10-30➕KILBURN, David Richard appointeddirector
- 2020-10-30➖MITCHELL, Ally resignedsecretary
- 2020-10-30➖CAMERON, Colin resigneddirector
- 2020-10-30➕SMITH, Mark Jonathan appointeddirector
- 2020-10-30➖YOUNG, Donald Young resigneddirector
- 2020-10-27🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2018-11-19➖THOMSON, Roger John resigneddirector
- 2015-11-01➕MITCHELL, Ally appointedsecretary
- 2015-11-01➖YOUNG, Donald Young resignedsecretary
- 2012-12-28🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2012-11-24🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2012-11-24🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2012-11-22🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2012-11-14🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2012-07-27🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Bibby Factors Scotland Limited
- 2011-11-23🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC
- 2007-11-09🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 2007-10-08➖RENNIE, Alexander Donald resignedsecretary
- 2007-10-08➕YOUNG, Donald Young appointedsecretary
- 2007-10-08➕CAMERON, Colin appointeddirector
- 2007-10-08➖RENNIE, John Thomson resigneddirector
- 2007-10-08➕THOMSON, Roger John appointeddirector
- 2007-10-08➕YOUNG, Donald Young appointeddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 59 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 81 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
70/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 81 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 20 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.
Group structure
U.S. Bank Trustees Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
U.S. Bank Trustees Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
DTC MERCHANTS LIMITED
This company · SC299941
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
U.S. Bank Trustees Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 01/04/2021 |
3 historic (ceased) PSCs
- M.K.M. Building Supplies Limitedceased 01/04/2021· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control
- Mr Roger John Thomsonceased 30/10/2020· 50-75% shares · 50-75% voting
- Mr Donald Young Youngceased 30/10/2020· 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 · Wholesale & distribution · EH postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BON-ACCORD ENGINEERING SUPPLIES (CASPIAN) LIMITED→ SC192592 · est 1999 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 27y | — | — |
| BREWBOX EDINBURGH LTD→ SC721723 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| CRAFT BUTCHERS LTD→ SC878464 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CRYSTAL SKY TRADING LTD→ SC444208 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| DART TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS LIMITED→ SC773731 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| DDSGRDJ LIMITED→ SC765817 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| DE BURGH FINE WINE LIMITED→ SC435185 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| DELILE LTD→ SC695645 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| DRAMFOOL LTD→ SC506602 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| DUNCAN STREET LIMITED→ SC790957 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ED IDEAL SOLUTIONS LTD→ SC883203 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| EDDINS LIGHTING LIMITED→ SC524289 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
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
Incorporated2006-03-30
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC46730 — SIC 46730
Registered office
C/O Addleshaw Goddard Llp Exchange Tower
19 Canning Street
Edinburgh
Scotland
EH3 8EH
Scotland
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-06-30
Last made up to: 2024-09-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-05-03
Last: 2026-04-19
Officers (3 active · 11 resigned)
CROXSON, Neil Michael→
Activedirector · ~58y · appointed 2021-07-12
View their other companies + combined net worth →
KILBURN, David Richard→
Activedirector · ~81y · appointed 2020-10-30
View their other companies + combined net worth →
TINSLEY, Kate Helena→
Activedirector · ~50y · appointed 2021-05-13
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MITCHELL, Ally→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2015-11-01 · resigned 2020-10-30
RENNIE, Alexander Donald→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2006-03-30 · resigned 2007-10-08
YOUNG, Donald Young→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2007-10-08 · resigned 2015-11-01
COSEC LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 2006-03-30 · resigned 2006-03-30
CAMERON, Colin→
Resigneddirector · ~68y · appointed 2007-10-08 · resigned 2020-10-30
RENNIE, John Thomson→
Resigneddirector · ~80y · appointed 2006-03-30 · resigned 2007-10-08
SMITH, Mark Jonathan→
Resigneddirector · ~67y · appointed 2020-10-30 · resigned 2021-07-12
THOMSON, Roger John→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 2007-10-08 · resigned 2018-11-19
YOUNG, Donald Young→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 2007-10-08 · resigned 2020-10-30
CODIR LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-director · appointed 2006-03-30 · resigned 2006-03-30
COSEC LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-director · appointed 2006-03-30 · resigned 2006-03-30
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
7
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:7 of 7 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | U.S. Bank Trustees U.S. Bank Trustees Limited | A registered charge | — | 01/04/2021 | 14/01/2022 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 28/12/2012 | 10/11/2020 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 22/11/2012 | 10/11/2020 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | Floating charge | 1 property | 14/11/2012 | 10/11/2020 | |
| satisfied | Bibby Financial Services Bibby Factors Scotland Limited | Floating charge | 1 property | 27/07/2012 | 27/10/2020 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank PLC | Floating charge | 1 property | 23/11/2011 | 24/11/2012 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Floating charge | 1 property | 09/11/2007 | 24/11/2012 |
Recent filings (114 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-04-19
accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduary
accounts · AA
2025-07-09
legacy
accounts · PARENT_ACC
2025-07-09
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2025-07-09
legacy
other · GUARANTEE2
2025-07-09
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-04-22
second-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-date
confirmation-statement · RP04CS01
2024-10-28
accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduary
accounts · AA
2024-07-07
legacy
accounts · PARENT_ACC
2024-07-07
legacy
other · GUARANTEE2
2024-07-07
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2024-07-07
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-04-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2023-06-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-04-19
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2022-06-28