COLUMBIA METALS LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
00700585 · ltd · incorporated 1961-08-10
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 Oct 2025
Net worth
£8.02M
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Non-specialised wholesale trade
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 75-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (93/100, director aged 75). 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 (53/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
12 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 44.1y
25/100
too messy
Structure is too messy for a clean refinance right now — clean up first or expect bespoke terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 44.1 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 50/100 (high).
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
75
Lenders & charges
12 charges (12/12 with lender, 12/12 with type)
90
Directors & officers
6 officers (2 active, 6 linked, 5 with DOB)
87
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
125 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
79/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
80
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 £8,018,617
Cash YoY
+68%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£897k
↑ 68% YoY
Net Worth
£8.0m
↑ 4.3% YoY
Current Assets
£6.6m
↑ 2.7% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2025-10-31 | 2024-10-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £8.10M | £7.81M |
| Current assets | £6.61M | £6.44M |
| Cash | £897.1k | £532.6k |
| Debtors | £1.06M | £980.9k |
| Net assets | £8.02M | £7.69M |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
2 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
3
filings
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 officers
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (48 events)Click to expand
- 2026-04-22📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2026-04-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2025-05-23📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-05-23🔓Charge satisfied #12
- 2025-05-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2024-07-09📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2024-07-05🔒Charge registered #12Lender: Rbs Invoice Finance LTD
- 2024-06-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2024-04-24📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2023-05-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2022-07-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2021-11-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2020-08-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2020-02-10📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2020-02-10📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2020-02-10🔓Charge satisfied #11
- 2020-02-10🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2019-05-15📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2019-05-08📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2019-05-08📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2019-03-03➖STEPHENSON, Christopher resignedsecretary
- 2019-03-03➖STEPHENSON, Christopher resigneddirector
- 2018-10-09📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2018-07-13🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 2018-07-13🔓Charge satisfied #9
- 2018-07-13🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2018-01-10🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2018-01-10🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2017-05-25🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2017-05-16🔒Charge registered #11Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2017-05-16🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Hampshire Trust Bank PLC
- 2017-05-16🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Hampshire Trust Bank PLC
- 2013-03-12🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2013-02-05➖STEPHENSON, Evonne resigneddirector
- 2012-11-11➕STEPHENSON, David appointeddirector
- 2008-07-03➕STEPHENSON, Wieslawa Krystyna appointeddirector
- 2002-04-30➖DAWSON, Richard Jeremy resigneddirector
- 2000-10-16➕DAWSON, Richard Jeremy appointeddirector
- 1994-05-20🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 1992-07-03🔒Charge registered #8Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1990-02-16🔒Charge registered #7Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1988-07-22🔒Charge registered #6Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1984-03-06🔒Charge registered #5Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1984-03-06🔒Charge registered #4Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1984-03-06🔒Charge registered #3Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1984-03-06🔒Charge registered #2Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1982-07-08🔒Charge registered #1Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1961-08-10🏢Company incorporatedAs COLUMBIA METALS LIMITED
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.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 18 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 75 — succession pressure is live.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
89/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 75 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 18 years.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 65 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
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Group structure
Columbia Metals Holdings Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Columbia Metals Holdings Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
COLUMBIA METALS LIMITED
This company · 00700585
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Columbia Metals Holdings Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 30/07/2018 |
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Mr Christopher Stephensonceased 30/07/2018· 50-75% shares · 50-75% voting · board control
- Mrs Wieslawa Krystyna Stephensonceased 30/07/2018· 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 · Wholesale & distribution · MK postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CC HOMEWARE LIMITED→ 16551359 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CHELSEA BEAUTY GROUP LIMITED→ 16300871 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| CHRISTOPHER KANE LIMITED→ 15009009 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| CLEVERLY HORTICULTURAL LIMITED→ 04593135 · est 2002 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 23y | — | — |
| COCONUT COAST IMPORTS LIMITED→ 15862132 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| CODELESSUK LTD→ 15657838 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| COMFY TECHNEST LTD→ 16152523 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| COMMODITIES TRADING LIMITED→ 03801033 · est 1999 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 26y | — | — |
| COMVERGENCEM2M LIMITED→ 09129411 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| CONEXPAK LIMITED→ 02047207 · est 1986 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 39y | — | — |
| CONQUEST AND AUSTIN LIMITED→ 09833255 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| CONSTRUCT4LYFE LTD→ 11118303 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1961-08-10
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC46900 — Non-specialised wholesale trade
Registered office
Unit E Ronald Close Woburn Road Industrial Estate
Kempston
Bedford
MK42 7SH
United Kingdom
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-07-31
Last made up to: 2025-10-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-05-02
Last: 2026-04-18
Officers (2 active · 4 resigned)
STEPHENSON, David→
Activedirector · ~47y · appointed 2012-11-11
View their other companies + combined net worth →
STEPHENSON, Wieslawa Krystyna→
Activedirector · ~75y · appointed 2008-07-03
View their other companies + combined net worth →
STEPHENSON, Christopher→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 2019-03-03
DAWSON, Richard Jeremy→
Resigneddirector · ~88y · appointed 2000-10-16 · resigned 2002-04-30
STEPHENSON, Christopher→
Resigneddirector · ~86y · resigned 2019-03-03
STEPHENSON, Evonne→
Resigneddirector · ~108y · resigned 2013-02-05
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
12
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:12 of 12 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | NatWest Group Rbs Invoice Finance LTD | A registered charge | — | 05/07/2024 | 23/05/2025 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 16/05/2017 | 10/02/2020 | |
| satisfied | Hampshire Trust Bank Hampshire Trust Bank PLC | A registered charge | 4 properties | 16/05/2017 | 13/07/2018 | |
| satisfied | Hampshire Trust Bank Hampshire Trust Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 16/05/2017 | 13/07/2018 | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Mortgage debenture | 1 property | 03/07/1992 | — | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 16/02/1990 | 12/03/2013 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 22/07/1988 | 20/05/1994 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 06/03/1984 | 25/05/2017 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 06/03/1984 | 10/01/2018 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 06/03/1984 | 10/01/2018 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 06/03/1984 | 13/07/2018 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 08/07/1982 | 10/02/2020 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (125 total)
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-04-22
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2026-04-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2026-04-21
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-05-23
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2025-05-22
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-05-06
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2024-07-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2024-06-06
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-04-24
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2024-04-24
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2023-05-20
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-04-18
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2022-07-06
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-04-21
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2021-11-03