BOOKHAM UK LIMITED

💤Zombieactive
00835919 · ltd · incorporated 1965-01-29
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 May 2025
Net worth
£294.8k
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
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What this business does
Primary activity: Other manufacturing n.e.c.
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
Pursue
Active trading company with a 85-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (83/100, director aged 85). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 9 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 · 9 lenders · oldest 23.4y

15/100
under pressure

Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.

  • · Oldest live charge is 23.4 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · 9 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
  • · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.

Data confidence

Overall: medium (78/100)

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
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
10 officers (1 active, 10 linked, 4 with DOB)
78
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
1 connected companies via shared directors
48
Filing history
143 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 · FRS 102
Positive net assets
Net assets £294,798
Net assets shrinking
Down £57,065 YoY
Cash YoY
+456%
Year on year

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
£12k
↑ 456% YoY
Net Worth
£295k
↓ 16% YoY
Current Assets
£12k
↓ 87% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
£0£70k£141k£211k£281k£352kMay 2024May 2025

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102
Metric2025-05-312024-05-31
Total assets£294.8k£351.9k
Current assets£11.8k£90.8k
Cash£11.8k£2.1k
Debtors—£24.8k
Net assets£294.8k£351.9k

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

🔒Filing-note intelligence

1 signal 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 (55 events)Click to expand
  1. 2026-02-26
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  2. 2025-02-28
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  3. 2024-02-14
    📄
    gazette-filings-brought-up-to-date
    gazette · DISS40
  4. 2024-02-13
    📄
    gazette-notice-compulsory
    gazette · GAZ1
  5. 2023-12-14
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  6. 2023-02-02
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  7. 2022-01-31
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  8. 2020-12-06
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  9. 2020-02-25
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  10. 2019-05-14
    📄
    gazette-filings-brought-up-to-date
    gazette · DISS40
  11. 2019-05-12
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  12. 2019-04-30
    📄
    gazette-notice-compulsory
    gazette · GAZ1
  13. 2018-06-30
    📄
    gazette-filings-brought-up-to-date
    gazette · DISS40
  14. 2018-06-27
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
    accounts · AA
  15. 2018-05-01
    📄
    gazette-notice-compulsory
    gazette · GAZ1
  16. 2018-03-21
    📄
    mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
    mortgage · MR04
  17. 2018-03-21
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #12
  18. 2017-07-01
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #11
  19. 2017-07-01
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #10
  20. 2017-07-01
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #8
  21. 2017-07-01
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #7
  22. 2016-12-22
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #4
  23. 2016-12-22
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #2
  24. 2016-12-20
    🔒
    Charge registered #12
    Lender: Solinkra Limited
  25. 2016-12-06
    ➖
    RUTLAND, Bruce Robert resigned
    secretary
  26. 2016-11-22
    🔒
    Charge registered #11
    Lender: Nisbets PLC
  27. 2012-04-14
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #6
  28. 2012-04-14
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #5
  29. 2010-10-18
    🔒
    Charge registered #10
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  30. 2010-08-31
    🔒
    Charge registered #9
    Lender: Nigel Cole-Hawkins and Virgina Ruth Measures as Trustee of the Commonside Limited Pension Fund
  31. 2009-05-01
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #1
  32. 2009-03-05
    🔒
    Charge registered #8
    Lender: Rbs Invoice Finance Limited
  33. 2008-12-24
    🔒
    Charge registered #7
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  34. 2007-10-24
    ➖
    GILL, Jacqueline Liliane resigned
    secretary
  35. 2007-10-24
    ➕
    RUTLAND, Bruce Robert appointed
    secretary
  36. 2005-10-27
    🔒
    Charge registered #6
    Lender: Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) LTD (the Security Holder)
  37. 2005-10-27
    🔒
    Charge registered #5
    Lender: Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) LTD (the Security Holder)
  38. 2004-11-25
    🔒
    Charge registered #4
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  39. 2004-11-18
    🔒
    Charge registered #3
    Lender: Nigel Cole-Hawkins, Virginia Ruth Measures and James Hay Pension Trustees Limited (As Trusteesof Commonside Limited Pension Fund)
  40. 2003-04-23
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: Promotional Gifts & Diaries Limited
  41. 2003-03-11
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  42. 2003-02-24
    ➕
    GILL, Jacqueline Liliane appointed
    secretary
  43. 2003-02-24
    ➖
    RUTLAND, Robert Victor resigned
    secretary
  44. 2002-12-06
    ➖
    RUTLAND, Harold Edward resigned
    director
  45. 2000-06-29
    ➖
    RUTLAND, Brian resigned
    director
  46. 2000-06-26
    ➕
    RUTLAND, Brian appointed
    director
  47. 1999-05-02
    ➕
    RUTLAND, Robert Victor appointed
    director
  48. 1999-05-02
    ➖
    BEGLEY, Mary Angela resigned
    secretary
  49. 1999-05-02
    ➕
    RUTLAND, Robert Victor appointed
    secretary
  50. 1998-10-14
    ➕
    BEGLEY, Mary Angela appointed
    secretary
Showing most recent 50 of 55 events

Owner dependency

100/100
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
  • +Sole director: Only one active director — all governance concentrated on one person.
  • +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 27 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
  • +Founder age: Director aged approximately 85 — succession pressure is live.

Succession & seller-readiness

100/100
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 85 years old. Natural succession window is now.
  • primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
  • primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 27 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 61 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%
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Mr Robert Rutland
Individual · British · DOB 07/1941 · age 85
75–100%
75–100%board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control06/04/2016

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 →

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Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions

8 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
Incorporated1965-01-29
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC32990 — Other manufacturing n.e.c.

Registered office

22 Howard Road
Bookham
Leatherhead
KT23 4PW
England

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2027-02-28
Last made up to: 2025-05-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-12-08
Last: 2025-11-24

Officers (1 active · 9 resigned)

RUTLAND, Robert Victor→
director · ~85y · appointed 1999-05-02
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BEGLEY, Mary Angela→
secretary · appointed 1998-10-14 · resigned 1999-05-02
Resigned
GILL, Jacqueline Liliane→
secretary · appointed 2003-02-24 · resigned 2007-10-24
Resigned
RUTLAND, Bruce Robert→
secretary · appointed 2007-10-24 · resigned 2016-12-06
Resigned
RUTLAND, Harold Edward→
secretary · resigned 1996-08-31
Resigned
RUTLAND, Robert Victor→
secretary · appointed 1999-05-02 · resigned 2003-02-24
Resigned
SIMMONS, Jacqueline Mary→
secretary · appointed 1996-08-31 · resigned 1998-10-14
Resigned
RUTLAND, Brian→
director · ~88y · appointed 2000-06-26 · resigned 2000-06-29
Resigned
RUTLAND, Geoffrey Martin→
director · ~63y · resigned 1996-08-31
Resigned
RUTLAND, Harold Edward→
director · ~113y · resigned 2002-12-06
Resigned

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

Mortgages & charges

12
Total charges
2
Outstanding
2
Active lenders
Status:Lender:12 of 12 shown
TypeProperties
satisfied
Solinkra
Solinkra Limited
A registered charge1 property20/12/201621/03/2018
satisfied
Nisbets
Nisbets PLC
A registered charge1 property22/11/201601/07/2017
satisfied
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Debenture1 property18/10/201001/07/2017
outstanding
Nigel Cole-Hawkins and Virgina Ruth Measures as Trustee of the Commonside Pension Fund
Nigel Cole-Hawkins and Virgina Ruth Measures as Trustee of the Commonside Limited Pension Fund
Rent deposit deed1 property31/08/2010—
satisfied
NatWest Group
Rbs Invoice Finance Limited
Debenture1 property05/03/200901/07/2017
satisfied
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Legal charge1 property24/12/200801/07/2017
satisfied
HSBC
Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) LTD (the Security Holder)
Floating charge (all assets)1 property27/10/200514/04/2012
satisfied
HSBC
Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) LTD (the Security Holder)
Fixed charge on purchased debts which fail to vest1 property27/10/200514/04/2012
satisfied
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
Legal mortgage1 property25/11/200422/12/2016
outstanding
Nigel Cole-Hawkins, Virginia Ruth Measures and James Hay Pension Trustees (As Trusteesof Commonside Pension Fund)
Nigel Cole-Hawkins, Virginia Ruth Measures and James Hay Pension Trustees Limited (As Trusteesof Commonside Limited Pension Fund)
Agreement1 property18/11/2004—
satisfied
Promotional Gifts & Diaries
Promotional Gifts & Diaries Limited
Rent deposit deed1 property23/04/200322/12/2016
satisfied
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
Debenture1 property11/03/200301/05/2009
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (143 total)

accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2026-02-26
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-01-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-02-28
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-12-05
gazette-filings-brought-up-to-date
gazette · DISS40
2024-02-14
gazette-notice-compulsory
gazette · GAZ1
2024-02-13
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-02-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-12-14
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-02-02
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-01-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-01-31
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-01-14
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-01-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2020-12-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2020-02-25