MERISTEM LIMITED
⚰️Wound downdissolved
01405015 · ltd · incorporated 1978-12-12
Investment thesis
Company dissolved — not a live target.
Why interesting: Historical record only; useful for precedent research.
Why risky: Not transactable.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
48/100
Watch
What this business does
Primary activity: Non-trading company
Sector: Professional, scientific & technical
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)Distressed dormant / non-trading — structural issues outweigh the discount.
Opportunity 48/100 (watch), bankability 52/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Asset purchase likely safer than share purchase given structural signals. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 6 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: asset disposal / carve-out (45/100). Current lenders should be on monthly review.
🏦
Refinance opportunity
10 live charges · 6 lenders · oldest 34.1y
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 34.1 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 6 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 65/100 (specialist).
Data confidence
Overall: medium (60/100)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
10 charges (10/10 with lender, 10/10 with type)
90
Directors & officers
31 officers (1 active, 31 linked, 26 with DOB)
87
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
10 connected companies via shared directors
75
Filing history
339 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
48/100Watch
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Not actionable now, but monitor — distressed, succession, or structural changes could flip this into a real opportunity.
Business quality
10
Concerning — overdue filings or status flags present.
Acquirability
70
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
41
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 (96 events)Click to expand
- 2025-04-29⚠️gazette-dissolved-liquidationgazette · GAZ2
- 2025-04-29🏁Company dissolved
- 2025-01-29⚠️liquidation-voluntary-members-return-of-final-meetinginsolvency · LIQ13
- 2024-03-03📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2024-03-02⚠️liquidation-voluntary-declaration-of-solvencyinsolvency · LIQ01
- 2024-03-02📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2024-03-02⚠️liquidation-voluntary-appointment-of-liquidatorinsolvency · 600
- 2024-02-05📄capital-statement-capital-company-with-date-currency-figurecapital · SH19
- 2024-02-05📄legacycapital · SH20
- 2024-02-05⚠️legacyinsolvency · CAP-SS
- 2024-02-05📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2023-10-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2023-05-04📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2023-03-30➖SEMERCIYAN, Simla resigneddirector
- 2022-10-05📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2021-09-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2020-09-05📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2020-05-18📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2020-01-31➖BROWN, Ian Richard resignedsecretary
- 2019-08-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2019-06-26📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2018-11-23📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2018-11-14📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2018-05-31➖CHAMBERS, Michael resigneddirector
- 2018-05-01➕SEMERCIYAN, Simla appointeddirector
- 2018-04-30➕BROWN, Ian Richard appointedsecretary
- 2018-04-30➖JUBB, David Anthony resignedsecretary
- 2015-05-01➖ASHLEY, David James resignedsecretary
- 2015-05-01➕JUBB, David Anthony appointedsecretary
- 2015-01-19➕CHAMBERS, Michael appointeddirector
- 2015-01-19➖GRAY, Donald resigneddirector
- 2013-04-01➕ASHLEY, David James appointeddirector
- 2013-04-01➕ASHLEY, David James appointedsecretary
- 2013-03-31➖PIKETT, Christopher resignedsecretary
- 2013-03-31➖PIKETT, Christopher resigneddirector
- 2011-04-29➖BROWNLEE, Kenneth Arthur resigneddirector
- 2011-04-29➕GRAY, Donald appointeddirector
- 2008-06-30➖MCDONNELL, Christopher Robin Stack resigneddirector
- 2008-01-01➕PIKETT, Christopher appointedsecretary
- 2007-12-31➖MACKNESS, Donald Richard resignedsecretary
- 2007-12-31➖MACKNESS, Donald Richard resigneddirector
- 2007-12-17🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 2007-10-31➕BROWNLEE, Kenneth Arthur appointeddirector
- 2007-10-31➖MORLEY, Anthony resigneddirector
- 2007-10-31➕PIKETT, Christopher appointeddirector
- 2007-04-30➖LEEK, James Anthony resigneddirector
- 2006-07-27➕MCDONNELL, Christopher Robin Stack appointeddirector
- 2005-12-15➕MACKNESS, Donald Richard appointeddirector
- 2004-09-09🔓Charge satisfied #9
- 2004-09-09🔓Charge satisfied #8
Showing most recent 50 of 96 events
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
78/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
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.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 13 years.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 47 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 · 1 med ·Company dissolved
highCompany has been dissolved — it no longer legally exists. Any diligence here is historical only.
Evidence: Dissolved on 2025-04-29
5 insolvency-related filings on record
highFilings relating to insolvency, liquidation, or administration exist in the company's history. Review before proceeding.
Evidence: 2025-04-29: gazette-dissolved-liquidation; 2025-01-29: liquidation-voluntary-members-return-of-final-meeting
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
3m Uk Holdings Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
3m Uk Holdings Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
MERISTEM LIMITED
This company · 01405015
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
3m Uk Holdings Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 06/04/2016 |
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 →Similar companies
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A.G. THAMES INVESTMENTS LIMITED→ 12136064 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| AFFIE INVESTMENTS LIMITED→ 12510704 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| AFFINITY CAPITAL GROUP LIMITED→ 15700867 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AFFINITY PRIVATE ENTERPRISE LIMITED→ 15627245 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| AFII CAPITAL PARTNERS LIMITED→ 16535500 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AFRICA DATA CENTRES HOLDINGS LIMITED→ 12271875 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| AFTON WIND FARM LIMITED→ 10332231 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| AGE CARE AND LEISURE SERVICES LIMITED→ 02716181 · est 1992 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 33y | — | — |
| AGE CONCERN HOLDINGS LIMITED→ 01102971 · est 1973 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 53y | — | — |
| AGENTICA HOLDINGS LTD→ 16606882 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AGENTVISION LIMITED→ 02657126 · est 1991 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 34y | — | — |
| AGERO CAPITAL LIMITED→ 15503930 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
10 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
Incorporated1978-12-12
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC74990 — Non-trading company
Registered office
C/O Interpath Ltd
10 Fleet Place
London
EC4M 7RB
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: —
Last made up to: 2022-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: —
Last: 2023-05-17
Officers (0 active · 30 resigned)
ASHLEY, David James→
Activedirector · ~58y · appointed 2013-04-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
ASHLEY, David James→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2013-04-01 · resigned 2015-05-01
BROWN, Ian Richard→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2018-04-30 · resigned 2020-01-31
JUBB, David Anthony→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2015-05-01 · resigned 2018-04-30
MACKNESS, Donald Richard→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 2007-12-31
PIKETT, Christopher→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2008-01-01 · resigned 2013-03-31
BROWNLEE, Kenneth Arthur→
Resigneddirector · ~75y · appointed 2007-10-31 · resigned 2011-04-29
BUCKS, David→
Resigneddirector · ~92y · appointed 1992-09-03 · resigned 1997-05-13
BURROWS, John→
Resigneddirector · ~80y · appointed 1997-09-16 · resigned 2000-03-31
CARTER, Kenneth, Doctor→
Resigneddirector · ~84y · appointed 1992-07-16 · resigned 1993-06-30
CHAMBERS, Michael→
Resigneddirector · ~70y · appointed 2015-01-19 · resigned 2018-05-31
CROWNSHAW, Stephen→
Resigneddirector · ~68y · appointed 1993-09-01 · resigned 1998-04-09
FRIEDERICHSEN, James Byron→
Resigneddirector · ~84y · resigned 1992-12-18
GRAY, Donald→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 2011-04-29 · resigned 2015-01-19
INGRAM, Alexander Simpson→
Resigneddirector · ~81y · resigned 1993-06-22
JAMES, Terence→
Resigneddirector · ~91y · appointed 1992-06-16 · resigned 1997-05-13
LEEK, James Anthony→
Resigneddirector · ~82y · appointed 1998-11-04 · resigned 2007-04-30
MACKNESS, Donald Richard→
Resigneddirector · ~80y · appointed 2005-12-15 · resigned 2007-12-31
MACKNESS, Donald Richard→
Resigneddirector · ~80y · resigned 1992-07-09
MCDONNELL, Christopher Robin Stack→
Resigneddirector · ~84y · appointed 2006-07-27 · resigned 2008-06-30
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
10
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:10 of 10 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 19/07/2004 | 17/12/2007 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Guarantee & debenture | 1 property | 08/08/2001 | 09/09/2004 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Agreement | 1 property | 24/11/1994 | 09/09/2004 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Deed of agreement | 1 property | 24/11/1994 | 09/09/2004 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Agreement regarding specific credit balances (engagements) | 1 property | 10/08/1994 | 16/02/1995 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Fixed and floating charge | 1 property | 23/07/1993 | 09/09/2004 | |
| satisfied | The Chase Manhattan Bank,N.A.as Security Trustee for Itself and Each Beneficiary (As Defined) | Supplemental debenture | 1 property | 20/05/1993 | 23/08/1993 | |
| satisfied | The Chase Manhattan Bank,N.A.as Security Trustee for Itself and Each Beneficiary (As Defined) | Supplemental debenture | 1 property | 20/05/1993 | 23/08/1993 | |
| satisfied | The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.as Security Trustee for the Beneficiaries | New security trust deed | 1 property | 16/04/1992 | 23/08/1993 | |
| satisfied | The Chase Manhattan Bank,N.A.as Security Trustee for the Beneficiaries | UK security trust deed | 1 property | 16/04/1992 | 23/08/1993 |
Recent filings (339 total)
gazette-dissolved-liquidation
gazette · GAZ2
2025-04-29
liquidation-voluntary-members-return-of-final-meeting
insolvency · LIQ13
2025-01-29
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2024-03-03
liquidation-voluntary-declaration-of-solvency
insolvency · LIQ01
2024-03-02
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2024-03-02
liquidation-voluntary-appointment-of-liquidator
insolvency · 600
2024-03-02
capital-statement-capital-company-with-date-currency-figure
capital · SH19
2024-02-05
legacy
capital · SH20
2024-02-05
legacy
insolvency · CAP-SS
2024-02-05
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2024-02-05
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2023-10-02
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-05-30
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2023-05-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2022-10-05
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-05-17