BLACK COUNTRY PAINTS LIMITED

💤Zombieactive
02779954 · ltd · incorporated 1993-01-15
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 Nov 2024
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
🔔
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What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 20301
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
Pursue
Active trading company with a 64-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (80/100, director aged 64). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 4 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

6 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 32.3y

15/100
under pressure

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

  • · Oldest live charge is 32.3 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
  • · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.

Data confidence

Overall: medium (79/100)

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
6 charges (6/6 with lender, 6/6 with type)
90
Directors & officers
6 officers (2 active, 6 linked, 3 with DOB)
80
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 4 total, 4 with control declared
90
Director network
3 connected companies via shared directors
54
Filing history
112 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.

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
£0£0£0£0£0£0Nov 2023Nov 2024

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102
Metric2024-11-302023-11-30
Average employees121200

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
0
filings
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (38 events)Click to expand
  1. 2025-08-29
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  2. 2024-08-30
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  3. 2023-09-19
    📄
    mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
    mortgage · MR04
  4. 2023-09-19
    📄
    mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
    mortgage · MR04
  5. 2023-09-19
    📄
    mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
    mortgage · MR04
  6. 2023-09-19
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #5
  7. 2023-09-19
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #4
  8. 2023-09-19
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #3
  9. 2023-08-22
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  10. 2022-08-26
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  11. 2021-08-27
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  12. 2020-09-30
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  13. 2019-08-29
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  14. 2019-01-16
    📄
    notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
  15. 2019-01-16
    📄
    cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
  16. 2019-01-16
    📄
    cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
  17. 2019-01-16
    📄
    cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
  18. 2018-08-29
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  19. 2018-01-15
    📄
    notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
  20. 2013-05-03
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #1
  21. 2013-03-22
    🔒
    Charge registered #6
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  22. 2012-02-15
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #2
  23. 2009-07-31
    🔒
    Charge registered #5
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  24. 2009-02-10
    🔒
    Charge registered #4
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  25. 2009-01-02
    🔒
    Charge registered #3
    Lender: Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) LTD (the Security Holder)
  26. 2007-06-01
    ➕
    HILL, Louise Jayne appointed
    secretary
  27. 2007-06-01
    ➖
    HILL, Paul Christopher resigned
    secretary
  28. 2007-06-01
    ➖
    HAWTHORN, Barry William resigned
    director
  29. 1997-08-07
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: Midland Bank PLC
  30. 1994-03-16
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
  31. 1993-01-18
    ➕
    HILL, Paul Christopher appointed
    director
  32. 1993-01-18
    ➖
    BREWER, Suzanne resigned
    nominee-secretary
  33. 1993-01-18
    ➕
    HILL, Paul Christopher appointed
    secretary
  34. 1993-01-18
    ➖
    BREWER, Kevin, Dr resigned
    nominee-director
  35. 1993-01-18
    ➕
    HAWTHORN, Barry William appointed
    director
  36. 1993-01-15
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As BLACK COUNTRY PAINTS LIMITED
  37. 1993-01-15
    ➕
    BREWER, Suzanne appointed
    nominee-secretary
  38. 1993-01-15
    ➕
    BREWER, Kevin, Dr appointed
    nominee-director

Owner dependency

93/100
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 33 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
  • +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 64 — approaching natural succession window.

Succession & seller-readiness

95/100
Likely off-market candidate

Strong 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.
  • primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
  • primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 33 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 34 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.

Group structure

Hills Paints Holdings Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.

🏛️
Hills Paints Holdings Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares
ultimate parent
⬇
BLACK COUNTRY PAINTS LIMITED
This company · 02779954

Parent relationships inferred from Persons with Significant Control filings. Full subsidiary tree requires reverse-lookup (coming).

Shareholders & ownership

2 active beneficial owners · dominant holder ≥75%
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Hills Paints Holdings Limited
Corporate entity
75–100%
75–100%75-100% shares · 75-100% voting06/12/2018
Mr Paul Christopher Hill
Individual · British · DOB 06/1962 · age 64
——board controlboard control01/01/2017
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
  • Bcp Contracts Ltd.ceased 06/12/2018· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting
  • Bcp Contracts Ltd.ceased 01/01/2017· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control

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 · Manufacturing · WV postcode area
CompanyEst. valueTurnoverNet worthStaffAgeOppDirector
B. & T. GARDEN BUILDINGS LIMITED→
02968097 · est 1994 · no financials extracted
————31y——
B.O.E. (BOWMEN OF ENGLAND) LIMITED→
03042677 · est 1995 · no financials extracted
————31y——
B.S.T. SUPPLIES & CO LTD→
01346638 · est 1978 · no financials extracted
————48y——
BESPOKE (MIDLANDS) LIMITED→
05450529 · est 2005 · no financials extracted
————20y——
BEST QUALITY WINDOWS & DOORS LIMITED→
16573650 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
———————
BIG TIMBER LTD→
15105608 · est 2023 · no financials extracted
————2y——
BLACK DIAMOND PRINTING LTD→
16404720 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
———————
BLACK LODGE FURNITURE LTD→
16192373 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
————1y——
BLOCKS AND MORE LTD→
14150865 · est 2022 · no financials extracted
————3y——
BLOXWICH ALUMINIUM CASTING CO.LIMITED→
00960953 · est 1969 · no financials extracted
————56y——
BLUEBELLS AND BUTTERFLIES CRAFTS LIMITED→
13170398 · est 2021 · no financials extracted
————5y——
BOBBYS CHOICE LIMITED→
14059895 · est 2022 · no financials extracted
————3y——
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
Incorporated1993-01-15
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC20301 — SIC 20301

Registered office

European House
Salisbury Street
Wolverhampton
West Midlands
WV3 0BG

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-08-31
Last made up to: 2024-11-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-01-26
Last: 2026-01-12

Officers (2 active · 4 resigned)

HILL, Louise Jayne→
secretary · appointed 2007-06-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
HILL, Paul Christopher→
director · ~64y · appointed 1993-01-18
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BREWER, Suzanne→
nominee-secretary · appointed 1993-01-15 · resigned 1993-01-18
Resigned
HILL, Paul Christopher→
secretary · appointed 1993-01-18 · resigned 2007-06-01
Resigned
BREWER, Kevin, Dr→
nominee-director · ~74y · appointed 1993-01-15 · resigned 1993-01-18
Resigned
HAWTHORN, Barry William→
director · ~82y · appointed 1993-01-18 · resigned 2007-06-01
Resigned

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

Mortgages & charges

6
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:6 of 6 shown
TypeProperties
outstanding
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
Debenture1 property22/03/2013—
satisfied
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
Legal assignment1 property31/07/200919/09/2023
satisfied
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
Legal assignment1 property10/02/200919/09/2023
satisfied
HSBC
Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) LTD (the Security Holder)
Floating charge1 property02/01/200919/09/2023
satisfied
Midland Bank
Midland Bank PLC
Debenture1 property07/08/199715/02/2012
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Bank PLC
Single debenture1 property16/03/199403/05/2013
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (112 total)

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-01-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-08-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-01-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-08-30
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-01-15
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2023-09-19
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2023-09-19
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2023-09-19
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-08-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-01-16
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-08-26
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-01-12
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-08-27
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-01-12
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2020-09-30