APPROACHLINE LIMITED

💤Zombieactive
02867336 · ltd · incorporated 1993-10-29
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 Nov 2024
Net worth
£637.8k
book net assets
Opportunity
82/100
Exceptional
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What this business does
Primary activity: Other business support service activities n.e.c.
Sector: Administrative & support services
Investor take
Pursue
Active trading company with a 66-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 82/100 (exceptional), bankability 75/100. Strong seller-intent signal (83/100, director aged 66). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Broaden director team. Sole director creates succession risk and reduces buyer comfort. Appoint a second director or strong #2. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

2 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 24.2y

30/100
under pressure

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

  • · Oldest live charge is 24.2 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
  • · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.

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
2 charges (2/2 with lender, 2/2 with type)
90
Directors & officers
13 officers (1 active, 13 linked, 8 with DOB)
82
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
5 connected companies via shared directors
60
Filing history
106 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
82/100Exceptional
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional 

Strong composite across quality, acquirability, and risk. High-priority target — progress to serious diligence.

Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.

Signals from accounts

Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declared
Positive net assets
Net assets £637,793
Net assets shrinking
Down £964 YoY
Cash YoY
+45%
Year on year

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
£5k
↑ 45% YoY
Net Worth
£638k
~ YoY
Current Assets
£422k
~ YoY
Current Liabilities
—
£0£128k£256k£383k£511k£639kNov 2023Nov 2024

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown
Metric2024-11-302023-11-30
Total assets£1.25M£1.25M
Current assets£422.1k£421.2k
Cash£5.4k£3.7k
Debtors£416.7k£417.4k
Net assets£637.8k£638.8k

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
0
filings
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (45 events)Click to expand
  1. 2025-11-14
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  2. 2024-05-09
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  3. 2023-08-31
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  4. 2022-11-30
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  5. 2021-11-30
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  6. 2021-01-21
    📄
    mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
    mortgage · MR01
  7. 2021-01-18
    📄
    mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
    mortgage · MR04
  8. 2021-01-18
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #1
  9. 2021-01-15
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: Gatehouse Bank PLC
  10. 2020-04-21
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  11. 2019-11-13
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  12. 2019-11-13
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
  13. 2019-08-30
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  14. 2018-12-12
    📍
    change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
    address · AD01
  15. 2018-09-17
    📍
    change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
    address · AD01
  16. 2018-08-06
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  17. 2018-07-23
    📍
    change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
    address · AD01
  18. 2018-01-27
    📄
    gazette-filings-brought-up-to-date
    gazette · DISS40
  19. 2011-08-23
    ➖
    MULLIN, Anthony Robert resigned
    secretary
  20. 2010-11-30
    ➖
    MULLIN, Anthony Robert resigned
    director
  21. 2004-01-01
    ➖
    BETTS, Michael Patrick resigned
    director
  22. 2004-01-01
    ➖
    BLAIR, Niall Steven resigned
    director
  23. 2002-05-20
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
  24. 2001-02-07
    ➕
    BETTS, Michael Patrick appointed
    director
  25. 2001-02-07
    ➕
    BLAIR, Niall Steven appointed
    director
  26. 2000-11-30
    ➖
    BUTCHER, Margaret Elaine resigned
    secretary
  27. 2000-11-30
    ➕
    MULLIN, Anthony Robert appointed
    secretary
  28. 2000-11-30
    ➖
    BUTCHER, Margaret Elaine resigned
    director
  29. 1999-12-01
    ➕
    MULLIN, Anthony Robert appointed
    director
  30. 1994-11-30
    ➕
    BUTCHER, Colin John appointed
    director
  31. 1994-11-30
    ➕
    BUTCHER, Margaret Elaine appointed
    secretary
  32. 1994-11-30
    ➖
    LEWIS, Geoffrey resigned
    secretary
  33. 1994-11-30
    ➖
    ARGENT, John Walter William resigned
    director
  34. 1994-11-30
    ➖
    GILCHRIST, Gerald resigned
    director
  35. 1994-11-30
    ➖
    LEWIS, Geoffrey resigned
    director
  36. 1993-11-18
    ➕
    LEWIS, Geoffrey appointed
    secretary
  37. 1993-11-18
    ➖
    THE COMPANY REGISTRATION AGENTS LIMITED resigned
    corporate-nominee-secretary
  38. 1993-11-18
    ➕
    ARGENT, John Walter William appointed
    director
  39. 1993-11-18
    ➕
    BUTCHER, Margaret Elaine appointed
    director
  40. 1993-11-18
    ➕
    GILCHRIST, Gerald appointed
    director
  41. 1993-11-18
    ➕
    LEWIS, Geoffrey appointed
    director
  42. 1993-11-18
    ➖
    LUCIENE JAMES LIMITED resigned
    corporate-nominee-director
  43. 1993-10-29
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As APPROACHLINE LIMITED
  44. 1993-10-29
    ➕
    THE COMPANY REGISTRATION AGENTS LIMITED appointed
    corporate-nominee-secretary
  45. 1993-10-29
    ➕
    LUCIENE JAMES LIMITED appointed
    corporate-nominee-director

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 32 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
  • +Founder age: Director aged approximately 66 — succession pressure is live.

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 66. 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 32 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 33 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

clean
No red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)

Shareholders & ownership

1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Mr Colin John Butcher
Individual · British · DOB 02/1960 · age 66
75–100%
—75-100% shares29/06/2016

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
Incorporated1993-10-29
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC82990 — Other business support service activities n.e.c.

Registered office

93 Tabernacle Street
London
EC2A 4BA
England

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-08-31
Last made up to: 2024-11-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-11-12
Last: 2025-10-29

Officers (1 active · 12 resigned)

BUTCHER, Colin John→
director · ~66y · appointed 1994-11-30
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BUTCHER, Margaret Elaine→
secretary · appointed 1994-11-30 · resigned 2000-11-30
Resigned
LEWIS, Geoffrey→
secretary · appointed 1993-11-18 · resigned 1994-11-30
Resigned
MULLIN, Anthony Robert→
secretary · appointed 2000-11-30 · resigned 2011-08-23
Resigned
THE COMPANY REGISTRATION AGENTS LIMITED→
corporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1993-10-29 · resigned 1993-11-18
Resigned
ARGENT, John Walter William→
director · ~88y · appointed 1993-11-18 · resigned 1994-11-30
Resigned
BETTS, Michael Patrick→
director · ~67y · appointed 2001-02-07 · resigned 2004-01-01
Resigned
BLAIR, Niall Steven→
director · ~67y · appointed 2001-02-07 · resigned 2004-01-01
Resigned
BUTCHER, Margaret Elaine→
director · ~67y · appointed 1993-11-18 · resigned 2000-11-30
Resigned
GILCHRIST, Gerald→
director · ~78y · appointed 1993-11-18 · resigned 1994-11-30
Resigned
LEWIS, Geoffrey→
director · ~74y · appointed 1993-11-18 · resigned 1994-11-30
Resigned
MULLIN, Anthony Robert→
director · ~63y · appointed 1999-12-01 · resigned 2010-11-30
Resigned
LUCIENE JAMES LIMITED→
corporate-nominee-director · appointed 1993-10-29 · resigned 1993-11-18
Resigned

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

Mortgages & charges

2
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:2 of 2 shown
TypeProperties
outstanding
Gatehouse Bank
Gatehouse Bank PLC
A registered charge1 property15/01/2021—
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
Legal charge1 property20/05/200218/01/2021
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (106 total)

accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-11-14
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-11-12
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-11-12
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-05-09
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-12-08
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-08-31
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-12-15
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-11-30
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-11-30
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-11-12
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2021-01-21
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2021-01-18
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-11-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2020-04-21
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2019-11-13