ABACUS PLAYGROUNDS LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
02992616 · ltd · incorporated 1994-11-21
Investment thesis
Well-run mature business — low negotiation leverage; premium likely.
Why interesting: Textbook target; clean filings, stable trading.
Why risky: No pressure on seller; any deal likely at full price.
Opportunity decay
hardening · 12-months
Already tight — no obvious softening catalysts on the horizon.
- · Thesis: well-run, low negotiation leverage
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Dec 2024
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
80/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: Other specialised construction activities n.e.c.
Sector: Construction
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 73-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 80/100 (exceptional), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (73/100, director aged 73). 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 (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
18 live charges · 9 lenders · oldest 31.5y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 31.5 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 9 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 40/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
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
18 charges (18/18 with lender, 18/18 with type)
90
Directors & officers
12 officers (4 active, 12 linked, 5 with DOB)
78
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
8 connected companies via shared directors
69
Filing history
143 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
80/100Exceptional
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
85
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 accountsCash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2024-12-31 | 2023-12-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Average employees | 4900 | 4100 |
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 (75 events)Click to expand
- 2025-10-03📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-09-25📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2025-06-19📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-06-19📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-06-19🔓Charge satisfied #17
- 2025-06-19🔓Charge satisfied #14
- 2025-06-16📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-06-16🔒Charge registered #18Lender: Santander UK PLC
- 2025-05-06📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-05-06🔓Charge satisfied #15
- 2024-11-29📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC05
- 2024-09-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2023-11-03➕RODWELL, Heidi Elizabeth appointedsecretary
- 2023-11-03➖HARRIS, Karen Louise resignedsecretary
- 2023-11-03➖WORTHINGTON, William Paul resigneddirector
- 2023-11-03📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2023-11-03📄appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP03
- 2023-11-03📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2023-09-14📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2023-03-14📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-03-14📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-03-14📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2023-02-20➕OVERALL, Luke Richard appointeddirector
- 2023-02-20➕SPITTLES, Darren Brian appointeddirector
- 2023-02-20➖WHITE, Michael John resigneddirector
- 2022-09-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2022-01-17📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2021-10-14📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2020-09-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2019-01-23➕WORTHINGTON, William Paul appointeddirector
- 2013-04-03🔓Charge satisfied #16
- 2012-06-19➕HARRIS, Karen Louise appointedsecretary
- 2012-06-15➖WHITE, Michael John resignedsecretary
- 2012-05-28🔒Charge registered #17Lender: Rbs Invoice Finance Limited
- 2011-03-25🔓Charge satisfied #12
- 2010-07-07🔓Charge satisfied #13
- 2010-07-07🔓Charge satisfied #11
- 2010-07-07🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 2010-07-02🔒Charge registered #16Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2010-07-02🔒Charge registered #15Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2010-06-25🔒Charge registered #14Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2007-09-29🔓Charge satisfied #9
- 2007-09-29🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2007-09-29🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2007-09-27➕WHITE, Michael John appointeddirector
- 2007-09-27🔒Charge registered #13Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2007-09-27🔒Charge registered #12Lender: Charles Clifford Seager Lawrence, St George Trustees Limited, Geoffrey Charles Bond, Geoffreycharles Bond and Dianora Bond (As Trustees of the Trent Trust) Nigel Charles Allen, Richard Hills,Robert Carroll for Themselves and as Agent Onbehalf of All Loan Noteholders from Time to Time
- 2007-09-27🔒Charge registered #11Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2007-09-27🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2006-01-06🔒Charge registered #9Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
Showing most recent 50 of 75 events
Owner dependency
75/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 32 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 73 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
80/100
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 73 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 32 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- 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
Abacus Lawrence Group Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Abacus Lawrence Group Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares
⬇
ABACUS PLAYGROUNDS LIMITED
This company · 02992616
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Abacus Lawrence Group Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting | 30/04/2016 |
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
Active · Construction · DA postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5STAR ELECTRICALS, PLUMBING & HEATING LTD→ 16428251 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| A A FENCING LIMITED→ 05564612 · est 2005 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 20y | — | — |
| A&A RIGGING LTD→ 13962944 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| AA KONSULT LTD→ 15544599 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| AA PRODUCTION SERVICES LTD→ 16492248 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AAD DATAINFRASTRUCTURE LTD→ 13302506 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| AAR (ESSEX) LIMITED→ 05778343 · est 2006 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 20y | — | — |
| AB BRICKWORK AND BUILDING SERVICES LIMITED→ 12138446 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| ABA BUILDING CONTRACTORS LTD→ 09472614 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| ABAH PROPERTY SERVICES LTD→ 12589229 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| ABBEY CONSTRUCTION GROUP LTD→ 15478442 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ABBEY EXTENSIONS & RENOVATIONS LTD→ 12639702 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1994-11-21
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC43999 — Other specialised construction activities n.e.c.
Registered office
Unit 1 Orbital One Trading Estate
Green Street Green Road
Dartford
Kent
DA1 1QG
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-12-05
Last: 2025-11-21
Officers (4 active · 8 resigned)
RODWELL, Heidi Elizabeth→
Activesecretary · appointed 2023-11-03
View their other companies + combined net worth →
OVERALL, Luke Richard→
Activedirector · ~38y · appointed 2023-02-20
View their other companies + combined net worth →
RODWELL, Geoffrey Walter→
Activedirector · ~73y · appointed 1994-11-21
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SPITTLES, Darren Brian→
Activedirector · ~48y · appointed 2023-02-20
View their other companies + combined net worth →
AITKEN, Jacqueline Lisa→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1994-11-21 · resigned 1996-04-24
HARRIS, Karen Louise→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2012-06-19 · resigned 2023-11-03
OWEN, Barry→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1994-11-21 · resigned 1994-11-21
RODWELL, Karen Frances→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2001-03-14 · resigned 2002-04-08
RODWELL, Timothy Alfred→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1996-04-24 · resigned 2001-03-14
WHITE, Michael John→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2002-04-08 · resigned 2012-06-15
WHITE, Michael John→
Resigneddirector · ~72y · appointed 2007-09-27 · resigned 2023-02-20
WORTHINGTON, William Paul→
Resigneddirector · ~52y · appointed 2019-01-23 · resigned 2023-11-03
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
18
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:18 of 18 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Santander Santander UK PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 16/06/2025 | — | |
| satisfied | NatWest Group Rbs Invoice Finance Limited | All assets debenture | 1 property | 28/05/2012 | 19/06/2025 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 02/07/2010 | 03/04/2013 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 02/07/2010 | 06/05/2025 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 25/06/2010 | 19/06/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 27/09/2007 | 07/07/2010 | |
| satisfied | Charles Clifford Seager Lawrence, St George Trustees , Geoffrey Charles Bond, Geoffreycharles Bond and Dianora Bond (As Trustees of the Trent Trust) Nigel Charles Allen, Richard Hills,Robert Carroll for Themselves and as Agent Onbehalf of All Loan Noteholders from Time to Time Charles Clifford Seager Lawrence, St George Trustees Limited, Geoffrey Charles Bond, Geoffreycharles Bond and Dianora Bond (As Trustees of the Trent Trust) Nigel Charles Allen, Richard Hills,Robert Carroll for Themselves and as Agent Onbehalf of All Loan Noteholders from Time to Time | Debenture | 1 property | 27/09/2007 | 25/03/2011 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 27/09/2007 | 07/07/2010 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 27/09/2007 | 07/07/2010 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 06/01/2006 | 29/09/2007 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 29/10/2004 | 29/09/2007 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 29/10/2004 | 29/09/2007 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 12/03/2003 | 20/11/2004 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 10/05/2002 | 06/01/2005 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 06/08/2001 | 30/09/2003 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 26/05/1999 | 30/09/2003 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 30/04/1999 | 30/09/2003 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Fixed and floating charge | 1 property | 28/12/1994 | 07/10/1999 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (143 total)
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-12-03
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-10-03
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2025-09-25
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-06-19
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-06-19
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-06-16
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-05-06
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-11-29
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC05
2024-11-29
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2024-09-18
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-12-01
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2023-11-03
appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-date
officers · AP03
2023-11-03
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2023-11-03
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2023-09-14