G. O'BRIEN & SONS (NATIONWIDE DEMOLITION CONTRACTORS) LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
03016374 · ltd · incorporated 1995-01-31
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 Apr 2025
Net worth
£3.81M
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 38110
Sector: Water supply & waste
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
- 38210SIC 38210
- 38310SIC 38310
- 43110Demolition
Investor take
PursueAsset-holding vehicle with a 64-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 85/100. Strong seller-intent signal (80/100, director aged 64). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Cash flow review and working-capital discipline. Cash down -88% YoY — forensic review of receivables, stock turns, and creditor days. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
16 live charges · oldest 31.1y
45/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 31.1 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Single lender — cleanest path to refinance.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: high (81/100)Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.
Company profile
address, 4 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
16 charges (16/16 with lender, 16/16 with type)
90
Directors & officers
13 officers (1 active, 13 linked, 4 with DOB)
76
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
10 connected companies via shared directors
75
Filing history
136 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 102Positive net assets
Net assets £3,805,259
Net assets shrinking
Down £276,490 YoY
Cash draining
Cash down 88% YoY
Cash YoY
-88%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£32k
↓ 88% YoY
Net Worth
£3.8m
↓ 6.8% YoY
Current Assets
£6.3m
↑ 13% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2025-04-29 | 2024-04-29 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £5.82M | £6.20M |
| Current assets | £6.26M | £5.56M |
| Cash | £31.8k | £265.2k |
| Debtors | £4.63M | £3.92M |
| Net assets | £3.81M | £4.08M |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
2
filings
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (79 events)Click to expand
- 2026-02-16📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2025-01-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2024-10-09📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2024-01-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2023-11-18📄gazette-filings-brought-up-to-dategazette · DISS40
- 2023-11-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-09-26📄dissolved-compulsory-strike-off-suspendeddissolution · DISS16(SOAS)
- 2023-09-19📄gazette-notice-compulsorygazette · GAZ1
- 2023-08-02➖LOUGHNEY, Phil resignedsecretary
- 2023-04-21📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2022-06-10📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-06-10📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-06-10📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-06-10📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-06-10📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-06-10📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-06-10📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-06-10📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-06-10📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-06-10📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-06-10📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-06-10📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-06-10🔓Charge satisfied #16
- 2022-06-10🔓Charge satisfied #15
- 2022-06-10🔓Charge satisfied #14
- 2022-06-10🔓Charge satisfied #13
- 2022-06-10🔓Charge satisfied #12
- 2022-06-10🔓Charge satisfied #11
- 2022-06-10🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 2022-06-10🔓Charge satisfied #9
- 2022-06-10🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2022-06-10🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2022-06-10🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2022-06-10🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2022-06-10🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2022-06-10🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2022-06-10🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2022-06-10🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2021-10-26➖OBRIEN, Michael resigneddirector
- 2021-03-02➖O'BRIEN, Gordon resigneddirector
- 2018-10-08🔒Charge registered #16Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2017-03-07➕LOUGHNEY, Phil appointedsecretary
- 2017-03-07➖OBRIEN, Patricia resignedsecretary
- 2015-10-23➖OBRIEN, Nathan resigneddirector
- 2013-08-09🔒Charge registered #15Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2012-10-26🔒Charge registered #14Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2012-08-20🔒Charge registered #13Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2011-07-08🔒Charge registered #12Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2011-05-23🔒Charge registered #11Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2010-12-01➕OBRIEN, Nathan appointeddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 79 events
Owner dependency
100/100
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.
- +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "O'BRIEN" — strong identity link between founder and business.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 31 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 candidateStrong 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 31 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 31 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
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Group structure
Timec 1484 Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Timec 1484 Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
G. O'BRIEN & SONS (NATIONWIDE DEMOLITION CONTRACTORS) LIMITED
This company · 03016374
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Timec 1484 Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 06/04/2016 |
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Mr Gordon Obrienceased 01/05/2016· 50-75% shares · 50-75% voting · board control · firm interest
- Mr Gordon John O'Brienceased 01/05/2016· 25-50% shares
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 · Energy & utilities · SR postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMBIALET LTD→ 07259990 · est 2010 | — | — | £1.86M | — | 16y | 80 | 70y |
| HALLFIELD RENEWABLES LIMITED→ 07972740 · est 2012 | — | — | £1.71M | — | 14y | 80 | 58y |
| LCH RENEWABLES LIMITED→ 09209400 · est 2014 | — | — | — | 0 | 11y | 80 | 82y |
| J W RENEWABLES LTD→ 07991216 · est 2012 | — | — | £1.16M | — | 14y | 79 | 58y |
| EEC SOLUTIONS GLOBAL LIMITED→ 10912118 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| EEC SOLUTIONS LIMITED→ 10156033 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| HONEST POWER LTD→ 14311344 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| IRECYCLE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED→ 15387617 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| J BULOTIENE RECYCLE LTD→ 16185326 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| J. & S. (SITE SERVICES) LIMITED→ 01638547 · est 1982 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 43y | — | — |
| JEFFREY KISH LTD→ 12110624 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| KPMD & CO LIMITED→ 09410767 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1995-01-31
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC38110 — SIC 38110
Registered office
Spire View House
Ferryboat Lane
Sunderland
Tyne & Wear
SR5 3JN
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-01-29
Last made up to: 2025-04-29
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-02-14
Last: 2026-01-31
Officers (1 active · 12 resigned)
O'BRIEN, Gordon John→
Activedirector · ~64y · appointed 1995-04-07
View their other companies + combined net worth →
LOUGHNEY, Phil→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2017-03-07 · resigned 2023-08-02
O'BRIEN, Gordon→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1995-04-07 · resigned 1995-04-19
O'BRIEN, Nathan→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2009-06-09 · resigned 2009-12-01
O'BRIEN, Patricia→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2008-02-28 · resigned 2009-06-09
O'BRIEN, Patricia→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1995-04-19 · resigned 2007-07-18
OBRIEN, Nathan→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2007-07-18 · resigned 2008-02-28
OBRIEN, Patricia→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2009-12-01 · resigned 2017-03-07
LONDON LAW SECRETARIAL LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1995-01-31 · resigned 1995-01-31
O'BRIEN, Gordon→
Resigneddirector · ~89y · appointed 1995-04-07 · resigned 2021-03-02
OBRIEN, Michael→
Resigneddirector · ~59y · appointed 1995-04-07 · resigned 2021-10-26
OBRIEN, Nathan→
Resigneddirector · ~40y · appointed 2010-12-01 · resigned 2015-10-23
LONDON LAW SERVICES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 1995-01-31 · resigned 1995-01-31
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
16
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:16 of 16 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 08/10/2018 | 10/06/2022 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 09/08/2013 | 10/06/2022 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 26/10/2012 | 10/06/2022 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 20/08/2012 | 10/06/2022 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 08/07/2011 | 10/06/2022 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Fixed and floating charge | 1 property | 23/05/2011 | 10/06/2022 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 23/03/2010 | 10/06/2022 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Deed of charge over credit balances | 1 property | 25/09/2009 | 10/06/2022 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 19/06/2009 | 10/06/2022 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 23/07/2007 | 10/06/2022 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 20/07/2007 | 10/06/2022 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 06/10/2006 | 10/06/2022 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 30/03/1998 | 10/06/2022 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 24/12/1996 | 10/06/2022 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 23/08/1996 | 10/06/2022 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 25/05/1995 | 10/06/2022 |
Recent filings (136 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-02-21
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2026-02-16
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-01-31
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2025-01-29
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2024-10-09
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-02-01
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2024-01-29
gazette-filings-brought-up-to-date
gazette · DISS40
2023-11-18
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2023-11-17
dissolved-compulsory-strike-off-suspended
dissolution · DISS16(SOAS)
2023-09-26
gazette-notice-compulsory
gazette · GAZ1
2023-09-19
change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortened
accounts · AA01
2023-04-21
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-01-31
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2022-06-10
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2022-06-10