AINSCOUGH LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
03324481 · ltd · incorporated 1997-02-26
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 Mar 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
74/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Manufacture of metal structures and parts of structures
Sector: Manufacturing
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
- 46720SIC 46720
- 46770SIC 46770
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and bankable structure.
Opportunity 74/100 (strong), bankability 77/100. Strong seller-intent signal (68/100, director aged 52). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 7 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (58/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
5 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 29.1y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 29.1 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · 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, 3 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
5 charges (5/5 with lender, 5/5 with type)
90
Directors & officers
7 officers (2 active, 7 linked, 3 with DOB)
79
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
6 connected companies via shared directors
63
Filing history
111 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
74/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
60
Some acquirability indicators.
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 | 2025-03-31 | 2024-03-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | — | £5.97M |
| Current assets | — | £6.43M |
| Cash | — | £4.32M |
| Debtors | — | £566.6k |
| Net assets | — | £5.84M |
| Average employees | 26 | — |
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
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (39 events)Click to expand
- 2025-12-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-04-16📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-04-16🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2024-10-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-07-01📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-07-01🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2023-12-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-04-03📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2023-04-03📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC02
- 2022-12-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2022-03-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2021-05-06📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2020-12-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2020-01-27📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2020-01-27🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2019-12-19📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2018-12-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2017-12-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2017-04-29📄capital-alter-shares-redemption-statement-of-capitalcapital · SH02
- 2014-12-05🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Mandy Jane Ainscough
- 2012-07-23🔒Charge registered #4Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2011-11-18➕SMITH, Stuart Prior appointedsecretary
- 2011-08-05➖AINSCOUGH, Mary resigneddirector
- 2011-02-28➖SIMM, Graham resignedsecretary
- 2008-08-08🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Mr Samuel Horridge Ainscough,Mr Samuel James Ainscough,Mrs Mary Ainscough and Fairmount Trustee Services Limited Acting as Trustees of the Ainscough Metals Self Administered Pension Fund
- 2008-07-26🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2008-07-26🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2005-09-02➖AINSCOUGH, Samuel Horridge resigneddirector
- 1998-05-28🔒Charge registered #2Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1997-04-11🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Davenham Trust PLC
- 1997-02-28➕AINSCOUGH, Samuel James appointeddirector
- 1997-02-28➕SIMM, Graham appointedsecretary
- 1997-02-28➖TEMPLE SECRETARIES LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1997-02-28➕AINSCOUGH, Mary appointeddirector
- 1997-02-28➕AINSCOUGH, Samuel Horridge appointeddirector
- 1997-02-28➖COMPANY DIRECTORS LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-director
- 1997-02-26🏢Company incorporatedAs AINSCOUGH LIMITED
- 1997-02-26➕TEMPLE SECRETARIES LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1997-02-26➕COMPANY DIRECTORS LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-director
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 "AINSCOUGH" — strong identity link between founder and business.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 29 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
Succession & seller-readiness
75/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 29 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 29 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
Sa2 Holdings Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Sa2 Holdings Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
AINSCOUGH LIMITED
This company · 03324481
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sa2 Holdings Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 21/03/2023 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Mr Samuel James Ainscoughceased 21/03/2023· 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 · WN postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3D CREATE ABILITY LTD→ 14802655 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| 4K TYRES LTD→ 15391114 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| A BOX & BEYOND LTD→ 13221881 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| A.A.CARPENTRY LTD→ 16241100 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| A.A.P.CARPENTRY LTD→ 16229024 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ACL INSTALLATIONS LIMITED→ 17015439 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ADM LEISUREWEAR LIMITED→ 05163966 · est 2004 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 21y | — | — |
| AFRINOVA LTD→ 16230851 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AIKOTECH LTD→ 16041388 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AIS PROJECTS LIMITED→ 04266687 · est 2001 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 24y | — | — |
| AIS VANGUARD LIMITED→ 08964697 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| AIS WIND ENERGY LTD→ 11772161 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1997-02-26
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC25110 — Manufacture of metal structures and parts of structures
Registered office
Steelpoint
Staveley Road
Skelmersdale
Lancashire
WN8 8DZ
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-07-16
Last: 2025-07-02
Officers (2 active · 5 resigned)
SMITH, Stuart Prior→
Activesecretary · appointed 2011-11-18
View their other companies + combined net worth →
AINSCOUGH, Samuel James→
Activedirector · ~52y · appointed 1997-02-28
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SIMM, Graham→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1997-02-28 · resigned 2011-02-28
TEMPLE SECRETARIES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1997-02-26 · resigned 1997-02-28
AINSCOUGH, Mary→
Resigneddirector · ~80y · appointed 1997-02-28 · resigned 2011-08-05
AINSCOUGH, Samuel Horridge→
Resigneddirector · ~81y · appointed 1997-02-28 · resigned 2005-09-02
COMPANY DIRECTORS LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 1997-02-26 · resigned 1997-02-28
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
5
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:5 of 5 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Mandy Jane Ainscough / Emma Mary Gray / Mary Ainscough / Samuel James Ainscough | A registered charge | — | 05/12/2014 | 27/01/2020 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 23/07/2012 | 01/07/2024 | |
| satisfied | Mr Samuel Horridge Ainscough,Mr Samuel James Ainscough,Mrs Mary Ainscough and Fairmount Trustee Services Acting as Trustees of the Ainscough Metals Self Administered Pension Fund Mr Samuel Horridge Ainscough,Mr Samuel James Ainscough,Mrs Mary Ainscough and Fairmount Trustee Services Limited Acting as Trustees of the Ainscough Metals Self Administered Pension Fund | Chattel mortgage | 1 property | 08/08/2008 | 16/04/2025 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Mortgage debenture | 1 property | 28/05/1998 | 26/07/2008 | |
| satisfied | Davenham Trust Davenham Trust PLC | Chattel mortgage | 1 property | 11/04/1997 | 26/07/2008 |
Recent filings (111 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-12-18
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-07-10
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-04-16
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-10-04
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-07-02
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2024-07-01
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-03-18
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-12-20
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2023-04-03
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
2023-04-03
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-03-14
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2022-12-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2022-03-28
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-03-04
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2021-05-06