ACORN BUILDING SERVICES (LUTON) LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
03536236 · ltd · incorporated 1998-03-27
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
£1.43M
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Other construction installation
Sector: Construction
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: asset-holding vehicle with strong profile and bankable structure.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 77/100. Strong seller-intent signal (80/100, director aged 58). 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
22 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 25.3y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 25.3 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
22 charges (22/22 with lender, 22/22 with type)
90
Directors & officers
5 officers (1 active, 5 linked, 2 with DOB)
78
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
4 connected companies via shared directors
57
Filing history
122 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 · accounting standard not declaredPositive net assets
Net assets £1,427,823
Cash draining
Cash down 40% YoY
Cash YoY
-40%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£395k
↓ 40% YoY
Net Worth
£1.4m
↑ 9.6% YoY
Current Assets
£2.8m
↑ 65% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2025-03-31 | 2024-03-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £1.49M | £1.31M |
| Current assets | £2.76M | £1.67M |
| Cash | £395.1k | £662.6k |
| Debtors | £914.1k | £199.5k |
| Net assets | £1.43M | £1.30M |
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
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (73 events)Click to expand
- 2025-12-10📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2025-12-10📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-12-10📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2025-12-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-12-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-11-20📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-11-20🔓Charge satisfied #24
- 2024-11-06📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2024-10-31🔒Charge registered #24Lender: Close Brothers Limited
- 2024-08-01📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-08-01📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-08-01🔓Charge satisfied #23
- 2024-08-01🔓Charge satisfied #22
- 2023-11-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-12-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-12-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-12-13📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2021-12-13📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2021-12-13🔓Charge satisfied #21
- 2021-12-13🔓Charge satisfied #20
- 2021-07-05📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2021-07-05📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2021-06-30🔒Charge registered #23Lender: Close Brothers Limited
- 2021-06-30🔒Charge registered #22Lender: Close Brothers Limited
- 2021-01-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-06-23📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2020-06-23📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2020-06-23🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2020-06-23🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2020-06-23🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2020-06-23🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2020-06-23🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2020-06-23🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2019-02-05🔒Charge registered #21Lender: Close Brothers Limited
- 2019-02-05🔒Charge registered #20Lender: Close Brothers Limited
- 2018-07-07🔓Charge satisfied #19
- 2018-07-07🔓Charge satisfied #18
- 2018-07-07🔓Charge satisfied #17
- 2018-07-07🔓Charge satisfied #16
- 2018-07-07🔓Charge satisfied #15
- 2018-07-07🔓Charge satisfied #13
- 2018-07-07🔓Charge satisfied #12
- 2018-07-07🔓Charge satisfied #11
- 2018-07-07🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 2018-07-07🔓Charge satisfied #9
- 2016-09-21🔒Charge registered #19Lender: Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ)
- 2015-01-27🔒Charge registered #18Lender: Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ)
- 2014-05-02🔒Charge registered #17Lender: Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ)
- 2014-05-02🔒Charge registered #16Lender: Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ)
- 2013-03-11➖R J BLOW SECRETARIES LIMITED resignedcorporate-secretary
Showing most recent 50 of 73 events
Owner dependency
93/100
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.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 28 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 58 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
85/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 58. Early succession window.
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 28 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 28 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.
Shareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Fergus Kevin Doyle Individual · British · DOB 08/1968 · age 58 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 06/04/2016 |
Mrs Lorraine Paula Doyle Individual · British · DOB 06/1969 · age 57 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 06/04/2016 |
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 · LU postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A & D PROJECTS LTD→ 16302519 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| A D H DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED→ 13490445 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| A&A LONDON UK CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LTD→ 16371906 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ABARTH CONSTRUCTION LTD→ 14510584 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| ABLE (SOLAR) LTD→ 13890807 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| ABRUDAN BUILD LTD→ 16345050 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ABSOLUM DRIVE & LANDSCAPES LIMITED→ 08555980 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| ACF FLOORING SOLUTIONS LTD→ 15632010 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ACHIEVERS CONSTRUCTION LIMITED→ 16755662 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ACHILLES DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED→ 16992929 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ACORA PROPERTIES LTD→ 12619799 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| ACORNS PROJECTS LIMITED→ 05398214 · est 2005 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 21y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1998-03-27
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC43290 — Other construction installation
Registered office
260 - 270 Butterfield Great Marlings
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU2 8DL
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-04-10
Last: 2026-03-27
Officers (1 active · 4 resigned)
DOYLE, Fergus Kevin→
Activedirector · ~58y · appointed 1998-03-27
View their other companies + combined net worth →
GRAEME, Dorothy May→
Resignednominee-secretary · appointed 1998-03-27 · resigned 1998-03-27
R J BLOW AND COMPANY→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 1998-03-27 · resigned 2006-04-01
R J BLOW SECRETARIES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 2006-04-01 · resigned 2013-03-11
GRAEME, Lesley Joyce→
Resignednominee-director · ~73y · appointed 1998-03-27 · resigned 1998-03-27
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
22
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:22 of 22 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 31/10/2024 | 20/11/2024 | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 30/06/2021 | 01/08/2024 | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | A registered charge | 3 properties | 30/06/2021 | 01/08/2024 | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 05/02/2019 | 13/12/2021 | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 05/02/2019 | 13/12/2021 | |
| satisfied | Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ) | A registered charge | 1 property | 21/09/2016 | 07/07/2018 | |
| satisfied | Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ) | A registered charge | 1 property | 27/01/2015 | 07/07/2018 | |
| satisfied | Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ) | A registered charge | — | 02/05/2014 | 07/07/2018 | |
| satisfied | Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ) | A registered charge | 1 property | 02/05/2014 | 07/07/2018 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 01/12/2010 | 07/07/2018 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 18/09/2009 | 07/07/2018 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 11/09/2009 | 07/07/2018 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 11/09/2009 | 07/07/2018 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 25/10/2007 | 07/07/2018 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 26/04/2007 | 07/07/2018 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 04/04/2006 | 23/06/2020 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 18/06/2004 | 23/06/2020 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 14/02/2003 | 23/06/2020 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 07/06/2002 | 23/06/2020 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 17/05/2002 | 24/09/2008 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 16/11/2001 | 23/06/2020 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 23/03/2001 | 23/06/2020 |
Recent filings (122 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-03-31
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2025-12-10
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-12-10
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2025-12-10
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-12-04
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-04-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-12-12
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2024-11-20
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2024-11-06
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2024-08-01
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2024-08-01
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-04-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-11-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-04-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-12-28