ASSOCIATED CONTROL SYSTEMS LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
03611042 · ltd · incorporated 1998-08-06
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 Jul 2025
Net worth
£350.3k
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 23440
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
PursueAsset-holding vehicle with a 68-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 77/100. Strong seller-intent signal (93/100, director aged 68). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 3 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
10 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 13.6y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 13.6 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (78/100)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
10 charges (10/10 with lender, 10/10 with type)
90
Directors & officers
4 officers (1 active, 4 linked, 1 with DOB)
75
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
1 connected companies via shared directors
48
Filing history
95 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 £350,330
Cash YoY
+2053%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£92k
↑ 2053% YoY
Net Worth
£350k
↑ 4.0% YoY
Current Assets
£106k
↓ 25% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2025-07-31 | 2024-07-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £373.4k | £359.3k |
| Current assets | £105.5k | £140.5k |
| Cash | £92.4k | £4.3k |
| Debtors | £13.1k | £136.2k |
| Net assets | £350.3k | £337.0k |
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 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (49 events)Click to expand
- 2026-02-25📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-04-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-08-21📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-08-21📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2024-08-21📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2024-08-21📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-02-15📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-02-15📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-02-15📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-02-15📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-02-15📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-02-15📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-02-15📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-02-15📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-02-15📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-02-15📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-02-15🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 2024-02-15🔓Charge satisfied #9
- 2024-02-15🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2024-02-15🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2024-02-15🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2024-02-15🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2024-02-15🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2024-02-15🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2024-02-15🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2024-02-15🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2024-02-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-12-19📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2023-02-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-04-21📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2022-04-14📄termination-secretary-companyofficers · TM02
- 2022-04-12➖LIPPETT, Janet Rose resignedsecretary
- 2018-09-17🔒Charge registered #10Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2015-07-17🔒Charge registered #9Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2015-02-20🔒Charge registered #8Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2015-02-20🔒Charge registered #7Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2015-02-20🔒Charge registered #6Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2015-02-20🔒Charge registered #5Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2014-07-31🔒Charge registered #4Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2014-05-02🔒Charge registered #3Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2013-12-16🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 2012-11-28🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
- 1998-08-06🏢Company incorporatedAs ASSOCIATED CONTROL SYSTEMS LIMITED
- 1998-08-06➕HARPER, Robert Ian appointeddirector
- 1998-08-06➕LIPPETT, Janet Rose appointedsecretary
- 1998-08-06➕WATERLOW SECRETARIES LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1998-08-06➖WATERLOW SECRETARIES LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1998-08-06➕WATERLOW NOMINEES LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-director
- 1998-08-06➖WATERLOW NOMINEES LIMITED resignedcorporate-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.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 28 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 68 — succession pressure is live.
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 68. 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 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
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Robert Ian Harper Individual · British · DOB 09/1958 · age 68 | 75–100% | 75–100% | 75-100% shares · 75-100% 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 · Manufacturing · WV postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B. & T. GARDEN BUILDINGS LIMITED→ 02968097 · est 1994 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 31y | — | — |
| B.O.E. (BOWMEN OF ENGLAND) LIMITED→ 03042677 · est 1995 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 31y | — | — |
| B.S.T. SUPPLIES & CO LTD→ 01346638 · est 1978 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 48y | — | — |
| BESPOKE (MIDLANDS) LIMITED→ 05450529 · est 2005 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 20y | — | — |
| BEST QUALITY WINDOWS & DOORS LIMITED→ 16573650 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BIG TIMBER LTD→ 15105608 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| BLACK DIAMOND PRINTING LTD→ 16404720 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BLOCKS AND MORE LTD→ 14150865 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| BLOXWICH ALUMINIUM CASTING CO.LIMITED→ 00960953 · est 1969 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 56y | — | — |
| BOBBYS CHOICE LIMITED→ 14059895 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| BOLT & NUT MANUFACTURING HOLDINGS LIMITED→ 12334705 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| BOLT & NUT MANUFACTURING LIMITED→ 06496304 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1998-08-06
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC23440 — SIC 23440
Registered office
34 Waterloo Road
Wolverhampton
West Midlands
WV1 4DG
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-04-30
Last made up to: 2025-07-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-08-26
Last: 2025-08-12
Officers (1 active · 3 resigned)
HARPER, Robert Ian→
Activedirector · ~68y · appointed 1998-08-06
View their other companies + combined net worth →
LIPPETT, Janet Rose→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1998-08-06 · resigned 2022-04-12
WATERLOW SECRETARIES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1998-08-06 · resigned 1998-08-06
WATERLOW NOMINEES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 1998-08-06 · resigned 1998-08-06
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
10
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:10 of 10 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 17/09/2018 | 15/02/2024 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 17/07/2015 | 15/02/2024 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 20/02/2015 | 15/02/2024 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 20/02/2015 | 15/02/2024 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 20/02/2015 | 15/02/2024 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 20/02/2015 | 15/02/2024 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 31/07/2014 | 15/02/2024 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 02/05/2014 | 15/02/2024 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 16/12/2013 | 15/02/2024 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | Mortgage deed | 1 property | 28/11/2012 | 15/02/2024 |
Recent filings (95 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2026-02-25
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-08-15
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-04-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-08-21
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2024-08-21
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2024-08-21
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2024-08-21
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2024-08-21
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2024-02-15
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2024-02-15
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2024-02-15
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2024-02-15
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2024-02-15
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2024-02-15
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2024-02-15