ADWORKS DESIGN LTD
💤Zombieactive
03870905 · ltd · incorporated 1999-11-03
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 Nov 2024
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Artistic creation
Sector: Arts, entertainment & recreation
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 63-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 77/100. Strong seller-intent signal (80/100, director aged 63). 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
3 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 24.9y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 24.9 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (77/100)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
3 charges (3/3 with lender, 3/3 with type)
90
Directors & officers
7 officers (1 active, 7 linked, 3 with DOB)
79
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
77 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.
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 | 2024-11-30 | 2023-11-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Average employees | 100 | 100 |
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
0
filings
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (35 events)Click to expand
- 2025-11-12📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2025-02-19📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-08-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-07-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-11-29📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-11-29📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-11-29📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-11-29🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2022-11-29🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2022-11-29🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2022-04-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-06-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-09-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-11-04📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2019-01-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-03-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2017-08-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-smallaccounts · AA
- 2016-07-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-smallaccounts · AA
- 2015-11-30➖UPTON, John Raymond resigneddirector
- 2010-08-12🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2009-11-20🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Bina Mavani and Denise Julie Cooper
- 2009-06-19➖ARMSTRONG, Tracey resignedsecretary
- 2008-04-14➕UPTON, John Raymond appointeddirector
- 2005-02-01➕ARMSTRONG, Tracey appointedsecretary
- 2005-01-31➖FRENCH, Adam Edward resignedsecretary
- 2005-01-31➖BRAMLEY, Emma Jayne resigneddirector
- 2001-07-10🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Mark Edward Pontin and Kay Elizabeth Pontin
- 1999-11-25➕FRENCH, Adam Edward appointeddirector
- 1999-11-25➕FRENCH, Adam Edward appointedsecretary
- 1999-11-25➕BRAMLEY, Emma Jayne appointeddirector
- 1999-11-03🏢Company incorporatedAs ADWORKS DESIGN LTD
- 1999-11-03➕FORM 10 SECRETARIES FD LTD appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1999-11-03➖FORM 10 SECRETARIES FD LTD resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1999-11-03➕FORM 10 DIRECTORS FD LTD appointedcorporate-nominee-director
- 1999-11-03➖FORM 10 DIRECTORS FD LTD resignedcorporate-nominee-director
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 26 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 63 — 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 63. 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 26 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 27 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 Adam Edward French Individual · British · DOB 03/1963 · age 63 | 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.
Similar companies
Active · Leisure & entertainment · LU postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 MUSIC ACADEMY LTD→ 16681420 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 601 ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS LIMITED→ 09117388 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| 720 DEGREES MUSIC LIMITED→ 04392191 · est 2002 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 24y | — | — |
| A&A LEGACY TRAVEL LTD→ 15837412 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| A1 MINIBUS & COACH LTD→ 10448937 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| AALISHALUXURIES LTD→ 15478827 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ACE ACTIVE CONSULTANTS LTD→ 13489714 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| ACE AND SPIN LTD→ 16643706 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ACTIVE CREATIVE LIMITED→ 06181687 · est 2007 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 19y | — | — |
| ACTIVE SUPPORT 16+ LTD→ 06955840 · est 2009 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
| AEGIS PARKING CONTROL LTD→ 14066253 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| AFF TRAVEL NET LTD→ 07680842 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1999-11-03
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC90030 — Artistic creation
Registered office
3 West Street
Leighton Buzzard
Bedfordshire
LU7 1DA
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-08-31
Last made up to: 2024-11-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-11-17
Last: 2025-11-03
Officers (1 active · 6 resigned)
FRENCH, Adam Edward→
Activedirector · ~63y · appointed 1999-11-25
View their other companies + combined net worth →
ARMSTRONG, Tracey→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2005-02-01 · resigned 2009-06-19
FRENCH, Adam Edward→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1999-11-25 · resigned 2005-01-31
FORM 10 SECRETARIES FD LTD→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1999-11-03 · resigned 1999-11-03
BRAMLEY, Emma Jayne→
Resigneddirector · ~56y · appointed 1999-11-25 · resigned 2005-01-31
UPTON, John Raymond→
Resigneddirector · ~73y · appointed 2008-04-14 · resigned 2015-11-30
FORM 10 DIRECTORS FD LTD→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 1999-11-03 · resigned 1999-11-03
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
3
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:3 of 3 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 12/08/2010 | 29/11/2022 | |
| satisfied | Bina Mavani and Denise Julie Cooper | Rent deposit deed | 1 property | 20/11/2009 | 29/11/2022 | |
| satisfied | Mark Edward Pontin and Kay Elizabeth Pontin | Rent deposit deed | 1 property | 10/07/2001 | 29/11/2022 |
Recent filings (77 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-11-12
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2025-11-12
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-02-19
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-11-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-08-28
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-11-15
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-07-13
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-11-29
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2022-11-29
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2022-11-29
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2022-11-29
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-04-07
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-11-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-06-09
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-11-04