3A MANUFACTURING LTD
💤Zombieactive
04345310 · ltd · incorporated 2001-12-24
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 Aug 2025
Net worth
£187.9k
book net assets
Opportunity
77/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 22220
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and bankable structure.
Opportunity 77/100 (strong), bankability 75/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Broaden director team. Sole director creates succession risk and reduces buyer comfort. Appoint a second director or strong #2. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
2 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 0.8y
0/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Newest facility, 0.8 years old — likely still in initial term.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · 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
2 charges (2/2 with lender, 2/2 with type)
90
Directors & officers
9 officers (1 active, 9 linked, 4 with DOB)
79
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
1 connected companies via shared directors
48
Filing history
90 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
77/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
70
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 £187,890
Net assets shrinking
Down £257,497 YoY
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
£188k
↓ 58% YoY
Current Assets
£338k
↓ 41% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2025-08-31 | 2024-08-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £325.7k | £446.7k |
| Current assets | £337.6k | £570.1k |
| Cash | — | £427.4k |
| Debtors | — | £116.2k |
| Net assets | £187.9k | £445.4k |
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
2
filings
- • 2 persons-with-significant-control
Last 180 days
6
filings
- • 3 persons-with-significant-control
- • 1 accounts
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (41 events)Click to expand
- 2026-02-19📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2026-02-19📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC02
- 2026-02-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2026-01-22📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2026-01-20📄replacement-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-dateconfirmation-statement · RP01CS01
- 2026-01-09📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2025-10-04📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-10-04🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2025-09-08📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-09-05🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Time Invoice Finance Limited
- 2025-08-13📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2025-08-13📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-08-07📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-08-03➕LAMBERT, George appointeddirector
- 2025-08-03➖FERGUSON, Zanete resigneddirector
- 2025-07-29🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Aniston LTD
- 2025-07-21📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2025-07-21📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2025-07-21📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-07-21📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-07-18➕FERGUSON, Zanete appointeddirector
- 2025-07-18➖MORRIS, Christopher Thomas resigneddirector
- 2025-07-18➖PURDY, Caroline resigneddirector
- 2024-11-11📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-03-25📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-03-22📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2023-11-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-04-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-07-22➖EAST, Michelle resignedsecretary
- 2021-01-12➕EAST, Michelle appointedsecretary
- 2021-01-12➖MORRIS, Christopher Thomas resignedsecretary
- 2005-12-01➕MORRIS, Christopher Thomas appointedsecretary
- 2005-09-01➖FOSTER, John Thomas resignedsecretary
- 2001-12-28➕FOSTER, John Thomas appointedsecretary
- 2001-12-28➖FORM 10 SECRETARIES FD LTD resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2001-12-28➕MORRIS, Christopher Thomas appointeddirector
- 2001-12-28➕PURDY, Caroline appointeddirector
- 2001-12-28➖FORM 10 DIRECTORS FD LTD resignedcorporate-nominee-director
- 2001-12-24🏢Company incorporatedAs 3A MANUFACTURING LTD
- 2001-12-24➕FORM 10 SECRETARIES FD LTD appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2001-12-24➕FORM 10 DIRECTORS FD LTD appointedcorporate-nominee-director
Owner dependency
83/100
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.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 59 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
55/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 59. Early succession window.
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
Red flags
1 med ·3 director resignations in last 12 months
mediumMultiple recent departures can indicate governance disagreement, succession event, or preparation for sale/stress.
Evidence: FERGUSON, Zanete resigned 2025-08-03; MORRIS, Christopher Thomas resigned 2025-07-18; PURDY, Caroline resigned 2025-07-18
Group structure
Lambert Company Investments Ltd is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Lambert Company Investments Ltd
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares
⬇
3A MANUFACTURING LTD
This company · 04345310
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lambert Company Investments Ltd Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting | 14/01/2026 |
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Mr George Lambertceased 19/02/2026· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control
- Mr Christopher Thomas Morrisceased 18/07/2025· 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 · BH postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 108WICK LIMITED→ 16646700 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1967 STUDIO LIMITED→ 09907617 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| 3-D PRINT CENTRE LTD→ 13550596 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| 316 METAL SOLUTIONS LIMITED→ 13291609 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| 360 WELLNESS HUB LTD→ 16672384 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3D CNC LIMITED→ 06532161 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
| 3D PRINT ENGINEERING LIMITED→ 16987058 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3D PRINTING DORSET LTD→ 14484120 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| 5659 HOLDINGS LIMITED→ 11318156 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| 5659 LIMITED→ 11322325 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| 9VOLT LTD→ 16806143 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| A-B MARINE SERVICES UK LIMITED→ 06899910 · est 2009 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
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
Incorporated2001-12-24
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC22220 — SIC 22220
Registered office
Ferndown Business Park 21 Cobham Road
Ferndown Industrial Estate
Wimborne
BH21 7PE
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-05-31
Last made up to: 2025-08-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-08-04
Last: 2025-07-21
Officers (1 active · 8 resigned)
LAMBERT, George→
Activedirector · ~59y · appointed 2025-08-03
View their other companies + combined net worth →
EAST, Michelle→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2021-01-12 · resigned 2022-07-22
FOSTER, John Thomas→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2001-12-28 · resigned 2005-09-01
MORRIS, Christopher Thomas→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2005-12-01 · resigned 2021-01-12
FORM 10 SECRETARIES FD LTD→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2001-12-24 · resigned 2001-12-28
FERGUSON, Zanete→
Resigneddirector · ~32y · appointed 2025-07-18 · resigned 2025-08-03
MORRIS, Christopher Thomas→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2001-12-28 · resigned 2025-07-18
PURDY, Caroline→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 2001-12-28 · resigned 2025-07-18
FORM 10 DIRECTORS FD LTD→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 2001-12-24 · resigned 2001-12-28
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
2
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:2 of 2 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Time Invoice Finance Time Invoice Finance Limited | A registered charge | 2 properties | 05/09/2025 | — | |
| satisfied | Aniston Aniston LTD | A registered charge | — | 29/07/2025 | 04/10/2025 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (90 total)
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2026-02-19
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
2026-02-19
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2026-02-17
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
2026-01-22
replacement-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-date
confirmation-statement · RP01CS01
2026-01-20
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2026-01-09
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-10-04
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-09-08
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-08-13
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-08-13
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-08-07
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-07-21
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2025-07-21
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-07-21
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-07-21