JAPANESE KNOTWEED SOLUTIONS LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
04359188 · ltd · incorporated 2002-01-23
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 Jan 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
82/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 39000
Sector: Water supply & waste
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 65-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 82/100 (exceptional), bankability 75/100. Strong seller-intent signal (83/100, director aged 65). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Discharge stale live charges. 2 live charge(s) created 15+ years ago — likely paid but undischarged. Clean register. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
3 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 21.3y
30/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 21.3 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: high (81/100)Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.
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
8 officers (2 active, 8 linked, 2 with DOB)
75
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
10 connected companies via shared directors
75
Filing history
81 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
82/100Exceptional
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Strong composite across quality, acquirability, and risk. High-priority target — progress to serious diligence.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
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 | 2025-01-31 | 2024-01-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Average employees | 18 | 2000 |
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
0
filings
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (36 events)Click to expand
- 2026-01-21📄change-person-secretary-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH03
- 2026-01-21📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2026-01-21📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2026-01-21📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-10-15📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-10-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-03-14📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2023-10-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-10-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2022-04-01📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2022-03-30🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Hsbc UK Bank PLC
- 2021-12-10📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2021-12-10📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2021-10-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2021-10-14📄second-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-dateconfirmation-statement · RP04CS01
- 2021-10-05📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2021-10-05📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2020-12-10📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2019-10-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2008-05-27🔒Charge registered #2Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2006-03-27➕CLOUGH, Pamela Jane appointedsecretary
- 2006-03-27➕CLOUGH, Michael Ewart appointeddirector
- 2006-03-27➖CORPORATE ACCOUNTANCY SOLUTIONS LTD resignedcorporate-secretary
- 2006-03-27➖CLOUGH, Pamela Jane resigneddirector
- 2005-04-13🔒Charge registered #1Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2004-03-24➖MCCORMACK, Deirdre resignedsecretary
- 2004-03-24➕CORPORATE ACCOUNTANCY SOLUTIONS LTD appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2002-06-10➖CLOUGH, Michael Ewart resignedsecretary
- 2002-06-10➕MCCORMACK, Deirdre appointedsecretary
- 2002-01-30➖FORM 10 SECRETARIES FD LTD resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2002-01-30➖FORM 10 DIRECTORS FD LTD resignedcorporate-nominee-director
- 2002-01-26➕CLOUGH, Michael Ewart appointedsecretary
- 2002-01-26➕CLOUGH, Pamela Jane appointeddirector
- 2002-01-23🏢Company incorporatedAs JAPANESE KNOTWEED SOLUTIONS LIMITED
- 2002-01-23➕FORM 10 SECRETARIES FD LTD appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2002-01-23➕FORM 10 DIRECTORS FD LTD 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.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 20 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 65 — 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 65. 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 20 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 25 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
cleanNo red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)
Shareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mrs Pamela Jane Clough Individual · British · DOB 08/1963 · age 63 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 03/01/2021 |
Mr Michael Ewart Clough Individual · British · DOB 02/1961 · age 65 | 25–50% | 25–50% | board control25-50% shares · 25-50% voting · board control | 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 · Energy & utilities · BL postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLEAN MY WASTE LTD→ 15997747 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| CLEAN PLANET NORTHWEST LTD→ 15652542 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| HORWICH AERIALS INSTALLATIONS LIMITED→ 07020484 · est 2009 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
| ICONIC PURE WATER LIMITED→ 12309139 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| ICONIC RECYCLING COLLECTIONS NW LTD→ 15376856 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| IRWELL STREET METAL CO. LIMITED→ 01215835 · est 1975 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 50y | — | — |
| ISM HOLDINGS LIMITED→ 04128699 · est 2000 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 25y | — | — |
| J.DICKINSON & SONS(HORWICH)LIMITED→ 00351057 · est 1939 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 87y | — | — |
| JUICE SOLAR LTD→ 16877938 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| JUST DRAINS LIMITED→ 12201914 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| KASHMIR OIL LIMITED→ 15306103 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| KAYS ASBESTOS REMOVALS LTD→ 17047875 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
9 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
Incorporated2002-01-23
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC39000 — SIC 39000
Registered office
Low Wood Commercial Warehouse Suites 3, 4 & 5
574 Manchester Road
Bury
BL9 9SW
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-10-31
Last made up to: 2025-01-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-01-27
Last: 2026-01-13
Officers (2 active · 6 resigned)
CLOUGH, Pamela Jane→
Activesecretary · appointed 2006-03-27
View their other companies + combined net worth →
CLOUGH, Michael Ewart→
Activedirector · ~65y · appointed 2006-03-27
View their other companies + combined net worth →
CLOUGH, Michael Ewart→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2002-01-26 · resigned 2002-06-10
MCCORMACK, Deirdre→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2002-06-10 · resigned 2004-03-24
CORPORATE ACCOUNTANCY SOLUTIONS LTD→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 2004-03-24 · resigned 2006-03-27
FORM 10 SECRETARIES FD LTD→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2002-01-23 · resigned 2002-01-30
CLOUGH, Pamela Jane→
Resigneddirector · ~63y · appointed 2002-01-26 · resigned 2006-03-27
FORM 10 DIRECTORS FD LTD→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 2002-01-23 · resigned 2002-01-30
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
3
Total charges
3
Outstanding
2
Active lenders
Status:Lender:3 of 3 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc UK Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 30/03/2022 | — | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Charge of deposit | 1 property | 27/05/2008 | — | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 13/04/2005 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (81 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-01-21
change-person-secretary-company-with-change-date
officers · CH03
2026-01-21
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2026-01-21
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2026-01-21
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2026-01-21
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-10-15
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-01-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-10-23
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2024-03-14
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-01-17
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-10-18
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-01-25
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2022-10-04
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2022-04-01
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-02-02