ABBOTTS (S.W.) LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
04678740 · ltd · incorporated 2003-02-26
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
£-213.3k
book net assets
Opportunity
72/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 46440
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)Distressed active trading company — structural issues outweigh the discount.
Opportunity 72/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. 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: distressed disposal / insolvency (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
5 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 12.3y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 12.3 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (72/100)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
1 year of iXBRL accounts extracted (no YoY comparison) + narrative notes parsed
50
Lenders & charges
5 charges (5/5 with lender, 5/5 with type)
90
Directors & officers
7 officers (1 active, 7 linked, 4 with DOB)
81
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
94 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
72/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
50
Some acquirability indicators.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · FRS 102Negative net assets
Liabilities exceed assets by £213,278
Very low cash
Cash position: £23
Key financials
1 year extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£23
Net Worth
-£213k
Current Assets
£98k
Current Liabilities
—
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2025-03-31 |
|---|---|
| Total assets | £-168.0k |
| Current assets | £98.3k |
| Cash | £23 |
| Debtors | £98.3k |
| Net assets | £-213.3k |
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
1
filing
- • 1 officers
Last 180 days
2
filings
- • 1 officers
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (42 events)Click to expand
- 2026-03-05📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-10-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2025-10-14➖ABBOTT, Stephen Paul resigneddirector
- 2025-10-14📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-02-18📄change-account-reference-date-company-current-extendedaccounts · AA01
- 2025-02-12📍change-sail-address-company-with-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD02
- 2024-10-10📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC05
- 2024-10-01📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-10-01🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2024-09-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-06-19📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-05-17📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-05-17📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-05-17📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2023-09-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-09-13📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC02
- 2022-09-13📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2022-08-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-08-16📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-11-16📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-05-12📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2020-02-24➖ABBOTT, Catherine Ann resignedsecretary
- 2020-02-24➖ABBOTT, Catherine Ann resigneddirector
- 2020-02-13➖ABBOTT, Mark David resigneddirector
- 2017-04-19🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2017-04-19🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2017-04-19🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2016-06-01➕ABBOTT, Richard James appointeddirector
- 2016-06-01➕ABBOTT, Mark David appointeddirector
- 2016-02-03🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance Limited
- 2015-10-22🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 2014-04-02🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2014-03-05🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) LTD
- 2014-01-23🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2003-03-17➕ABBOTT, Catherine Ann appointedsecretary
- 2003-03-17➖CREDITREFORM (SECRETARIES) LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2003-03-17➕ABBOTT, Catherine Ann appointeddirector
- 2003-03-17➕ABBOTT, Stephen Paul appointeddirector
- 2003-03-17➖CREDITREFORM LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-director
- 2003-02-26🏢Company incorporatedAs ABBOTTS (S.W.) LIMITED
- 2003-02-26➕CREDITREFORM (SECRETARIES) LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2003-02-26➕CREDITREFORM LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-director
Owner dependency
90/100
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.
- +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "ABBOTT" — strong identity link between founder and business.
Succession & seller-readiness
55/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 23 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
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.
Group structure
S & R Abbott Holdings Ltd is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
S & R Abbott Holdings Ltd
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
ABBOTTS (S.W.) LIMITED
This company · 04678740
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
S & R Abbott Holdings Ltd Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 10/01/2022 |
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Mr Stephen Paul Abbottceased 10/01/2022· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting
- Mrs Catherine Ann Abbottceased 13/02/2020· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
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 · Wholesale & distribution · TR postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 752 LIFE LTD→ 11455564 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| ABC SALES SOLUTIONS LTD→ 14117006 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| ABS METALS LIMITED→ 02563430 · est 1990 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 35y | — | — |
| AFFAAN TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED→ 12503248 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| AGRI-CON SUPPLIERS LTD→ 10263939 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| ALBION TEXTILE ATELIER LTD→ 12278380 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| ALISONS AIR FILTERS LTD→ 16343248 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ALL GOOD THINGS AGENCY LTD→ 16016928 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ANGLO SPECIAL PRODUCTS LIMITED→ 09787367 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| AQUA SPORT INTERNATIONAL LTD→ 06980822 · est 2009 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
| ARDEN ASIA COMPANY LIMITED→ 02761835 · est 1992 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 33y | — | — |
| ARSALAN TRADING LTD→ 16259783 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
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
Incorporated2003-02-26
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC46440 — SIC 46440
Registered office
Unit 17 Barncoose Industrial Estate
Barncoose
Redruth
TR15 3RQ
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-02-26
Last: 2026-02-12
Officers (1 active · 6 resigned)
ABBOTT, Richard James→
Activedirector · ~34y · appointed 2016-06-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
ABBOTT, Catherine Ann→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2003-03-17 · resigned 2020-02-24
CREDITREFORM (SECRETARIES) LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2003-02-26 · resigned 2003-03-17
ABBOTT, Catherine Ann→
Resigneddirector · ~66y · appointed 2003-03-17 · resigned 2020-02-24
ABBOTT, Mark David→
Resigneddirector · ~42y · appointed 2016-06-01 · resigned 2020-02-13
ABBOTT, Stephen Paul→
Resigneddirector · ~69y · appointed 2003-03-17 · resigned 2025-10-14
CREDITREFORM LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 2003-02-26 · resigned 2003-03-17
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
5
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:5 of 5 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance Limited | A registered charge | — | 03/02/2016 | 01/10/2024 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 22/10/2015 | — | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 02/04/2014 | 19/04/2017 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) LTD | A registered charge | 1 property | 05/03/2014 | 19/04/2017 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 23/01/2014 | 19/04/2017 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (94 total)
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2026-03-05
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-02-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2025-10-31
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-10-14
change-account-reference-date-company-current-extended
accounts · AA01
2025-02-18
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-02-12
change-sail-address-company-with-old-address-new-address
address · AD02
2025-02-12
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC05
2024-10-10
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2024-10-01
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-09-27
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2024-06-19
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2024-05-17
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2024-05-17
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2024-05-17
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-02-19