A & B CONTRACTORS (DEVON) LIMITED

💤Zombieactive
04877448 · ltd · incorporated 2003-08-26
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 Dec 2024
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
77/100
Strong
🔔
Follow this company (free)
Email alerts on filings, charges, director changes, gazette notices. No account needed.

Unsubscribe any time from any email. GDPR-respectful.

🔒Generate AI memo →🔒Outreach pack →🔒Corporate story →📑 Reports →Sign in to watch
What this business does
Primary activity: Landscape service activities
Sector: Administrative & support services
Investor take
Pursue
Active trading company with a 60-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 77/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (70/100, director aged 60). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 10 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 · 10 lenders · oldest 20.6y

15/100
under pressure

Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.

  • · Oldest live charge is 20.6 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · 10 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
  • · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.

Data confidence

Overall: medium (79/100)

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
5 officers (1 active, 5 linked, 2 with DOB)
78
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
3 connected companies via shared directors
54
Filing history
74 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
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
69
Some moderate concerns — review flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
£0£0£0£0£0£0Dec 2023Dec 2024

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown
Metric2024-12-302023-12-30
Average employees30003500

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
1
filing
  • • 1 officers
Last 90 days
2
filings
  • • 1 officers
  • • 1 mortgage
Last 180 days
2
filings
  • • 1 officers
  • • 1 mortgage
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (44 events)Click to expand
  1. 2026-06-08
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  2. 2026-05-27
    ➖
    DALLYN, Richard Anthony resigned
    director
  3. 2026-05-05
    📄
    mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
    mortgage · MR01
  4. 2026-04-23
    🔒
    Charge registered #10
    Lender: Bizcap Limited
  5. 2025-09-30
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  6. 2025-08-27
    📄
    termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM02
  7. 2025-08-14
    ➖
    BARROW, Catherine Jane resigned
    secretary
  8. 2024-12-30
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  9. 2024-09-30
    📄
    change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortened
    accounts · AA01
  10. 2023-10-26
    📄
    mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
    mortgage · MR04
  11. 2023-10-26
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #8
  12. 2023-09-29
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  13. 2022-09-28
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  14. 2022-08-11
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
  15. 2021-09-29
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  16. 2021-07-19
    📄
    mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
    mortgage · MR01
  17. 2021-07-16
    📄
    mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
    mortgage · MR04
  18. 2021-07-16
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #7
  19. 2021-07-15
    🔒
    Charge registered #9
    Lender: Time Invoice Finance Limited
  20. 2020-12-23
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  21. 2020-02-06
    📄
    mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
    mortgage · MR01
  22. 2020-01-31
    🔒
    Charge registered #8
    Lender: Shawbrook Bank Limited
  23. 2019-10-05
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  24. 2018-10-03
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  25. 2017-01-25
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #5
  26. 2017-01-19
    🔒
    Charge registered #7
    Lender: Ultimate Invoice Finance Limited
  27. 2016-09-21
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #4
  28. 2016-06-20
    🔒
    Charge registered #6
    Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
  29. 2014-07-07
    🔒
    Charge registered #5
    Lender: Skipton Business Finance Limited
  30. 2014-07-07
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #3
  31. 2014-04-10
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #2
  32. 2012-05-18
    🔒
    Charge registered #4
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  33. 2012-04-11
    🔒
    Charge registered #3
    Lender: Bibby Financial Services LTD (As Security Trustee)
  34. 2010-09-21
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #1
  35. 2007-10-25
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC
  36. 2005-10-18
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  37. 2004-05-28
    ➕
    DALLYN, Richard Anthony appointed
    director
  38. 2003-09-30
    ➕
    BARROW, Richard Mark appointed
    director
  39. 2003-09-30
    ➕
    BARROW, Catherine Jane appointed
    secretary
  40. 2003-08-28
    ➖
    BRIGHTON SECRETARY LTD resigned
    corporate-nominee-secretary
  41. 2003-08-28
    ➖
    BRIGHTON DIRECTOR LTD resigned
    corporate-nominee-director
  42. 2003-08-26
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As A & B CONTRACTORS (DEVON) LIMITED
  43. 2003-08-26
    ➕
    BRIGHTON SECRETARY LTD appointed
    corporate-nominee-secretary
  44. 2003-08-26
    ➕
    BRIGHTON DIRECTOR LTD appointed
    corporate-nominee-director

Owner dependency

93/100
Critical — business is the founder

The 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 23 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
  • +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 60 — approaching natural succession window.

Succession & seller-readiness

85/100
Likely off-market candidate

Strong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.

SIGNALS
  • secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 60. Early succession window.
  • primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
  • primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 23 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 23 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

2 med ·
2 director resignations in last 12 months
medium

Multiple recent departures can indicate governance disagreement, succession event, or preparation for sale/stress.

Evidence: BARROW, Catherine Jane resigned 2025-08-14; DALLYN, Richard Anthony resigned 2026-05-27

Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
medium

Multiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.

Shareholders & ownership

2 active beneficial owners
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Mr Richard Mark Barrow
Individual · British · DOB 08/1966 · age 60
50–75%
50–75%50-75% shares · 50-75% voting30/06/2016
Mr Richard Anthony Dallyn
Individual · British · DOB 12/1958 · age 68
25–50%
—25-50% shares30/06/2016

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 · Trade services · EX postcode area
CompanyEst. valueTurnoverNet worthStaffAgeOppDirector
A & H SECURITY CONSULTANCY LTD→
14293361 · est 2022 · no financials extracted
————3y——
A J MURCH LTD→
10848158 · est 2017 · no financials extracted
————8y——
A.E. STOODLEY & SON LIMITED→
05108047 · est 2004 · no financials extracted
————21y——
AB SEA SERVICES LTD→
12012408 · est 2019 · no financials extracted
————6y——
ABLOU FACILITIES LTD→
11449650 · est 2018 · no financials extracted
————7y——
ABOUND CONSULTING LTD→
07988449 · est 2012 · no financials extracted
————14y——
ACRES OVERLAND LIMITED→
13298224 · est 2021 · no financials extracted
————5y——
ADDO GREENDALE LIMITED→
16298838 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
————1y——
ADSWAND LIMITED→
12462402 · est 2020 · no financials extracted
————6y——
ADTHORITY LTD→
09260324 · est 2014 · no financials extracted
————11y——
ADVENTURES AFTER TEACHING LTD→
15172375 · est 2023 · no financials extracted
————2y——
AE4 LTD→
15901938 · est 2024 · no financials extracted
————1y——
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
Incorporated2003-08-26
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC81300 — Landscape service activities

Registered office

Porte Farm, Kentisbury
Barnstaple
Devon
EX31 4NL

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-08-21
Last: 2025-08-07

Officers (1 active · 4 resigned)

BARROW, Richard Mark→
director · ~60y · appointed 2003-09-30
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BARROW, Catherine Jane→
secretary · appointed 2003-09-30 · resigned 2025-08-14
Resigned
BRIGHTON SECRETARY LTD→
corporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2003-08-26 · resigned 2003-08-28
Resigned
DALLYN, Richard Anthony→
director · ~68y · appointed 2004-05-28 · resigned 2026-05-27
Resigned
BRIGHTON DIRECTOR LTD→
corporate-nominee-director · appointed 2003-08-26 · resigned 2003-08-28
Resigned

Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.

Mortgages & charges

10
Total charges
3
Outstanding
3
Active lenders
Status:Lender:10 of 10 shown
TypeProperties
outstanding
Bizcap
Bizcap Limited
A registered charge1 property23/04/2026—
outstanding
Time Invoice Finance
Time Invoice Finance Limited
A registered charge2 properties15/07/2021—
satisfied
Shawbrook
Shawbrook Bank Limited
A registered charge—31/01/202026/10/2023
satisfied
Ultimate Invoice Finance
Ultimate Invoice Finance Limited
A registered charge1 property19/01/201716/07/2021
outstanding
Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Bank PLC
A registered charge1 property20/06/2016—
satisfied
Skipton Business Finance
Skipton Business Finance Limited
A registered charge1 property07/07/201425/01/2017
satisfied
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Debenture1 property18/05/201221/09/2016
satisfied
Bibby Financial Services
Bibby Financial Services LTD (As Security Trustee)
Debenture1 property11/04/201207/07/2014
satisfied
Virgin Money
Clydesdale Bank PLC
Debenture1 property25/10/200710/04/2014
satisfied
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
Debenture1 property18/10/200521/09/2010
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (74 total)

termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2026-06-08
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2026-05-05
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-09-30
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-08-27
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2025-08-27
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-12-30
change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortened
accounts · AA01
2024-09-30
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-09-04
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2023-10-26
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-09-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-09-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-09-28
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-08-11
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2022-08-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-09-29