BLACKBIRCH LIMITED
Opportunity 62/100 (worth a look), bankability 52/100. Strong seller-intent signal (78/100, director aged 65). 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
9 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 20.6y
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 20.6 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 35/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (58/100)Adequate coverage. AI outputs are reliable for the sections scored high; verify the rest in diligence.
Mixed signal. Worth opening the full target workup before deciding to pursue.
Recent activity
Corporate timeline (44 events)Click to expand
- 2023-07-25📄gazette-dissolved-voluntarygazette · GAZ2(A)
- 2023-07-25🏁Company dissolved
- 2023-05-09📄gazette-notice-voluntarygazette · GAZ1(A)
- 2023-04-26📄dissolution-application-strike-off-companydissolution · DS01
- 2022-09-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-11-10📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-08-24📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2020-07-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-03-09➖CORKER, David Michael resigneddirector
- 2020-03-09📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2019-06-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-11-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-09-13📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2017-09-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2017-09-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2017-09-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2017-09-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2017-09-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2017-09-14🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2017-09-14🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2017-09-14🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2017-09-14🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2016-07-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-smallaccounts · AA
- 2015-11-25📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2015-11-25🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2014-07-28🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ)
- 2011-05-30🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ)
- 2010-07-30🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ)
- 2010-07-30🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ)
- 2010-07-30🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ)
- 2009-04-07➕CORKER, David Michael appointeddirector
- 2005-10-31🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC
- 2005-10-19🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 2005-10-19🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 2005-10-19🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 2005-10-12➕LEEDALE, Gillianne appointedsecretary
- 2005-10-12➖WILFORD, Nicholas Geoffrey resignedsecretary
- 2005-09-20🏢Company incorporatedAs BLACKBIRCH LIMITED
- 2005-09-20➕SWALLOW, Peter David appointeddirector
- 2005-09-20➕HARRISON, Irene Lesley appointedsecretary
- 2005-09-20➖HARRISON, Irene Lesley resignedsecretary
- 2005-09-20➕WILFORD, Nicholas Geoffrey appointedsecretary
- 2005-09-20➕BUSINESS INFORMATION RESEARCH & REPORTING LTD appointedcorporate-director
- 2005-09-20➖BUSINESS INFORMATION RESEARCH & REPORTING LTD resignedcorporate-director
Owner dependency
The business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.
- +Sole director: Only one active director — all governance concentrated on one person.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 21 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 65 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
Strong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
- 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 21 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 21 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 high · 1 med ·Company has been dissolved — it no longer legally exists. Any diligence here is historical only.
Evidence: Dissolved on 2023-07-25
Multiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Peter David Swallow Individual · British · DOB 06/1961 · age 65 | 25–50% | — | 25-50% shares | 20/09/2016 |
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
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 · Property · S postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1GCC INVESTMENTS LIMITED→ 07658300 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| 312 DAISY SPRING WORKS LIMITED→ 16776577 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 365 PROPERTY LTD→ 12719652 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| 365 STORAGE LIMITED→ 15570203 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 3AL PROPERTY LTD→ 15795845 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 3ELIZ PROPERTY EMPORIUM LTD→ 16322510 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 3RD ECHELON LTD→ 12889081 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| 4 DONCASTER ROAD LIMITED→ 14172825 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| 5 MOMENTS PROPERTIES LIMITED→ 14894691 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 500 MD LTD→ 14861061 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 52 WALT LTD→ 15730735 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 57 MANAGEMENT LTD→ 15808171 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
10 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 →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
Registered office
Filing status
Officers (0 active · 4 resigned)
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ) | A registered charge | 1 property | 28/07/2014 | — | |
| satisfied | Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ) | Memorandum of security over cash deposits | 1 property | 30/05/2011 | 25/11/2015 | |
| outstanding | Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ) | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 30/07/2010 | — | |
| outstanding | Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ) | Mortgage debenture | 1 property | 30/07/2010 | — | |
| outstanding | Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ) | Mortgage debenture | 1 property | 30/07/2010 | — | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 31/10/2005 | 14/09/2017 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 19/10/2005 | 14/09/2017 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 19/10/2005 | 14/09/2017 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 19/10/2005 | 14/09/2017 |