ULSTER STEAMSHIP COMPANY,LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
R0000749 · ltd · incorporated 1877-08-28
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 Sept 2024
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 50200
Sector: Transportation & storage
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 65-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 62/100. Strong seller-intent signal (85/100, director aged 65). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 6 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 · 6 lenders · oldest 104.9y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 104.9 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 6 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (74/100)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
10 charges (10/10 with lender, 10/10 with type)
90
Directors & officers
9 officers (2 active, 9 linked, 4 with DOB)
79
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
10 connected companies via shared directors
75
Filing history
259 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
79/100Strong
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
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Key financials
1 year extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2024-09-30 |
|---|
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
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 (51 events)Click to expand
- 2025-06-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2024-06-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2024-06-10📄appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP03
- 2024-06-10📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2024-06-01➕CARTMILL, Heather Selina May appointedsecretary
- 2024-05-31➖YOURSTON, Rab resignedsecretary
- 2023-11-13📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2023-06-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2022-06-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2021-06-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2020-06-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2019-07-01📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2018-06-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2017-04-11📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2016-06-01📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2015-12-31📄annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholdersannual-return · AR01
- 2015-02-19📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2008-06-05➖MULDOON, Gerard resignedsecretary
- 2008-06-05➕YOURSTON, Rab appointedsecretary
- 2008-02-21➖CAMPBELL, Kevin David John resignedsecretary
- 2008-02-21➕MULDOON, Gerard appointedsecretary
- 2004-06-10➖MACLARAN, Michael Walter Savage resigneddirector
- 2004-05-25➕CLARKE, David Nigel appointeddirector
- 2003-08-17➖DOLAGHAN, Brian Patrick resignedsecretary
- 2000-05-01➖BEST, Reginald Carl resigneddirector
- 1999-12-15➖WALSH, James C resigneddirector
- 1976-10-25🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 1975-06-30🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 1972-05-26🔓Charge satisfied #9
- 1969-12-04🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Ministry of Finance
- 1969-12-04🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Ministry of Finance
- 1965-05-10🔒Charge registered #8Lender: The Board of Trade
- 1943-11-30🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 1943-11-30🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 1943-06-03🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 1941-10-29🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Prudential Assur-
- 1939-08-09🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Providential Assur-
- 1939-05-01🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 1937-04-22🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Westminster Bank LTD
- 1937-03-01🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Westminster Bank LTD
- 1934-08-16🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 1934-08-15🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 1933-01-24🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Westminster Bank LTD
- 1927-06-16🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Westminster Bank LTD
- 1921-06-30🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Sir Geo. S Clark
- 1877-08-28🏢Company incorporatedAs ULSTER STEAMSHIP COMPANY,LIMITED
- 1877-08-28➕CAMPBELL, Kevin David John appointedsecretary
- 1877-08-28➕DOLAGHAN, Brian Patrick appointedsecretary
- 1877-08-28➕BEST, Reginald Carl appointeddirector
- 1877-08-28➕MACLARAN, Michael Walter Savage appointeddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 51 events
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 22 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 65 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
85/100
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 22 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- supportingClean filings + long tenure: Disciplined long-tenure operator — classic lifestyle-business pattern that often sells quietly.
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
Heyn Group Ltd is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Heyn Group Ltd
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares
⬇
ULSTER STEAMSHIP COMPANY,LIMITED
This company · R0000749
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Heyn Group Ltd Corporate entity | 75–100% | — | 75-100% shares | 07/04/2016 |
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 · Transport & logistics · BT postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TST TRANSPORT LTD→ NI617002 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| TTRIOS LIMITED→ NI696954 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| TURLEY BROS UK LTD→ NI669836 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| TVM LOGISTICS LTD→ NI718885 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| TYROSS TRANSPORT LTD→ NI605946 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 15y | — | — |
| UDS CLEARANCES LIMITED→ NI694287 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| UDS DISTRIBUTION LIMITED→ NI736081 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| UNIVERSAL TOUR BUSES LIMITED→ NI731410 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| URGENT TAXIS LTD→ NI644928 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| URKER LTD→ NI658727 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| V & N HAULAGE LTD→ NI678898 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| V FRASER & SONS LTD→ NI044987 · est 2002 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 23y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1877-08-28
Jurisdictionnorthern-ireland
Primary SIC50200 — SIC 50200
Registered office
1 Corry Place
Belfast Harbour Estate
Belfast
BT3 9AH
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-06-30
Last made up to: 2024-09-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-11-12
Last: 2025-10-29
Officers (2 active · 7 resigned)
CARTMILL, Heather Selina May→
Activesecretary · appointed 2024-06-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
CLARKE, David Nigel→
Activedirector · ~65y · appointed 2004-05-25
View their other companies + combined net worth →
CAMPBELL, Kevin David John→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1877-08-28 · resigned 2008-02-21
DOLAGHAN, Brian Patrick→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1877-08-28 · resigned 2003-08-17
MULDOON, Gerard→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2008-02-21 · resigned 2008-06-05
YOURSTON, Rab→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2008-06-05 · resigned 2024-05-31
BEST, Reginald Carl→
Resigneddirector · ~88y · appointed 1877-08-28 · resigned 2000-05-01
MACLARAN, Michael Walter Savage→
Resigneddirector · ~78y · appointed 1877-08-28 · resigned 2004-06-10
WALSH, James C→
Resigneddirector · ~97y · appointed 1877-08-28 · resigned 1999-12-15
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
10
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:10 of 10 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Ministry of Finance | Mortgage or charge | 1 property | 04/12/1969 | 25/10/1976 | |
| satisfied | Ministry of Finance | Mortgage or charge | 1 property | 04/12/1969 | 26/05/1972 | |
| satisfied | The Board of Trade | Mortgage or charge | 1 property | 10/05/1965 | 30/06/1975 | |
| satisfied | Prudential Assur- | Mortgage or charge | 1 property | 29/10/1941 | 30/11/1943 | |
| satisfied | Providential Assur- | Mortgage or charge | 1 property | 09/08/1939 | 30/11/1943 | |
| satisfied | Westminster Bank Westminster Bank LTD | Mortgage or charge | 1 property | 22/04/1937 | 03/06/1943 | |
| satisfied | Westminster Bank Westminster Bank LTD | Mortgage or charge | 1 property | 01/03/1937 | 01/05/1939 | |
| satisfied | Westminster Bank Westminster Bank LTD | Mortgage or charge | 1 property | 24/01/1933 | 16/08/1934 | |
| satisfied | Westminster Bank Westminster Bank LTD | Mortgage or charge | 1 property | 16/06/1927 | 15/08/1934 | |
| part-satisfied | Sir Geo. S Clark | Mortgage or charge | 1 property | 30/06/1921 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (259 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-10-29
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2025-06-24
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-11-12
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2024-06-26
appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-date
officers · AP03
2024-06-10
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2024-06-10
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-11-23
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2023-11-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2023-06-27
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-11-23
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2022-06-30
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-11-24
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2021-06-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-11-25
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2020-06-22