CAMPBELL & SMITH CONSTRUCTION GROUP LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
SC161799 · ltd · incorporated 1995-11-22
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 Feb 2025
Net worth
£432.4k
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Construction of commercial buildings
Sector: Construction
Investor take
PursueAsset-holding vehicle with a 70-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 85/100. Strong seller-intent signal (93/100, director aged 70). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Broaden director team. Sole director creates succession risk and reduces buyer comfort. Appoint a second director or strong #2. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
4 live charges · oldest 30.2y
45/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 30.2 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Single lender — cleanest path to refinance.
- · 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
4 charges (4/4 with lender, 4/4 with type)
90
Directors & officers
8 officers (2 active, 8 linked, 3 with DOB)
78
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 4 total, 4 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
132 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.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declaredPositive net assets
Net assets £432,395
Cash YoY
-20%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£167k
↓ 20% YoY
Net Worth
£432k
↑ 6.0% YoY
Current Assets
£669k
~ YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2025-02-28 | 2024-02-29 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £443.7k | £434.5k |
| Current assets | £668.6k | £667.1k |
| Cash | £167.2k | £208.8k |
| Debtors | £461.4k | £428.3k |
| Net assets | £432.4k | £408.0k |
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
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (42 events)Click to expand
- 2025-11-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-11-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-12-14📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2023-12-14📄change-corporate-secretary-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH04
- 2023-12-14📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2023-12-14📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2023-07-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-07-19📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-03-03📄capital-cancellation-sharescapital · SH06
- 2022-03-03📄capital-return-purchase-own-sharescapital · SH03
- 2022-02-23📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2022-02-23📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2022-02-23📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2021-08-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-09-14📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2020-09-14📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2020-09-09📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2020-06-15📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-09-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2016-09-10➖CUNNINGHAM, Michael, The Executors Of resigneddirector
- 2014-11-01🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2009-02-05🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2008-09-03➕AS COMPANY SERVICES LIMITED appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2008-09-03➖ANDERSON STRATHERN resignedcorporate-secretary
- 2002-03-07➕ANDERSON STRATHERN appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2002-02-19➖ESSERY, Michael John resignedsecretary
- 2001-04-16➖MITCHELL, Robert Alexander resigneddirector
- 1997-07-21🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 1997-05-09🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 1996-03-20🔒Charge registered #4Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 1996-03-20🔒Charge registered #3Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 1996-03-20🔒Charge registered #2Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 1996-03-01➕MITCHELL, Robert Alexander appointeddirector
- 1996-03-01🔒Charge registered #1Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 1996-02-21➕BLAIR, George Ritchie appointeddirector
- 1996-02-21➕ESSERY, Michael John appointedsecretary
- 1996-02-21➖MBM SECRETARIAL SERVICES LIMITED resignedcorporate-secretary
- 1996-02-21➕CUNNINGHAM, Michael, The Executors Of appointeddirector
- 1996-02-21➖MBM BOARD NOMINEES LIMITED resignedcorporate-director
- 1995-11-22🏢Company incorporatedAs CAMPBELL & SMITH CONSTRUCTION GROUP LIMITED
- 1995-11-22➕MBM SECRETARIAL SERVICES LIMITED appointedcorporate-secretary
- 1995-11-22➕MBM BOARD NOMINEES LIMITED appointedcorporate-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 30 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 70 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
100/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 70 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 30 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 30 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 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.
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr George Ritchie Blair Individual · British · DOB 06/1956 · age 70 | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 06/04/2016 |
3 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Claire Cunninghamceased 25/01/2022· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
- Hazel Wattceased 25/01/2022· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
- The Executors Of Michael Cunninghamceased 23/11/2018· 50-75% shares · 50-75% voting · board control
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 · Construction · EH postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COLINBRICKS SOLUTIONS LTD→ SC857848 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| COLORADO DEVELOPMENTS (2010) LIMITED→ SC311186 · est 2006 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 19y | — | — |
| COLORADO LETTING AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LIMITED→ SC311169 · est 2006 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 19y | — | — |
| COMFORTZONE PROPERTY SOLUTIONS LTD→ SC631606 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| COMMERCIAL TEMPERATURE SOLUTIONS LTD→ SC457735 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| COMMISSIONING CONSULTANT SERVICES LTD→ SC659995 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| COMPASS CONSULT LTD→ SC577072 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| CONNECTED IP LIMITED→ SC883325 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CONOR PRICE ENGINEERING LTD→ SC349994 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 17y | — | — |
| CONTAINEROAM LIMITED→ SC878208 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| COPPER WETROOMS AND BATHROOMS LTD→ SC567885 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| CORE CUT LIMITED→ SC066301 · est 1978 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 47y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1995-11-22
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC41201 — Construction of commercial buildings
Registered office
C/O Anderson Strathern Llp
58 Morrison Street
Edinburgh
EH3 8BP
Scotland
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-11-30
Last made up to: 2025-02-28
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-08-05
Last: 2025-07-22
Officers (2 active · 6 resigned)
AS COMPANY SERVICES LIMITED→
Activecorporate-secretary · appointed 2008-09-03
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BLAIR, George Ritchie→
Activedirector · ~70y · appointed 1996-02-21
View their other companies + combined net worth →
ESSERY, Michael John→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1996-02-21 · resigned 2002-02-19
ANDERSON STRATHERN→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 2002-03-07 · resigned 2008-09-03
MBM SECRETARIAL SERVICES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 1995-11-22 · resigned 1996-02-21
CUNNINGHAM, Michael, The Executors Of→
Resigneddirector · ~81y · appointed 1996-02-21 · resigned 2016-09-10
MITCHELL, Robert Alexander→
Resigneddirector · ~96y · appointed 1996-03-01 · resigned 2001-04-16
MBM BOARD NOMINEES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-director · appointed 1995-11-22 · resigned 1996-02-21
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
4
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:4 of 4 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 20/03/1996 | 05/02/2009 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 20/03/1996 | 21/07/1997 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 20/03/1996 | 09/05/1997 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 01/03/1996 | 01/11/2014 |
Recent filings (132 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-11-03
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-08-01
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-11-21
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-07-30
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2023-12-14
change-corporate-secretary-company-with-change-date
officers · CH04
2023-12-14
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2023-12-14
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2023-12-14
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-07-26
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-07-06
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-08-15
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-07-19
capital-cancellation-shares
capital · SH06
2022-03-03
capital-return-purchase-own-shares
capital · SH03
2022-03-03
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2022-02-23