CONTROLGEAR DIRECT LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
SC166288 · ltd · incorporated 1996-06-14
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
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
75/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Other retail sale in non-specialised stores
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and bankable structure.
Opportunity 75/100 (strong), bankability 77/100. 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. 3 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (58/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
3 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 26.3y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 26.3 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (57/100)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
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
3 charges (3/3 with lender, 3/3 with type)
90
Directors & officers
17 officers (2 active, 17 linked, 12 with DOB)
84
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
106 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
75/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
55
Some acquirability indicators.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
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 (53 events)Click to expand
- 2025-09-25📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2025-08-28📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2024-09-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2023-08-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2022-09-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2021-09-08📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2021-05-12📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC05
- 2020-09-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2019-10-01📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2018-08-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2018-07-04📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2018-07-04📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2018-06-27➖DAVANZO, Patrizia resigneddirector
- 2018-06-27➖MORETTI, Andrea resigneddirector
- 2017-12-08📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2017-12-08🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2017-09-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2016-09-29➕BACCINI, Giovanni appointeddirector
- 2016-09-29➖ALFANO, Franco resigneddirector
- 2016-09-29➕DAVANZO, Patrizia appointeddirector
- 2016-09-29➖GREEN, Alan Ralph resigneddirector
- 2016-09-29➕MORETTI, Andrea appointeddirector
- 2016-04-29➖FORSYTH, Robin Paul resigneddirector
- 2014-10-22➕TRINDER, Andrew Michael Warren appointedsecretary
- 2014-10-22➖DUNSTON, Ian Charles resignedsecretary
- 2014-01-09➖JOSEPHS, David Alexander resigneddirector
- 2012-10-30🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2012-05-21➕ALFANO, Franco appointeddirector
- 2012-04-30➖PRIORA, Gino resigneddirector
- 2011-01-17➕PRIORA, Gino appointeddirector
- 2010-10-25➖MCGUINNESS, Glenn Richard resignedsecretary
- 2010-08-17➕DUNSTON, Ian Charles appointedsecretary
- 2010-08-17➖MCGUINNESS, Glenn Richard resigneddirector
- 2009-04-28➖FORSYTH, Jean Ross resignedsecretary
- 2009-04-28➕MCGUINNESS, Glenn Richard appointedsecretary
- 2009-04-28➖FORSYTH, Jean Ross resigneddirector
- 2009-04-28➖FORSYTH, Robert Spiers resigneddirector
- 2009-04-28➕GREEN, Alan Ralph appointeddirector
- 2009-04-28➕JOSEPHS, David Alexander appointeddirector
- 2009-04-28➕MCGUINNESS, Glenn Richard appointeddirector
- 2008-08-07🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2006-08-31🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2006-08-24🔒Charge registered #2Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 2000-01-06🔒Charge registered #1Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 1996-06-14🏢Company incorporatedAs CONTROLGEAR DIRECT LIMITED
- 1996-06-14➕FORSYTH, Jean Ross appointedsecretary
- 1996-06-14➕REID, Brian appointednominee-secretary
- 1996-06-14➖REID, Brian resignednominee-secretary
- 1996-06-14➕FORSYTH, Jean Ross appointeddirector
- 1996-06-14➕FORSYTH, Robert Spiers appointeddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 53 events
Owner dependency
75/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Sole director: Only one active director — all governance concentrated on one person.
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 30 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
Red flags
cleanNo red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)
Group structure
Lewden Ltd is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Lewden Ltd
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares
⬇
CONTROLGEAR DIRECT LIMITED
This company · SC166288
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lewden Ltd Corporate entity | 75–100% | — | 75-100% shares | 13/05/2016 |
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 · Retail · EH postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMPANY BAKERY LIMITED→ SC768646 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| CORNICHE (EDINBURGH) LIMITED→ SC074990 · est 1981 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 44y | — | — |
| CRAG SUPPLIES LTD→ SC511220 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| CROSSREACH TRADING LTD→ SC265642 · est 2004 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 22y | — | — |
| CRUX PUZZLES LTD→ SC801019 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| CUDDLECART LTD→ SC866668 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CUE RISE LTD→ SC709651 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| CULLERCOAST TRADING LTD→ SC842463 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| CULORA EVENT STYLING LTD→ SC828264 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| CUMBERNAULD RETAIL LTD→ SC815633 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| CUNNINGHAM & CAMPBELL COMMERCE LTD→ SC798968 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| CURAGENX ENTERPRISE LTD→ SC828350 · est 2024 · 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
Incorporated1996-06-14
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC47190 — Other retail sale in non-specialised stores
Registered office
5 South Charlotte Street
Edinburgh
EH2 4AN
Scotland
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-05-26
Last: 2025-05-12
Officers (2 active · 15 resigned)
TRINDER, Andrew Michael Warren→
Activesecretary · appointed 2014-10-22
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BACCINI, Giovanni→
Activedirector · ~52y · appointed 2016-09-29
View their other companies + combined net worth →
DUNSTON, Ian Charles→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2010-08-17 · resigned 2014-10-22
FORSYTH, Jean Ross→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1996-06-14 · resigned 2009-04-28
MCGUINNESS, Glenn Richard→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2009-04-28 · resigned 2010-10-25
REID, Brian→
Resignednominee-secretary · appointed 1996-06-14 · resigned 1996-06-14
ALFANO, Franco→
Resigneddirector · ~70y · appointed 2012-05-21 · resigned 2016-09-29
DAVANZO, Patrizia→
Resigneddirector · ~59y · appointed 2016-09-29 · resigned 2018-06-27
FORSYTH, Jean Ross→
Resigneddirector · ~80y · appointed 1996-06-14 · resigned 2009-04-28
FORSYTH, Robert Spiers→
Resigneddirector · ~85y · appointed 1996-06-14 · resigned 2009-04-28
FORSYTH, Robin Paul→
Resigneddirector · ~55y · appointed 1996-06-14 · resigned 2016-04-29
GREEN, Alan Ralph→
Resigneddirector · ~76y · appointed 2009-04-28 · resigned 2016-09-29
JOSEPHS, David Alexander→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 2009-04-28 · resigned 2014-01-09
MABBOTT, Stephen→
Resignednominee-director · ~76y · appointed 1996-06-14 · resigned 1996-06-14
MCGUINNESS, Glenn Richard→
Resigneddirector · ~72y · appointed 2009-04-28 · resigned 2010-08-17
MORETTI, Andrea→
Resigneddirector · ~36y · appointed 2016-09-29 · resigned 2018-06-27
PRIORA, Gino→
Resigneddirector · ~87y · appointed 2011-01-17 · resigned 2012-04-30
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
3
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:3 of 3 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | Floating charge | 1 property | 30/10/2012 | 08/12/2017 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 24/08/2006 | 07/08/2008 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 06/01/2000 | 31/08/2006 |
Recent filings (106 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2025-09-25
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2025-08-28
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-05-14
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2024-09-12
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-05-14
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2023-08-02
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-05-16
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2022-09-12
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-05-12
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-05-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2021-09-08
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC05
2021-05-12
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-05-12
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-05-12
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2020-09-21