NPL 1997 LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
SC178677 · ltd · incorporated 1997-09-10
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 Aug 2025
Net worth
£1
book net assets
Opportunity
74/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Manufacture of metal structures and parts of structures
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
PursueAsset-holding vehicle with a 67-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 74/100 (strong), bankability 77/100. Strong seller-intent signal (78/100, director aged 67). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 4 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
8 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 27.6y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 27.6 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: high (82/100)Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.
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
8 charges (8/8 with lender, 8/8 with type)
90
Directors & officers
22 officers (1 active, 22 linked, 14 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
10 connected companies via shared directors
75
Filing history
145 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
74/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
70
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
69
Some moderate concerns — review flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declaredPositive net assets
Net assets £1
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
£1
~ YoY
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2025-08-31 | 2024-08-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £1 | £1 |
| Net assets | £1 | £1 |
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
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Last 180 days
4
filings
- • 2 officers
- • 1 accounts
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (77 events)Click to expand
- 2026-03-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2026-01-12📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2026-01-12📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2025-10-23➕EASTCROFT, David John appointeddirector
- 2025-10-23➖CRAIG, Steven Russell resigneddirector
- 2025-10-23➕EASTCROFT, David John appointeddirector
- 2025-10-23➖EASTCROFT, David John resigneddirector
- 2025-10-23📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-10-23📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2025-05-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2024-05-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2023-05-16📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2022-05-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2021-05-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2020-11-26➕CRAIG, Steven Russell appointeddirector
- 2020-11-26➖MACPHERSON, Alan Alexander resigneddirector
- 2020-11-26📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2020-11-26📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2020-01-17📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2019-11-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2019-11-12📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-extendedaccounts · AA01
- 2019-06-27📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2019-06-27📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2019-06-27🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2019-06-27🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2019-06-27🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2019-06-27🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2019-06-27🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2019-06-27🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2019-06-27🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2019-03-29➖BARRASS, David John resigneddirector
- 2019-03-29➕MACPHERSON, Alan Alexander appointeddirector
- 2018-08-06➖YOUNG, Douglas resignedsecretary
- 2018-04-09➖JACKSON, Philip David resignedsecretary
- 2018-04-09➕YOUNG, Douglas appointedsecretary
- 2017-10-01➕JACKSON, Philip David appointedsecretary
- 2017-09-29➖BARKER, Phillip resignedsecretary
- 2017-09-29➖BARKER, Philip Dennison resigneddirector
- 2016-05-06🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Baird Capital Partners Europe Limited as Security Trustee
- 2016-05-06🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Baird Capital Partners Europe Limited as Security Trustee
- 2016-05-06🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Baird Capital Partners Europe Limited as Security Trustee
- 2016-05-06🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Baird Capital Partners Europe Limited as Security Trustee
- 2015-06-30🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Baird Capital Partners Europe Limited as Security Trustee
- 2014-04-07➖RAFFERTY, Daniel Paul resigneddirector
- 2013-07-14➖BURNETT, Gordon Henderson resigneddirector
- 2013-04-19➖SMITH, Paul Jeremy, Dr resigneddirector
- 2012-05-15➕SMITH, Paul Jeremy, Dr appointeddirector
- 2011-02-04➕BARKER, Phillip appointedsecretary
- 2011-02-04➖KEIGHLEY, Richard Nicholas resignedsecretary
- 2011-02-04➕BARKER, Philip Dennison appointeddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 77 events
Owner dependency
90/100
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.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 67 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
65/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 67. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
Red flags
2 med ·2 director resignations in last 12 months
mediumMultiple recent departures can indicate governance disagreement, succession event, or preparation for sale/stress.
Evidence: CRAIG, Steven Russell resigned 2025-10-23; EASTCROFT, David John resigned 2025-10-23
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
Ams Group Holdings Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Ams Group Holdings Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares
⬇
NPL 1997 LIMITED
This company · SC178677
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ams Group Holdings Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting | 29/03/2019 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Gabbro Precision Limitedceased 29/03/2019· 75-100% shares · 75-100% 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
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N47 GARAGE LIMITED→ SC836683 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| OCEAN OUTFIT LTD→ SC747990 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| PLM FABRICATIONS LTD→ SC718218 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| PMH COACHBUILDERS LTD.→ SC185444 · est 1998 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 27y | — | — |
| PREMIER1PRINT LIMITED→ SC276362 · est 2004 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 21y | — | — |
| R M REWINDS LTD→ SC497773 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| REACTIVE E & M SERVICES LIMITED→ SC635959 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
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| SEAHAWK APPAREL LIMITED→ SC524154 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| SERVICE PRINT SOLUTIONS LTD→ SC781383 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| SMART TECH AUTOBODY LTD→ SC379572 · est 2010 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 15y | — | — |
| SMF ELECTRICAL SERVICES LTD→ SC602995 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1997-09-10
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC25110 — Manufacture of metal structures and parts of structures
Registered office
7 Melville Terrace
Stirling
FK8 2ND
United Kingdom
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-05-31
Last made up to: 2025-08-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-01-14
Last: 2025-12-31
Officers (1 active · 21 resigned)
EASTCROFT, David John→
Activedirector · ~67y · appointed 2025-10-23
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BARKER, Phillip→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2011-02-04 · resigned 2017-09-29
JACKSON, Philip David→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2017-10-01 · resigned 2018-04-09
KEIGHLEY, Richard Nicholas→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2009-06-03 · resigned 2011-02-04
LIVERSIDGE, William Edward→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1997-09-10 · resigned 2006-06-08
YOUNG, Douglas→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2018-04-09 · resigned 2018-08-06
ASHCROFT CAMERON SECRETARIES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1997-09-10 · resigned 1997-09-10
LC SECRETARIES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 2006-06-08 · resigned 2009-06-03
BARKER, Philip Dennison→
Resigneddirector · ~69y · appointed 2011-02-04 · resigned 2017-09-29
BARRASS, David John→
Resigneddirector · ~75y · appointed 2009-10-08 · resigned 2019-03-29
BELL, Alexander→
Resigneddirector · ~78y · appointed 1997-09-10 · resigned 2009-06-03
BURNETT, Gordon Henderson→
Resigneddirector · ~56y · appointed 2009-06-03 · resigned 2013-07-14
CRAIG, Steven Russell→
Resigneddirector · ~39y · appointed 2020-11-26 · resigned 2025-10-23
EASTCROFT, David John→
Resigneddirector · ~67y · appointed 2025-10-23 · resigned 2025-10-23
KEIGHLEY, Richard Nicholas→
Resigneddirector · ~67y · appointed 2009-06-03 · resigned 2011-02-04
KIRKHAM, Philip David→
Resigneddirector · ~74y · appointed 2009-06-03 · resigned 2009-10-30
LAWSON, William→
Resigneddirector · ~89y · appointed 1997-09-10 · resigned 1999-09-30
LIVERSIDGE, William Edward→
Resigneddirector · ~78y · appointed 1997-09-10 · resigned 2009-06-03
MACPHERSON, Alan Alexander→
Resigneddirector · ~50y · appointed 2019-03-29 · resigned 2020-11-26
RAFFERTY, Daniel Paul→
Resigneddirector · ~51y · appointed 2009-06-03 · resigned 2014-04-07
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
8
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:8 of 8 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Baird Capital Partners Europe as Security Trustee Baird Capital Partners Europe Limited as Security Trustee | A registered charge | 1 property | 06/05/2016 | 27/06/2019 | |
| satisfied | Baird Capital Partners Europe as Security Trustee Baird Capital Partners Europe Limited as Security Trustee | A registered charge | 1 property | 06/05/2016 | 27/06/2019 | |
| satisfied | Baird Capital Partners Europe as Security Trustee Baird Capital Partners Europe Limited as Security Trustee | A registered charge | 1 property | 06/05/2016 | 27/06/2019 | |
| satisfied | Baird Capital Partners Europe as Security Trustee Baird Capital Partners Europe Limited as Security Trustee | A registered charge | 1 property | 06/05/2016 | 27/06/2019 | |
| satisfied | Baird Capital Partners Europe as Security Trustee Baird Capital Partners Europe Limited as Security Trustee | A registered charge | 1 property | 30/06/2015 | 27/06/2019 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank PLC Trading as Yorkshire Bank | Debenture | 2 properties | 03/06/2009 | 27/06/2019 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank PLC | Floating charge | 1 property | 03/06/2009 | 27/06/2019 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Floating charge | 1 property | 02/10/1998 | 10/06/2009 |
Recent filings (145 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2026-03-09
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-01-12
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2026-01-12
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2026-01-12
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-10-23
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-10-23
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2025-05-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-01-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2024-05-20
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-01-15
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2023-05-16
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-01-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2022-05-13
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-01-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2021-05-21