KEITH BUILDERS MERCHANTS LIMITED
📉Decliningactive
SC217157 · ltd · incorporated 2001-03-22
Investment thesis
Established operating company — standard diligence applies, no dominant angle.
Why interesting: Live, filing, normal profile.
Why risky: No standout signals in either direction.
Opportunity decay
drifting distress · 6-months
Drifting toward distress — expect more negotiability in 3–6 months, but also more friction.
- · Lifecycle stage drifting downward
- · Currently "declining"
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Aug 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 46130
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: leverage-led grower with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. 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: strategic trade sale (78/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
9 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 24.6y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 24.6 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: high (80/100)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
9 charges (9/9 with lender, 9/9 with type)
90
Directors & officers
11 officers (4 active, 11 linked, 8 with DOB)
85
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
3 connected companies via shared directors
54
Filing history
130 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
🔒Estimated company valuation
Sector-multiple EBITDA, turnover, and NAV-proxy valuation range with confidence tier — derived from extracted iXBRL financials.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →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 · FRS 102Profitable
Profit before tax £56,105
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2025-08-31 | 2024-08-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Profit before tax | £56.1k | £325.3k |
| Average employees | 39 | 4200 |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
2 signals 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
7
filings
- • 4 persons-with-significant-control
- • 2 confirmation-statement
- • 1 accounts
Last 90 days
7
filings
- • 4 persons-with-significant-control
- • 2 confirmation-statement
- • 1 accounts
Last 180 days
7
filings
- • 4 persons-with-significant-control
- • 2 confirmation-statement
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (56 events)Click to expand
- 2026-04-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2026-04-09📄replacement-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-dateconfirmation-statement · RP01CS01
- 2026-04-09📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2026-04-09📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC02
- 2026-04-09📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC02
- 2026-04-09📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2025-07-29📄mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-numbermortgage · 466(Scot)
- 2025-07-21📄mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-numbermortgage · 466(Scot)
- 2025-05-31📄mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-numbermortgage · 466(Scot)
- 2025-05-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-04-17📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-04-17📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-04-17📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-04-17🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2025-04-17🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2025-04-17🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2025-04-14📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-04-14📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-04-04🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Rbs Invoice Finance LTD
- 2025-04-04🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Rbs Invoice Finance LTD
- 2025-04-01📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-03-24🔒Charge registered #7Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2025-01-30📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-01-30🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2024-12-10📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-12-10📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2024-12-10📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2024-12-06➕DAVIDSON, Lee Ross appointeddirector
- 2024-12-06➕LAPKA, Myjkalo Janek appointeddirector
- 2024-12-03📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC05
- 2024-04-25📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-09-10🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2019-09-04➖BARTLETT, Allan James resigneddirector
- 2019-09-04🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Scottish Enterprise
- 2019-09-04🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2019-09-04🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2019-08-30➕MITCHELL, Kevin Alexander appointeddirector
- 2018-12-22🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2018-12-22🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2015-06-10➖BARTLETT, Helen Jean resignedsecretary
- 2015-06-10➖BARTLETT, Helen Jean resigneddirector
- 2008-12-10➕SMITH, Jeffery Johnston appointeddirector
- 2007-03-30➕BARTLETT, Helen Jean appointeddirector
- 2005-10-31➕BARTLETT, Helen Jean appointedsecretary
- 2005-10-31➖MURRAY, Colin Mcdonald resignedsecretary
- 2005-08-31➖MURRAY, Colin Mcdonald resigneddirector
- 2001-12-10🔒Charge registered #2Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2001-10-01➕MURRAY, Colin Mcdonald appointedsecretary
- 2001-10-01➖MACDONALDS resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2001-10-01➕BARTLETT, Allan James appointeddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 56 events
Owner dependency
58/100
Moderate — manageable with handoverSome founder dependency, but not acute. A structured handover period should cover most risk.
FACTORS
- -4 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 17 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 58 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
53/100
Moderate signalSome succession indicators present. Worth watching; approach if sector/strategy fits.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 58. Early succession window.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 17 years.
- 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
Kbm 2018 Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Kbm 2018 Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
KEITH BUILDERS MERCHANTS LIMITED
This company · SC217157
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Kbm 2018 Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 29/09/2023 |
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Edithfield Holdings Ltdceased 29/09/2023· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control
- Jeffery Johnston Smithceased 06/04/2016· 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
Active · Wholesale & distribution · AB postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KNC GROUNDWORKS LIMITED→ SC451952 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| KODAF LIMITED→ SC768755 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| LHR MARINE LIMITED→ SC204492 · est 2000 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 26y | — | — |
| LOLI-LOSSIEN UK LTD→ SC399089 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| LONDON BABY LTD→ SC833613 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| LONG TECHNOLOGY LIMITED→ SC105350 · est 1987 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 38y | — | — |
| LOSEFORLESS LIMITED→ SC871989 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| LYDIE PRIVATE LTD→ SC867728 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| M.AARIZ LIMITED→ SC781988 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| MAINLAND TIMBER LTD→ SC855182 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MARCHDALE LIMITED→ SC396697 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 15y | — | — |
| MARESCA LIMITED→ SC225954 · est 2001 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 24y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
9 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
Incorporated2001-03-22
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC46130 — SIC 46130
Registered office
9 Edindiach Road
Keith
AB55 5JY
Scotland
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-05-31
Last made up to: 2025-08-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-04-05
Last: 2026-03-22
Officers (4 active · 7 resigned)
DAVIDSON, Lee Ross→
Activedirector · ~41y · appointed 2024-12-06
View their other companies + combined net worth →
LAPKA, Myjkalo Janek→
Activedirector · ~38y · appointed 2024-12-06
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MITCHELL, Kevin Alexander→
Activedirector · ~54y · appointed 2019-08-30
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SMITH, Jeffery Johnston→
Activedirector · ~58y · appointed 2008-12-10
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BARTLETT, Helen Jean→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2005-10-31 · resigned 2015-06-10
MURRAY, Colin Mcdonald→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2001-10-01 · resigned 2005-10-31
MACDONALDS→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2001-03-22 · resigned 2001-10-01
BARTLETT, Allan James→
Resigneddirector · ~67y · appointed 2001-10-01 · resigned 2019-09-04
BARTLETT, Helen Jean→
Resigneddirector · ~67y · appointed 2007-03-30 · resigned 2015-06-10
MURRAY, Colin Mcdonald→
Resigneddirector · ~73y · appointed 2001-10-01 · resigned 2005-08-31
WHITE, Joyce Helen→
Resigneddirector · ~67y · appointed 2001-03-22 · resigned 2001-10-01
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
9
Total charges
3
Outstanding
2
Active lenders
Status:Lender:9 of 9 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | NatWest Group Rbs Invoice Finance LTD | A registered charge | — | 04/04/2025 | — | |
| outstanding | NatWest Group Rbs Invoice Finance LTD | A registered charge | — | 04/04/2025 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | — | 24/03/2025 | — | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 10/09/2019 | 17/04/2025 | |
| satisfied | Scottish Enterprise | A registered charge | — | 04/09/2019 | 30/01/2025 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 04/09/2019 | 17/04/2025 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 04/09/2019 | 17/04/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 10/12/2001 | 22/12/2018 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 01/10/2001 | 22/12/2018 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (130 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2026-04-22
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-04-09
replacement-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-date
confirmation-statement · RP01CS01
2026-04-09
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2026-04-09
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
2026-04-09
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
2026-04-09
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2026-04-09
mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-number
mortgage · 466(Scot)
2025-07-29
mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-number
mortgage · 466(Scot)
2025-07-21
mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-number
mortgage · 466(Scot)
2025-05-31
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-05-30
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-04-17
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-04-17
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-04-17
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-04-14