CALIFORNIA CAKE COMPANY (HOLDINGS) LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
SC286674 · ltd · incorporated 2005-06-27
Investment thesis
Well-run mature business — low negotiation leverage; premium likely.
Why interesting: Textbook target; clean filings, stable trading.
Why risky: No pressure on seller; any deal likely at full price.
Opportunity decay
hardening · 12-months
Already tight — no obvious softening catalysts on the horizon.
- · Thesis: well-run, low negotiation leverage
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
80/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: Activities of head offices
Sector: Professional, scientific & technical
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 64-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 80/100 (exceptional), bankability 77/100. Strong seller-intent signal (60/100, director aged 64). 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 (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
5 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 20.4y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 20.4 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 30/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (61/100)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
5 charges (5/5 with lender, 5/5 with type)
90
Directors & officers
18 officers (4 active, 18 linked, 11 with DOB)
82
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
17 connected companies via shared directors
90
Filing history
109 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
80/100Exceptional
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Strong composite across quality, acquirability, and risk. High-priority target — progress to serious diligence.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
85
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
6
filings
- • 5 mortgage
- • 1 accounts
Last 180 days
6
filings
- • 5 mortgage
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (61 events)Click to expand
- 2026-03-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2026-03-18📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2026-03-18🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2026-02-12📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2026-02-12📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2026-02-12📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2026-02-12📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2026-02-12🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2026-02-12🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2026-02-12🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2026-02-12🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2024-12-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2024-01-17📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC05
- 2023-12-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2023-12-06➕HILL, Steven Paul appointeddirector
- 2023-12-06📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-04-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2022-07-04📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2021-11-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2021-06-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2019-12-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2019-04-10📄appoint-corporate-secretary-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP04
- 2019-04-02➕ONE ADVISORY LIMITED appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2019-03-28📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2019-03-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2019-03-04➖HEENEY, Caroline resignedsecretary
- 2017-09-13➕HEENEY, Caroline appointedsecretary
- 2017-06-15➖COX, Melanie Rachel resignedsecretary
- 2015-12-31➕COX, Melanie Rachel appointedsecretary
- 2015-12-31➖CITY GROUP PLC resignedcorporate-secretary
- 2014-10-30🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Hsbc Corporate Trustee Company (UK) Limited
- 2010-04-01➖MORGAN, Lisa Margaret Wendy resigneddirector
- 2010-01-20➕BOYD, Stephen Alexander appointeddirector
- 2009-10-19➕DUFFY, John Gerald appointeddirector
- 2008-09-29➖BROOKS, David Gary resigneddirector
- 2007-02-22🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2006-10-01➕MORGAN, Lisa Margaret Wendy appointeddirector
- 2006-09-30➖LOMER, John Antony resigneddirector
- 2005-11-18➖MCKEE, Martin Jack resignedsecretary
- 2005-11-18➕CITY GROUP PLC appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2005-11-18➖BEATTIE, David resigneddirector
- 2005-11-18➕BROOKS, David Gary appointeddirector
- 2005-11-18➕LOMER, John Antony appointeddirector
- 2005-11-18➖MCCORMICK, John Robert resigneddirector
- 2005-11-18➖MCKEE, Martin Jack resigneddirector
- 2005-11-18➖ORR, David Slater resigneddirector
- 2005-11-18➖STEVEN, Ian William resigneddirector
- 2005-11-18🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2005-11-18🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Hsbc Equipment Finance (UK) Limited
- 2005-11-18🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Hsbc Asset Finance (UK) Limited
Showing most recent 50 of 61 events
Owner dependency
68/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 17 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 64 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
63/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 64. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- 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
Finsbury Food Group Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Finsbury Food Group Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
CALIFORNIA CAKE COMPANY (HOLDINGS) LIMITED
This company · SC286674
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Finsbury Food Group Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 06/04/2016 |
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
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HERMAN BLACKTHORN LTD→ SC804303 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| IMV TECHNOLOGIES UK HOLDINGS LIMITED→ SC184117 · est 1998 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 28y | — | — |
| INGEO CONSULT LTD→ SC872448 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| INTERNATIONAL BEVERAGE HOLDINGS (UK) LIMITED→ SC222095 · est 2001 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 24y | — | — |
| ISLY CONSULTING LTD→ SC358455 · est 2009 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
| ISOCON ENERGY LTD→ SC444607 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| J M L WARDS LIMITED→ SC383871 · est 2010 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 15y | — | — |
| J. WATSON SCOTT & CO LTD→ SC526668 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| JARL CONSULTING LTD→ SC420888 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| JGS ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITED→ SC432888 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| JK MANAGEMENT SUPPORT LIMITED→ SC818983 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| JK OPERATIONS LTD→ SC837383 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
6 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
Incorporated2005-06-27
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC70100 — Activities of head offices
Registered office
73 Bothwell Road
Hamilton
ML3 0DW
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-03-31
Last made up to: 2025-06-28
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-07-11
Last: 2025-06-27
Officers (4 active · 14 resigned)
ONE ADVISORY LIMITED→
Activecorporate-secretary · appointed 2019-04-02
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BOYD, Stephen Alexander→
Activedirector · ~64y · appointed 2010-01-20
View their other companies + combined net worth →
DUFFY, John Gerald→
Activedirector · ~61y · appointed 2009-10-19
View their other companies + combined net worth →
HILL, Steven Paul→
Activedirector · ~43y · appointed 2023-12-06
View their other companies + combined net worth →
COX, Melanie Rachel→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2015-12-31 · resigned 2017-06-15
HEENEY, Caroline→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2017-09-13 · resigned 2019-03-04
MCKEE, Martin Jack→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2005-09-28 · resigned 2005-11-18
CITY GROUP PLC→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 2005-11-18 · resigned 2015-12-31
D.W. COMPANY SERVICES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2005-06-27 · resigned 2005-09-28
BEATTIE, David→
Resigneddirector · ~71y · appointed 2005-09-28 · resigned 2005-11-18
BROOKS, David Gary→
Resigneddirector · ~59y · appointed 2005-11-18 · resigned 2008-09-29
LOMER, John Antony→
Resigneddirector · ~68y · appointed 2005-11-18 · resigned 2006-09-30
MCCORMICK, John Robert→
Resigneddirector · ~77y · appointed 2005-09-28 · resigned 2005-11-18
MCKEE, Martin Jack→
Resigneddirector · ~65y · appointed 2005-09-28 · resigned 2005-11-18
MORGAN, Lisa Margaret Wendy→
Resigneddirector · ~55y · appointed 2006-10-01 · resigned 2010-04-01
ORR, David Slater→
Resigneddirector · ~75y · appointed 2005-09-28 · resigned 2005-11-18
STEVEN, Ian William→
Resigneddirector · ~76y · appointed 2005-09-28 · resigned 2005-11-18
D.W. DIRECTOR 1 LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 2005-06-27 · resigned 2005-10-05
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
5
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:5 of 5 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Corporate Trustee Company (UK) Limited | A registered charge | 2 properties | 30/10/2014 | 18/03/2026 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Deed of pledge | 1 property | 22/02/2007 | 12/02/2026 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Floating charge | 1 property | 18/11/2005 | 12/02/2026 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Equipment Finance (UK) Limited | Floating charge | 1 property | 18/11/2005 | 12/02/2026 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Asset Finance (UK) Limited | Floating charge | 1 property | 18/11/2005 | 12/02/2026 |
Recent filings (109 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2026-03-28
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2026-03-18
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2026-02-12
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2026-02-12
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2026-02-12
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2026-02-12
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-07-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2024-12-30
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-07-10
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC05
2024-01-17
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2023-12-20
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2023-12-06
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-07-19
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2023-04-04
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-07-06