COSTAIN UPSTREAM LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
SC336371 · ltd · incorporated 2008-01-18
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: Engineering design activities for industrial process and production
Sector: Professional, scientific & technical
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and bankable structure.
Opportunity 75/100 (strong), bankability 85/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. 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 (58/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
2 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 17.0y
30/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 17.0 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · 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
2 charges (2/2 with lender, 2/2 with type)
90
Directors & officers
30 officers (2 active, 30 linked, 21 with DOB)
84
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
3 connected companies via shared directors
54
Filing history
149 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
2
filings
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 officers
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (83 events)Click to expand
- 2025-11-05📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-11-03➖WHITE, Samuel Michael resigneddirector
- 2025-07-16📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2025-05-29📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2025-05-29📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2025-05-29📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2025-04-15📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-01-15📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2024-08-05📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC05
- 2024-06-19📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-06-19📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2024-06-19📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2024-06-19📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2024-06-16📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2023-06-01📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-11-16📄second-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-dateconfirmation-statement · RP04CS01
- 2022-08-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-07-15📄appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP03
- 2022-07-15📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2022-07-05➕GEOGHEGAN, Nicole Ann appointedsecretary
- 2022-07-05➖HARRIS, Sharon resignedsecretary
- 2022-03-29📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-03-29📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2022-03-18➕SUTER, Philip Charles Anthony appointeddirector
- 2022-03-18➖HUNTER, Martin David resigneddirector
- 2022-01-04➕WHITE, Samuel Michael appointeddirector
- 2021-12-31➖MAYHEW, Maxine Eleanor, Dr resigneddirector
- 2020-12-18➖ATKINSON, Mark Roger resigneddirector
- 2020-12-18➕HUNTER, Martin David appointeddirector
- 2020-09-01➕HARRIS, Sharon appointedsecretary
- 2020-09-01➖WOOD, Tracey Alison resignedsecretary
- 2020-04-06➕MAYHEW, Maxine Eleanor, Dr appointeddirector
- 2020-04-06➖SHORE, Gerard Nikolas resigneddirector
- 2020-04-06➖VAUGHAN, Alexander John resigneddirector
- 2018-12-07🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2018-12-07🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2018-06-30➖HARRIS, Matthew James resigneddirector
- 2017-05-02➕ATKINSON, Mark Roger appointeddirector
- 2017-05-02➕SHORE, Gerard Nikolas appointeddirector
- 2017-02-15➖MACKAY, Frazer Stuart resigneddirector
- 2016-12-31➖KIRKBRIDE, Peter resigneddirector
- 2016-11-30➖GARTON, Jonathan Hugh Leslie resigneddirector
- 2015-05-22➕MACKAY, Frazer Stuart appointeddirector
- 2015-05-22➖WALLACE, Keith resigneddirector
- 2014-04-07➕GARTON, Jonathan Hugh Leslie appointeddirector
- 2014-04-07➕KIRKBRIDE, Peter appointeddirector
- 2014-04-07➕WALLACE, Keith appointeddirector
- 2014-04-03➖CLOSE, Sean Austin resigneddirector
- 2014-04-03➖COOK, Guy Stephen Molyneux resigneddirector
- 2014-04-03➖SHOKER, Satnam Singh resigneddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 83 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 18 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
Costain Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Costain Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
COSTAIN UPSTREAM LIMITED
This company · SC336371
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Costain 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
Active · Professional services · AB postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C R C SERVICES SCOTLAND LTD→ SC791666 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| C.W.E. ENGINEERING LTD→ SC796868 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| CORESTRUCT CONSULT LIMITED→ SC383899 · est 2010 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 15y | — | — |
| CORROSION ASSOCIATES LIMITED→ SC201702 · est 1999 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 26y | — | — |
| CRAIGIAN LIMITED→ SC161694 · est 1995 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 30y | — | — |
| CSM INSPECTIONS LTD→ SC857333 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CTA (SCOTLAND) LIMITED→ SC299733 · est 2006 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 20y | — | — |
| CUAN ENERGY LTD→ SC880389 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CUBISMO LTD→ SC646969 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| CULTIVATE CULTURE LTD→ SC858660 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CULZEAN ADVISORY LTD→ SC856651 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CUMMING & CO. (ABERDEEN) LTD.→ SC248131 · est 2003 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 22y | — | — |
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
Incorporated2008-01-18
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC71121 — Engineering design activities for industrial process and production
Registered office
Neo House
Riverside
Aberdeen
Scotland
AB11 7LH
Scotland
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-01-26
Last: 2026-01-12
Officers (2 active · 28 resigned)
GEOGHEGAN, Nicole Ann→
Activesecretary · appointed 2022-07-05
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SUTER, Philip Charles Anthony→
Activedirector · ~42y · appointed 2022-03-18
View their other companies + combined net worth →
FRANKS, Clive Leonard→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2011-04-07 · resigned 2011-05-31
HARRIS, Sharon→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2020-09-01 · resigned 2022-07-05
STARKEY, Paul Michael→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2012-09-03 · resigned 2013-05-20
WOOD, Tracey Alison→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2011-06-01 · resigned 2020-09-01
MACLAY MURRAY & SPENS LLP→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2008-01-18 · resigned 2011-01-19
PAULL & WILLIAMSONS LLP→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 2011-01-19 · resigned 2011-04-07
ATKINSON, Mark Roger→
Resigneddirector · ~48y · appointed 2017-05-02 · resigned 2020-12-18
CLOSE, Sean Austin→
Resigneddirector · ~57y · appointed 2008-10-01 · resigned 2014-04-03
COOK, Guy Stephen Molyneux→
Resigneddirector · ~72y · appointed 2009-03-31 · resigned 2014-04-03
DORNAN, Alistair Weir→
Resigneddirector · ~63y · appointed 2008-10-01 · resigned 2011-04-07
GARTON, Jonathan Hugh Leslie→
Resigneddirector · ~60y · appointed 2014-04-07 · resigned 2016-11-30
HARRIS, Matthew James→
Resigneddirector · ~56y · appointed 2012-12-20 · resigned 2018-06-30
HUNTER, Martin David→
Resigneddirector · ~67y · appointed 2020-12-18 · resigned 2022-03-18
KIRKBRIDE, Peter→
Resigneddirector · ~68y · appointed 2014-04-07 · resigned 2016-12-31
MACKAY, Frazer Stuart→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 2015-05-22 · resigned 2017-02-15
MAYHEW, Maxine Eleanor, Dr→
Resigneddirector · ~53y · appointed 2020-04-06 · resigned 2021-12-31
MILLER, Francis Joseph→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 2011-04-07 · resigned 2014-03-31
ROGERSON, Mark→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 2012-12-20 · resigned 2013-09-21
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
2
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:2 of 2 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Floating charge | 1 property | 19/05/2009 | 07/12/2018 | |
| satisfied | NatWest Group Rbs Invoice Finance Limited | Floating charge | 1 property | 28/04/2009 | 07/12/2018 |
Recent filings (149 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-01-12
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-11-05
accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduary
accounts · AA
2025-07-16
legacy
accounts · PARENT_ACC
2025-05-29
legacy
other · GUARANTEE2
2025-05-29
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2025-05-29
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-04-15
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2025-01-15
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-01-13
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC05
2024-08-05
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2024-06-19
legacy
accounts · PARENT_ACC
2024-06-19
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2024-06-19
legacy
other · GUARANTEE2
2024-06-19
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2024-06-16