DOULTON FINE CHINA LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
00555877 · ltd · incorporated 1955-10-13
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
—
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Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
49/100
Watch
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 7499
Sector: Professional, scientific & technical
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)Distressed admin-neglect survivor — structural issues outweigh the discount.
Opportunity 49/100 (watch), bankability 45/100. Biggest value-creation lever: File overdue accounts. Clears statutory overdue flag — immediate bankability uplift for refinance conversations. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (38/100). Current lenders should be on monthly review.
Data confidence
Overall: low (46/100)Sparse data coverage. Treat AI-generated outputs as preliminary. Manual diligence essential.
Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
Confirmed no charges registered
85
Directors & officers
17 officers (0 active, 17 linked, 11 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
No PSCs filed (unusual — worth investigating)
35
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
101 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
49/100Watch
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Not actionable now, but monitor — distressed, succession, or structural changes could flip this into a real opportunity.
Business quality
45
Concerning — overdue filings or status flags present.
Acquirability
50
Some acquirability indicators.
Risk profile
31
Multiple red flags — proceed with caution.
Signal strength
90
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 (57 events)Click to expand
- 2014-02-21📄restoration-order-of-courtrestoration · AC92
- 2013-04-23📄gazette-dissolved-compulsarygazette · GAZ2
- 2013-01-08📄gazette-notice-compulsarygazette · GAZ1
- 2011-08-09📄restoration-order-of-courtrestoration · AC92
- 2009-12-22📄gazette-dissolved-compulsarygazette · GAZ2
- 2009-09-08📄gazette-notice-compulsarygazette · GAZ1
- 2009-04-06📄legacyofficers · 288b
- 2009-03-27➖BATES, Deborah Jane resignedsecretary
- 2009-02-10📄legacyofficers · 288b
- 2009-02-10📄legacyofficers · 288b
- 2009-02-03➖BATES, Deborah Jane resigneddirector
- 2009-01-05➖WILCOX, Mark resigneddirector
- 2008-06-16📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2008-05-15📄legacyannual-return · 363a
- 2007-10-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2007-05-16📄legacyannual-return · 363a
- 2007-05-16📍legacyaddress · 190
- 2007-05-16📍legacyaddress · 353
- 2007-05-16📍legacyaddress · 287
- 2006-12-22📄legacyofficers · 288b
- 2006-12-20📄legacyofficers · 288a
- 2006-12-13➖CRUMP, Tracy resigneddirector
- 2006-11-24➕WILCOX, Mark appointeddirector
- 2006-07-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2006-05-24📄legacyannual-return · 363a
- 2006-02-22📄legacyofficers · 288a
- 2006-02-14📄legacyofficers · 288b
- 2006-02-09📄legacyofficers · 288b
- 2006-02-09📄legacyofficers · 288a
- 2006-02-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2006-01-30➖BARNES, Garry Elliot resigneddirector
- 2006-01-27➖BARNES, Garry Elliot resignedsecretary
- 2006-01-27➕BATES, Deborah Jane appointedsecretary
- 2006-01-27➕CRUMP, Tracy appointeddirector
- 2005-06-30➖MARTIN, Geoffrey Peter resigneddirector
- 2003-02-24➕MARTIN, Geoffrey Peter appointeddirector
- 2002-12-12➖HUGHES, Mark Leonard William resigneddirector
- 2002-11-19➕HUGHES, Mark Leonard William appointeddirector
- 2002-09-01➕BARNES, Garry Elliot appointedsecretary
- 2002-09-01➖BATES, Deborah Jane resignedsecretary
- 2001-07-25➕BARNES, Garry Elliot appointeddirector
- 2001-07-25➖MARTIN, Simon Christopher resigneddirector
- 2001-02-01➕BATES, Deborah Jane appointedsecretary
- 2001-02-01➖MAYER, Sally resignedsecretary
- 1999-07-05➖WENGER, John Patrick resigneddirector
- 1999-06-24➖HINDLEY, William Keith resignedsecretary
- 1999-06-24➕MAYER, Sally appointedsecretary
- 1999-06-24➖HINDLEY, William Keith resigneddirector
- 1999-06-23➕BATES, Deborah Jane appointeddirector
- 1999-06-23➕MARTIN, Simon Christopher appointeddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 57 events
Owner dependency
50/100
Moderate — manageable with handoverSome founder dependency, but not acute. A structured handover period should cover most risk.
Succession & seller-readiness
40/100
Moderate signalSome succession indicators present. Worth watching; approach if sector/strategy fits.
SIGNALS
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 71 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
Red flags
3 high ·Accounts overdue
highStatutory accounts have not been filed by their due date. Can indicate admin breakdown, cash preservation, or deliberate delay.
Evidence: Next due: 2010-01-31
Confirmation statement overdue
highAnnual confirmation statement not filed on time. Required statutory filing — overdue is a strong discipline signal.
Evidence: Next due: 2017-05-23
No active directors on record
highCompany is active but has no current directors in the register. This is unusual and should be investigated.
Similar companies
Active · Professional services · ST postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23C LTD→ 15996105 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 24D LIMITED→ 15178530 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 24X7 T&D LTD→ 15798659 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 2816 CONSULTING LTD→ 15910661 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 282 GROUP LTD→ 11860561 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| 2C METAL DESIGN LIMITED→ 16534197 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2KL LTD→ 15538309 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 333 DM LTD→ 13949768 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| 333 ENERGY SERVICES LTD→ 16316999 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 360 PROJECT SOLUTIONS LIMITED→ 12792521 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| 368 TALENT LTD→ 16973860 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3CB LTD→ 13049468 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
10 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
Incorporated1955-10-13
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC7499 — SIC 7499
Registered office
Royal Doulton
Barlaston
Stoke On Trent
ST12 9FA
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2010-01-31OVERDUE
Last made up to: 2008-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2017-05-23OVERDUE
Last: —
Officers (0 active · 17 resigned)
BARNES, Garry Elliot→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2002-09-01 · resigned 2006-01-27
BATES, Deborah Jane→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2006-01-27 · resigned 2009-03-27
BATES, Deborah Jane→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2001-02-01 · resigned 2002-09-01
HINDLEY, William Keith→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1998-10-05 · resigned 1999-06-24
MAYER, Sally→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1999-06-24 · resigned 2001-02-01
WORTHINGTON, Michael Henry→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1998-10-05
BARNES, Garry Elliot→
Resigneddirector · ~56y · appointed 2001-07-25 · resigned 2006-01-30
BATES, Deborah Jane→
Resigneddirector · ~75y · appointed 1999-06-23 · resigned 2009-02-03
CRUMP, Tracy→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 2006-01-27 · resigned 2006-12-13
HINDLEY, William Keith→
Resigneddirector · ~79y · appointed 1998-10-07 · resigned 1999-06-24
HUGHES, Mark Leonard William→
Resigneddirector · ~71y · appointed 2002-11-19 · resigned 2002-12-12
LYONS, Stuart Randolph→
Resigneddirector · ~83y · resigned 1997-05-28
MARTIN, Geoffrey Peter→
Resigneddirector · ~59y · appointed 2003-02-24 · resigned 2005-06-30
MARTIN, Simon Christopher→
Resigneddirector · ~66y · appointed 1999-06-23 · resigned 2001-07-25
WALLEY, Peter Thomas→
Resigneddirector · ~84y · resigned 1998-10-07
WENGER, John Patrick→
Resigneddirector · ~83y · appointed 1997-07-18 · resigned 1999-07-05
WILCOX, Mark→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 2006-11-24 · resigned 2009-01-05
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Recent filings (101 total)
restoration-order-of-court
restoration · AC92
2014-02-21
gazette-dissolved-compulsary
gazette · GAZ2
2013-04-23
gazette-notice-compulsary
gazette · GAZ1
2013-01-08
restoration-order-of-court
restoration · AC92
2011-08-09
gazette-dissolved-compulsary
gazette · GAZ2
2009-12-22
gazette-notice-compulsary
gazette · GAZ1
2009-09-08
legacy
officers · 288b
2009-04-06
legacy
officers · 288b
2009-02-10
legacy
officers · 288b
2009-02-10
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2008-06-16
legacy
annual-return · 363a
2008-05-15
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2007-10-03
legacy
annual-return · 363a
2007-05-16
legacy
address · 190
2007-05-16
legacy
address · 353
2007-05-16