DS SMITH LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
01377658 · ltd · incorporated 1978-07-07
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
72/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Activities of head offices
Sector: Professional, scientific & technical
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)Distressed active trading company — structural issues outweigh the discount.
Opportunity 72/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (73/100, director aged 65). Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 3 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
3 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 24.1y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 24.1 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 38/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (59/100)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
3 charges (3/3 with lender, 3/3 with type)
90
Directors & officers
51 officers (4 active, 51 linked, 45 with DOB)
88
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
6 connected companies via shared directors
63
Filing history
1254 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
72/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
75
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
59
Some moderate concerns — review flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
6
filings
- • 2 accounts
- • 2 capital
- • 1 insolvency
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (117 events)Click to expand
- 2025-12-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2025-12-22📄change-account-reference-date-company-current-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2025-12-16📄legacycapital · SH20
- 2025-12-16📄capital-statement-capital-company-with-date-currency-figurecapital · SH19
- 2025-12-16⚠️legacyinsolvency · CAP-SS
- 2025-12-16📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2025-09-25✏️legacychange-of-name · RP04SH01
- 2025-09-15📄capital-allotment-sharescapital · SH01
- 2025-07-18📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-04-14📄capital-allotment-sharescapital · SH01
- 2025-03-28📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC02
- 2025-03-26📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-02-28📍move-registers-to-registered-office-company-with-new-addressaddress · AD04
- 2025-02-14📄capital-allotment-sharescapital · SH01
- 2025-02-14📄capital-statement-capital-company-with-date-currency-figurecapital · SH19
- 2025-02-14📄legacycapital · SH20
- 2025-02-14⚠️legacyinsolvency · CAP-SS
- 2025-02-14📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2025-02-07📄capital-allotment-sharescapital · SH01
- 2025-02-07📄appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP03
- 2025-02-07📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-02-06📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-02-06📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-02-04➕HIEATT, Steven Wayne appointedsecretary
- 2025-02-04➖SIMM, Iain David Cameron resignedsecretary
- 2025-02-04➖PIKE, Richard Neil resigneddirector
- 2025-02-04➖ROBERTS, Miles William resigneddirector
- 2025-01-31➕BONNOT, Vincent Pierre Andre Marie Joseph appointeddirector
- 2025-01-31➕HIEATT, Steven Wayne appointeddirector
- 2025-01-31➕NICHOLLS, Timothy S. appointeddirector
- 2025-01-31➖BAMFORD, Tessa Elizabeth resigneddirector
- 2025-01-31➖BAXTER, Celia Frances resigneddirector
- 2025-01-31➖DRABBLE, Geoffrey resigneddirector
- 2025-01-31➖JOHNSON, Alan resigneddirector
- 2025-01-31➖KESSEL, Alina resigneddirector
- 2025-01-31➖OLSEN, Eric resigneddirector
- 2025-01-31➖ROBBIE, David Andrew resigneddirector
- 2024-09-03➖SMALLEY, Louise Helen resigneddirector
- 2024-01-01➕BAMFORD, Tessa Elizabeth appointeddirector
- 2023-06-30➖MARSH, Adrian Ross Thomas resigneddirector
- 2023-06-30➕PIKE, Richard Neil appointeddirector
- 2023-05-15➕OLSEN, Eric appointeddirector
- 2022-11-24🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Lombard Business Leasing Limited
- 2022-09-06➖SOAMES, Rupert Christopher resigneddirector
- 2022-06-01➕JOHNSON, Alan appointeddirector
- 2021-01-03➖DAVIS, Gareth resigneddirector
- 2020-09-08➖BRITTON, Christopher Paul resigneddirector
- 2020-09-01➕DRABBLE, Geoffrey appointeddirector
- 2020-05-01➕KESSEL, Alina appointeddirector
- 2019-10-09➕BAXTER, Celia Frances appointeddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 117 events
Owner dependency
65/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 65 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
50/100
Moderate signalSome succession indicators present. Worth watching; approach if sector/strategy fits.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 65. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
Red flags
1 high · 1 med ·2 insolvency-related filings on record
highFilings relating to insolvency, liquidation, or administration exist in the company's history. Review before proceeding.
Evidence: 2025-12-16: legacy; 2025-02-14: legacy
Name changed recently
mediumName changes can be benign (rebrand) but can also precede distress, phoenix activity, or buyer concealment.
Evidence: 2025-09-25: legacy
Group structure
International Paper Uk Holdings Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
International Paper Uk Holdings Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
DS SMITH LIMITED
This company · 01377658
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
International Paper Uk Holdings Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 05/02/2025 |
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 · W postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 FORMATION AGENT LTD→ 08347137 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| 1 2 1 RECRUITMENT CONSULTANTS LIMITED→ 08359864 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| 10 AND 23 LTD→ 15421805 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 10 ON MORTISCAPE LTD→ 16756856 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 100 LONDON LAW FIRM LTD→ 13807338 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| 100 MPH LTD→ 15476923 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 100MILLION PERCENT LIMITED→ 14895738 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 10K3D LIMITED→ 07475601 · est 2010 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 15y | — | — |
| 1207 LIMITED→ 14011113 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| 121 COMPANY FORMATION LIMITED→ 07585793 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 15y | — | — |
| 12B SOLICITORS LIMITED→ 11824178 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| 1337 DIGITAL LIMITED→ 12434033 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1978-07-07
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC70100 — Activities of head offices
Registered office
Level 3 1 Paddington Square
London
W2 1DL
United Kingdom
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2025-04-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-10-08
Last: 2025-09-24
Officers (4 active · 47 resigned)
HIEATT, Steven Wayne→
Activesecretary · appointed 2025-02-04
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BONNOT, Vincent Pierre Andre Marie Joseph→
Activedirector · ~56y · appointed 2025-01-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
HIEATT, Steven Wayne→
Activedirector · ~55y · appointed 2025-01-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
NICHOLLS, Timothy S.→
Activedirector · ~65y · appointed 2025-01-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
CATTERMOLE, Carolyn Tracy→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2000-11-20 · resigned 2011-06-30
HAMPSON, Michael David→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2016-01-22 · resigned 2016-06-05
JOWETT, Matthew Paul→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2011-07-01 · resigned 2016-01-22
RUSSELL, John Stuart→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 2000-11-20
SIMM, Iain David Cameron→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2016-06-06 · resigned 2025-02-04
ADAMS, George Mills Bramston→
Resigneddirector · ~70y · appointed 2008-01-29 · resigned 2009-05-26
BAMFORD, Tessa Elizabeth→
Resigneddirector · ~67y · appointed 2024-01-01 · resigned 2025-01-31
BAXTER, Celia Frances→
Resigneddirector · ~68y · appointed 2019-10-09 · resigned 2025-01-31
BEESTON, Robert Geoffrey→
Resigneddirector · ~84y · appointed 2000-12-05 · resigned 2010-12-08
BREWSTER, Richard David→
Resigneddirector · ~80y · resigned 1993-04-30
BRITTON, Christopher Paul→
Resigneddirector · ~69y · appointed 2013-03-06 · resigned 2020-09-08
BUNKER, Christopher Jonathan→
Resigneddirector · ~80y · appointed 2003-12-09 · resigned 2013-09-03
BUTTFIELD, David Frank→
Resigneddirector · ~80y · appointed 1994-01-12 · resigned 2003-01-31
CLEMENTS, Alan William→
Resigneddirector · ~98y · resigned 1999-09-08
DAVIS, Gareth→
Resigneddirector · ~76y · appointed 2010-06-01 · resigned 2021-01-03
DRABBLE, Geoffrey→
Resigneddirector · ~67y · appointed 2020-09-01 · resigned 2025-01-31
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
3
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:3 of 3 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Lombard Business Leasing Lombard Business Leasing Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 24/11/2022 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | An omnibus guarantee and set-off agreement dated | 1 property | 22/03/2004 | 07/01/2006 | |
| satisfied | The Welsh Development Agency | Legal charge | 1 property | 13/03/2002 | 13/02/2018 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (1254 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2025-12-29
change-account-reference-date-company-current-shortened
accounts · AA01
2025-12-22
legacy
capital · SH20
2025-12-16
capital-statement-capital-company-with-date-currency-figure
capital · SH19
2025-12-16
legacy
insolvency · CAP-SS
2025-12-16
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2025-12-16
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-10-06
legacy
change-of-name · RP04SH01
2025-09-25
capital-allotment-shares
capital · SH01
2025-09-15
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-07-18
capital-allotment-shares
capital · SH01
2025-04-14
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
2025-03-28
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-03-26
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-03-21
move-registers-to-registered-office-company-with-new-address
address · AD04
2025-02-28