CHARLES GRAY (BUILDERS) LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
SC030807 · ltd · incorporated 1955-05-16
Investment thesis
Looks cheap but ownership + security both unclear — probable value trap.
Why interesting: Headline metrics may be attractive.
Why risky: No PSC visibility combined with multiple live charges; transacting likely slow and expensive.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
49/100
Watch
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 4521
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)Distressed admin-neglect survivor — structural issues outweigh the discount.
Opportunity 49/100 (watch), bankability 12/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 92). Asset purchase likely safer than share purchase given structural signals. Biggest value-creation lever: File overdue accounts. Clears statutory overdue flag — immediate bankability uplift for refinance conversations. Most likely exit: asset disposal / carve-out (80/100). Current lenders should be on immediate intervention.
🏦
Refinance opportunity
66 live charges · 9 lenders · oldest 45.1y
25/100
too messy
Structure is too messy for a clean refinance right now — clean up first or expect bespoke terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 45.1 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 9 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 70/100 (specialist).
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
66 charges (66/66 with lender, 66/66 with type)
90
Directors & officers
8 officers (3 active, 8 linked, 4 with DOB)
80
Ownership & PSC
No PSCs filed (unusual — worth investigating)
35
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
128 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
25
Concerning — overdue filings or status flags present.
Acquirability
70
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
30
Multiple red flags — proceed with caution.
Signal strength
100
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 (149 events)Click to expand
- 2022-01-07📄court-ordermiscellaneous · OC-DV
- 2021-07-06📄gazette-dissolved-compulsorygazette · GAZ2
- 2021-07-06🏁Company dissolved
- 2017-11-24📄dissolved-compulsory-strike-off-suspendeddissolution · DISS16(SOAS)
- 2017-11-21📄gazette-notice-compulsorygazette · GAZ1
- 2016-08-03📄court-ordermiscellaneous · OC-DV
- 2014-07-04📄gazette-dissolved-compulsarygazette · GAZ2
- 2014-03-14📄gazette-notice-compulsarygazette · GAZ1
- 2012-07-25📄court-ordermiscellaneous · OC-DV
- 2012-01-06📄gazette-dissolved-compulsarygazette · GAZ2
- 2011-09-16📄gazette-notice-compulsarygazette · GAZ1
- 2010-11-17📄dissolved-compulsory-strike-off-suspendeddissolution · DISS16(SOAS)
- 2010-08-20📄gazette-notice-compulsarygazette · GAZ1
- 2004-08-03📄court-ordermiscellaneous · OC-DV
- 2003-02-14📄gazette-dissolved-compulsarygazette · GAZ2
- 2002-10-25📄gazette-notice-compulsarygazette · GAZ1
- 2002-04-17📄legacygazette · DISS6
- 2002-02-08📄gazette-notice-compulsarygazette · GAZ1
- 2001-01-30⚠️liquidation-receiver-ceasing-to-act-scotlandinsolvency · 3(Scot)
- 2000-04-12⚠️liquidation-receiver-ceasing-to-act-scotlandinsolvency · 3(Scot)
- 1998-07-21⚠️liquidation-receiver-receivers-abstracts-of-receipts-and-payments-scotlandinsolvency · 3.2(Scot)
- 1997-06-05⚠️liquidation-receiver-receivers-abstracts-of-receipts-and-payments-scotlandinsolvency · 3.2(Scot)
- 1996-06-04⚠️liquidation-receiver-receivers-abstracts-of-receipts-and-payments-scotlandinsolvency · 3.2(Scot)
- 1995-05-30⚠️liquidation-receiver-receivers-abstracts-of-receipts-and-payments-scotlandinsolvency · 3.2(Scot)
- 1995-01-01📄selection-of-documents-registered-before-January-1995historical · PRE95
- 1994-09-21⚠️liquidation-receiver-receivers-report-scotlandinsolvency · 3.5(Scot)
- 1994-08-04🔓Charge satisfied #95
- 1994-08-04🔓Charge satisfied #83
- 1994-03-16🔒Charge registered #105Lender: Keyline Builders Merchants as Trustee for Itself and Others
- 1994-03-09➕PURDOM, Robert appointedsecretary
- 1994-03-09➖EDWARDS, David Reginald resignedsecretary
- 1994-03-09➖EDWARDS, David Reginald resigneddirector
- 1994-01-18🔓Charge satisfied #97
- 1993-11-24🔒Charge registered #104Lender: Scottish Homes
- 1993-11-24🔒Charge registered #103Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 1993-10-26🔒Charge registered #102Lender: Scottish Enterprise Tayside
- 1993-06-03🔓Charge satisfied #79
- 1993-05-26➖STEVENSON, William Edgar resigneddirector
- 1991-01-24🔓Charge satisfied #87
- 1990-06-06➖MCGUIRE, Hugh Keenan resignedsecretary
- 1990-06-06➖MCGUIRE, Hugh Keenan resigneddirector
- 1990-04-12🔓Charge satisfied #35
- 1990-02-28🔓Charge satisfied #96
- 1990-02-28🔓Charge satisfied #86
- 1990-02-28🔓Charge satisfied #82
- 1988-11-07🔓Charge satisfied #90
- 1988-10-31🔓Charge satisfied #78
- 1988-10-27🔓Charge satisfied #91
- 1988-10-27🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 1988-07-21🔓Charge satisfied #3
Showing most recent 50 of 149 events
Owner dependency
96/100
Critical — business is the founderThe business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.
FACTORS
- +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
- +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "GRAY" — strong identity link between founder and business.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 92 — succession pressure is live.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
76/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 92 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- 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
2 high · 2 med · 1 lowAccounts overdue
highStatutory accounts have not been filed by their due date. Can indicate admin breakdown, cash preservation, or deliberate delay.
Evidence: Next due: 2003-10-31
7 insolvency-related filings on record
highFilings relating to insolvency, liquidation, or administration exist in the company's history. Review before proceeding.
Evidence: 2001-01-30: liquidation-receiver-ceasing-to-act-scotland; 2000-04-12: liquidation-receiver-ceasing-to-act-scotland
Has insolvency history
mediumCompanies House flags prior insolvency events. Review the insolvency filings for context.
Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
16 live charges
lowHeavily leveraged with multiple live security positions — understand the capital structure before proceeding.
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Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
12 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
Incorporated1955-05-16
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC4521 — SIC 4521
Registered office
Saltire Court
20 Castle Terrace
Edinburgh
EH1 2EG
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2003-10-31OVERDUE
Last made up to: —
Confirmation statement
Next due: —
Last: —
Officers (3 active · 5 resigned)
Active
Active
Active
EDWARDS, David Reginald→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1994-03-09
MCGUIRE, Hugh Keenan→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1990-06-06
EDWARDS, David Reginald→
Resigneddirector · ~85y · resigned 1994-03-09
MCGUIRE, Hugh Keenan→
Resigneddirector · resigned 1990-06-06
STEVENSON, William Edgar→
Resigneddirector · ~95y · resigned 1993-05-26
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
66
Total charges
16
Outstanding
4
Active lenders
Status:Lender:66 of 66 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Keyline Builders Merchants as Trustee for Itself and Others | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 16/03/1994 | — | |
| outstanding | Scottish Homes | Standard security | 1 property | 24/11/1993 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 24/11/1993 | — | |
| outstanding | Scottish Enterprise Tayside | Standard security | 1 property | 26/10/1993 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 12/02/1988 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 12/02/1988 | 18/01/1994 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 12/02/1988 | 28/02/1990 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 12/02/1988 | 04/08/1994 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 12/02/1988 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 12/02/1988 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 12/02/1988 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 12/02/1988 | 27/10/1988 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 12/02/1988 | 07/11/1988 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 12/02/1988 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 12/02/1988 | 10/08/1987 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 12/02/1988 | 24/01/1991 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 12/02/1988 | 28/02/1990 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 12/02/1988 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 12/02/1988 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 12/02/1988 | 04/08/1994 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 12/02/1988 | 28/02/1990 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 12/02/1988 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 12/02/1988 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 12/02/1988 | 03/06/1993 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 12/02/1988 | 31/10/1988 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Floating charge | 1 property | 11/02/1988 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 28/05/1987 | 29/02/1988 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 11/05/1987 | 29/02/1988 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 02/04/1987 | 29/02/1988 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 02/04/1987 | 28/05/1987 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 31/03/1987 | 29/02/1988 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 31/03/1987 | 29/02/1988 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 31/03/1987 | 29/02/1988 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 31/03/1987 | 29/02/1988 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Mandate | 1 property | 26/03/1987 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 10/03/1987 | 04/08/1987 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 06/03/1987 | 04/08/1987 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Mandate | 1 property | 05/03/1987 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 04/03/1987 | 08/06/1987 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 04/03/1987 | 04/08/1987 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 04/03/1987 | 04/08/1987 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 04/03/1987 | 22/05/1987 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 04/03/1987 | 28/05/1987 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 04/03/1987 | 04/08/1987 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 04/03/1987 | 10/08/1987 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 04/03/1987 | 29/02/1988 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 04/03/1987 | 29/02/1988 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 04/03/1987 | 29/02/1988 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 04/03/1987 | 29/02/1988 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 04/03/1987 | 29/02/1988 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 04/03/1987 | 10/09/1987 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 04/03/1987 | 12/04/1990 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 04/03/1987 | 29/02/1988 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 04/03/1987 | 29/02/1988 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 04/03/1987 | 29/02/1988 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 04/03/1987 | 26/08/1987 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 04/03/1987 | 04/08/1987 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 04/03/1987 | 10/08/1987 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 04/03/1987 | 05/10/1987 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 04/03/1987 | 28/05/1987 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 06/10/1986 | 29/02/1988 | |
| satisfied | Avonside Homes Avonside Homes LTD | Standard security | 1 property | 07/04/1986 | 27/10/1988 | |
| satisfied | London and Clydeside Estate London and Clydeside Estate LTD | Standard security | 1 property | 23/07/1984 | 12/11/1984 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 09/06/1983 | 21/07/1988 | |
| satisfied | John Ritchie | Standard security | 1 property | 05/05/1983 | 26/10/1983 | |
| satisfied | The City of Dundee District Council | Standard security | 1 property | 12/03/1981 | 10/10/1983 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (128 total)
court-order
miscellaneous · OC-DV
2022-01-07
gazette-dissolved-compulsory
gazette · GAZ2
2021-07-06
dissolved-compulsory-strike-off-suspended
dissolution · DISS16(SOAS)
2017-11-24
gazette-notice-compulsory
gazette · GAZ1
2017-11-21
court-order
miscellaneous · OC-DV
2016-08-03
gazette-dissolved-compulsary
gazette · GAZ2
2014-07-04
gazette-notice-compulsary
gazette · GAZ1
2014-03-14
court-order
miscellaneous · OC-DV
2012-07-25
gazette-dissolved-compulsary
gazette · GAZ2
2012-01-06
gazette-notice-compulsary
gazette · GAZ1
2011-09-16
dissolved-compulsory-strike-off-suspended
dissolution · DISS16(SOAS)
2010-11-17
gazette-notice-compulsary
gazette · GAZ1
2010-08-20
court-order
miscellaneous · OC-DV
2004-08-03
gazette-dissolved-compulsary
gazette · GAZ2
2003-02-14
gazette-notice-compulsary
gazette · GAZ1
2002-10-25