GAVIN SHANKS & SONS LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
SC031218 · ltd · incorporated 1955-12-28
Investment thesis
Established operating company — standard diligence applies, no dominant angle.
Why interesting: Live, filing, normal profile.
Why risky: No standout signals in either direction.
Opportunity decay
approaching window · 12-months
Approaching a transaction window — refinance or sale event plausible in the next 12 months.
- · Oldest live charge 48.9y old — refinance window within 12 months
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Mar 2025
Net worth
£-544.2k
book net assets
Opportunity
82/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 46130
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)Distressed active trading company — structural issues outweigh the discount.
Opportunity 82/100 (exceptional), bankability 70/100. Strong seller-intent signal (70/100, director aged 61). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Discharge stale live charges. 3 live charge(s) created 15+ years ago — likely paid but undischarged. Clean register. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
4 live charges · oldest 48.9y
65/100
clean up first
Refinance viable after a tidy-up — address the highlighted items first.
- · Oldest live charge is 48.9 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Single lender — cleanest path to refinance.
- · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (79/100)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
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
4 charges (4/4 with lender, 4/4 with type)
90
Directors & officers
9 officers (3 active, 9 linked, 6 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
109 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
82/100Exceptional
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
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declaredNegative net assets
Liabilities exceed assets by £544,214
Net assets shrinking
Down £625,708 YoY
Cash YoY
-14%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£38k
↓ 14% YoY
Net Worth
-£544k
↓ 768% YoY
Current Assets
£38k
↓ 14% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2025-03-31 | 2024-03-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £-544.2k | £81.5k |
| Current assets | £38.1k | £44.3k |
| Cash | £38.1k | £44.2k |
| Debtors | — | £120 |
| Net assets | £-544.2k | £81.5k |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
1 signal detected in this company's narrative notes — going-concern language, audit opinion, contingent liabilities, related-party transactions.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
3
filings
- • 2 confirmation-statement
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (32 events)Click to expand
- 2025-12-15📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-04-07📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC02
- 2025-04-07📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2025-04-07📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-04-07📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-04-04➖SHANKS, David Thow resigneddirector
- 2025-04-04➖SHANKS, Gavin Simpson resigneddirector
- 2024-12-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-12-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-11-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-04-25📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2022-04-25📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2021-11-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-12-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-10-29📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2019-12-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-12-19📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2013-12-13➖SHANKS, James resigneddirector
- 2012-06-21🔒Charge registered #4Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2008-03-31➕SHANKS, Alistair Forbes appointeddirector
- 2007-10-31➕SHANKS, Barry Britton appointeddirector
- 2007-10-31➕SHANKS, David Thow appointeddirector
- 2007-10-31➕SHANKS, Gavin Simpson appointeddirector
- 2007-10-30➖SHANKS, Gavin Bernard resigneddirector
- 2002-06-30➕SHANKS, Barry Britton appointedsecretary
- 2002-06-30➖SHANKS, Alistair Forbes resignedsecretary
- 1994-11-09➕SHANKS, Alistair Forbes appointedsecretary
- 1994-11-09➖SHANKS, James resignedsecretary
- 1994-05-19🔒Charge registered #3Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 1986-07-08🔒Charge registered #2Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 1977-06-08🔒Charge registered #1Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 1955-12-28🏢Company incorporatedAs GAVIN SHANKS & SONS LIMITED
Owner dependency
99/100
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 "SHANKS" — strong identity link between founder and business.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 18 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 61 — approaching natural succession window.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
69/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 61. Early succession window.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 18 years.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 70 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
- supportingClean filings + long tenure: Disciplined long-tenure operator — classic lifestyle-business pattern that often sells quietly.
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
Shankstimber Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Shankstimber Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
GAVIN SHANKS & SONS LIMITED
This company · SC031218
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Shankstimber Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 04/04/2025 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Mr Alistair Forbes Shanksceased 04/04/2025· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
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 · Wholesale & distribution · ML postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 320 LTD→ SC512657 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| 64CIRCLES LTD→ SC870729 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 786 TRENDS LTD→ SC815246 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| A.B.S. (SCOTLAND) LIMITED→ SC076000 · est 1981 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 44y | — | — |
| A.R.P. PLUMBING & HEAT LIMITED→ SC802777 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| AJM ENERGY LTD→ SC868755 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ALPHA NEXUS TRADING LTD→ SC878072 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AMARRI FRIZZANTE LIMITED→ SC540654 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| AMH ENTERPRISES LTD→ SC840811 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AMZCONRSELL LIMITED→ SC866666 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ASHPODS LTD→ SC836635 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AURUM CAPITAL LONDON LTD→ SC868583 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
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
Incorporated1955-12-28
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC46130 — SIC 46130
Registered office
Block 5, 104 Coltswood Road
Greenhill Industrial Estate
Coatbridge
ML5 2AG
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-12-19
Last: 2025-12-05
Officers (3 active · 6 resigned)
SHANKS, Barry Britton→
Activesecretary · appointed 2002-06-30
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SHANKS, Alistair Forbes→
Activedirector · ~61y · appointed 2008-03-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SHANKS, Barry Britton→
Activedirector · ~61y · appointed 2007-10-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SHANKS, Alistair Forbes→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1994-11-09 · resigned 2002-06-30
SHANKS, James→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1994-11-09
SHANKS, David Thow→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2007-10-31 · resigned 2025-04-04
SHANKS, Gavin Simpson→
Resigneddirector · ~63y · appointed 2007-10-31 · resigned 2025-04-04
SHANKS, Gavin Bernard→
Resigneddirector · ~79y · resigned 2007-10-30
SHANKS, James→
Resigneddirector · ~92y · resigned 2013-12-13
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
4
Total charges
4
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:4 of 4 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 21/06/2012 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 19/05/1994 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Letter of agreement | 1 property | 08/07/1986 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Letter of agreement | 1 property | 08/06/1977 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (109 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-12-15
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-12-05
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-11-03
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
2025-04-07
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2025-04-07
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-04-07
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-04-07
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-12-13
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-10-31
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-12-07
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-10-30
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-11-17
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-11-01
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2022-04-25
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2022-04-25