BELL'S MILLS LIMITED
⚰️Wound downdissolved
SC228589 · ltd · incorporated 2002-02-28
Investment thesis
Company dissolved — not a live target.
Why interesting: Historical record only; useful for precedent research.
Why risky: Not transactable.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
53/100
Worth a look
What this business does
Primary activity: Development of building projects
Sector: Construction
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)Distressed unclear — structural issues outweigh the discount.
Opportunity 53/100 (worth a look), bankability 40/100. Strong seller-intent signal (78/100, director aged 75). Asset purchase likely safer than share purchase given structural signals. Biggest value-creation lever: Resolve: Company dissolved. Company has been dissolved — it no longer legally exists. Any diligence here is historical only. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (58/100). Current lenders should be on monthly review.
🏦
Refinance opportunity
4 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 20.8y
40/100
too messy
Structure is too messy for a clean refinance right now — clean up first or expect bespoke terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 20.8 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · Legal-friction score 45/100 (high).
Data confidence
Overall: low (53/100)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
4 charges (4/4 with lender, 4/4 with type)
90
Directors & officers
14 officers (2 active, 14 linked, 10 with DOB)
84
Ownership & PSC
No PSCs filed (unusual — worth investigating)
35
Director network
20 connected companies via shared directors
90
Filing history
82 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
53/100Worth a look
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Mixed signal. Worth opening the full target workup before deciding to pursue.
Business quality
10
Concerning — overdue filings or status flags present.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
49
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 (57 events)Click to expand
- 2017-11-16⚠️gazette-dissolved-liquidationgazette · GAZ2
- 2017-11-16🏁Company dissolved
- 2017-08-16⚠️liquidation-in-administration-move-to-dissolution-scotlandinsolvency · 2.26B(Scot)
- 2017-08-16⚠️liquidation-in-administration-progress-report-scotlandinsolvency · 2.20B(Scot)
- 2016-11-21⚠️liquidation-in-administration-progress-report-scotlandinsolvency · 2.20B(Scot)
- 2016-05-17⚠️liquidation-in-administration-progress-report-scotlandinsolvency · 2.20B(Scot)
- 2016-04-27⚠️liquidation-in-administration-extension-of-period-scotlandinsolvency · 2.22B(Scot)
- 2015-11-16⚠️liquidation-in-administration-progress-report-scotlandinsolvency · 2.20B(Scot)
- 2015-07-14⚠️liquidation-in-administration-deemed-proposal-scotlandinsolvency · 2.16BZ(Scot)
- 2015-06-25⚠️liquidation-in-administration-proposals-scotlandinsolvency · 2.16B(Scot)
- 2015-05-27📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2015-05-21⚠️liquidation-in-administration-appointment-of-administrator-scotlandinsolvency · 2.11B(Scot)
- 2015-03-11➖ADAIR, Eric Weir resigneddirector
- 2015-03-11📄annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholdersannual-return · AR01
- 2015-03-11📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2014-12-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2014-04-08📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-addressaddress · AD01
- 2014-03-13📄annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholdersannual-return · AR01
- 2013-08-08📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2013-03-05📄annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholdersannual-return · AR01
- 2012-12-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2012-03-07📄annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholdersannual-return · AR01
- 2012-02-09📄auditors-resignation-companyauditors · AUD
- 2011-10-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2011-10-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2011-03-10📄annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholdersannual-return · AR01
- 2010-06-24📄legacymortgage · MG01s
- 2010-06-18🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC
- 2009-11-24➖CITRIN, David Lewis Robert resigneddirector
- 2009-08-19➕ADAIR, Eric Weir appointeddirector
- 2009-08-13➖MCGAFFIN, Charles Roger resigneddirector
- 2009-07-23➖MCGOWAN, Carol Ann resignedsecretary
- 2009-07-02➖DI CIACCA, John Mark resigneddirector
- 2008-10-24➖FORBES, John resigneddirector
- 2008-07-03➕MCGAFFIN, Charles Roger appointeddirector
- 2008-04-02➖WALL, Ian James, Prof resigneddirector
- 2006-04-28➕MCGOWAN, Carol Ann appointedsecretary
- 2006-04-28➖WILSON, Mary resignedsecretary
- 2005-08-15🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 2005-07-12🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 2005-06-23🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 2002-09-02➕BURRELL, Andrew William Lawrence appointeddirector
- 2002-09-02➖O'DONNELL, Harry Joseph resignedsecretary
- 2002-09-02➕WILSON, Mary appointedsecretary
- 2002-09-02➕DI CIACCA, John Mark appointeddirector
- 2002-09-02➕FORBES, John appointeddirector
- 2002-09-02➕WALL, Ian James, Prof appointeddirector
- 2002-05-17➕O'DONNELL, Harry Joseph appointeddirector
- 2002-05-17➖GLEN, Jeremy Stewart resignednominee-secretary
- 2002-05-17➕O'DONNELL, Harry Joseph appointedsecretary
Showing most recent 50 of 57 events
Owner dependency
83/100
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.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 24 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 75 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
96/100
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 75 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 24 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 24 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
2 high ·Company dissolved
highCompany has been dissolved — it no longer legally exists. Any diligence here is historical only.
Evidence: Dissolved on 2017-11-16
10 insolvency-related filings on record
highFilings relating to insolvency, liquidation, or administration exist in the company's history. Review before proceeding.
Evidence: 2017-11-16: gazette-dissolved-liquidation; 2017-08-16: liquidation-in-administration-move-to-dissolution-scotland
🔒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
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A TICKHILL AND SONS LTD→ SC799966 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
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| AOP ASSOCIATES LTD→ SC615117 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| APEX FIRE & SECURITY LIMITED→ SC350599 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 17y | — | — |
| AQUARIUS THERMAL SYSTEMS LTD→ SC313788 · est 2006 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 19y | — | — |
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| ARMITSCOT DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED→ SC053538 · est 1973 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 52y | — | — |
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Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
11 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
Statusdissolved
Typeltd
Incorporated2002-02-28
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC41100 — Development of building projects
Registered office
Apex 3 95 Haymarket Terrace
Edinburgh
EH12 5HD
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: —
Last made up to: 2013-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: —
Last: —
Officers (0 active · 12 resigned)
BURRELL, Andrew William Lawrence→
Activedirector · ~75y · appointed 2002-09-02
View their other companies + combined net worth →
O'DONNELL, Harry Joseph→
Activedirector · ~72y · appointed 2002-05-17
View their other companies + combined net worth →
GLEN, Jeremy Stewart→
Resignednominee-secretary · appointed 2002-02-28 · resigned 2002-05-17
MCGOWAN, Carol Ann→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2006-04-28 · resigned 2009-07-23
O'DONNELL, Harry Joseph→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2002-05-17 · resigned 2002-09-02
WILSON, Mary→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2002-09-02 · resigned 2006-04-28
ADAIR, Eric Weir→
Resigneddirector · ~66y · appointed 2009-08-19 · resigned 2015-03-11
CITRIN, David Lewis Robert→
Resigneddirector · ~83y · appointed 2002-05-17 · resigned 2009-11-24
DI CIACCA, John Mark→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 2002-09-02 · resigned 2009-07-02
DUNN, Alastair Kenneth→
Resignednominee-director · ~60y · appointed 2002-02-28 · resigned 2002-05-17
FORBES, John→
Resigneddirector · ~71y · appointed 2002-09-02 · resigned 2008-10-24
GLEN, Jeremy Stewart→
Resignednominee-director · ~60y · appointed 2002-02-28 · resigned 2002-05-17
MCGAFFIN, Charles Roger→
Resigneddirector · ~72y · appointed 2008-07-03 · resigned 2009-08-13
WALL, Ian James, Prof→
Resigneddirector · ~78y · appointed 2002-09-02 · resigned 2008-04-02
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 | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 18/06/2010 | — | |
| outstanding | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 1 property | 15/08/2005 | — | |
| outstanding | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 1 property | 12/07/2005 | — | |
| outstanding | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Floating charge | 1 property | 23/06/2005 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (82 total)
gazette-dissolved-liquidation
gazette · GAZ2
2017-11-16
liquidation-in-administration-move-to-dissolution-scotland
insolvency · 2.26B(Scot)
2017-08-16
liquidation-in-administration-progress-report-scotland
insolvency · 2.20B(Scot)
2017-08-16
liquidation-in-administration-progress-report-scotland
insolvency · 2.20B(Scot)
2016-11-21
liquidation-in-administration-progress-report-scotland
insolvency · 2.20B(Scot)
2016-05-17
liquidation-in-administration-extension-of-period-scotland
insolvency · 2.22B(Scot)
2016-04-27
liquidation-in-administration-progress-report-scotland
insolvency · 2.20B(Scot)
2015-11-16
liquidation-in-administration-deemed-proposal-scotland
insolvency · 2.16BZ(Scot)
2015-07-14
liquidation-in-administration-proposals-scotland
insolvency · 2.16B(Scot)
2015-06-25
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2015-05-27
liquidation-in-administration-appointment-of-administrator-scotland
insolvency · 2.11B(Scot)
2015-05-21
annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholders
annual-return · AR01
2015-03-11
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2015-03-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2014-12-30
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address
address · AD01
2014-04-08