HCS CONTROL SYSTEMS GROUP LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
SC427652 · ltd · incorporated 2012-07-04
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.
Why now
Window steady · low confidence
Steady and tidy — no seller pressure yet. Approach only if an angle opens.
Opportunity decay
hardening · 12-months
Already tight — no obvious softening catalysts on the horizon.
- · Thesis: well-run, low negotiation leverage
What changed my view
Last 30 days
No material changes in the last 30 days.
Last 90 days
No material changes in the last 90 days.
Last 180 days
No snapshot from 180 days ago — start tracking from today.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
77/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Activities of other holding companies n.e.c.
Sector: Financial & insurance
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
- 70229Management consultancy activities other than financial management
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: asset-holding vehicle with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.
Opportunity 77/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 4 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
5 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 13.4y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 13.4 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (61/100)Adequate coverage. AI outputs are reliable for the sections scored high; verify the rest in diligence.
Company profile
address, 2 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
5 charges (5/5 with lender, 5/5 with type)
90
Directors & officers
13 officers (4 active, 13 linked, 12 with DOB)
88
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
16 connected companies via shared directors
90
Filing history
101 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
77/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
70
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 180 days
5
filings
- • 2 capital
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 mortgage
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (50 events)Click to expand
- 2026-04-15📄capital-cancellation-sharescapital · SH06
- 2026-04-10📄capital-return-purchase-own-sharescapital · SH03
- 2026-03-31📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2026-03-31🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2026-02-26➕HOLLOWAY, Nicola appointeddirector
- 2026-02-26📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2026-01-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2026-01-06📄capital-cancellation-sharescapital · SH06
- 2025-12-31📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2025-11-18📄mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-numbermortgage · 466(Scot)
- 2025-11-13📄mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-numbermortgage · 466(Scot)
- 2025-11-12📄capital-return-purchase-own-sharescapital · SH03
- 2025-11-11📄mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-numbermortgage · 466(Scot)
- 2025-11-10📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2025-09-12📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-09-11➖WELSH, Graham Archibald resigneddirector
- 2024-06-19📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2023-10-04📍change-sail-address-company-with-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD02
- 2023-05-15📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2023-01-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2021-12-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2020-12-08📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2018-09-18➖GARDINER, Jock Alistair resigneddirector
- 2018-09-18➕WELSH, Graham Archibald appointeddirector
- 2017-05-31➖LESTRANGE, Brett Anthony resigneddirector
- 2017-04-30➖KITCHENER, Antony Mark resigneddirector
- 2015-01-12➖COUTTS, Graeme Forbes resigneddirector
- 2014-09-11🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2014-08-13🔒Charge registered #5Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2013-07-02➖MACKINNON, Ewan Alisdair Duncan resigneddirector
- 2013-06-19🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2013-06-17🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Lloyds Tsb Commercial Finance Limited
- 2013-06-14➕BURNESS PAULL LLP appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2013-06-14➕BALFOUR, Kenneth appointeddirector
- 2013-06-14➕MCGUINNESS, Neil Stephen appointeddirector
- 2013-06-14➕COUTTS, Graeme Forbes appointeddirector
- 2013-06-14➕KITCHENER, Antony Mark appointeddirector
- 2013-06-14➕LESTRANGE, Brett Anthony appointeddirector
- 2013-06-14➕MACKINNON, Ewan Alisdair Duncan appointeddirector
- 2013-06-14➖OGSTON, Jack Charles resigneddirector
- 2013-06-14➖SMITH, Thomas Davie resigneddirector
- 2013-06-14🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Maven Capital Partners UK LLP
- 2013-06-14🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Simmons Parallel Private L.P.
- 2013-02-21🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Maven Capital Partners UK LLP
- 2012-12-24➕SMITH, Thomas Davie appointeddirector
- 2012-12-01➖CRAIG, Andrew Donald resigneddirector
- 2012-12-01➕GARDINER, Jock Alistair appointeddirector
- 2012-07-04🏢Company incorporatedAs HCS CONTROL SYSTEMS GROUP LIMITED
- 2012-07-04➕CRAIG, Andrew Donald appointeddirector
- 2012-07-04➕OGSTON, Jack Charles appointeddirector
Owner dependency
58/100
Moderate — manageable with handoverSome founder dependency, but not acute. A structured handover period should cover most risk.
FACTORS
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 62 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
53/100
Moderate signalSome succession indicators present. Worth watching; approach if sector/strategy fits.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 62. Early succession window.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 13 years.
- supportingClean filings + long tenure: Disciplined long-tenure operator — classic lifestyle-business pattern that often sells quietly.
Red flags
1 med ·Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Shareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Brett Anthony Lestrange Individual · Australian · DOB 05/1969 · age 57 | 25–50% | — | 25-50% shares | 06/04/2016 |
Mr Kenneth Balfour Individual · British · DOB 06/1964 · age 62 | 25–50% | — | 25-50% shares | 06/04/2016 |
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 · Holding company · KY postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCE GROUP LTD→ SC527814 · est 2016 | £6.15M £5.22M–£7.07M | — | £6.15M | — | 10y | 79 | 68y |
| WEMYSS HARBOUR (ASSETS) LIMITED→ SC520334 · est 2015 | £2.72M £2.31M–£3.13M | — | £2.72M | — | 10y | 79 | 65y |
| RIVERSIDE (GLOBAL) LTD→ SC654820 · est 2020 | £1.55M £1.32M–£1.78M | — | £1.55M | — | 6y | 79 | 67y |
| ALBERT THAIN HOLDINGS LIMITED→ SC039369 · est 1963 | £180.3k £153.2k–£207.3k | — | £180.3k | — | 62y | 78 | 91y |
| ALBERT THAIN LIMITED→ SC019774 · est 1937 | £94.3k £80.2k–£108.5k | — | £94.3k | — | 89y | 79 | 91y |
| HOME-START LEVENMOUTH→ SC280872 · est 2005 | £93.4k £79.4k–£107.4k | — | £93.4k | — | 21y | 79 | 79y |
| NEW RAITH ROVERS LIMITED→ SC293062 · est 2005 | £22.9k £19.4k–£26.3k | — | £22.9k | — | 20y | 79 | 75y |
| SENSALERT LIMITED→ SC342266 · est 2008 | £100 £85–£115 | — | £100 | — | 18y | 80 | 69y |
| INTELLICARE LIMITED→ SC166708 · est 1996 | £2 £2–£2 | — | £2 | — | 30y | 80 | 69y |
| PAYWIZARD LIMITED→ SC208144 · est 2000 | £1 £1–£1 | — | £1 | — | 26y | 80 | 65y |
| T. & N. GILMARTIN TRADING LTD.→ SC502073 · est 2015 | — | — | — | 85 | 11y | 84 | 59y |
| CARTMORE TRANSPORT LIMITED→ SC110226 · est 1988 | — | — | — | 0 | 38y | 82 | 78y |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
6 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
Incorporated2012-07-04
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC64209 — Activities of other holding companies n.e.c.
Registered office
Unit V2 Viewfield Road
Viewfield Industrial Estate
Glenrothes
KY6 2QX
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-07-19
Last: 2026-07-05
Officers (4 active · 9 resigned)
BURNESS PAULL LLP→
Activecorporate-secretary · appointed 2013-06-14
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BALFOUR, Kenneth→
Activedirector · ~62y · appointed 2013-06-14
View their other companies + combined net worth →
HOLLOWAY, Nicola→
Activedirector · ~39y · appointed 2026-02-26
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MCGUINNESS, Neil Stephen→
Activedirector · ~58y · appointed 2013-06-14
View their other companies + combined net worth →
COUTTS, Graeme Forbes→
Resigneddirector · ~67y · appointed 2013-06-14 · resigned 2015-01-12
CRAIG, Andrew Donald→
Resigneddirector · ~55y · appointed 2012-07-04 · resigned 2012-12-01
GARDINER, Jock Alistair→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 2012-12-01 · resigned 2018-09-18
KITCHENER, Antony Mark→
Resigneddirector · ~65y · appointed 2013-06-14 · resigned 2017-04-30
LESTRANGE, Brett Anthony→
Resigneddirector · ~57y · appointed 2013-06-14 · resigned 2017-05-31
MACKINNON, Ewan Alisdair Duncan→
Resigneddirector · ~50y · appointed 2013-06-14 · resigned 2013-07-02
OGSTON, Jack Charles→
Resigneddirector · ~69y · appointed 2012-07-04 · resigned 2013-06-14
SMITH, Thomas Davie→
Resigneddirector · ~74y · appointed 2012-12-24 · resigned 2013-06-14
WELSH, Graham Archibald→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 2018-09-18 · resigned 2025-09-11
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
5
Total charges
2
Outstanding
2
Active lenders
Status:Lender:5 of 5 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | — | 13/08/2014 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Commercial Finance Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 17/06/2013 | 11/09/2014 | |
| outstanding | Maven Capital Partners UK Maven Capital Partners UK LLP | A registered charge | 1 property | 14/06/2013 | — | |
| satisfied | Simmons Parallel Private L.P. | A registered charge | 1 property | 14/06/2013 | 31/03/2026 | |
| satisfied | Maven Capital Partners UK Maven Capital Partners UK LLP | Floating charge | 1 property | 21/02/2013 | 19/06/2013 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (101 total)
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-07-08
capital-cancellation-shares
capital · SH06
2026-04-15
capital-return-purchase-own-shares
capital · SH03
2026-04-10
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2026-03-31
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2026-02-26
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2026-01-07
capital-cancellation-shares
capital · SH06
2026-01-06
memorandum-articles
incorporation · MA
2025-12-31
mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-number
mortgage · 466(Scot)
2025-11-18
mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-number
mortgage · 466(Scot)
2025-11-13
capital-return-purchase-own-shares
capital · SH03
2025-11-12
mortgage-alter-floating-charge-with-number
mortgage · 466(Scot)
2025-11-11
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2025-11-10
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-09-12
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-07-08