There can never be two live limited companies with exactly the same name at the same time. Limited companies are permitted to change names at any time.

 

 

 

 

Every limited company is allocated a unique registration number. This number is important because it is the only identifier that will never change. Company registration numbers started in the 1850's with registration number 1. Company number 5,400,000 was registered in March 2005.

 

 

 

 

This is the company's 'official' address that is filed with Companies House. This address may be the company's trading address or may be a solicitors or accountants office. It may even be a residential address or a portacabin. If the company changes its registered office address it is obliged to notify Companies House within 14 days of the change and the change is only effective when Companies House receive notification.

 

 

 

 

Trading addresses are sourced from various directories. This address may be the same as or different from the registered office address.

 

 

 

 

Not Analysed means that the company has not filed any accounts with Companies House. 

 

Dormant means that the company did not trade during the latest accounting period.

 

Small means that the company is active and is turning over less than £5.6 million per annum.

 

Medium means that the company is active and is turning over between £5.6 million and £22.8 million per annum.

 

Large can either mean that the company is turning over more than £22.8 million, or it can mean that it is a smaller company that has voluntarily filed a full set of accounts with Companies House.

 

In Liquidation means that a licenced insolvency practitioner has been appointed to wind up the company.

 

In Administration means that a licenced insolvency practitioner has been appointed to try and 'rehabilitate' the company. The Administrator's job is to manage the affairs of the company and he or she will normally continue trading whilst compiling a plan to rescue the company. 

 

In Receivership means that a licenced insolvency practitioner has been appointed by a charge-holder (secured creditor) to manage the company's affairs. The receiver's job is to protect the charge-holder's interests and he or she will quickly ascertain what the company's prospects are and decide whether to sell some or all of the assets, sell the company as a whole or to continue to trade whilst a better deal can be achieved.

 

Winding Up Petition means that a creditor of the company has issued a legal document to try and wind up the company. Not all winding up petitions result in liquidation as the company may choose to settle the outstanding debt either before or during the court hearing. There could also be a valid reason for non payment and the petition may be dismissed by the judge at the hearing. Winding up petitions can be very damaging to a company as the petition is advertised in a legal publication called 'The Gazette', which is read by banks, lenders and credit reference agencies. Our helpdesk team are able to find out the petitioner's details and the date of the hearing.

 

 

 

 

 

We are the only organisation in the country to specialise in construction industry credit information. There are currently two thousand five hundred subscribers exchanging payment histories and trading experiences, via our service.  Subscribers range in size from multi national companies to sole traders, however, all take the same risk when supplying to the construction industry on a credit basis.  More detailed information can be obtained on each payment history by telephoning our helpdesk on 01527 518800 any week day between 9am and 5.30pm. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the date that the company was actually formed at Companies House.

 

 

 

 

Standard industrial classification (SIC) codes were introduced in 1948 for use in classifying business establishments. Since 1948 the classification has periodically been revised, however, many companies now simply classify themselves as 'other business activities' or 'other construction work involving special trades'.

 

 

 

 

This is the date that the company filed its last annual return at Companies House. The annual return is a snapshot of directors' details, registered office address, shareholders details and share capital.  The company directors can be personally prosecuted for failing to deliver an annual return on time.  On conviction, a director could end up with a criminal record and a fine of up to £5,000. Companies House prosecutes around 1,000 directors each year for failing to deliver documents on time.

 

 

 

 

Private limited companies have a maximum of 10 months from their accounting reference date in which to file their accounts. Public limited companies have a maximum of 7 months. This means that it will normally be 22 months before a new private limited company files its first set of accounts. If accounts are received late, the company will automatically be charged a 'late filing penalty' of up to £1,000 for a private company or up to £5,000 for a public company. Company directors may also face personal prosecution.

 

 

 

 

The company's size classification comes from the latest accounts that have been filed and generally the smaller the company the less financial information they are required to file. In order to fall into a particular size classification companies must meet two of the following three criteria:

 

 

Small companies are required by law to file an abbreviated balance sheet and there is no requirement to file a profit and loss account. This means that turnover and profit figures do not need to be disclosed, although some small companies choose to voluntarily file a full balance sheet and a full profit and loss account. If a small company voluntarily files this information it may then be classed as a large company because it has filed large company accounts.

 

Medium companies are required by law to file a full balance sheet and an abbreviated profit and loss account. This means that a turnover figure does not need to be disclosed, although some medium companies choose to voluntarily file a full balance sheet and a full profit and loss account. If a medium company voluntarily files this information it may then be classed as a large company because it has filed large company accounts.

 

 

Large companies or publicly quoted companies are required to file both a full balance sheet and a full profit and loss account.

 

 

 

 

This is the previous name that the company used. If the name looks strange or nonsensical it probably means that a formation agent incorporated the company. It costs £20 to form a limited company (£15 if it's formed online) and the process consists mainly of form filling. Company formation agents sell ready formed companies for as little as £25 so many people opt to buy a ready made company and then change the company name.

 

 

 

 

This is the previous 'official' address of the company.

 

 

 

 

Telephone numbers are sourced from various directories.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

County Court Judgments (CCJs) occur when a company is sued in the County Court for some kind of non payment or non performance. The judgment amount will usually include a court fee, solicitors costs and interest. CCJs stay on file for at least six years. If there are CCJs registered against a limited company the date of the latest judgment will be displayed. A list of all the dates and amounts of the CCJs registered can be obtained at a total cost of 99p (either online or by telephoning our helpdesk on 01527 518800).

 

 

 

 

Much of the information on our database (excluding payment histories) is sourced from one of the largest credit reference agencies in the UK - ICC Ltd. All suggested credit limits are calculated by ICC and are based on several factors, including the latest filed accounts. These credit limits are suggestions only and should be considered in addition to any other information in your possession.  Neither we, nor ICC, can be held liable for any indirect, incidental or consequential loss of any kind which is in any way attributable to the suggested credit limits included in any of our reports.

 

 

 

 

 

All suggested credit scores are calculated by ICC and are based on a number of factors, including:

Liquidity of the company.
Cash flow position.
Solvency.
Level of borrowings.
Profitability.
Capital structure.
Age of the company.
Size of the company.
Ownership structure.
Age and past experience of the directors.
Geographical location of the business.
Business activity and industry sector.
County Court Judgments.
Macro economic statistics and trends.

Amongst other things, the risk score attempts to predict the likelihood that a limited company will become insolvent within the next 12 months. On average around 2% of the companies in the ‘average credit risk’ banding will go into receivership or liquidation within the next 12 months. Credit scoring is not an exact science, so the scores should be used in addition to any other information in your possession. Neither we, nor ICC, can be held liable for any indirect, incidental or consequential loss of any kind which is in any way attributable to the credit scores in any of our reports.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the date that the company's accounts are made up to. This date usually covers the preceding 12 month period.

 

 

 

 

This figure is the total amount of money earned from sales or services in a particular accounting period.

 

 

 

 

This is the figure reported by the company in its profit & loss account which reflects the net accounting profit or loss made in a particular accounting period before any taxation is taken into account. In small companies, where the directors and shareholders are the same people, this figure can be distorted if low salaries / high dividends or high salaries / low dividends are being paid. Directors' salaries are classed as revenue expenditure whereas shareholder dividends are a distribution of post tax profits. For example, if directors are paying themselves low salaries but are taking high dividends in their role as shareholders then the pre tax profit figure will be higher than if they paid themselves a realistic salary and took a more modest dividend.

 

 

 

 

The combined value of all items either owned by the company or owed to the company. The total assets figure includes tangible fixed assets, intangible fixed assets and current assets. Tangible fixed assets are 'real' items that the company uses to carry out its trading activities, such as land, property, machinery, office equipment, vehicles, etc. Intangible fixed assets include more subjective assets like goodwill, patents and other intellectual property. See below for a definition of current assets.

 

 

 

 

The combined value of all monies owed by the company. The total liabilities figure includes long term liabilities and short term liabilities, otherwise known as current liabilities. Long term liabilities might include mortgages and loans that are repayable over more than one year. See below for a definition of current liabilities.

 

 

 

 

The amount of money that the company would have left if all its tangible assets were sold or realised and all its liabilities settled. Net worth is a measure of the company's solvency. Intangible assets, such as goodwill, patents, trademarks, etc., are not included in the net worth figure as their value is highly subjective.

 

 

 

 

Assets which, if not already in cash form, can easily be converted to cash, for example, debtors, stock, work in progress.

 

 

 

 

All monies owed by the company which fall due within a year, for example, trade creditors.

 

 

 

 

Working capital is calculated by deducting the current liabilities from the current assets - the excess of current assets is the working capital. This is a measure of a company's liquidity and indicates its ability to pay its short-term debts. A very small working capital figure or a minus figure might indicate that the company had difficulty in paying its trade creditors promptly at that particular moment in time.

 

 

 

 

 

All companies must have at least one director and a company secretary. The directors are employees of the company and they should manage the company's affairs in accordance with the law.  This report contains only the current directors of the company. If you would like details regarding any directors who may have resigned in the past these are available at a cost of £2.49. Please email