columbus topco limited
columbus topco limited Company Information
Company Number
08180821
Next Accounts
Sep 2025
Shareholders
graphite capital partners vii a
graphite capital partners vii c
View AllGroup Structure
View All
Industry
Other education n.e.c.
Registered Address
highpoint 9 sydenham road, guildford, surrey, GU1 3RX
Website
-columbus topco limited Estimated Valuation
Pomanda estimates the enterprise value of COLUMBUS TOPCO LIMITED at £36.9m based on a Turnover of £37.7m and 0.98x industry multiple (adjusted for size and gross margin).
columbus topco limited Estimated Valuation
Pomanda estimates the enterprise value of COLUMBUS TOPCO LIMITED at £11.7m based on an EBITDA of £2.1m and a 5.66x industry multiple (adjusted for size and gross margin).
columbus topco limited Estimated Valuation
Pomanda estimates the enterprise value of COLUMBUS TOPCO LIMITED at £0 based on Net Assets of £-23.8m and 2.38x industry multiple (adjusted for liquidity).
Edit your figures and get a professional valuation report.
Columbus Topco Limited Overview
Columbus Topco Limited is a live company located in surrey, GU1 3RX with a Companies House number of 08180821. It operates in the other education n.e.c. sector, SIC Code 85590. Founded in August 2012, it's largest shareholder is graphite capital partners vii a with a 24% stake. Columbus Topco Limited is a established, large sized company, Pomanda has estimated its turnover at £37.7m with low growth in recent years.
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Columbus Topco Limited Health Check
Pomanda's financial health check has awarded Columbus Topco Limited a 2.5 rating. We use a traffic light system to show it exceeds the industry average on 5 measures and has 7 areas for improvement. Company Health Check FAQs
5 Strong
0 Regular
7 Weak
Size
annual sales of £37.7m, make it larger than the average company (£497.5k)
£37.7m - Columbus Topco Limited
£497.5k - Industry AVG
Growth
3 year (CAGR) sales growth of 1%, show it is growing at a slower rate (6.4%)
1% - Columbus Topco Limited
6.4% - Industry AVG
Production
with a gross margin of 26%, this company has a higher cost of product (56.8%)
26% - Columbus Topco Limited
56.8% - Industry AVG
Profitability
an operating margin of -1.6% make it less profitable than the average company (4.7%)
-1.6% - Columbus Topco Limited
4.7% - Industry AVG
Employees
with 3234 employees, this is above the industry average (12)
3234 - Columbus Topco Limited
12 - Industry AVG
Pay Structure
on an average salary of £7.5k, the company has a lower pay structure (£29.5k)
£7.5k - Columbus Topco Limited
£29.5k - Industry AVG
Efficiency
resulting in sales per employee of £11.6k, this is less efficient (£54k)
£11.6k - Columbus Topco Limited
£54k - Industry AVG
Debtor Days
it gets paid by customers after 6 days, this is earlier than average (18 days)
6 days - Columbus Topco Limited
18 days - Industry AVG
Creditor Days
its suppliers are paid after 9 days, this is quicker than average (24 days)
9 days - Columbus Topco Limited
24 days - Industry AVG
Stock Days
it holds stock equivalent to 0 days, this is less than average (4 days)
0 days - Columbus Topco Limited
4 days - Industry AVG
Cash Balance
has cash to cover current liabilities for 4 weeks, this is less cash available to meet short term requirements (111 weeks)
4 weeks - Columbus Topco Limited
111 weeks - Industry AVG
Debt Level
it has a ratio of liabilities to total assets of 277.7%, this is a higher level of debt than the average (24.6%)
277.7% - Columbus Topco Limited
24.6% - Industry AVG
COLUMBUS TOPCO LIMITED financials
Columbus Topco Limited's latest turnover from December 2023 is £37.7 million and the company has net assets of -£23.8 million. According to their latest financial statements, Columbus Topco Limited has 3,234 employees and maintains cash reserves of £644 thousand as reported in the balance sheet.
Data source: Companies House, Pomanda Estimates
| Dec 2023 | Dec 2022 | Dec 2021 | Dec 2020 | Dec 2019 | Dec 2018 | Dec 2017 | Dec 2016 | Dec 2015 | Dec 2014 | Dec 2013 | Dec 2012 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turnover | 37,661,000 | 34,354,000 | 32,146,000 | 37,035,000 | 51,217,000 | 50,808,000 | 46,679,000 | 43,443,000 | 37,882,000 | 31,614,000 | 25,932,000 | 7,269,000 |
| Other Income Or Grants | ||||||||||||
| Cost Of Sales | 27,861,000 | 25,561,000 | 24,785,000 | 32,085,000 | 37,674,000 | 37,210,000 | 33,608,000 | 30,239,000 | 26,273,000 | 22,069,000 | 17,867,000 | 5,200,000 |
| Gross Profit | 9,800,000 | 8,793,000 | 7,361,000 | 4,950,000 | 13,543,000 | 13,598,000 | 13,071,000 | 13,204,000 | 11,609,000 | 9,545,000 | 8,065,000 | 2,069,000 |
| Admin Expenses | 10,406,000 | 9,392,000 | 7,497,000 | 24,569,000 | 13,958,000 | 14,087,000 | 13,234,000 | 12,820,000 | 12,297,000 | 10,376,000 | 8,863,000 | 3,455,000 |
| Operating Profit | -606,000 | -599,000 | -136,000 | -19,619,000 | -415,000 | -489,000 | -163,000 | 384,000 | -688,000 | -831,000 | -798,000 | -1,386,000 |
| Interest Payable | 2,576,000 | 1,727,000 | 1,553,000 | 3,779,000 | 4,214,000 | 4,022,000 | 3,856,000 | 3,841,000 | 3,705,000 | 3,725,000 | 2,857,000 | 973,000 |
| Interest Receivable | 22,000 | 4,000 | ||||||||||
| Pre-Tax Profit | -3,160,000 | -2,326,000 | -1,689,000 | -20,398,000 | -7,106,000 | -4,511,000 | -4,019,000 | -3,457,000 | -4,393,000 | -4,556,000 | -3,655,000 | -2,355,000 |
| Tax | 411,000 | -176,000 | 570,000 | 869,000 | -152,000 | -257,000 | -401,000 | -278,000 | -244,000 | -153,000 | -588,000 | 330,000 |
| Profit After Tax | -2,749,000 | -2,502,000 | -1,119,000 | -19,529,000 | -7,258,000 | -4,768,000 | -4,420,000 | -3,735,000 | -4,637,000 | -4,709,000 | -4,243,000 | -2,025,000 |
| Dividends Paid | ||||||||||||
| Retained Profit | -2,749,000 | -2,502,000 | -1,119,000 | -19,529,000 | -7,258,000 | -4,768,000 | -4,420,000 | -3,735,000 | -4,637,000 | -4,709,000 | -4,243,000 | -2,025,000 |
| Employee Costs | 24,101,000 | 21,409,000 | 22,179,000 | 28,666,000 | 30,772,000 | 29,109,000 | 26,419,000 | 23,510,000 | 20,695,000 | 17,063,000 | 14,212,000 | 4,544,000 |
| Number Of Employees | 3,234 | 3,068 | 3,136 | 3,060 | 3,278 | 3,209 | 2,987 | 2,689 | 2,320 | 1,882 | 597 | 667 |
| EBITDA* | 2,069,000 | 1,749,000 | 2,164,000 | -14,101,000 | 5,417,000 | 5,471,000 | 5,243,000 | 5,836,000 | 4,334,000 | 3,639,000 | 3,382,000 | -1,386,000 |
* Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation
| Dec 2023 | Dec 2022 | Dec 2021 | Dec 2020 | Dec 2019 | Dec 2018 | Dec 2017 | Dec 2016 | Dec 2015 | Dec 2014 | Dec 2013 | Dec 2012 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tangible Assets | 3,509,000 | 3,803,000 | 4,713,000 | 6,240,000 | 11,205,000 | 12,466,000 | 11,859,000 | 10,526,000 | 11,118,000 | 9,975,000 | 7,620,000 | 6,673,000 |
| Intangible Assets | 5,924,000 | 4,639,000 | 3,336,000 | 2,960,000 | 16,076,000 | 17,957,000 | 20,620,000 | 23,195,000 | 25,891,000 | 28,580,000 | 31,401,000 | 33,984,000 |
| Investments & Other | ||||||||||||
| Debtors (Due After 1 year) | 1,384,000 | 974,000 | 1,140,000 | 671,000 | 182,000 | 225,000 | 285,000 | 438,000 | 328,000 | |||
| Total Fixed Assets | 10,817,000 | 9,416,000 | 9,189,000 | 9,871,000 | 27,463,000 | 30,648,000 | 32,764,000 | 34,159,000 | 37,337,000 | 38,555,000 | 39,021,000 | 40,657,000 |
| Stock & work in progress | 25,000 | 74,000 | 49,000 | 62,000 | 137,000 | 148,000 | 144,000 | 68,000 | 45,000 | |||
| Trade Debtors | 629,000 | 329,000 | 185,000 | 19,000 | 181,000 | 5,000 | ||||||
| Group Debtors | 13,000 | 23,000 | ||||||||||
| Misc Debtors | 1,287,000 | 1,689,000 | 1,782,000 | 2,257,000 | 2,545,000 | 2,733,000 | 1,911,000 | 972,000 | 1,091,000 | 1,795,000 | 1,744,000 | 1,826,000 |
| Cash | 644,000 | 2,781,000 | 2,433,000 | 3,015,000 | 2,212,000 | 1,272,000 | 946,000 | 2,831,000 | 3,369,000 | 3,640,000 | 804,000 | |
| misc current assets | ||||||||||||
| total current assets | 2,585,000 | 4,873,000 | 4,449,000 | 5,353,000 | 5,075,000 | 4,153,000 | 3,001,000 | 3,803,000 | 4,460,000 | 5,435,000 | 2,629,000 | 1,899,000 |
| total assets | 13,402,000 | 14,289,000 | 13,638,000 | 15,224,000 | 32,538,000 | 34,801,000 | 35,765,000 | 37,962,000 | 41,797,000 | 43,990,000 | 41,650,000 | 42,556,000 |
| Bank overdraft | 1,203,000 | 160,000 | 385,000 | 2,730,000 | 1,339,000 | 3,193,000 | 2,823,000 | 3,074,000 | 1,180,000 | 638,000 | ||
| Bank loan | 210,000 | |||||||||||
| Trade Creditors | 725,000 | 1,046,000 | 1,219,000 | 1,400,000 | 1,075,000 | 1,355,000 | 1,349,000 | 1,098,000 | 1,530,000 | 1,659,000 | 892,000 | 609,000 |
| Group/Directors Accounts | ||||||||||||
| other short term finances | 15,000 | 100,000 | 2,552,000 | 2,345,000 | 2,305,000 | 8,230,000 | ||||||
| hp & lease commitments | ||||||||||||
| other current liabilities | 4,799,000 | 4,001,000 | 4,290,000 | 5,607,000 | 6,481,000 | 6,091,000 | 5,716,000 | 4,082,000 | 3,688,000 | 2,839,000 | 6,422,000 | 1,665,000 |
| total current liabilities | 6,727,000 | 5,207,000 | 5,894,000 | 7,007,000 | 10,301,000 | 8,885,000 | 10,258,000 | 10,555,000 | 10,637,000 | 7,983,000 | 7,314,000 | 11,352,000 |
| loans | 26,127,000 | 27,342,000 | 24,571,000 | 24,890,000 | 37,721,000 | 37,566,000 | 35,626,000 | 35,985,000 | 38,812,000 | 46,792,000 | 40,420,000 | 33,056,000 |
| hp & lease commitments | ||||||||||||
| Accruals and Deferred Income | 3,617,000 | 2,113,000 | 1,128,000 | 221,000 | 19,646,000 | 16,463,000 | 13,288,000 | 10,362,000 | 7,651,000 | |||
| other liabilities | ||||||||||||
| provisions | 743,000 | 693,000 | 608,000 | 550,000 | 353,000 | 118,000 | 92,000 | 92,000 | 92,000 | |||
| total long term liabilities | 30,487,000 | 30,148,000 | 26,307,000 | 25,661,000 | 57,720,000 | 54,147,000 | 49,006,000 | 46,439,000 | 46,555,000 | 46,792,000 | 40,420,000 | 33,056,000 |
| total liabilities | 37,214,000 | 35,355,000 | 32,201,000 | 32,668,000 | 68,021,000 | 63,032,000 | 59,264,000 | 56,994,000 | 57,192,000 | 54,775,000 | 47,734,000 | 44,408,000 |
| net assets | -23,812,000 | -21,066,000 | -18,563,000 | -17,444,000 | -35,483,000 | -28,231,000 | -23,499,000 | -19,032,000 | -15,395,000 | -10,785,000 | -6,084,000 | -1,852,000 |
| total shareholders funds | -23,812,000 | -21,066,000 | -18,563,000 | -17,444,000 | -35,483,000 | -28,231,000 | -23,499,000 | -19,032,000 | -15,395,000 | -10,785,000 | -6,084,000 | -1,852,000 |
| Dec 2023 | Dec 2022 | Dec 2021 | Dec 2020 | Dec 2019 | Dec 2018 | Dec 2017 | Dec 2016 | Dec 2015 | Dec 2014 | Dec 2013 | Dec 2012 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Activities | ||||||||||||
| Operating Profit | -606,000 | -599,000 | -136,000 | -19,619,000 | -415,000 | -489,000 | -163,000 | 384,000 | -688,000 | -831,000 | -798,000 | -1,386,000 |
| Depreciation | 984,000 | 1,157,000 | 1,399,000 | 2,254,000 | 2,735,000 | 2,902,000 | 2,460,000 | 2,557,000 | 2,165,000 | 1,649,000 | 1,359,000 | |
| Amortisation | 1,691,000 | 1,191,000 | 901,000 | 3,264,000 | 3,097,000 | 3,058,000 | 2,946,000 | 2,895,000 | 2,857,000 | 2,821,000 | 2,821,000 | |
| Tax | 411,000 | -176,000 | 570,000 | 869,000 | -152,000 | -257,000 | -401,000 | -278,000 | -244,000 | -153,000 | -588,000 | 330,000 |
| Stock | -49,000 | 25,000 | -13,000 | -75,000 | -11,000 | 4,000 | 144,000 | -68,000 | 23,000 | 45,000 | ||
| Debtors | 308,000 | -115,000 | 160,000 | 39,000 | -50,000 | 762,000 | 786,000 | -9,000 | -376,000 | 38,000 | -97,000 | 1,854,000 |
| Creditors | -321,000 | -173,000 | -181,000 | 325,000 | -280,000 | 6,000 | 251,000 | -432,000 | -129,000 | 767,000 | 283,000 | 609,000 |
| Accruals and Deferred Income | 2,302,000 | 696,000 | -410,000 | -20,299,000 | 3,573,000 | 3,550,000 | 4,560,000 | 3,105,000 | 8,500,000 | -3,583,000 | 4,757,000 | 1,665,000 |
| Deferred Taxes & Provisions | 50,000 | 85,000 | 58,000 | 197,000 | 235,000 | 26,000 | 92,000 | |||||
| Cash flow from operations | 4,252,000 | 2,271,000 | 2,054,000 | -32,973,000 | 8,854,000 | 8,030,000 | 8,723,000 | 8,240,000 | 12,929,000 | 700,000 | 7,908,000 | -681,000 |
| Investing Activities | ||||||||||||
| capital expenditure | -3,917,000 | -4,165,000 | -2,164,000 | -3,476,000 | -4,008,000 | -2,306,000 | -1,528,000 | |||||
| Change in Investments | ||||||||||||
| cash flow from investments | -3,917,000 | -4,165,000 | -2,164,000 | -3,476,000 | -4,008,000 | -2,306,000 | -1,528,000 | |||||
| Financing Activities | ||||||||||||
| Bank loans | -210,000 | 210,000 | ||||||||||
| Group/Directors Accounts | ||||||||||||
| Other Short Term Loans | -15,000 | -85,000 | 100,000 | -2,552,000 | 207,000 | 40,000 | 2,305,000 | -8,230,000 | 8,230,000 | |||
| Long term loans | -1,215,000 | 2,771,000 | -319,000 | -12,831,000 | 155,000 | 1,940,000 | -359,000 | -2,827,000 | -7,980,000 | 6,372,000 | 7,364,000 | 33,056,000 |
| Hire Purchase and Lease Commitments | ||||||||||||
| other long term liabilities | ||||||||||||
| share issue | ||||||||||||
| interest | -2,554,000 | -1,727,000 | -1,553,000 | -3,779,000 | -4,214,000 | -4,022,000 | -3,856,000 | -3,841,000 | -3,705,000 | -3,725,000 | -2,857,000 | -969,000 |
| cash flow from financing | -3,766,000 | 1,043,000 | -1,872,000 | 20,943,000 | -4,138,000 | -1,946,000 | -6,814,000 | -6,363,000 | -11,618,000 | 4,960,000 | -3,922,000 | 40,700,000 |
| cash and cash equivalents | ||||||||||||
| cash | -2,137,000 | 348,000 | -582,000 | 803,000 | 940,000 | 326,000 | -1,885,000 | -538,000 | -271,000 | 2,836,000 | 804,000 | |
| overdraft | 1,043,000 | -225,000 | 385,000 | -2,730,000 | 1,391,000 | -1,854,000 | 370,000 | -251,000 | 1,894,000 | 1,180,000 | -638,000 | 638,000 |
| change in cash | -3,180,000 | 573,000 | -967,000 | 3,533,000 | -451,000 | 2,180,000 | -2,255,000 | -287,000 | -2,165,000 | 1,656,000 | 1,442,000 | -638,000 |
columbus topco limited Credit Report and Business Information
Columbus Topco Limited Competitor Analysis
Perform a competitor analysis for columbus topco limited by selecting its closest rivals, whether from the EDUCATION sector, other large companies, companies in GU1 area or any other competitors across 12 key performance metrics.
columbus topco limited Ownership
COLUMBUS TOPCO LIMITED group structure
Columbus Topco Limited has 1 subsidiary company.
columbus topco limited directors
Columbus Topco Limited currently has 7 directors. The longest serving directors include Mr William Mills (Aug 2012) and Mr Craig Light (Apr 2014).
| officer | country | age | start | end | role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr William Mills | 58 years | Aug 2012 | - | Director | |
| Mr Craig Light | England | 45 years | Apr 2014 | - | Director |
| Miss Lisa Haycox | England | 43 years | Jan 2016 | - | Director |
| Dr David Kelly | United Kingdom | 61 years | Jul 2021 | - | Director |
| Mr David Kelly | England | 61 years | Jul 2021 | - | Director |
| Mr Richard Reynolds | England | 36 years | Mar 2023 | - | Director |
| Miss Yaelle Candolfi | England | 46 years | Jun 2024 | - | Director |
P&L
December 2023turnover
37.7m
+10%
operating profit
-606k
+1%
gross margin
26.1%
+1.67%
turnover
Turnover, or revenue, is the amount of sales generated by a company within the financial year.
Balance Sheet
December 2023net assets
-23.8m
+0.13%
total assets
13.4m
-0.06%
cash
644k
-0.77%
net assets
Total assets minus all liabilities
columbus topco limited company details
company number
08180821
Type
Private limited with Share Capital
industry
85590 - Other education n.e.c.
incorporation date
August 2012
age
13
incorporated
UK
ultimate parent company
accounts
Group
last accounts submitted
December 2023
previous names
N/A
accountant
-
auditor
CROWE UK LLP
address
highpoint 9 sydenham road, guildford, surrey, GU1 3RX
Bank
-
Legal Advisor
-
columbus topco limited Charges & Mortgages
A charge, or mortgage, refers to the rights a company gives to a lender in return for a loan, often in the form of security given over business assets.
We found 5 charges/mortgages relating to columbus topco limited. Currently there are 4 open charges and 1 have been satisfied in the past.
columbus topco limited Capital Raised & Share Issues BETA
When a company issues new shares, e.g. to new investors following a funding round, it is required to notify Companies House within one month of making an allotment of shares.
Click to start generating capital raising & share issue transactions for COLUMBUS TOPCO LIMITED. This can take several minutes, an email will notify you when this has completed.
columbus topco limited Companies House Filings - See Documents
| date | description | view/download |
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