A.W.CHAMPION LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
00516470 · ltd · incorporated 1953-02-26
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.
Opportunity decay
hardening · 12-months
Already tight — no obvious softening catalysts on the horizon.
- · Thesis: well-run, low negotiation leverage
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
74/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 46730
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 74-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 74/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (68/100, director aged 74). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 3 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
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Refinance opportunity
13 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 53.0y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 53.0 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 40/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (57/100)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
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
13 charges (13/13 with lender, 13/13 with type)
90
Directors & officers
10 officers (3 active, 10 linked, 7 with DOB)
84
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
3 connected companies via shared directors
54
Filing history
132 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
74/100Strong
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
69
Some moderate concerns — review flags.
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 (53 events)Click to expand
- 2025-09-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-mediumaccounts · AA
- 2025-07-14📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-06-30➖SAUNDERS, Martin Edward resigneddirector
- 2025-06-13📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-06-13📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2025-06-01➕MURPHY, Glen appointeddirector
- 2025-05-31➖LISTER, Steven Bernard Lewis resigneddirector
- 2024-09-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-mediumaccounts · AA
- 2024-07-31📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC05
- 2023-10-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-06-30➕BYRNE, Rebecca appointedsecretary
- 2022-06-30➖BOWDEN, Stephen Patrick resignedsecretary
- 2022-06-30📄appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP03
- 2022-06-30📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2022-06-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-09-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-11-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-09-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-09-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2017-10-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2016-09-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2012-12-10🔓Charge satisfied #11
- 2012-12-10🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 2012-12-10🔓Charge satisfied #9
- 2012-12-10🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2012-12-10🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2012-12-10🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2012-12-10🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2012-12-10🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2012-08-06🔒Charge registered #13Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2012-08-06🔒Charge registered #12Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2010-01-04➕LISTER, Steven Bernard Lewis appointeddirector
- 2009-12-31➖JESSOP, Malcolm George resigneddirector
- 2005-11-02🔒Charge registered #11Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2004-08-26➖CHAMPION, Clifford Stanley Beackon resigneddirector
- 2004-07-02🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2004-04-30🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2002-03-14➕JESSOP, Malcolm George appointeddirector
- 2001-07-27➖AYLETT, Howard Alfred resigneddirector
- 1998-12-21➕BOWDEN, Stephen Patrick appointedsecretary
- 1998-12-21➖HAWKINS, Michael Leslie resignedsecretary
- 1991-08-01🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1991-02-14🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 1988-12-07🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1988-02-09🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 1987-11-02🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1987-10-27🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1987-09-25🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1987-07-06🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1985-07-23🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Privatbanken Limited
Showing most recent 50 of 53 events
Owner dependency
88/100
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 "CHAMPION" — strong identity link between founder and business.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 74 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
66/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 74 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
Red flags
2 med ·2 director resignations in last 12 months
mediumMultiple recent departures can indicate governance disagreement, succession event, or preparation for sale/stress.
Evidence: LISTER, Steven Bernard Lewis resigned 2025-05-31; SAUNDERS, Martin Edward resigned 2025-06-30
Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Group structure
A W Champion Holdings Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
A W Champion Holdings Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares
⬇
A.W.CHAMPION LIMITED
This company · 00516470
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
A W Champion Holdings Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | — | 75-100% 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
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEROBIC TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED→ 10144474 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| ALAN REILLY LIMITED→ 01779754 · est 1983 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 42y | — | — |
| ALPHASAUCE LIMITED→ 11304534 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| ANDY ROWE ASSOCIATES LIMITED→ 07497349 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 15y | — | — |
| ANFIS & TF LIMITED→ 03843554 · est 1999 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 26y | — | — |
| ANNEX TRADING LIMITED→ 09291044 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| ANYONE UK LTD→ 15659740 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AP BRANDS LTD→ 08647804 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| AP DISTRIBUTION LIMITED→ 15013170 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| AQUAMARINE ORIENTAL LIMITED→ 03323545 · est 1997 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 29y | — | — |
| ARK FASHION AGENCY LIMITED→ 11866274 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| ARNOTT’S FOODS UK LTD→ 12107963 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1953-02-26
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC46730 — SIC 46730
Registered office
Champion House
Burlington Road
New Malden
Surrey
KT3 4NB
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-08-09
Last: 2025-07-26
Officers (3 active · 7 resigned)
Active
Active
MURPHY, Glen→
Activedirector · ~51y · appointed 2025-06-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BOWDEN, Stephen Patrick→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1998-12-21 · resigned 2022-06-30
HAWKINS, Michael Leslie→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1998-12-21
AYLETT, Howard Alfred→
Resigneddirector · ~90y · resigned 2001-07-27
CHAMPION, Clifford Stanley Beackon→
Resigneddirector · ~98y · resigned 2004-08-26
JESSOP, Malcolm George→
Resigneddirector · ~76y · appointed 2002-03-14 · resigned 2009-12-31
LISTER, Steven Bernard Lewis→
Resigneddirector · ~72y · appointed 2010-01-04 · resigned 2025-05-31
SAUNDERS, Martin Edward→
Resigneddirector · ~75y · resigned 2025-06-30
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
13
Total charges
2
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:13 of 13 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 06/08/2012 | — | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 06/08/2012 | — | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 02/11/2005 | 10/12/2012 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Guarantee & debenture | 1 property | 30/04/2004 | 10/12/2012 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 2 properties | 01/08/1991 | 10/12/2012 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 07/12/1988 | 10/12/2012 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 02/11/1987 | 14/02/1991 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 27/10/1987 | 09/02/1988 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 2 properties | 25/09/1987 | 10/12/2012 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 06/07/1987 | 10/12/2012 | |
| satisfied | Privatbanken Privatbanken Limited | Legal charge | 1 property | 23/07/1985 | 02/07/2004 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 2 properties | 21/02/1980 | 10/12/2012 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 21/05/1973 | 10/12/2012 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (132 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-medium
accounts · AA
2025-09-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-07-29
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-07-14
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-06-13
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-06-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-medium
accounts · AA
2024-09-17
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-07-31
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC05
2024-07-31
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2023-10-09
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-07-28
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-08-30
appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-date
officers · AP03
2022-06-30
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2022-06-30
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2022-06-28
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2021-09-21