FERNHILL ESTATES LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
00520143 · ltd · incorporated 1953-05-29
Investment thesis
Established operating company — standard diligence applies, no dominant angle.
Why interesting: Live, filing, normal profile.
Why risky: No standout signals in either direction.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Mar 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
76/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Growing of cereals (except rice), leguminous crops and oil seeds
Sector: Agriculture, forestry & fishing
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.
Opportunity 76/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. Strong seller-intent signal (70/100, director aged 58). Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 7 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (45/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
16 live charges · 7 lenders · oldest 49.3y
25/100
too messy
Structure is too messy for a clean refinance right now — clean up first or expect bespoke terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 49.3 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 7 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 50/100 (high).
Data confidence
Overall: high (84/100)Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.
Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
16 charges (16/16 with lender, 16/16 with type)
90
Directors & officers
11 officers (3 active, 11 linked, 8 with DOB)
85
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
15 connected companies via shared directors
90
Filing history
138 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
76/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
60
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
85
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
74
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2025-03-31 | 2024-03-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Average employees | 0 | 200 |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
1 signal detected in this company's narrative notes — going-concern language, audit opinion, contingent liabilities, related-party transactions.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
2
filings
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (55 events)Click to expand
- 2025-12-08📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2024-12-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2023-12-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2023-04-28📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2023-04-28🔒Charge registered #16Lender: Irwin Mitchell Trustees Limited
- 2022-12-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2021-12-15📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2021-06-11📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2021-06-11🔓Charge satisfied #9
- 2020-09-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2020-08-11📄auditors-resignation-companyauditors · AUD
- 2019-11-27📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2019-11-12🔒Charge registered #15Lender: Irwin Mitchell Trustees Limited
- 2019-10-10📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2019-10-10🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 2019-10-01📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2019-05-15📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2019-05-15📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2019-05-10📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2019-05-10🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2018-12-19📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2018-03-10📄gazette-filings-brought-up-to-dategazette · DISS40
- 2016-12-31➖CRABB, Niall resigneddirector
- 2016-03-31➖CORNES, Colin resigneddirector
- 2016-02-24🔓Charge satisfied #14
- 2015-01-06🔒Charge registered #14Lender: Colin Cornes
- 2013-11-13🔒Charge registered #13Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 2013-11-13🔒Charge registered #12Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 2013-11-13🔒Charge registered #11Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 2013-11-13🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 2013-11-13🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 2013-03-18➕CRABB, Niall appointeddirector
- 2010-04-23🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
- 2009-11-12🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
- 2009-10-30➕MULLINDER, Darren Paul appointedsecretary
- 2009-10-30➕MULLINDER, Darren Paul appointeddirector
- 2009-10-30➖SMYTH, Patrick Joseph resignedsecretary
- 2009-10-30➖SMYTH, Patrick Joseph resigneddirector
- 2004-11-16➕CORNES, Samuel appointeddirector
- 2004-11-16➕SMYTH, Patrick Joseph appointedsecretary
- 2004-11-16➖WATSON JONES, Helen Louise resignedsecretary
- 2004-11-16➕CORNES, Colin appointeddirector
- 2004-11-16➕SMYTH, Patrick Joseph appointeddirector
- 2004-11-16➖WATSON JONES, Brian resigneddirector
- 2004-11-16➖WATSON JONES, Stephen Brian resigneddirector
- 2004-10-14🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
- 2004-08-03🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2004-08-03🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2000-07-19➖WATSON JONES, Richard John resigneddirector
- 2000-03-17🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
Showing most recent 50 of 55 events
Owner dependency
76/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
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 21 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 58 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
76/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 58. Early succession window.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 21 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 73 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
1 med · 1 lowCharge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
10 live charges
lowHeavily leveraged with multiple live security positions — understand the capital structure before proceeding.
Shareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Darren Paul Mullinder Individual · British · DOB 10/1968 · age 58 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting · trust interest | 06/04/2016 |
Mr Samuel Cornes Individual · British · DOB 10/1974 · age 52 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting · trust interest | 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 · Agriculture · TF postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEC EQUINE SUPPLEMENTS LTD→ 11690832 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| CITY GREENS FOODTECH LTD→ 15945777 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| COPE FARMING LIMITED→ 13045488 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| CROP SPRAYING SERVICES LIMITED→ 07936315 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| CURIOUS RAVEN LTD.→ 14188491 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| D2 PLANT & AGRICULTURE LTD→ 12827320 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| DAIRYSMART UK LTD→ 16075827 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| DAVID UDALE LTD→ 06962059 · est 2009 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
| EDGE RENEWABLES LTD→ 07546236 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 15y | — | — |
| EM & AM LIVESTOCK LTD→ 15934572 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| FIELDS FARM ASHLEY LTD→ 07512737 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 15y | — | — |
| FISCROP LIMITED→ 13730464 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1953-05-29
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC01110 — Growing of cereals (except rice), leguminous crops and oil seeds
Registered office
Fernhill Estate Office
Fernhill Road, Sutton
Newport
Shropshire
TF10 8DJ
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-11-28
Last: 2025-11-14
Officers (3 active · 8 resigned)
MULLINDER, Darren Paul→
Activesecretary · appointed 2009-10-30
View their other companies + combined net worth →
CORNES, Samuel→
Activedirector · ~52y · appointed 2004-11-16
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MULLINDER, Darren Paul→
Activedirector · ~58y · appointed 2009-10-30
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SMYTH, Patrick Joseph→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2004-11-16 · resigned 2009-10-30
WATSON JONES, Helen Louise→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 2004-11-16
CORNES, Colin→
Resigneddirector · ~84y · appointed 2004-11-16 · resigned 2016-03-31
CRABB, Niall→
Resigneddirector · ~75y · appointed 2013-03-18 · resigned 2016-12-31
SMYTH, Patrick Joseph→
Resigneddirector · ~75y · appointed 2004-11-16 · resigned 2009-10-30
WATSON JONES, Brian→
Resigneddirector · ~96y · resigned 2004-11-16
WATSON JONES, Richard John→
Resigneddirector · ~63y · resigned 2000-07-19
WATSON JONES, Stephen Brian→
Resigneddirector · ~67y · resigned 2004-11-16
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
16
Total charges
10
Outstanding
2
Active lenders
Status:Lender:16 of 16 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Irwin Mitchell Trustees Irwin Mitchell Trustees Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 28/04/2023 | — | |
| outstanding | Irwin Mitchell Trustees Irwin Mitchell Trustees Limited | A registered charge | 3 properties | 12/11/2019 | — | |
| satisfied | Colin Cornes | A registered charge | 1 property | 06/01/2015 | 24/02/2016 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 13/11/2013 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 13/11/2013 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 13/11/2013 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 13/11/2013 | 10/10/2019 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 13/11/2013 | 11/06/2021 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | Mortgage deed | 1 property | 23/04/2010 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | Mortgage | 2 properties | 12/11/2009 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | Mortgage | 1 property | 14/10/2004 | 10/05/2019 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | Mortgage | 1 property | 17/03/2000 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank LTD | Mortgage | 1 property | 03/07/1981 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank LTD | Mortgage | 1 property | 17/06/1977 | — | |
| satisfied | The Agricutural Mortgage Corporation The Agricutural Mortgage Corporation LTD | Further charge | 1 property | 21/01/1977 | 03/08/2004 | |
| satisfied | The Agricultural Mortgage Corporation The Agricultural Mortgage Corporation LTD | Legal charge | 1 property | 21/01/1977 | 03/08/2004 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (138 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-12-10
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2025-12-08
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2024-12-18
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-11-28
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2023-12-20
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-12-11
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2023-04-28
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2022-12-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-11-28
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2021-12-15
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-11-26
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2021-06-11
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-12-10
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2020-09-18
auditors-resignation-company
auditors · AUD
2020-08-11