MURDOCH NORTON LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
00548490 · ltd · incorporated 1955-04-30
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
approaching window · 12-months
Approaching a transaction window — refinance or sale event plausible in the next 12 months.
- · Oldest live charge 38.4y old — refinance window within 12 months
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
80/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: Non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with exceptional profile and bankable structure.
Opportunity 80/100 (exceptional), bankability 85/100. Strong seller-intent signal (65/100, director aged 59). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
2 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 38.4y
70/100
ready
Refinance conversation should be productive — structure clean and timing right.
- · Oldest live charge is 38.4 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · Legal-friction score 20/100 — clean.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (60/100)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
2 charges (2/2 with lender, 2/2 with type)
90
Directors & officers
30 officers (3 active, 30 linked, 20 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
12 connected companies via shared directors
81
Filing history
180 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
80/100Exceptional
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Strong composite across quality, acquirability, and risk. High-priority target — progress to serious diligence.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
75
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 officers
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 officers
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (78 events)Click to expand
- 2026-02-25📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-10-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2024-11-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2024-05-30📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2023-10-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2023-09-22📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC05
- 2022-11-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2021-12-23📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2021-10-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2021-03-09📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2021-03-09📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2021-02-26➕YAXLEY, Andrew David appointeddirector
- 2021-02-26➖WILSON, Charles resigneddirector
- 2020-10-19📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2019-10-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2019-03-06📍change-sail-address-company-with-new-addressaddress · AD02
- 2019-01-25📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2019-01-22➕WILSON, Charles appointeddirector
- 2019-01-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2018-12-21📄change-account-reference-date-company-current-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2018-11-09📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2018-10-26➕TESCO SECRETARIES LIMITED appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2018-10-26➕BANDEV, Veselin appointeddirector
- 2018-10-26➖CHILTON, Mark resignedsecretary
- 2018-10-26➖PRENTIS, Jonathan Paul resigneddirector
- 2015-09-14➕CHILTON, Mark appointedsecretary
- 2015-09-14➖CODD, David Thomas, Mr. resignedsecretary
- 2015-09-14➖CODD, David Thomas, Mr. resigneddirector
- 2015-09-14➖KENNY, Timothy, Mr. resigneddirector
- 2015-09-14➖MARTIN, Christopher Nicholas resigneddirector
- 2015-09-14➕PRENTIS, Jonathan Paul appointeddirector
- 2014-04-24➖HORGAN, Donal Patrick resigneddirector
- 2013-10-25➕CODD, David Thomas, Mr. appointedsecretary
- 2013-10-25➖WIRTH, Julie Ann resignedsecretary
- 2013-10-25➕CODD, David Thomas, Mr. appointeddirector
- 2013-10-25➖WIRTH, Julie Ann resigneddirector
- 2013-06-06➖O'FLYNN, David, Mr. resigneddirector
- 2011-10-11➕O'FLYNN, David, Mr. appointeddirector
- 2011-09-14➕HORGAN, Donal Patrick appointeddirector
- 2010-11-18➖SMITH, Philip Anthony resigneddirector
- 2008-04-22➖O'FLYNN, David resignedsecretary
- 2008-04-22➕WIRTH, Julie Ann appointedsecretary
- 2008-04-22➖HYSON, Martin John resigneddirector
- 2008-04-22➖O'FLYNN, David resigneddirector
- 2008-04-22➕WIRTH, Julie Ann appointeddirector
- 2007-09-12➕SMITH, Philip Anthony appointeddirector
- 2007-07-06➖DUNLEA, Aidan Finbar resignedsecretary
- 2007-07-06➕O'FLYNN, David appointedsecretary
- 2007-07-06➖DUNLEA, Aidan Finbar resigneddirector
- 2007-07-06➕O'FLYNN, David appointeddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 78 events
Owner dependency
66/100
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.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 59 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
56/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 59. Early succession window.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 71 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
Red flags
cleanNo red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)
Group structure
Booker Retail Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Booker Retail Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
MURDOCH NORTON LIMITED
This company · 00548490
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Booker Retail Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 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 · Wholesale & distribution · NN postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2BROTHER4OLIVES UK LTD→ 15806323 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 2D KITCHENS & JOINERY LIMITED→ 15725288 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 3 STAR PACKAGING LTD→ 09457092 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| 360 FOOD PARTNERS (BUY) LTD→ 17116157 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 360 FOOD PARTNERS (PROCUREMENT) LIMITED→ 15750039 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 4K SYSTEMS LIMITED→ 06544463 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
| 4ORTY FORTY LTD→ 15721083 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 51 WINES LTD→ 15288314 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 777RETURN LIMITED→ 16369768 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 8 BARRELS CLUB LTD→ 11631689 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| 8 LOGISTICS LIMITED→ 10637029 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| 99T SPECIALIST SERVICES LIMITED→ 11637514 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1955-04-30
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC46390 — Non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco
Registered office
Equity House
Irthlingborough Road
Wellingborough
Northamptonshire
NN8 1LT
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-11-26
Last made up to: 2025-02-23
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-09-25
Last: 2025-09-11
Officers (3 active · 27 resigned)
TESCO SECRETARIES LIMITED→
Activecorporate-secretary · appointed 2018-10-26
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BANDEV, Veselin→
Activedirector · ~48y · appointed 2018-10-26
View their other companies + combined net worth →
YAXLEY, Andrew David→
Activedirector · ~59y · appointed 2021-02-26
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BOND, Christopher William→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1993-04-20
CHILTON, Mark→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2015-09-14 · resigned 2018-10-26
CODD, David Thomas, Mr.→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2013-10-25 · resigned 2015-09-14
DUNLEA, Aidan Finbar→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2006-04-28 · resigned 2007-07-06
GRAY, Christopher John→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1993-12-22 · resigned 1999-08-31
HARE, Richard Warren→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1999-11-01 · resigned 2006-04-28
O'FLYNN, David→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2007-07-06 · resigned 2008-04-22
RIGBY, Graham Lakin→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1993-04-20 · resigned 1993-12-22
WIRTH, Julie Ann→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2008-04-22 · resigned 2013-10-25
BACK, Steven John→
Resigneddirector · ~66y · appointed 2001-01-22 · resigned 2002-10-07
CODD, David Thomas, Mr.→
Resigneddirector · ~57y · appointed 2013-10-25 · resigned 2015-09-14
DUNLEA, Aidan Finbar→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 2005-08-22 · resigned 2007-07-06
HORGAN, Donal Patrick→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 2011-09-14 · resigned 2014-04-24
HYSON, Martin John→
Resigneddirector · ~77y · appointed 2004-07-16 · resigned 2008-04-22
KENNY, Timothy, Mr.→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2006-06-15 · resigned 2015-09-14
MARTIN, Christopher Nicholas→
Resigneddirector · ~66y · appointed 2006-06-15 · resigned 2015-09-14
O'FLYNN, David, Mr.→
Resigneddirector · ~56y · appointed 2011-10-11 · resigned 2013-06-06
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
2
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:2 of 2 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland. | Legal charge | 1 property | 02/04/1990 | 12/12/1996 | |
| satisfied | Citibank, N.Aas Trustee for the Banks | Deed of charge | 1 property | 17/12/1987 | 07/07/1988 |
Recent filings (180 total)
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2026-02-25
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2025-10-09
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-09-15
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2024-11-18
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-09-13
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2024-05-30
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2023-10-26
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-09-22
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC05
2023-09-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2022-11-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-09-12
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2021-12-23
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2021-10-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-09-15
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2021-03-09