AFC EUROPE LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
00675195 · ltd · incorporated 1960-11-16
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
77/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Non-specialised wholesale trade
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 64-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 77/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (60/100, director aged 64). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 10 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
19 live charges · 10 lenders · oldest 40.1y
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 40.1 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 10 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 45/100 (high).
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
19 charges (19/19 with lender, 19/19 with type)
90
Directors & officers
24 officers (8 active, 24 linked, 20 with DOB)
87
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
10 connected companies via shared directors
75
Filing history
196 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
77/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
80
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
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (92 events)Click to expand
- 2025-09-11📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-07-07✏️certificate-change-of-name-companychange-of-name · CERTNM
- 2024-10-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-08-14📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2023-09-18📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2023-09-15➖JACKSON, Alan Leslie resigneddirector
- 2023-09-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-08-07📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-08-01➕SANDERS, Stephen John appointeddirector
- 2023-06-01📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC05
- 2023-01-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-09-23📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2022-09-20🔒Charge registered #19Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2022-07-25📄change-account-reference-date-company-current-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2022-06-30📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2022-06-30📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-06-30📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2022-06-30📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2022-06-30📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2022-06-29➕BROWN, Christopher James appointeddirector
- 2022-06-29➕GODIN, Kevin appointeddirector
- 2022-06-29➕MCCARTHY, Kevin appointeddirector
- 2022-06-29➖SMITH, Graham Alan resignedsecretary
- 2022-06-29➖SMITH, Graham Alan resigneddirector
- 2022-06-29📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-06-29📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-06-29🔓Charge satisfied #17
- 2022-06-29🔓Charge satisfied #16
- 2022-06-28📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-06-28🔓Charge satisfied #14
- 2022-06-07📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2022-05-26🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 2022-05-26🔓Charge satisfied #9
- 2020-10-01➕BILLINGE, Christopher Andrew appointeddirector
- 2019-09-16➖CLARKE, Martin Hugh resigneddirector
- 2018-08-15🔓Charge satisfied #18
- 2018-06-01🔓Charge satisfied #15
- 2016-10-01➕JACKSON, Alan Leslie appointeddirector
- 2015-07-31➖DAVIS, Evelyn Jane resigneddirector
- 2015-05-31➖FRANCIS, John Stuart resignedsecretary
- 2015-04-01➕KENTISH, Keith Roberts appointeddirector
- 2015-04-01➕TEALE, Steven appointeddirector
- 2014-10-08➖HERHOLD, Berndt resigneddirector
- 2012-03-31➖GOODE, Brian Robert resigneddirector
- 2012-03-30🔒Charge registered #18Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2011-11-05🔓Charge satisfied #13
- 2011-11-05🔓Charge satisfied #12
- 2011-11-05🔓Charge satisfied #11
- 2011-11-05🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2011-11-03🔒Charge registered #17Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
Showing most recent 50 of 92 events
Owner dependency
58/100
Moderate — manageable with handoverSome founder dependency, but not acute. A structured handover period should cover most risk.
FACTORS
- -8 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 18 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 64 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
63/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 64. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 18 years.
- supportingClean filings + long tenure: Disciplined long-tenure operator — classic lifestyle-business pattern that often sells quietly.
Red flags
2 med ·Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Name changed recently
mediumName changes can be benign (rebrand) but can also precede distress, phoenix activity, or buyer concealment.
Evidence: 2025-07-07: certificate-change-of-name-company
Group structure
Tfc Europe Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Tfc Europe Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
AFC EUROPE LIMITED
This company · 00675195
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tfc Europe 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 · TN postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 STOP INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES LIMITED→ 08878498 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| 2A IMPORT & EXPORT LIMITED→ 13515941 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| 305 INTERNATIONAL GROUP LTD→ 14562025 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| A&A SPICER HOLDINGS LTD→ 14301227 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| AARON CHEMICALS LIMITED→ 02677024 · est 1992 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 34y | — | — |
| ABMODZ LTD→ 12893563 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| ABRUZZI LTD→ 11681222 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| AEGEAN GOLD DESIGNS LTD→ 09495934 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| AEGEAN SPIRITS LTD→ 16176073 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AERXERO LTD→ 16283287 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AFRICAN STYLE BBQ WOOD LTD→ 16225552 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AFROFITS ATELIER LIMITED→ 17028724 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
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
Incorporated1960-11-16
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC46900 — Non-specialised wholesale trade
Registered office
Hale House
Ghyll Industrial Estate
Heathfield East Sussex
TN21 8AW
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-05-15
Last: 2026-05-01
Officers (8 active · 16 resigned)
BILLINGE, Christopher Andrew→
Activedirector · ~54y · appointed 2020-10-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BROWN, Christopher James→
Activedirector · ~42y · appointed 2022-06-29
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BURGOYNE, Morgan→
Activedirector · ~63y · appointed 2008-04-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
GODIN, Kevin→
Activedirector · ~50y · appointed 2022-06-29
View their other companies + combined net worth →
KENTISH, Keith Roberts→
Activedirector · ~51y · appointed 2015-04-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MCCARTHY, Kevin→
Activedirector · ~64y · appointed 2022-06-29
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SANDERS, Stephen John→
Activedirector · ~54y · appointed 2023-08-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
TEALE, Steven→
Activedirector · ~62y · appointed 2015-04-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
DAVIS, Evelyn Jane→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 2008-04-01
FRANCIS, John Stuart→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2008-06-02 · resigned 2015-05-31
GASSON, Kay→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2008-04-01 · resigned 2008-06-02
SMITH, Graham Alan→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2008-11-27 · resigned 2022-06-29
CLARKE, Martin Hugh→
Resigneddirector · ~73y · appointed 2007-03-06 · resigned 2019-09-16
DAVIS, Evelyn Jane→
Resigneddirector · ~71y · resigned 2015-07-31
GASSON, Kay→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 2007-09-17 · resigned 2008-06-02
GOODE, Brian Robert→
Resigneddirector · ~80y · resigned 2012-03-31
HALE, David Gerald Royston→
Resigneddirector · ~84y · resigned 2007-03-06
HALE, Gerald Cecil→
Resigneddirector · ~110y · resigned 1993-09-13
HERHOLD, Berndt→
Resigneddirector · ~77y · appointed 2007-03-08 · resigned 2014-10-08
JACKSON, Alan Leslie→
Resigneddirector · ~67y · appointed 2016-10-01 · resigned 2023-09-15
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
19
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:19 of 19 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 20/09/2022 | — | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 30/03/2012 | 15/08/2018 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 03/11/2011 | 29/06/2022 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 03/11/2011 | 29/06/2022 | |
| satisfied | David Hale | Debenture | 1 property | 03/11/2011 | 01/06/2018 | |
| satisfied | NatWest Group Rbs Invoice Finance Limited | All assets debenture | 1 property | 02/11/2011 | 28/06/2022 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Debenture | 1 property | 02/04/2008 | 05/11/2011 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 02/04/2008 | 05/11/2011 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 02/04/2008 | 05/11/2011 | |
| satisfied | Foresight 2 Vct as Security Trustee on Behalf of Foresight 3 Vct and Foresight 4 Vctplc Foresight 2 Vct PLC as Security Trustee on Behalf of Foresight 3 Vct PLC and Foresight 4 Vctplc | Debenture and guarantee | 1 property | 07/03/2007 | 26/05/2022 | |
| satisfied | Foresight 2 Vct as Security Trustee on Behalf of Foresight 3 Vct and Foresight 4 Vctplc Foresight 2 Vct PLC as Security Trustee on Behalf of Foresight 3 Vct PLC and Foresight 4 Vctplc | Legal charge | 1 property | 07/03/2007 | 26/05/2022 | |
| satisfied | David Gerald Royston Hale and the Vendors (For Furthur Details of the Vendors Please Refer Toform 395) | Guarantee & debenture | 1 property | 07/03/2007 | 05/11/2011 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 07/03/2007 | 15/04/2008 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 07/03/2007 | 15/04/2008 | |
| satisfied | Euro Sales Finance (Security Holder) Euro Sales Finance PLC (Security Holder) | Fixed and floating charge | 1 property | 07/03/2007 | 15/04/2008 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 07/03/2007 | 15/04/2008 | |
| satisfied | 3I Group 3I Group PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 15/07/1994 | 09/03/2007 | |
| satisfied | Guardian Assurance Guardian Assurance PLC | Charge | 1 property | 12/03/1987 | 09/03/2007 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Mortgage debenture | 1 property | 07/04/1986 | 09/03/2007 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (196 total)
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-05-19
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-09-11
certificate-change-of-name-company
change-of-name · CERTNM
2025-07-07
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-05-07
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2024-10-09
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2024-08-14
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-06-20
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2023-09-18
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2023-09-12
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2023-08-07
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-06-01
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC05
2023-06-01
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2023-01-06
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2022-09-23
change-account-reference-date-company-current-shortened
accounts · AA01
2022-07-25