A.E. SUTTON LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
00712221 · ltd · incorporated 1962-01-04
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
78/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 17219
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 70-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 78/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (73/100, director aged 70). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 4 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
9 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 54.1y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 54.1 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
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
9 charges (9/9 with lender, 9/9 with type)
90
Directors & officers
11 officers (3 active, 11 linked, 9 with DOB)
86
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
11 connected companies via shared directors
78
Filing history
147 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
78/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
75
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
6
filings
- • 2 accounts
- • 2 other
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (55 events)Click to expand
- 2025-12-11📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2025-12-11📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2025-12-10➖LITTLE, John Keith resigneddirector
- 2025-12-10📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-12-04📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2025-12-04📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2025-05-28📄change-account-reference-date-company-current-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2024-12-11📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2024-12-11📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2024-12-11📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2024-12-11📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2024-12-10📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2024-12-10📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2024-12-03📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2024-11-28🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC (As Security Agent)
- 2024-06-07📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-05-31➖SUTTON, Simon John resigneddirector
- 2023-12-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-03-06📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2023-03-06📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC02
- 2023-03-06📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-03-06📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-03-06📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-03-06📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2023-03-06📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2023-03-03➕ATKINSON, Peter Duncan appointeddirector
- 2023-03-03➕GRAY, Ivor appointeddirector
- 2023-03-03➕MACDONALD, James Graham appointeddirector
- 2023-03-03➖POTTER, Geoffrey Kenneth resignedsecretary
- 2023-03-03➖SUTTON, Amanda Jayne resigneddirector
- 2022-05-27🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2022-05-27🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2021-09-30➖SUTTON, John Trevor resigneddirector
- 2012-09-27🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2011-04-06➕SUTTON, Amanda Jayne appointeddirector
- 2008-09-06🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2006-04-01➕LITTLE, John Keith appointeddirector
- 2004-02-09🔒Charge registered #8Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2000-11-07🔒Charge registered #7Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1999-10-31➖HEWITT, Richard Alan resigneddirector
- 1997-12-21➖SUTTON, Albert Edward resigneddirector
- 1995-09-02🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 1995-09-02🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 1995-09-02🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 1995-09-02🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 1993-06-10➕POTTER, Geoffrey Kenneth appointedsecretary
- 1993-06-10➖POTTER, Violet Mary resignedsecretary
- 1992-10-28➕SUTTON, Simon John appointeddirector
- 1991-05-24🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Directors Self Administration Pension Schemetrustees of A.E. Sutton Limited
- 1982-08-25🔒Charge registered #5Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
Showing most recent 50 of 55 events
Owner dependency
65/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 70 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
70/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 70 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 64 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
Red flags
1 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.
Group structure
Macfarlane Group Uk Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Macfarlane Group Uk Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
A.E. SUTTON LIMITED
This company · 00712221
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Macfarlane Group Uk Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 03/03/2023 |
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Mr Simon John Suttonceased 03/03/2023· 50-75% shares · 50-75% voting
- Mr John Trevor Suttonceased 23/12/2022· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
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 · Manufacturing · RH postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/10 FIX & REPAIR LTD→ 17037446 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1929 TECHNIQUE LIMITED→ 16689414 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1971 BESPOKE LTD→ 15531416 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 31 AIR LTD→ 14973198 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 360 WINDOWS LTD→ 14285951 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| A1 FIRE PROTECTION LTD→ 07866663 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| A24 PROPERTY MAINTENANCE LTD→ 13713106 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| ABSIS LIMITED→ 06400066 · est 2007 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
| ACE DISPLAYS LIMITED→ 05827687 · est 2006 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 19y | — | — |
| ACTION CREATIVE GROUP LIMITED→ 08320042 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| ACTION OFFICE INTERIORS LTD→ 08319956 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| AD GRAPHICS LIMITED→ 11530699 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1962-01-04
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC17219 — SIC 17219
Registered office
Station House
Station Road
Betchworth
Surrey
RH3 7BZ
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-02-01
Last: 2026-01-18
Officers (3 active · 8 resigned)
ATKINSON, Peter Duncan→
Activedirector · ~70y · appointed 2023-03-03
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
MACDONALD, James Graham→
Activedirector · ~40y · appointed 2023-03-03
View their other companies + combined net worth →
POTTER, Geoffrey Kenneth→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1993-06-10 · resigned 2023-03-03
POTTER, Violet Mary→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1993-06-10
HEWITT, Richard Alan→
Resigneddirector · ~77y · resigned 1999-10-31
LITTLE, John Keith→
Resigneddirector · ~76y · appointed 2006-04-01 · resigned 2025-12-10
SUTTON, Albert Edward→
Resigneddirector · ~114y · resigned 1997-12-21
SUTTON, Amanda Jayne→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 2011-04-06 · resigned 2023-03-03
SUTTON, John Trevor→
Resigneddirector · ~92y · resigned 2021-09-30
SUTTON, Simon John→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 1992-10-28 · resigned 2024-05-31
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
9
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:9 of 9 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC (As Security Agent) | A registered charge | — | 28/11/2024 | — | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 09/02/2004 | 27/05/2022 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Chattel mortgage supplemental to a mortgage debenture dated 25 august 1982 issued by the company to national westminster bank PLC | 2 properties | 07/11/2000 | 27/09/2012 | |
| satisfied | Directors Self Administration Pension Schemetrustees of A.E. Sutton Directors Self Administration Pension Schemetrustees of A.E. Sutton Limited | Mortgage debenture | 1 property | 24/05/1991 | 02/09/1995 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 25/08/1982 | 27/05/2022 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 24/01/1980 | 06/09/2008 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds & Scottish Trust Limited | Debenture | 1 property | 01/12/1978 | 02/09/1995 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 21/10/1976 | 02/09/1995 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 18/04/1972 | 02/09/1995 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (147 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-01-28
accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduary
accounts · AA
2025-12-11
legacy
accounts · PARENT_ACC
2025-12-11
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-12-10
legacy
other · GUARANTEE2
2025-12-04
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2025-12-04
change-account-reference-date-company-current-shortened
accounts · AA01
2025-05-28
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-02-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduary
accounts · AA
2024-12-11
legacy
accounts · PARENT_ACC
2024-12-11
legacy
other · GUARANTEE2
2024-12-11
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2024-12-11
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2024-12-10
memorandum-articles
incorporation · MA
2024-12-10
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2024-12-03