F.B. COOPER (WOOD HEAD) LIMITED

🌳Matureactive
00843560 · ltd · incorporated 1965-03-30
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 May 2025
Net worth
£96.3k
book net assets
Opportunity
78/100
Strong
🔔
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What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 01500
Sector: Agriculture, forestry & fishing
Investor take
Pursue
Strong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.

Opportunity 78/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. Strong seller-intent signal (70/100, director aged 59). Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 5 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 · 5 lenders · oldest 52.9y

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 52.9 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · 5 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
  • · Legal-friction score 50/100 (high).

Data confidence

Overall: medium (78/100)

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
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
8 officers (3 active, 8 linked, 6 with DOB)
85
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
124 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
60
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
82
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.

Signals from accounts

Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declared
Positive net assets
Net assets £96,264
Net assets shrinking
Down £38,623 YoY
Cash YoY
+21%
Year on year

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
£62k
↑ 21% YoY
Net Worth
£96k
↓ 29% YoY
Current Assets
£128k
↓ 35% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
£0£40k£79k£119k£159k£198kMay 2024May 2025

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown
Metric2025-05-312024-05-31
Total assets£125.7k£171.5k
Current assets£128.2k£198.3k
Cash£61.7k£51.1k
Debtors£43.0k£46.6k
Net assets£96.3k£134.9k

Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.

🔒Filing-note intelligence

2 signals 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 (44 events)Click to expand
  1. 2026-02-10
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  2. 2025-07-07
    ➕
    COOPER, Janice appointed
    secretary
  3. 2025-07-07
    ➖
    BRETHERTON, Jennet resigned
    secretary
  4. 2025-07-07
    📄
    appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP03
  5. 2025-07-07
    📄
    termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM02
  6. 2025-03-21
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  7. 2025-03-21
    📄
    cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
  8. 2025-01-31
    ➖
    BRETHERTON, Jennet resigned
    director
  9. 2024-12-18
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  10. 2024-08-01
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  11. 2024-08-01
    📄
    change-person-secretary-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH03
  12. 2024-06-11
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  13. 2024-06-11
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
  14. 2023-11-16
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  15. 2022-12-15
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  16. 2022-02-07
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  17. 2021-02-25
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  18. 2020-06-08
    📄
    notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
  19. 2019-12-17
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  20. 2019-07-12
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  21. 2019-07-01
    ➕
    COOPER, Janice appointed
    director
  22. 2016-12-05
    ➖
    COOPER, Richard resigned
    director
  23. 2016-12-05
    ➖
    COOPER, Thomas Robert resigned
    director
  24. 2005-01-10
    🔒
    Charge registered #16
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  25. 2005-01-10
    🔒
    Charge registered #15
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  26. 2005-01-10
    🔒
    Charge registered #14
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  27. 2004-06-07
    🔒
    Charge registered #13
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  28. 1997-04-16
    🔒
    Charge registered #12
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  29. 1997-04-16
    🔒
    Charge registered #11
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  30. 1992-10-07
    ➕
    COOPER, Frank appointed
    director
  31. 1992-10-07
    ➕
    COOPER, Richard appointed
    director
  32. 1992-10-07
    ➕
    COOPER, Thomas Robert appointed
    director
  33. 1992-09-28
    ➖
    COOPER, Thomas Richard resigned
    director
  34. 1983-05-16
    🔒
    Charge registered #10
    Lender: Argicultural Mortgage Corporation PLC
  35. 1983-05-10
    🔒
    Charge registered #9
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  36. 1983-05-10
    🔒
    Charge registered #8
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  37. 1981-03-24
    🔒
    Charge registered #7
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  38. 1980-12-10
    🔒
    Charge registered #6
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  39. 1980-08-28
    🔒
    Charge registered #5
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  40. 1978-07-06
    🔒
    Charge registered #4
    Lender: Agricultural Mortgage Corporation LTD
  41. 1973-09-21
    🔒
    Charge registered #3
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  42. 1973-09-21
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  43. 1973-09-05
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: The Agricultural Mortgage Corp LTD
  44. 1965-03-30
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As F.B. COOPER (WOOD HEAD) LIMITED

Owner dependency

99/100
Critical — business is the founder

The 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 "COOPER" — strong identity link between founder and business.
  • +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 34 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
  • +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 59 — approaching natural succession window.
  • +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.

Succession & seller-readiness

66/100
Strong succession signal

Multiple 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.
  • primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 34 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
  • supportingClean filings + long tenure: Disciplined long-tenure operator — classic lifestyle-business pattern that often sells quietly.

Red flags

1 low
16 live charges
low

Heavily leveraged with multiple live security positions — understand the capital structure before proceeding.

Shareholders & ownership

2 active beneficial owners · dominant holder ≥75%
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Mr Frank Cooper
Individual · British · DOB 05/1967 · age 59
75–100%
—75-100% shares06/04/2016
Mrs Janice Cooper
Individual · British · DOB 05/1970 · age 56
25–50%
—25-50% shares05/02/2019
1 historic (ceased) PSC
  • Mrs Jennet Brethertonceased 20/03/2025· 25-50% shares

From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.

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———————
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
Incorporated1965-03-30
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC01500 — SIC 01500

Registered office

Wood Head Farm
Hermitage Green
Nr Warrington
Cheshire
WA2 8SU

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2027-02-28
Last made up to: 2025-05-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-04-07
Last: 2026-03-24

Officers (3 active · 5 resigned)

COOPER, Janice→
secretary · appointed 2025-07-07
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
COOPER, Frank→
director · ~59y · appointed 1992-10-07
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
COOPER, Janice→
director · ~56y · appointed 2019-07-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BRETHERTON, Jennet→
secretary · resigned 2025-07-07
Resigned
BRETHERTON, Jennet→
director · ~85y · resigned 2025-01-31
Resigned
COOPER, Richard→
director · ~61y · appointed 1992-10-07 · resigned 2016-12-05
Resigned
COOPER, Thomas Robert→
director · ~52y · appointed 1992-10-07 · resigned 2016-12-05
Resigned
COOPER, Thomas Richard→
director · ~91y · resigned 1992-09-28
Resigned

Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.

Mortgages & charges

16
Total charges
16
Outstanding
5
Active lenders
Status:Lender:16 of 16 shown
TypeProperties
outstanding
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
Legal mortgage1 property10/01/2005—
outstanding
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
Legal mortgage1 property10/01/2005—
outstanding
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
Legal mortgage1 property10/01/2005—
outstanding
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
Debenture1 property07/06/2004—
outstanding
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Legal mortgage1 property16/04/1997—
outstanding
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Legal mortgage1 property16/04/1997—
outstanding
Argicultural Mortgage Corporation
Argicultural Mortgage Corporation PLC
Further charge1 property16/05/1983—
outstanding
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Legal mortgage1 property10/05/1983—
outstanding
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Legal mortgage1 property10/05/1983—
outstanding
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Legal mortgage1 property24/03/1981—
outstanding
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Legal charge1 property10/12/1980—
outstanding
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Mortgage debenture1 property28/08/1980—
outstanding
Agricultural Mortgage Corporation
Agricultural Mortgage Corporation LTD
Legal charge1 property06/07/1978—
outstanding
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Legal mortgage1 property21/09/1973—
outstanding
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Legal mortgage1 property21/09/1973—
outstanding
The Agricultural Mortgage Corp
The Agricultural Mortgage Corp LTD
Further charge1 property05/09/1973—
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (124 total)

confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-04-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2026-02-10
appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-date
officers · AP03
2025-07-07
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2025-07-07
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-03-24
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-03-21
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2025-03-21
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-12-18
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2024-08-01
change-person-secretary-company-with-change-date
officers · CH03
2024-08-01
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-06-14
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2024-06-11
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2024-06-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-11-16
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-06-14