B. THOMPSON & SONS (TRANSPORT) LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
00876085 · ltd · incorporated 1966-04-04
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
approaching window · 12-months
Approaching a transaction window — refinance or sale event plausible in the next 12 months.
- · Oldest live charge 50.2y old — refinance window within 12 months
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Apr 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Freight transport by road
Sector: Transportation & storage
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 81-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 85/100. Strong seller-intent signal (73/100, director aged 81). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
3 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 50.2y
70/100
ready
Refinance conversation should be productive — structure clean and timing right.
- · Oldest live charge is 50.2 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · Legal-friction score 15/100 — clean.
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
3 charges (3/3 with lender, 3/3 with type)
90
Directors & officers
8 officers (4 active, 8 linked, 6 with DOB)
85
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
116 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
79/100Strong
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
77
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 | 2025-04-30 | 2024-04-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Average employees | 5000 | 5800 |
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
0
filings
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (30 events)Click to expand
- 2025-10-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-01-14📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-01-13📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-12-04📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-12-04🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2024-09-16📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-10-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-10-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-10-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-11-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-09-14📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2019-10-08📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-09-25📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2017-09-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2016-09-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2015-10-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-mediumaccounts · AA
- 2015-05-01➕THOMPSON, Ian Norman appointeddirector
- 2015-05-01➕THOMPSON, Ryan Benjamin appointeddirector
- 2010-12-30🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2010-12-30🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2010-08-24➖THOMPSON, Alan Bernard resignedsecretary
- 2007-04-10➕THOMPSON, Carol Mary appointeddirector
- 2007-04-10➖THOMPSON, Robert Henry resigneddirector
- 1998-07-06➖THOMPSON, Benjamin resigneddirector
- 1996-08-29➕THOMPSON, Alan Bernard appointedsecretary
- 1996-08-29➖THOMPSON, Robert Henry resignedsecretary
- 1995-02-08🔒Charge registered #3Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1993-04-27🔒Charge registered #2Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1976-04-26🔒Charge registered #1Lender: National Westminster Bank LTD
- 1966-04-04🏢Company incorporatedAs B. THOMPSON & SONS (TRANSPORT) LIMITED
Owner dependency
88/100
Critical — business is the founderThe business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.
FACTORS
- -4 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
- +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "THOMPSON" — strong identity link between founder and business.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 19 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 81 — succession pressure is live.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
83/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 81 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 19 years.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 60 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 ·Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Alan Bernard Thompson Individual · British · DOB 08/1945 · age 81 | 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.
Similar companies
Active · Transport & logistics · TQ postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A WHETTON SERVICES LTD→ 15442694 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| BAR OLIVE LTD.→ 10329969 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| BAY TAXIS LTD→ 15882660 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| BOAT & YACHT TRANSPORT LTD→ 12381941 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| BRETT BARBER FLYING LTD→ 14337718 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| BRITISH GATEWAY LTD→ 16919466 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BROWN BROTHERS CLEARANCES LIMITED→ 14773588 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| CABS AND CONFETTI LTD→ 17112948 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CARPOL1 LIMITED→ 09387166 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| CBH SPECIALIST TRANSPORT LTD→ 13145380 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| CENTRAL LINK COURIERS LTD→ 05446291 · est 2005 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 20y | — | — |
| CHUB LOGISTICS LTD→ 15174477 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1966-04-04
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC49410 — Freight transport by road
Registered office
Sigma House Oak View Close
Edginswell Park
Torquay
Devon
TQ2 7FF
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-01-31
Last made up to: 2025-04-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-08-29
Last: 2025-08-15
Officers (4 active · 4 resigned)
Active
THOMPSON, Carol Mary→
Activedirector · ~68y · appointed 2007-04-10
View their other companies + combined net worth →
THOMPSON, Ian Norman→
Activedirector · ~34y · appointed 2015-05-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
THOMPSON, Ryan Benjamin→
Activedirector · ~36y · appointed 2015-05-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
THOMPSON, Alan Bernard→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1996-08-29 · resigned 2010-08-24
THOMPSON, Robert Henry→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1996-08-29
THOMPSON, Benjamin→
Resigneddirector · ~114y · resigned 1998-07-06
THOMPSON, Robert Henry→
Resigneddirector · ~90y · resigned 2007-04-10
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
3
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:3 of 3 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 08/02/1995 | 30/12/2010 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 27/04/1993 | 30/12/2010 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank LTD | Mortgage debenture | 1 property | 26/04/1976 | 04/12/2024 |
Recent filings (116 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-10-02
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-08-18
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-01-14
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-01-13
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2024-12-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-09-16
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-08-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-10-04
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-08-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-10-06
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-08-18
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-10-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-08-24
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2020-11-03
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2020-09-14