ARGOSY LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
01043082 · ltd · incorporated 1972-02-18
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 Oct 2024
Net worth
£482.0k
book net assets
Opportunity
68/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Renting and leasing of cars and light motor vehicles
Sector: Administrative & support services
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)Distressed active trading company — structural issues outweigh the discount.
Opportunity 68/100 (strong), bankability 47/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Asset purchase likely safer than share purchase given structural signals. 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
6 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 46.4y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 46.4 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Cashflow trend is negative — lender view likely cautious.
Data confidence
Overall: high (80/100)Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.
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
6 charges (6/6 with lender, 6/6 with type)
90
Directors & officers
8 officers (4 active, 8 linked, 6 with DOB)
85
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
117 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
68/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
50
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
75
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
64
Some moderate concerns — review flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declaredPositive net assets
Net assets £481,956
Net assets shrinking
Down £123,975 YoY
Cash draining
Cash down 71% YoY
Cash YoY
-71%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£57k
↓ 71% YoY
Net Worth
£482k
↓ 20% YoY
Current Assets
£104k
↓ 62% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2024-10-31 | 2023-10-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £964.2k | £1.09M |
| Current assets | £104.3k | £276.5k |
| Cash | £57.1k | £199.7k |
| Debtors | £47.2k | £76.8k |
| Net assets | £482.0k | £605.9k |
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
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 (31 events)Click to expand
- 2026-07-10📄replacement-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-dateconfirmation-statement · RP01CS01
- 2025-05-19📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-07-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-06-06📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2024-06-06📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2022-12-14📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-11-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-03-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-12-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-09-11📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2019-09-11📄capital-name-of-class-of-sharescapital · SH08
- 2019-06-10📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2019-01-23📄statement-of-companys-objectschange-of-constitution · CC04
- 2019-01-23📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2019-01-22📄capital-name-of-class-of-sharescapital · SH08
- 2018-12-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-01-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2014-07-09➕RIBBANS, Benjamin James appointeddirector
- 2012-05-01➕RIBBANS, Eleanor Elizabeth appointeddirector
- 2003-07-13➖FORD, Charles resigneddirector
- 2002-09-11🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Bank of Ireland Business Finance Limited
- 2001-09-21🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Man Transcom Limited
- 1999-08-31🔒Charge registered #4Lender: United Dominions Trust Limited
- 1999-08-17➕FORD, Caroline Joanne appointedsecretary
- 1999-08-17➖FORD, Eunice Elizabeth resignedsecretary
- 1999-08-16➖FORD, Eunice Elizabeth resigneddirector
- 1996-06-28🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 1996-06-14🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 1993-05-06➖FORD, Dianna resigneddirector
- 1980-02-23🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 1972-02-18🏢Company incorporatedAs ARGOSY LIMITED
Owner dependency
73/100
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 83 — succession pressure is live.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
78/100
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 83 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 14 years.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 54 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
Red flags
1 high · 1 lowConfirmation statement overdue
highAnnual confirmation statement not filed on time. Required statutory filing — overdue is a strong discipline signal.
Evidence: Next due: 2026-06-19
6 live charges
lowHeavily leveraged with multiple live security positions — understand the capital structure before proceeding.
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
John Charles Ford Individual · British · DOB 06/1943 · age 83 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 06/04/2016 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Mrs Eleanor Elizabeth Ribbansceased 20/08/2019· 25-50% shares
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
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARKTOS BUSINESS CONSULTING LIMITED→ 15844718 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ARWAL LTD→ 15122301 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ATHENA INTELLIGENCE LIMITED→ 14594901 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| ATLAS PLANNING GROUP LTD→ 11088344 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| AVON VALLEY HOLDINGS LIMITED→ 06637109 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 17y | — | — |
| B & C ENTERPRISES (WILTSHIRE) LIMITED→ 06896184 · est 2009 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
| BARRY CRIDLAND COMPLIANCE & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED→ 13201838 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| BARTER BASINGSTOKE LTD→ 14681510 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| BARTON-SKEATES LIMITED→ 12114806 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| BATT BROADBENT LIMITED→ 16102040 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| BAWDSTONE HOLDINGS LIMITED→ 09472338 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| BAYFORD ASSOCIATES LTD→ 04146276 · est 2001 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 25y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
9 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
Incorporated1972-02-18
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC77110 — Renting and leasing of cars and light motor vehicles
Registered office
Andover Self Drive
Mayfield Avenue Industrial Est
Weyhill
Andover Hampshire
SP11 8DU
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-07-31
Last made up to: 2024-10-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-06-19OVERDUE
Last: 2025-06-05
Officers (4 active · 4 resigned)
FORD, Caroline Joanne→
Activesecretary · appointed 1999-08-17
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
RIBBANS, Benjamin James→
Activedirector · ~47y · appointed 2014-07-09
View their other companies + combined net worth →
RIBBANS, Eleanor Elizabeth→
Activedirector · ~46y · appointed 2012-05-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
FORD, Eunice Elizabeth→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1999-08-17
FORD, Charles→
Resigneddirector · ~116y · resigned 2003-07-13
FORD, Dianna→
Resigneddirector · ~76y · resigned 1993-05-06
FORD, Eunice Elizabeth→
Resigneddirector · ~104y · resigned 1999-08-16
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
6
Total charges
6
Outstanding
4
Active lenders
Status:Lender:6 of 6 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Bank of Ireland Business Finance Bank of Ireland Business Finance Limited | Asset sub-hire agreement | 1 property | 11/09/2002 | — | |
| outstanding | Man Transcom Man Transcom Limited | Assignment and charge | 1 property | 21/09/2001 | — | |
| outstanding | United Dominions Trust United Dominions Trust Limited | Charge | 1 property | 31/08/1999 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | Mortgage | 1 property | 28/06/1996 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 14/06/1996 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 23/02/1980 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (117 total)
replacement-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-date
confirmation-statement · RP01CS01
2026-07-10
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-06-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-05-19
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-07-23
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-06-06
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2024-06-06
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2024-06-06
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-06-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-12-14
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-06-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-11-24
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-06-07
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-03-12
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-06-05
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2019-12-13