A. HOWE AND SONS LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
01067521 · ltd · incorporated 1972-08-24
Investment thesis
Zombie company — trading but stalled; unlikely mover.
Why interesting: Quiet, steady; could be a succession or carve-out candidate with the right conversation.
Why risky: No growth signal; thin margin for error on price.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Mar 2025
Net worth
£2.87M
book net assets
Opportunity
75/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate
Sector: Real estate
Investor take
PursueProperty-backed borrower with a 63-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 75/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. Strong seller-intent signal (70/100, director aged 63). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 3 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (53/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
15 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 21.7y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 21.7 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
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
15 charges (15/15 with lender, 15/15 with type)
90
Directors & officers
6 officers (1 active, 6 linked, 4 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
3 connected companies via shared directors
54
Filing history
113 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
🔒Estimated company valuation
Sector-multiple EBITDA, turnover, and NAV-proxy valuation range with confidence tier — derived from extracted iXBRL financials.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Opportunity Score
75/100Strong
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
74
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declaredPositive net assets
Net assets £2,866,329
Cash YoY
-16%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£44k
↓ 16% YoY
Net Worth
£2.9m
↑ 5.3% YoY
Current Assets
£64k
↓ 34% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2025-03-31 | 2024-03-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £3.68M | £3.55M |
| Current assets | £64.3k | £96.9k |
| Cash | £44.1k | £52.7k |
| Debtors | £16.7k | £36.0k |
| Net assets | £2.87M | £2.72M |
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
2
filings
- • 2 mortgage
Last 90 days
2
filings
- • 2 mortgage
Last 180 days
2
filings
- • 2 mortgage
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (47 events)Click to expand
- 2026-04-27📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2026-04-27📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2026-04-20🔒Charge registered #15Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 2026-04-20🔒Charge registered #14Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 2025-06-11📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-09-10📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-07-17📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2023-11-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-11-15📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-04-11📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2022-03-31🔒Charge registered #13Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 2022-03-21📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2022-03-21🔒Charge registered #12Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 2021-11-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-12-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-12-04📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2020-12-04📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2020-12-04📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2020-12-04🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2020-12-04🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2020-12-04🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2020-11-03📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2020-11-03📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2020-11-03📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2020-10-27🔒Charge registered #11Lender: Tsb Bank PLC
- 2020-10-27🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Tsb Bank PLC
- 2020-10-27🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Tsb Bank PLC
- 2020-09-23📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2020-09-23📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2020-09-10🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Tsb Bank PLC
- 2020-09-10🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Tsb Bank PLC
- 2019-03-11🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2018-03-31➖STREETS FINANCIAL CONSULTING PLC resignedcorporate-secretary
- 2014-05-21🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 2014-02-28🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 2011-04-13➕STREETS FINANCIAL CONSULTING PLC appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2011-04-12➖HOWE, Sybil Gladys resignedsecretary
- 2011-04-12➖HOWE, Sybil Gladys resigneddirector
- 2010-09-16🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
- 2008-04-30🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
- 2005-04-12🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
- 2004-08-24🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
- 1996-08-01➕HOWE, Nicholas appointeddirector
- 1996-08-01➖PAYNE, Russell Ian resigneddirector
- 1992-09-14➕PAYNE, Russell Ian appointeddirector
- 1992-08-19➖HOWE, Dennis Arthur resigneddirector
- 1972-08-24🏢Company incorporatedAs A. HOWE AND SONS LIMITED
Owner dependency
100/100
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
- +Sole director: Only one active director — all governance concentrated on one person.
- +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "HOWE" — strong identity link between founder and business.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 30 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 63 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
95/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 63. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 30 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 54 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 · 1 lowCharge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
11 live charges
lowHeavily leveraged with multiple live security positions — understand the capital structure before proceeding.
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Nicholas Howe Individual · British · DOB 05/1963 · age 63 | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 01/07/2016 |
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 · Property · LN postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2995C LIMITED→ 10510662 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| 3 BADGERS LTD→ 14002329 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| 50 LODE LANE LIMITED→ 04262881 · est 2001 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 24y | — | — |
| 73 MONK STREET LTD→ 16374377 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| A HAFEZ LTD→ 16887475 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| A&H FREEHOLD LTD→ 13378669 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| AAVAD PROPERTY LTD→ 13563068 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| ABUNDANT HOUSING (SUPPORT SERVICES) CIC→ 16397749 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AC 101 LTD→ 15719330 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ACE CAP LTD→ 11760494 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| ACTIVA PROPERTIES LIMITED→ 03642590 · est 1998 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 27y | — | — |
| AD ORTUM PROPERTIES LTD→ 13210229 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1972-08-24
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC68209 — Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate
Registered office
The Haulage Yard 165 Station Road
Waddington
Lincoln
Lincolnshire
LN5 9QT
United Kingdom
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-07-26
Last: 2025-07-12
Officers (1 active · 5 resigned)
HOWE, Nicholas→
Activedirector · ~63y · appointed 1996-08-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
HOWE, Sybil Gladys→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 2011-04-12
STREETS FINANCIAL CONSULTING PLC→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 2011-04-13 · resigned 2018-03-31
HOWE, Dennis Arthur→
Resigneddirector · ~95y · resigned 1992-08-19
HOWE, Sybil Gladys→
Resigneddirector · ~96y · resigned 2011-04-12
PAYNE, Russell Ian→
Resigneddirector · ~66y · appointed 1992-09-14 · resigned 1996-08-01
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
15
Total charges
11
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:15 of 15 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 20/04/2026 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 20/04/2026 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 31/03/2022 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 21/03/2022 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Tsb Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 27/10/2020 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Tsb Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 27/10/2020 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Tsb Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 27/10/2020 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Tsb Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 10/09/2020 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Tsb Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 10/09/2020 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 21/05/2014 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 28/02/2014 | 04/12/2020 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | Mortgage deed | 1 property | 16/09/2010 | 04/12/2020 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | Mortgage | 2 properties | 30/04/2008 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | Mortgage | 1 property | 12/04/2005 | 04/12/2020 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | Mortgage | 1 property | 24/08/2004 | 11/03/2019 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (113 total)
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2026-04-27
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2026-04-27
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-07-14
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-06-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-09-10
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-07-18
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2024-07-17
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-11-28
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-07-24
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-11-15
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-07-22
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2022-04-11
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2022-03-21
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-11-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-07-23