ALAN HOWARD (STOCKPORT) LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
01135547 · ltd · incorporated 1973-09-21
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.
Opportunity decay
approaching window · 12-months
Approaching a transaction window — refinance or sale event plausible in the next 12 months.
- · Oldest live charge 48.4y old — refinance window within 12 months
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
£34.20M
year to Feb 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
71/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Non-specialised wholesale trade
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: leverage-led grower with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.
Opportunity 71/100 (strong), bankability 70/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Discharge stale live charges. 13 live charge(s) created 15+ years ago — likely paid but undischarged. Clean register. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (70/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
19 live charges · oldest 48.4y
65/100
clean up first
Refinance viable after a tidy-up — address the highlighted items first.
- · Oldest live charge is 48.4 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Single lender — cleanest path to refinance.
- · Legal-friction score 40/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: high (81/100)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
19 charges (19/19 with lender, 19/19 with type)
90
Directors & officers
7 officers (2 active, 7 linked, 5 with DOB)
84
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
8 connected companies via shared directors
69
Filing history
165 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
71/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
60
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
65
Some acquirability indicators.
Risk profile
74
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · FRS 102Profitable
Profit before tax £789,428
Turnover YoY
+2%
Year on year
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 | 2025-02-28 | 2024-02-29 |
|---|---|---|
| Turnover | £34.20M | £33.57M |
| Gross profit | £15.76M | £15.73M |
| Operating profit | £767.4k | £996.1k |
| Profit before tax | £789.4k | £967.1k |
| Average employees | 29800 | 31200 |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
3 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
1
filing
- • 1 officers
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 officers
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (52 events)Click to expand
- 2026-04-10📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-12-31➖LITTLER, Howard resigneddirector
- 2025-11-25📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-11-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-11-01📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-11-01🔓Charge satisfied #15
- 2024-08-23📄capital-cancellation-sharescapital · SH06
- 2024-07-23📄capital-cancellation-sharescapital · SH06
- 2024-07-23📄capital-return-purchase-own-sharescapital · SH03
- 2023-11-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-08-25📄capital-return-purchase-own-sharescapital · SH03
- 2023-07-17📄capital-cancellation-sharescapital · SH06
- 2022-11-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-11-14📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2022-11-09📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2022-11-09📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2022-10-17📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2022-10-17📄capital-name-of-class-of-sharescapital · SH08
- 2022-10-17📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2022-10-17📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2022-08-10📄capital-return-purchase-own-sharescapital · SH03
- 2022-07-12📄capital-cancellation-sharescapital · SH06
- 2022-06-23📄second-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-dateconfirmation-statement · RP04CS01
- 2017-12-19🔒Charge registered #19Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2016-02-29➖LITTLER, Anthony James resignedsecretary
- 2015-07-09➖DOCKSEY, Ernest William resigneddirector
- 2014-07-30🔒Charge registered #18Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2014-07-30🔒Charge registered #17Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2014-07-30🔒Charge registered #16Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2012-12-05🔒Charge registered #15Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2010-10-07🔓Charge satisfied #12
- 2010-01-01➕LITTLER, Anthony James appointeddirector
- 2010-01-01➕LITTLER, Jonathan Mark appointeddirector
- 2009-07-17🔒Charge registered #14Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2008-06-11🔒Charge registered #13Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2008-05-28🔒Charge registered #12Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2008-04-18🔒Charge registered #11Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2006-01-01➖LITTLER, Gillian Susan resigneddirector
- 2005-04-29🔒Charge registered #10Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2005-01-01➕LITTLER, Anthony James appointedsecretary
- 2005-01-01➖WOODWARD, Joan resignedsecretary
- 2005-01-01➕DOCKSEY, Ernest William appointeddirector
- 1995-10-06🔒Charge registered #9Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1992-03-13🔒Charge registered #8Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1989-01-24🔒Charge registered #7Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1986-11-07🔒Charge registered #6Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1981-07-16🔒Charge registered #5Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1979-12-22🔒Charge registered #3Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1979-06-01🔒Charge registered #4Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1978-05-23🔒Charge registered #2Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
Showing most recent 50 of 52 events
Owner dependency
76/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 16 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
59/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 16 years.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 53 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.
17 live charges
lowHeavily leveraged with multiple live security positions — understand the capital structure before proceeding.
Shareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Anthony James Littler Individual · British · DOB 09/1976 · age 50 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 06/04/2016 |
Mr Jonathan Mark Littler Individual · British · DOB 09/1973 · age 53 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 06/04/2016 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Howard Littlerceased 21/09/2022· 50-75% 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
Active · Wholesale & distribution · SK postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADRIAN VICKERTON LIMITED→ 05675368 · est 2006 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 20y | — | — |
| ADSKI LTD→ 14593557 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| ADVANCED ACCESSORIES LIMITED→ 05000047 · est 2003 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 22y | — | — |
| ADVANTAGE CIVIL ENGINEERING SUPPLIES LIMITED→ 03820875 · est 1999 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 26y | — | — |
| AE INTERNATIONAL TRADING LIMITED→ 12289728 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| AER WHOLESALE LTD→ 12663686 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| AK PRIME MOVE LIMITED→ 17027214 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AKS ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL LTD→ 11410625 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| ALAN BRADLEY (FERTILISERS) LIMITED→ 02580402 · est 1991 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 35y | — | — |
| ALEXANDER PARKER LIMITED→ 13539382 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| ALFAS CORPORATION LIMITED→ 15870146 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ALL 4 WALLS (EQUIPMENT) LTD→ 11609850 · 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
Incorporated1973-09-21
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC46900 — Non-specialised wholesale trade
Registered office
Section 12
Woodbank Industrial Est.
Turncroft Lane
Stockport
SK1 4AR
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-11-27
Last made up to: 2025-02-28
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-09-06
Last: 2025-08-23
Officers (2 active · 5 resigned)
LITTLER, Anthony James→
Activedirector · ~50y · appointed 2010-01-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
LITTLER, Jonathan Mark→
Activedirector · ~53y · appointed 2010-01-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
LITTLER, Anthony James→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2005-01-01 · resigned 2016-02-29
WOODWARD, Joan→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 2005-01-01
DOCKSEY, Ernest William→
Resigneddirector · ~81y · appointed 2005-01-01 · resigned 2015-07-09
LITTLER, Gillian Susan→
Resigneddirector · ~81y · resigned 2006-01-01
LITTLER, Howard→
Resigneddirector · ~82y · resigned 2025-12-31
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
19
Total charges
17
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:19 of 19 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | A registered charge | 7 properties | 19/12/2017 | — | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 30/07/2014 | — | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | A registered charge | 2 properties | 30/07/2014 | — | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 30/07/2014 | — | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 05/12/2012 | 01/11/2024 | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 17/07/2009 | — | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 2 properties | 11/06/2008 | — | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 28/05/2008 | 07/10/2010 | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 18/04/2008 | — | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 29/04/2005 | — | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 06/10/1995 | — | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 13/03/1992 | — | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 24/01/1989 | — | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Mortgage debenture | 1 property | 07/11/1986 | — | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 16/07/1981 | — | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 22/12/1979 | — | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 01/06/1979 | — | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Charge over contract | 1 property | 23/05/1978 | — | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 10/01/1978 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (165 total)
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2026-04-10
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-11-25
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-09-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2024-11-22
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2024-11-01
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-08-23
capital-cancellation-shares
capital · SH06
2024-08-23
capital-cancellation-shares
capital · SH06
2024-07-23
capital-return-purchase-own-shares
capital · SH03
2024-07-23
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-11-24
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2023-11-06
capital-return-purchase-own-shares
capital · SH03
2023-08-25
capital-cancellation-shares
capital · SH06
2023-07-17
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2022-11-23
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-11-22