FRENCH HOUSE LIMITED (THE)
🌳Matureactive
01165921 · ltd · incorporated 1974-04-05
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
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
72/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 99999
Sector: Extraterritorial bodies
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.
Opportunity 72/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. 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. 9 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (45/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
25 live charges · 8 lenders · oldest 47.9y
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 47.9 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 8 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 55/100 (high).
Data confidence
Overall: medium (61/100)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
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
25 charges (25/25 with lender, 25/25 with type)
90
Directors & officers
27 officers (3 active, 27 linked, 23 with DOB)
87
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
20 connected companies via shared directors
90
Filing history
201 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
72/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
60
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
75
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
66
Some moderate concerns — review flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 180 days
3
filings
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 officers
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (98 events)Click to expand
- 2026-02-19📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2026-02-16📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2026-01-29➕LEWIS, Katie appointeddirector
- 2025-11-13➖SCOTT, Michael Ian resigneddirector
- 2025-11-13📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-09-10📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2025-09-08📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-09-06➖BOYES, Steven John resigneddirector
- 2025-09-03➕SCOTT, Michael Ian appointeddirector
- 2025-01-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2024-02-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2023-03-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2022-02-10📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2021-04-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2020-03-05📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2019-01-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2018-02-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2017-02-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2017-01-21📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2017-01-19➖COOPER, Neil resigneddirector
- 2015-11-23➕COOPER, Neil appointeddirector
- 2013-04-23➖BROOKE, Richard John Russell resigneddirector
- 2012-07-05➕THOMAS, David Fraser appointeddirector
- 2012-07-05➖FENTON, Clive resigneddirector
- 2012-02-22➕BARRATT CORPORATE SECRETARIAL SERVICES LIMITED appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2010-12-31➖DENT, Laurence resignedsecretary
- 2010-12-31➖DENT, Laurence resigneddirector
- 2010-02-04➖CLARE, Mark Sydney resigneddirector
- 2009-07-21➖PAIN, Mark Andrew resigneddirector
- 2007-12-31➕DENT, Laurence appointedsecretary
- 2007-12-31➖DOUGLAS, Robert Granville resignedsecretary
- 2007-06-30➖LOCKE, Gregson Horace resigneddirector
- 2007-06-30➖ROBERTSON, Ian resigneddirector
- 2007-06-11➕BOYES, Steven John appointeddirector
- 2007-06-11➕CLARE, Mark Sydney appointeddirector
- 2007-06-11➕DENT, Laurence appointeddirector
- 2007-06-11➕FENTON, Clive appointeddirector
- 2007-06-11➕PAIN, Mark Andrew appointeddirector
- 2006-09-21➕BROOKE, Richard John Russell appointeddirector
- 2006-09-21➖BROWN, Graham Marshall resigneddirector
- 2006-09-21➕LOCKE, Gregson Horace appointeddirector
- 2006-04-08➕BROWN, Graham Marshall appointeddirector
- 2006-04-08➖TOWNSEND, Nicolas John resigneddirector
- 2003-03-01➖BROWN, Graham Marshall resignedsecretary
- 2003-03-01➕DOUGLAS, Robert Granville appointedsecretary
- 1996-08-01➖CHILDS, John Simon resigneddirector
- 1996-08-01➖GREASLEY, Anthony resigneddirector
- 1996-08-01➖MCEWAN, Keith resigneddirector
- 1996-08-01➕ROBERTSON, Ian appointeddirector
- 1996-08-01➖STANSFIELD, Michael John resigneddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 98 events
Owner dependency
66/100
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.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 63 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
69/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 63. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 14 years.
- supportingClean filings + long tenure: Disciplined long-tenure operator — classic lifestyle-business pattern that often sells quietly.
Red flags
2 med · 1 low2 director resignations in last 12 months
mediumMultiple recent departures can indicate governance disagreement, succession event, or preparation for sale/stress.
Evidence: BOYES, Steven John resigned 2025-09-06; SCOTT, Michael Ian resigned 2025-11-13
Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
10 live charges
lowHeavily leveraged with multiple live security positions — understand the capital structure before proceeding.
Group structure
David Wilson Homes Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
David Wilson Homes Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
FRENCH HOUSE LIMITED (THE)
This company · 01165921
Parent relationships inferred from Persons with Significant Control filings. Full subsidiary tree requires reverse-lookup (coming).
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
David Wilson Homes Limited Corporate entity | 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.
🔒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 · Other · LE postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A & B MURPHY'S TAXIS LIMITED→ 06482760 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
| AAZAAC SOCIAL AND THERAPEUTIC WORK LTD→ 14268456 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| ACADEMY OF TRADITIONAL JAPANESE KARATE LTD→ 16493426 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ACCESS BIOTECH CONSULTING LTD→ 07834202 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| ACTONS LIMITED→ 03035252 · est 1995 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 31y | — | — |
| ADR MEDIATION LTD→ 16217884 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AERE ATELIER LTD→ 16647346 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AIME CAFE LTD→ 15995922 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AIO VISION LTD→ 09398111 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| AIRSOFT DEFENCE LTD→ 17107541 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AKEJ LIMITED→ 17123622 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AL HIDAYAH LTD→ 15888847 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1974-04-05
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC99999 — SIC 99999
Registered office
Barratt House Cartwright Way
Forest Business Park Bardon Hill
Coalville
Leics
LE67 1UF
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-03-31
Last made up to: 2025-06-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-06-09
Last: 2026-05-26
Officers (3 active · 24 resigned)
BARRATT CORPORATE SECRETARIAL SERVICES LIMITED→
Activecorporate-secretary · appointed 2012-02-22
View their other companies + combined net worth →
LEWIS, Katie→
Activedirector · ~45y · appointed 2026-01-29
View their other companies + combined net worth →
THOMAS, David Fraser→
Activedirector · ~63y · appointed 2012-07-05
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BROWN, Graham Marshall→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 2003-03-01
DENT, Laurence→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2007-12-31 · resigned 2010-12-31
DOUGLAS, Robert Granville→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2003-03-01 · resigned 2007-12-31
BOYES, Steven John→
Resigneddirector · ~66y · appointed 2007-06-11 · resigned 2025-09-06
BROOKE, Richard John Russell→
Resigneddirector · ~66y · appointed 2006-09-21 · resigned 2013-04-23
BROWN, Graham Marshall→
Resigneddirector · ~81y · appointed 2006-04-08 · resigned 2006-09-21
CHILDS, John Simon→
Resigneddirector · ~70y · resigned 1996-08-01
CLARE, Mark Sydney→
Resigneddirector · ~69y · appointed 2007-06-11 · resigned 2010-02-04
COOPER, Neil→
Resigneddirector · ~59y · appointed 2015-11-23 · resigned 2017-01-19
DENT, Laurence→
Resigneddirector · ~74y · appointed 2007-06-11 · resigned 2010-12-31
FENTON, Clive→
Resigneddirector · ~68y · appointed 2007-06-11 · resigned 2012-07-05
FLUDE, Michael Brian→
Resigneddirector · ~81y · resigned 1993-02-01
GREASLEY, Anthony→
Resigneddirector · ~92y · resigned 1996-08-01
LOCKE, Gregson Horace→
Resigneddirector · ~70y · appointed 2006-09-21 · resigned 2007-06-30
MCEWAN, Keith→
Resigneddirector · ~73y · resigned 1996-08-01
PAIN, Mark Andrew→
Resigneddirector · ~65y · appointed 2007-06-11 · resigned 2009-07-21
ROBERTSON, Ian→
Resigneddirector · ~79y · appointed 1996-08-01 · resigned 2007-06-30
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
25
Total charges
10
Outstanding
6
Active lenders
Status:Lender:25 of 25 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Simon Schanschieff / Roy Sykes | Legal charge | 1 property | 06/07/1989 | 16/04/1991 | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 13/05/1986 | — | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 01/05/1986 | 16/04/1991 | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 27/11/1984 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 27/11/1984 | — | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 27/11/1984 | 16/04/1991 | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 23/03/1984 | — | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 10/03/1983 | 16/04/1991 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 10/03/1983 | 16/04/1991 | |
| outstanding | Credit Industriel Et Commercial | Charge | 1 property | 28/10/1981 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 11/08/1981 | — | |
| outstanding | Banque Nationale De Paris Banque Nationale De Paris Limited | Charge | 1 property | 30/06/1981 | — | |
| outstanding | Credit Industrial Et Commercial | Mortgage registered pursuant to an order of court | 1 property | 14/04/1981 | — | |
| satisfied | Credit Industrial Et Commercial | Legal charge | 1 property | 22/12/1980 | 16/04/1991 | |
| outstanding | Cinncinnati Milacron . Cinncinnati Milacron Limited. | Legal charge | 1 property | 01/12/1980 | — | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 22/07/1980 | 16/04/1991 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 22/07/1980 | 16/04/1991 | |
| outstanding | Societe Generale Pour Favoriser Le Development Ducommerce Et De L'industrieen France. | Assignment | 1 property | 24/01/1980 | — | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 11/12/1979 | 16/04/1991 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 16/11/1979 | 16/04/1991 | |
| satisfied | Ravenfayre Ravenfayre Limited | Legal charge | 1 property | 14/08/1978 | 16/04/1991 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 28/07/1978 | 16/04/1991 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 28/07/1978 | 16/04/1991 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 28/07/1978 | 16/04/1991 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 28/07/1978 | 16/04/1991 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (201 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-05-26
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2026-02-19
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2026-02-16
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-11-13
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-09-10
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-09-08
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-06-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2025-01-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-06-03
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2024-02-18
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-06-08
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2023-03-20
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-06-10
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2022-02-10
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-06-04