A F SWITCHGEAR LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
01179371 · ltd · incorporated 1974-08-01
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
hardening · 12-months
Already tight — no obvious softening catalysts on the horizon.
- · Thesis: well-run, low negotiation leverage
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
80/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 26110
Sector: Manufacturing
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
- 27120SIC 27120
Investor take
PursueActive trading company. Family succession underway — not a classic acquisition target.
Opportunity 80/100 (exceptional), bankability 67/100. Same-surname younger director in place — likely family handover, not open to sale. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 5 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: family or management succession (50/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
11 live charges · 5 lenders · oldest 46.1y
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 46.1 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 5 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 50/100 (high).
Data confidence
Overall: medium (58/100)Adequate coverage. AI outputs are reliable for the sections scored high; verify the rest in diligence.
Company profile
address, 2 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
11 charges (11/11 with lender, 11/11 with type)
90
Directors & officers
13 officers (8 active, 13 linked, 11 with DOB)
87
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
5 connected companies via shared directors
60
Filing history
152 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
80/100Exceptional
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Strong composite across quality, acquirability, and risk. High-priority target — progress to serious diligence.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
85
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
3
filings
- • 3 officers
Last 180 days
3
filings
- • 3 officers
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (51 events)Click to expand
- 2026-04-15📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2026-04-14📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2026-04-14📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2026-03-26➕FOSTER, Henry David appointeddirector
- 2026-03-26➕FOSTER, Samuel George appointeddirector
- 2026-03-26➕GARRARD, Steven appointeddirector
- 2025-09-25📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-09-16📄accounts-with-accounts-type-mediumaccounts · AA
- 2023-08-08📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-01-04📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-01-01➕NUTT, Mark Antony appointeddirector
- 2022-09-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-09-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-03-31➖HARRIS, Michael George resigneddirector
- 2021-03-31📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2020-09-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-10-02📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2019-10-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-04-10📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2018-10-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2017-08-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2013-12-31➕SLACK, Mathew Stephen appointedsecretary
- 2013-12-31➕SLACK, Mathew Stephen appointeddirector
- 2013-12-31➖BOSWORTH, John Robert resignedsecretary
- 2013-12-31➖BOSWORTH, John Robert resigneddirector
- 2008-11-24🔒Charge registered #11Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2008-10-22🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 2008-10-22🔓Charge satisfied #9
- 2008-10-22🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2008-10-22🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2008-10-22🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2008-10-22🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2008-10-22🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2007-10-01➖FOSTER, Henry William resigneddirector
- 2007-10-01➖FOSTER, Sandra Marjorie resigneddirector
- 2003-12-23🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2000-11-29🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2000-11-29🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2000-11-29🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2000-11-23🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Gmac Commercial Credit Limited
- 2000-11-13➕THOMPSON, Richard appointeddirector
- 1999-04-22➕HARRIS, Michael George appointeddirector
- 1998-12-21🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Midland Bank PLC
- 1998-11-02🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Midland Bank PLC
- 1998-04-14🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Confidential Invoice Discounting Limited
- 1996-12-17🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Confidential Invoice Discounting Limited
- 1996-12-17🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Midland Bank PLC
- 1992-05-22🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Midland Bank PLC
- 1984-05-09🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Midland Bank PLC
- 1980-04-16🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Midland Bank LTD
Showing most recent 50 of 51 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
- -7 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 26 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 59 — approaching natural succession window.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
20/100
No succession signalNo meaningful acquirability indicators from public data.
SIGNALS
- primaryFamily succession underway: Not a takeover target — FOSTER, Henry David (same surname) appointed 2026-03-26. Pattern consistent with intra-family handover.
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 59. Early succession window.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 26 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- 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.
Group structure
A.F. Switchgear (Holdings) Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
A.F. Switchgear (Holdings) Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares
⬇
A F SWITCHGEAR LIMITED
This company · 01179371
Parent relationships inferred from Persons with Significant Control filings. Full subsidiary tree requires reverse-lookup (coming).
Shareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
A.F. Switchgear (Holdings) Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | — | 75-100% shares | 01/07/2016 |
Mr Ian Henry Foster Individual · British · DOB 01/1967 · age 59 | — | — | sig. influencesignificant influence | 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.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADVANCED METALWORKS LIMITED→ 11355557 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
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| ADVANCED MORTUARY SYSTEMS LIMITED→ 02510140 · est 1990 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 35y | — | — |
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| ADVANEX EUROPE LIMITED→ 02301464 · est 1988 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 37y | — | — |
| ADVANTAGE ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS LTD→ 05511913 · est 2005 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 20y | — | — |
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| AERO FABRICATIONS LIMITED→ 02793994 · est 1993 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 33y | — | — |
| AEROSONNETS LIMITED→ 14543740 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
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Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
6 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
Incorporated1974-08-01
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC26110 — SIC 26110
Registered office
A F Switchgear Limited
Nunn Brook Road
Sutton In Ashfield
Nottinghamshire
NG17 2HU
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-11-03
Last: 2025-10-20
Officers (8 active · 5 resigned)
SLACK, Mathew Stephen→
Activesecretary · appointed 2013-12-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
FOSTER, Henry David→
Activedirector · ~27y · appointed 2026-03-26
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
FOSTER, Samuel George→
Activedirector · ~25y · appointed 2026-03-26
View their other companies + combined net worth →
GARRARD, Steven→
Activedirector · ~41y · appointed 2026-03-26
View their other companies + combined net worth →
NUTT, Mark Antony→
Activedirector · ~54y · appointed 2023-01-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SLACK, Mathew Stephen→
Activedirector · ~57y · appointed 2013-12-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
THOMPSON, Richard→
Activedirector · ~58y · appointed 2000-11-13
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BOSWORTH, John Robert→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 2013-12-31
BOSWORTH, John Robert→
Resigneddirector · ~77y · resigned 2013-12-31
FOSTER, Henry William→
Resigneddirector · ~86y · resigned 2007-10-01
FOSTER, Sandra Marjorie→
Resigneddirector · ~83y · resigned 2007-10-01
HARRIS, Michael George→
Resigneddirector · ~73y · appointed 1999-04-22 · resigned 2021-03-31
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
11
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:11 of 11 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 24/11/2008 | — | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 23/12/2003 | 22/10/2008 | |
| satisfied | Gmac Commercial Credit Gmac Commercial Credit Limited | Debenture | 1 property | 23/11/2000 | 22/10/2008 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 21/12/1998 | 22/10/2008 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 02/11/1998 | 22/10/2008 | |
| satisfied | Confidential Invoice Discounting Confidential Invoice Discounting Limited | Fixed and floating charge (as defined) | 1 property | 14/04/1998 | 22/10/2008 | |
| satisfied | Confidential Invoice Discounting Confidential Invoice Discounting Limited | Fixed charge on discounted debts and a floating charge on the receipts of other debts | 1 property | 17/12/1996 | 22/10/2008 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 17/12/1996 | 22/10/2008 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Fixed and floating charge | 1 property | 22/05/1992 | 29/11/2000 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Charge over all book debts | 1 property | 09/05/1984 | 29/11/2000 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank LTD | Charge | 1 property | 16/04/1980 | 29/11/2000 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (152 total)
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2026-04-15
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2026-04-14
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2026-04-14
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-10-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-09-25
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-10-21
accounts-with-accounts-type-medium
accounts · AA
2024-09-16
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-10-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2023-08-08
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2023-01-04
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-11-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2022-09-20
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-11-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2021-09-28
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2021-03-31