ASCOTTS GROUP LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
01256619 · ltd · incorporated 1976-05-03
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 45190
Sector: Wholesale & retail
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
- 45200SIC 45200
- 49320SIC 49320
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 68-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 80/100 (exceptional), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 68). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 6 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
11 live charges · 6 lenders · oldest 43.5y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 43.5 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 6 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 40/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
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, 3 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
10 officers (5 active, 10 linked, 8 with DOB)
86
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 8 total, 8 with control declared
90
Director network
5 connected companies via shared directors
60
Filing history
195 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
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 180 days
3
filings
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 capital
- • 1 resolution
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (55 events)Click to expand
- 2026-04-18📄replacement-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-dateconfirmation-statement · RP01CS01
- 2026-02-26📄capital-variation-of-rights-attached-to-sharescapital · SH10
- 2026-02-26📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2025-09-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-mediumaccounts · AA
- 2025-07-30📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2025-05-07📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-05-06➖BROOKS, Jack resigneddirector
- 2024-11-28📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2024-11-27📄second-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-dateconfirmation-statement · RP04CS01
- 2024-10-15📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2024-03-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-02-07📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2023-11-01📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2023-10-18📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2023-10-18📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2023-10-05📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-10-05📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-10-05📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-10-05📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2023-10-02➕MOULD, Kevin John appointeddirector
- 2023-10-02➕PURSSEY, Craig appointeddirector
- 2023-10-02➕BROOKS, Jack appointeddirector
- 2023-09-30➖ASCOTT, Andrew resigneddirector
- 2023-09-29📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2023-06-09📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2023-06-08🔒Charge registered #11Lender: Volvo Car Financial Services UK Limited
- 2023-03-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-11-15📄capital-allotment-sharescapital · SH01
- 2020-10-22🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 2020-09-30🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Close Brothers Limited
- 2017-04-01➖ASCOTT, Maureen Sylvia resigneddirector
- 2017-02-21🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2016-04-06🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2016-04-06🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2015-06-30🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2014-11-04🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2014-11-04🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2014-10-24🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2014-10-21🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2014-10-13🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2013-02-08🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Clearprime Limited
- 2011-08-15🔒Charge registered #5Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2008-08-09🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2008-08-08🔒Charge registered #4Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2006-05-05🔒Charge registered #3Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2006-04-01➕ASCOTT, Andrew appointeddirector
- 2006-03-01➕FRENCH, Matthew Ronald appointeddirector
- 2006-03-01➕WILLCOX, Peter Derek appointeddirector
- 2005-10-28➕ASCOTT, Michelle appointedsecretary
- 2005-10-28➖ASCOTT, Maureen Sylvia resignedsecretary
Showing most recent 50 of 55 events
Owner dependency
65/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- -4 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 20 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 68 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
70/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 68. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 20 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.
Shareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Matthew Ronald French Individual · British · DOB 07/1975 · age 51 | — | — | sig. influencesignificant influence | 14/07/2017 |
Mr Andrew Ascott Individual · British · DOB 04/1967 · age 59 | — | — | sig. influencesignificant influence | 06/04/2016 |
6 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Ascotts Group Holdings Limitedceased 30/09/2022· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · firm interest
- Mr Matthew Ronald Frenchceased 14/07/2017· 75-100% voting · board control
- Mr Peter Derek Willcoxceased 14/07/2017· 75-100% voting · board control
- Mrs Michelle Ascottceased 14/07/2017· 25-50% voting
- Mrs Diane Willcoxceased 14/07/2017· 25-50% voting
- Mrs Maureen Sylvia Ascottceased 01/04/2017· 75-100% voting · board control
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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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 703 MOTORSPORTS LTD→ 15294047 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| AA & A TRADERS LTD→ 13783208 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| ABBEY AUTOS CENTRE LIMITED→ 06971103 · est 2009 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
| ABC MOT CENTRE LIMITED→ 16736459 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ACE CLASSICS (LONDON) LIMITED→ 03264271 · est 1996 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 29y | — | — |
| ADI BUSINESS LIMITED→ 09993919 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| ALB AUTO SERVICE LTD→ 14119892 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| ARCANE AUTOMOTIVE LIMITED→ 15803617 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ARJ AUTOMOTIVES LIMITED→ 15124587 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ARTHUR LEE COMMERCIALS LTD→ 16116631 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ASC TUNING LTD→ 15614707 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ASIA AERO GROUP LIMITED→ 11612641 · 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
Incorporated1976-05-03
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC45190 — SIC 45190
Registered office
11 Applegarth Drive Questor
Dartford
Kent
DA1 1JD
United Kingdom
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-06-30
Last made up to: 2024-09-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-10-14
Last: 2025-09-30
Officers (5 active · 5 resigned)
Active
FRENCH, Matthew Ronald→
Activedirector · ~51y · appointed 2006-03-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MOULD, Kevin John→
Activedirector · ~61y · appointed 2023-10-02
View their other companies + combined net worth →
PURSSEY, Craig→
Activedirector · ~43y · appointed 2023-10-02
View their other companies + combined net worth →
WILLCOX, Peter Derek→
Activedirector · ~68y · appointed 2006-03-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
ASCOTT, Maureen Sylvia→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 2005-10-28
ASCOTT, Andrew→
Resigneddirector · ~59y · appointed 2006-04-01 · resigned 2023-09-30
ASCOTT, Maureen Sylvia→
Resigneddirector · ~84y · resigned 2017-04-01
ASCOTT, Michael John→
Resigneddirector · ~89y · resigned 2005-10-28
BROOKS, Jack→
Resigneddirector · ~35y · appointed 2023-10-02 · resigned 2025-05-06
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
11
Total charges
2
Outstanding
2
Active lenders
Status:Lender:11 of 11 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Volvo Car Financial Services UK Volvo Car Financial Services UK Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 08/06/2023 | — | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 30/09/2020 | 22/10/2020 | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 24/10/2014 | — | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 21/10/2014 | 06/04/2016 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 13/10/2014 | 06/04/2016 | |
| satisfied | Clearprime Clearprime Limited | Debenture | 1 property | 08/02/2013 | 21/02/2017 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 15/08/2011 | 04/11/2014 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 08/08/2008 | 04/11/2014 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 05/05/2006 | 30/06/2015 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 17/01/2005 | 09/08/2008 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 10/12/1982 | 09/12/2004 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (195 total)
replacement-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-date
confirmation-statement · RP01CS01
2026-04-18
capital-variation-of-rights-attached-to-shares
capital · SH10
2026-02-26
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2026-02-26
confirmation-statement
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-10-14
accounts-with-accounts-type-medium
accounts · AA
2025-09-30
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2025-07-30
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-05-07
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2024-11-28
second-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-date
confirmation-statement · RP04CS01
2024-11-27
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2024-10-15
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-10-14
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2024-03-29
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2024-02-07
memorandum-articles
incorporation · MA
2023-11-01
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2023-10-18