ALFORD COAL SUPPLIES LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
01317433 · ltd · incorporated 1977-06-16
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 42.9y old — refinance window within 12 months
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Sept 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
83/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 46120
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 91-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 83/100 (exceptional), bankability 80/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 91). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Discharge stale live charges. 1 live charge(s) created 15+ years ago — likely paid but undischarged. Clean register. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
1 live charge · oldest 42.9y
65/100
clean up first
Refinance viable after a tidy-up — address the highlighted items first.
- · Oldest live charge is 42.9 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Single lender — cleanest path to refinance.
- · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (78/100)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
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
1 charges (1/1 with lender, 1/1 with type)
90
Directors & officers
9 officers (4 active, 9 linked, 7 with DOB)
86
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
113 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
83/100Exceptional
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
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
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 · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2025-09-30 | 2024-09-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Average employees | 900 | 1000 |
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
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 officers
Last 90 days
2
filings
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 officers
Last 180 days
3
filings
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 officers
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (29 events)Click to expand
- 2026-05-07📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2026-04-05➖SPENCE, Colin John resigneddirector
- 2025-12-10📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-11-06📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2025-03-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-02-26📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-02-24➖SPENCE, Marjorie resigneddirector
- 2023-12-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-11-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-11-14📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2022-11-10📄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
- 2021-12-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-11-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-11-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-06-25📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2019-06-25📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2018-11-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2017-08-10➕SPENCE, Colin John appointeddirector
- 2008-07-19➖COLLINGWOOD, Brian resigneddirector
- 2006-10-01➕COLLINGWOOD, Scott appointeddirector
- 2006-10-01➕SCOTT, Janet appointeddirector
- 2006-10-01➕COLLINGWOOD, Brian appointeddirector
- 1994-09-29➕SPENCE, Marjorie appointeddirector
- 1994-05-01➕SPENCE, John Malcolm appointedsecretary
- 1994-05-01➖SMITH, Robert Anthony resignedsecretary
- 1994-05-01➖SMITH, Robert Anthony resigneddirector
- 1983-07-06🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 1977-06-16🏢Company incorporatedAs ALFORD COAL SUPPLIES LIMITED
Owner dependency
75/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 20 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 91 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
83/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 91 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 20 years.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 49 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
cleanNo red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr John Spence (Trustee Of John Malcolm Spence 1999 Trust) Individual · British · DOB 08/1935 · age 91 | 50–75% | 50–75% | 50-75% shares · 50-75% voting · trust interest | 06/04/2016 |
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Mrs Marjorie Spence (Trustee Of John Malcolm Spence 1999 Trust)ceased 24/02/2025· 50-75% shares · 50-75% voting · trust interest
- Mr John Malcolm Spenceceased 30/03/2018· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
Similar companies
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 CORE ELECTRICAL WHOLESALE LIMITED→ 06300754 · est 2007 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
| A & L DENT SOLUTIONS LIMITED→ 11095140 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| AAMIR AND SONS LTD→ 15565173 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ABACUS TECHNOLOGY GROUP LTD→ 13626033 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| ACER RECYCLING LIMITED→ 16236214 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AD ASTRA EQUIPMENT SALES LTD.→ 04911349 · est 2003 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 22y | — | — |
| ADVANCED BREWING (UK) LIMITED→ 07040750 · est 2009 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
| AEROSOL BRANDS DIRECT LTD→ 14820217 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| AGRIGLEAM LTD→ 15857498 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AIRANDE GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION (UK) LIMITED→ 16143393 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AITKEN-SMITH LTD→ 17025641 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ALFORD TRADING COMPANY LIMITED→ 14789539 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1977-06-16
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC46120 — SIC 46120
Registered office
The Fireside Shop
Church Street
Alford
Lincolnshire
LN13 9EG
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-06-30
Last made up to: 2025-09-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-06-12
Last: 2026-05-29
Officers (4 active · 5 resigned)
SPENCE, John Malcolm→
Activesecretary · appointed 1994-05-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
COLLINGWOOD, Scott→
Activedirector · ~49y · appointed 2006-10-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SCOTT, Janet→
Activedirector · ~65y · appointed 2006-10-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
SMITH, Robert Anthony→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1994-05-01
COLLINGWOOD, Brian→
Resigneddirector · ~72y · appointed 2006-10-01 · resigned 2008-07-19
SMITH, Robert Anthony→
Resigneddirector · ~86y · resigned 1994-05-01
SPENCE, Colin John→
Resigneddirector · ~70y · appointed 2017-08-10 · resigned 2026-04-05
SPENCE, Marjorie→
Resigneddirector · ~91y · appointed 1994-09-29 · resigned 2025-02-24
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
1
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:1 of 1 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 06/07/1983 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (113 total)
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-05-29
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2026-05-07
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-12-10
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-11-07
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2025-11-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-03-26
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-02-26
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-11-01
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-12-20
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-10-31
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-11-17
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
2022-11-14
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2022-11-10
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2022-11-09
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-11-02