ACORN INDUSTRIAL COMPONENTS LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
01441238 · ltd · incorporated 1979-08-02
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.
Why now
Window opening · medium confidence
More negotiable than before — 1 signals weakening over the last 30 days.
- · Refinance opportunity: under_pressure → too_messy
Opportunity decay
hardening · 12-months
Already tight — no obvious softening catalysts on the horizon.
- · Thesis: well-run, low negotiation leverage
What changed my view
Last 30 days
Picture worsened over the last 30 days — 1 negative signal vs 0 positive.
- ↓Refinance opportunity: under_pressure → too_messy
Last 90 days
No snapshot from 90 days ago — start tracking from today.
Last 180 days
No snapshot from 180 days ago — start tracking from today.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Sept 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
80/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: Non-specialised wholesale trade
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 64-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 80/100 (exceptional), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (70/100, director aged 64). 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
8 live charges · 6 lenders · oldest 27.7y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 27.7 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 6 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: high (85/100)Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.
Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
3 years of iXBRL accounts extracted + narrative notes parsed
95
Lenders & charges
8 charges (8/8 with lender, 8/8 with type)
90
Directors & officers
6 officers (3 active, 6 linked, 4 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
127 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.
Key financials
3 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 | 2025-09-30 | 2024-09-30 | 2023-09-30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total assets | — | £514.6k | £542.2k |
| Current assets | — | £1.55M | £1.95M |
| Cash | — | £229 | £108.1k |
| Debtors | — | £813.5k | £1.16M |
| Net assets | — | £474.9k | £431.7k |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Last 180 days
2
filings
- • 1 accounts
- • 1 mortgage
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (37 events)Click to expand
- 2026-05-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2026-02-04📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2026-02-04🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2025-06-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2024-06-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2024-01-29📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2024-01-25🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Hsbc UK Bank PLC
- 2023-02-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2022-05-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2021-11-23📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2021-11-22📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2021-11-22📄change-person-secretary-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH03
- 2021-11-22📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2021-11-22📄change-person-secretary-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH03
- 2021-11-22📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2021-09-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2020-11-09📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2020-05-08📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-02-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-01-15🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2017-10-25🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2014-12-08🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2013-04-02🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) LTD ("the Security Holder")
- 2010-09-14🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2009-03-25🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Sme Invoice Finance Limited
- 2007-06-23🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2007-06-23🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2006-11-10➕AITKEN, Melissa Kate appointedsecretary
- 2006-11-10➕AITKEN, Melissa Kate appointeddirector
- 2006-11-10➖MILLER, Margaret Elizabeth resignedsecretary
- 2006-11-10➖MILLER, Margaret Elizabeth resigneddirector
- 2006-11-10➖MILLER, Raymond John, Mr. resigneddirector
- 2006-09-12🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Five Arrows Commercial Finance Limited
- 2004-06-01🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2001-01-02➕TILL, Christopher Peter appointeddirector
- 1998-10-26🔒Charge registered #1Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1979-08-02🏢Company incorporatedAs ACORN INDUSTRIAL COMPONENTS LIMITED
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 25 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 64 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
86/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 64. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 25 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 47 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 ·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 Christopher Peter Till Individual · British · DOB 05/1962 · age 64 | 50–75% | 50–75% | board control50-75% shares · 50-75% voting · board control · firm interest | 06/04/2016 |
Ms Melissa Kate Aitken Individual · British · DOB 10/1966 · age 60 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 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 · Wholesale & distribution · BN postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANGEL IMPORTING LTD→ 11258456 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| ATMOSPHERIC ZONE LIMITED→ 04349748 · est 2002 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 24y | — | — |
| AURA AGENCY LIMITED→ 09141175 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| AUSTEN INSTANT TAPES LIMITED→ 00859041 · est 1965 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 60y | — | — |
| AUTHENTIC STONE LTD→ 07962075 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| AVA OF NORWAY UK LTD→ 14558847 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| AVIATEPRO SERVICES LTD→ 15859001 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AVID PLC→ 02691049 · est 1992 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 34y | — | — |
| AWE IMPORT & EXPORT LTD→ 16827848 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BAD CRACKERS LIMITED→ 15781872 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| BAKER & TAYLOR (UK) LTD→ 02055748 · est 1986 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 39y | — | — |
| BAKEWELL SOLUTIONS LTD→ 15729156 · 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
Incorporated1979-08-02
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC46900 — Non-specialised wholesale trade
Registered office
Units G/H Riverside Industrial Estate
Bridge Road
Littlehampton
West Sussex
BN17 5DF
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-06-30
Last made up to: 2025-09-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-10-15
Last: 2025-10-01
Officers (3 active · 3 resigned)
AITKEN, Melissa Kate→
Activesecretary · appointed 2006-11-10
View their other companies + combined net worth →
AITKEN, Melissa Kate→
Activedirector · ~60y · appointed 2006-11-10
View their other companies + combined net worth →
TILL, Christopher Peter→
Activedirector · ~64y · appointed 2001-01-02
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MILLER, Margaret Elizabeth→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 2006-11-10
MILLER, Margaret Elizabeth→
Resigneddirector · ~80y · resigned 2006-11-10
MILLER, Raymond John, Mr.→
Resigneddirector · ~82y · resigned 2006-11-10
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
8
Total charges
3
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:8 of 8 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc UK Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 25/01/2024 | — | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 15/01/2018 | 04/02/2026 | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 25/10/2017 | — | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) LTD ("the Security Holder") | Fixed charge on non-vesting debts and floating charge | 1 property | 02/04/2013 | — | |
| satisfied | Sme Invoice Finance Sme Invoice Finance Limited | Debenture | 1 property | 25/03/2009 | 08/12/2014 | |
| satisfied | Five Arrows Commercial Finance Five Arrows Commercial Finance Limited | Fixed and qualifying floating charge | 1 property | 12/09/2006 | 14/09/2010 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 01/06/2004 | 23/06/2007 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Mortgage debenture | 1 property | 26/10/1998 | 23/06/2007 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (127 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2026-05-28
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2026-02-04
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-10-16
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2025-06-12
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-10-14
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2024-06-24
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2024-01-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-10-12
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2023-02-28
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-10-03
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2022-05-26
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2021-11-23
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2021-11-22
change-person-secretary-company-with-change-date
officers · CH03
2021-11-22
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2021-11-22