ABLE INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
01851002 · ltd · incorporated 1984-09-26
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
—
year to Dec 2024
Net worth
£1.80M
book net assets
Opportunity
74/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 46140
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.
Opportunity 74/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. 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 (53/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
19 live charges · 8 lenders · oldest 41.1y
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 41.1 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 8 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 50/100 (high).
Data confidence
Overall: high (80/100)Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.
Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
19 charges (19/19 with lender, 19/19 with type)
90
Directors & officers
6 officers (2 active, 6 linked, 4 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
3 connected companies via shared directors
54
Filing history
135 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
74/100Strong
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
74
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · FRS 102Positive net assets
Net assets £1,799,780
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£372k
Net Worth
£1.8m
Current Assets
£2.2m
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2024-12-31 | 2023-12-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £3.48M | — |
| Current assets | £2.20M | — |
| Cash | £371.8k | — |
| Debtors | £1.31M | — |
| Net assets | £1.80M | — |
| Average employees | — | 3300 |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
1 signal 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
0
filings
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (53 events)Click to expand
- 2025-09-11📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-11-25📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2024-11-25📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-11-14➕PARKER, Michael appointeddirector
- 2024-11-14➖SHORTALL, Michael Joseph resigneddirector
- 2024-09-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-09-15📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-10-10📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-08-30📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2022-08-26🔒Charge registered #19Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2022-07-25📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2022-07-19🔒Charge registered #18Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2022-02-25📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-02-25🔓Charge satisfied #14
- 2021-10-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-08-03📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2021-08-02🔒Charge registered #17Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2020-12-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-09-03📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2020-09-03🔓Charge satisfied #16
- 2020-07-17📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2020-07-14📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2020-07-13➕SYGROVE, Richard Neville Frank appointeddirector
- 2020-07-13🔒Charge registered #16Lender: Michael Joseph Shortall
- 2020-02-10📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2020-01-07➖SHORTALL, Sandra Valerie resignedsecretary
- 2019-10-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2016-10-15🔓Charge satisfied #13
- 2012-10-12🔒Charge registered #15Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2012-02-20🔒Charge registered #14Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2002-01-23🔓Charge satisfied #12
- 2002-01-23🔓Charge satisfied #11
- 2002-01-18➖BURNHAM, Donald resignedsecretary
- 2002-01-18➕SHORTALL, Sandra Valerie appointedsecretary
- 2002-01-18➖BURNHAM, Donald resigneddirector
- 2002-01-18🔒Charge registered #13Lender: Nmb-Heller Limited
- 1994-08-31🔒Charge registered #12Lender: Donald Burnham and Michael Joseph Shortall
- 1993-07-05🔒Charge registered #11Lender: Close Brothers Limited
- 1992-07-18🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 1992-07-18🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 1991-05-07🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1991-03-06🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1991-01-10🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 1991-01-10🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 1990-03-27🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Michael Joseph Shortall
- 1989-08-30🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1988-06-21🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Michael Joseph Shortall
- 1987-05-01🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Fleet National Bank
- 1987-03-30🔒Charge registered #4Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1986-04-02🔒Charge registered #3Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
Showing most recent 50 of 53 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 62 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
46/100
Moderate signalSome succession indicators present. Worth watching; approach if sector/strategy fits.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 62. Early succession window.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
Red flags
1 med · 1 lowCharge 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
Halwell Trading Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Halwell Trading Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
ABLE INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS LIMITED
This company · 01851002
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Halwell Trading 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 · Wholesale & distribution · RG postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16240749 LTD→ 16240749 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 18650 UK LTD→ 10570155 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| 2ND IMAGE LIMITED→ 09144014 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| 2WENTY 2WENTY LTD→ 12691282 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| 4 SEASONS OUTDOOR U.K. LTD→ 08155421 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| 5G TOBACCO LABS LTD→ 16330595 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 8AV LTD→ 12105568 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| A & E LEISURE LIMITED→ 04223269 · est 2001 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 24y | — | — |
| A2Z GLOBAL TRADING LTD→ 16174903 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AA READING METAL RECYCLING LIMITED→ 08848324 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| ABT NEWS LIMITED→ 14773621 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| ACAL BFI UK LIMITED→ 01803787 · est 1984 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 42y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1984-09-26
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC46140 — SIC 46140
Registered office
Cutbush Park Danehill
Lower Earley
Reading
Berks
RG6 4UT
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-03-09
Last: 2026-02-23
Officers (2 active · 4 resigned)
PARKER, Michael→
Activedirector · ~62y · appointed 2024-11-14
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SYGROVE, Richard Neville Frank→
Activedirector · ~57y · appointed 2020-07-13
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BURNHAM, Donald→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 2002-01-18
SHORTALL, Sandra Valerie→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2002-01-18 · resigned 2020-01-07
BURNHAM, Donald→
Resigneddirector · ~84y · resigned 2002-01-18
SHORTALL, Michael Joseph→
Resigneddirector · ~74y · resigned 2024-11-14
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
19
Total charges
10
Outstanding
3
Active lenders
Status:Lender:19 of 19 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 26/08/2022 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 19/07/2022 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 02/08/2021 | — | |
| satisfied | Michael Joseph Shortall | A registered charge | — | 13/07/2020 | 03/09/2020 | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 12/10/2012 | — | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 20/02/2012 | 25/02/2022 | |
| satisfied | Nmb-Heller Nmb-Heller Limited | Fixed and floating charge | 1 property | 18/01/2002 | 15/10/2016 | |
| satisfied | Donald Burnham and Michael Joseph Shortall | Floating charge | 1 property | 31/08/1994 | 23/01/2002 | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | Credit agreement | 1 property | 05/07/1993 | 23/01/2002 | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 07/05/1991 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 06/03/1991 | — | |
| satisfied | Michael Joseph Shortall / Donald Burnham | Floating charge | 1 property | 27/03/1990 | 18/07/1992 | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 30/08/1989 | — | |
| satisfied | Michael Joseph Shortall / Donald Burnham | Floating charge | 1 property | 21/06/1988 | 18/07/1992 | |
| satisfied | Fleet National Bank | Charge | 1 property | 01/05/1987 | 10/01/1991 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Over credit balances. Charge | 1 property | 30/03/1987 | 10/01/1991 | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Charge over credit balances | 1 property | 02/04/1986 | — | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Charge over credit balance | 1 property | 20/05/1985 | — | |
| outstanding | Kellock Factors Kellock Factors Limited | Debenture | 1 property | 01/04/1985 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (135 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-02-25
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-09-11
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-03-06
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2024-11-25
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-11-25
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-09-06
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-03-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-09-15
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-03-28
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-10-10
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2022-08-30
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2022-07-25
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-03-24
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2022-02-25
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2021-10-06