WRC EVALUATION AND TESTING CENTRE LIMITED
Opportunity 54/100 (worth a look), bankability 72/100. Strong seller-intent signal (73/100, director aged 68). Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 4 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).
Refinance opportunity
4 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 38.3y
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 38.3 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 25/100 — 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.
Mixed signal. Worth opening the full target workup before deciding to pursue.
Recent activity
Corporate timeline (53 events)Click to expand
- 2021-11-09📄gazette-dissolved-compulsorygazette · GAZ2
- 2021-11-09🏁Company dissolved
- 2021-06-18📄dissolved-compulsory-strike-off-suspendeddissolution · DISS16(SOAS)
- 2021-04-13📄gazette-notice-compulsorygazette · GAZ1
- 2021-01-26📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2021-01-26📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2021-01-25➖SMITH, Mark William resigneddirector
- 2020-08-17📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC02
- 2020-08-17📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2020-04-24📄legacycapital · SH20
- 2020-04-24📄capital-statement-capital-company-with-date-currency-figurecapital · SH19
- 2020-04-24⚠️legacyinsolvency · CAP-SS
- 2020-04-24📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2020-02-13📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC05
- 2019-11-11📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2019-11-07📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2019-10-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2019-10-16📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2019-10-15➕CHAPMAN, Ronald Eric appointeddirector
- 2018-10-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2018-05-04📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2018-05-04📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2018-05-04📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2018-05-04🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2018-05-04🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2018-04-30➖GRIFFITHS, Anthony Kerr resigneddirector
- 2017-10-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2011-03-31➖MCLINTOCK, Karen Aileen resignedsecretary
- 2011-03-31➕SMITH, Mark William appointeddirector
- 2003-02-21➖HALDER, Alan Kenneth, Dr resigneddirector
- 2003-01-31➕GRIFFITHS, Anthony Kerr appointeddirector
- 2002-11-29➖RIDGWAY, John, Dr resigneddirector
- 2000-10-10🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 1999-07-19➖ALLEN, Ruth resigneddirector
- 1999-07-19➖HODGES, David John resigneddirector
- 1996-05-07➕ALLEN, Ruth appointeddirector
- 1996-05-07➕HODGES, David John appointeddirector
- 1996-05-07➕RIDGWAY, John, Dr appointeddirector
- 1994-02-07➖CRANFIELD, Raymond Frank resigneddirector
- 1994-02-07➕HALDER, Alan Kenneth, Dr appointeddirector
- 1993-01-20🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Midland Bank PLC
- 1992-12-23🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 1992-12-08➕MCLINTOCK, Karen Aileen appointedsecretary
- 1992-12-08➖MONCUR, Stephen Inglis resignedsecretary
- 1992-02-06➖PHILLIPS, Graham resigneddirector
- 1992-02-06➖SANDILANDS, Gary James, Dr resigneddirector
- 1992-01-01➕MONCUR, Stephen Inglis appointedsecretary
- 1991-12-31➖SHARP, Jonathan Paul resignedsecretary
- 1991-12-31➖SHARP, Jonathan Paul resigneddirector
- 1991-08-01🔓Charge satisfied #1
Owner dependency
The business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.
- +Sole director: Only one active director — all governance concentrated on one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 68 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
Strong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 68. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 39 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
Red flags
2 high · 1 med ·Company has been dissolved — it no longer legally exists. Any diligence here is historical only.
Evidence: Dissolved on 2021-11-09
Filings relating to insolvency, liquidation, or administration exist in the company's history. Review before proceeding.
Evidence: 2020-04-24: legacy
Multiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Group structure
Wrc P.L.C is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Wrc P.L.C Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 21/05/2020 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Water Research Centre Limitedceased 21/05/2020· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
Radial SVG graph showing every company connected via shared directors, colour-coded by status.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
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10 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 →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
Registered office
Filing status
Officers (0 active · 13 resigned)
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 10/10/2000 | 04/05/2018 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Fixed and floating charge | 1 property | 20/01/1993 | 04/05/2018 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 04/08/1989 | 23/12/1992 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | Letter of set-off | 1 property | 10/02/1988 | 01/08/1991 |