ARRIVA THE SHIRES LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
02116519 · ltd · incorporated 1987-03-30
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
78/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 49319
Sector: Transportation & storage
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 66-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 78/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (73/100, director aged 66). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 13 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (45/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
21 live charges · 13 lenders · oldest 38.8y
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 38.8 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 13 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 53/100 (high).
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, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
21 charges (21/21 with lender, 21/21 with type)
90
Directors & officers
65 officers (3 active, 65 linked, 59 with DOB)
88
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
337 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
78/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
75
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
- • 2 officers
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (183 events)Click to expand
- 2025-12-23📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2025-12-22➕FRANCE, Toby Jake appointeddirector
- 2025-12-22➖O'LEARY, Gerald Edward resigneddirector
- 2025-12-22📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-10-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2025-09-02📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2025-09-02📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2025-09-02📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2025-02-10➖BURLEY, Christopher David resigneddirector
- 2025-02-10📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-02-05➖TOMKINS, Leighsen resigneddirector
- 2025-02-05📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-02-04➖HALL, Leon Wayne resigneddirector
- 2025-02-04📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-02-04📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2025-02-04📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2025-02-03➕BURKITT, Michael Thomas appointeddirector
- 2025-02-03➕O'LEARY, Gerald Edward appointeddirector
- 2025-01-08📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2025-01-08📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-01-02📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2024-12-20🔒Charge registered #21Lender: Kroll Trustee Services Limited (And Its Successors in Title and Permitted Transferees)
- 2024-11-29📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-11-29📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-11-29📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-11-29🔓Charge satisfied #20
- 2024-11-29🔓Charge satisfied #18
- 2024-11-29🔓Charge satisfied #17
- 2024-11-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-09-26📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2024-09-25➕DUNNE, Ryan Brendan appointeddirector
- 2024-08-19➖PERKIN, Jason Mathew resigneddirector
- 2024-08-19➕TOMKINS, Leighsen appointeddirector
- 2024-08-19📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-08-19📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2024-01-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-01-08➖BLAND, Nicholas Charles resigneddirector
- 2023-07-14➖GODLEY, Andrew resigneddirector
- 2023-03-27➕HALL, Leon Wayne appointeddirector
- 2023-03-02➖O'LEARY, Kevin Liam resigneddirector
- 2023-02-09➕BLAND, Nicholas Charles appointeddirector
- 2023-02-01➖MATHIESON, Simon William resigneddirector
- 2022-02-28➕BURLEY, Christopher David appointeddirector
- 2022-02-28➖FINNIE, Simon Joseph resigneddirector
- 2021-10-11➖ASHCROFT, Alison resigneddirector
- 2021-03-31➖BOWD, Mark Antony resigneddirector
- 2020-06-12➖EDWARDS, Lorna resignedsecretary
- 2020-04-01➖EDWARDS, Tina Colleen resigneddirector
- 2020-04-01➕GODLEY, Andrew appointeddirector
- 2020-02-17➕MATHIESON, Simon William appointeddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 183 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
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 66 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
50/100
Moderate signalSome succession indicators present. Worth watching; approach if sector/strategy fits.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 66. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
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.
Group structure
Arriva Uk Bus Holdings Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️
Arriva Uk Bus Holdings Limited
Corporate parent
⬇
ARRIVA THE SHIRES LIMITED
This company · 02116519
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Arriva Uk Bus Holdings Limited Corporate entity | — | 75–100% | 75-100% 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 · Transport & logistics · SR postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABLETRANSFER LIMITED→ 02891885 · est 1994 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 32y | — | — |
| AJ LAWRENCE LOGISTICS LTD→ 16096110 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AM ROBSON LOGISTICS LTD→ 16627815 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AMAX ASSIST LIMITED→ 15932501 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ANDREW BENNETT LOGISTICS LTD→ 16245766 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| APG LOGISTICS & ENGINEERING LTD→ 15970514 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| APPLEBEEZ PROPERTY CLEARANCE LTD→ 15914991 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ARRIVA CYMRU LIMITED→ 00155374 · est 1919 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 106y | — | — |
| ARRIVA KENT & SURREY LIMITED→ 00114841 · est 1911 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 115y | — | — |
| ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE LIMITED→ 02005266 · est 1986 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 40y | — | — |
| ARRIVA LONDON NORTH LIMITED→ 02328559 · est 1988 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 37y | — | — |
| ARRIVA LONDON SOUTH LIMITED→ 02328467 · est 1988 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 37y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1987-03-30
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC49319 — SIC 49319
Registered office
1 Admiral Way
Doxford International Business
Park, Sunderland
Tyne & Wear
SR3 3XP
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-04-15
Last: 2026-04-01
Officers (3 active · 62 resigned)
BURKITT, Michael Thomas→
Activedirector · ~66y · appointed 2025-02-03
View their other companies + combined net worth →
DUNNE, Ryan Brendan→
Activedirector · ~42y · appointed 2024-09-25
View their other companies + combined net worth →
FRANCE, Toby Jake→
Activedirector · ~42y · appointed 2025-12-22
View their other companies + combined net worth →
CUMMING, Graham Jackson→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1994-08-10
DAVIES, Elizabeth Anne→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2005-01-18 · resigned 2013-12-16
EDWARDS, Lorna→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2013-12-16 · resigned 2020-06-12
SEVERN, Alan William→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1994-08-10 · resigned 1995-06-30
TURNER, David Paul→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1996-08-01 · resigned 2005-01-18
BRITISH BUS (COMPANY SECRETARIES) LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 1995-06-30 · resigned 1996-08-01
ABEL, David Michael→
Resigneddirector · ~84y · appointed 1993-03-24 · resigned 1994-07-01
ADCOCK, Paul Stephen→
Resigneddirector · ~55y · appointed 2010-02-01 · resigned 2016-01-18
ALIBHAI, Maqbool Hussein Yusuf→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 2014-07-08 · resigned 2018-03-01
ASHCROFT, Alison→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 2019-10-11 · resigned 2021-10-11
BARRACLOUGH, Brian→
Resigneddirector · ~71y · appointed 1999-04-01 · resigned 2015-02-27
BAYFIELD, Stephen→
Resigneddirector · ~72y · appointed 1995-11-09 · resigned 1997-02-28
BLAND, Nicholas Charles→
Resigneddirector · ~60y · appointed 2023-02-09 · resigned 2024-01-08
BOWD, Mark Antony→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2016-01-22 · resigned 2021-03-31
BOWD, Mark Antony→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2002-04-22 · resigned 2013-08-16
BOWLER, Richard Anthony→
Resigneddirector · ~73y · appointed 2000-07-27 · resigned 2016-09-30
BURLEY, Christopher David→
Resigneddirector · ~43y · appointed 2022-02-28 · resigned 2025-02-10
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
21
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:21 of 21 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Kroll Trustee Services (And Its Successors in Title and Permitted Transferees) Kroll Trustee Services Limited (And Its Successors in Title and Permitted Transferees) | A registered charge | 1 property | 20/12/2024 | — | |
| satisfied | Lombard North Central Lombard North Central PLC | Chattel mortgage | 1 property | 28/06/2010 | 29/11/2024 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | Mortgage | 1 property | 10/10/2008 | 26/07/2013 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Mortgage | 1 property | 19/05/2008 | 29/11/2024 | |
| satisfied | Ing Lease (UK) Ing Lease (UK) Limited | Mortgage | 1 property | 23/11/2006 | 29/11/2024 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Mercantile Business Finance Limited | Mortgage | 3 properties | 10/05/2006 | 08/06/2011 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Letter of charge and set-off credit balances | 1 property | 15/08/1994 | 06/07/1995 | |
| satisfied | The First National Bank of Boston"the Agent" | Fixed and floating charge | 1 property | 11/08/1994 | 01/05/1998 | |
| satisfied | The First National Bank of Boston | Charge over shares | 1 property | 11/08/1994 | 01/05/1998 | |
| satisfied | Peter Ernest Gooch | Rent deposit deed | 1 property | 19/10/1992 | 15/08/2007 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 12/11/1990 | 06/07/1995 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 02/11/1990 | 06/07/1995 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 02/11/1990 | 06/07/1995 | |
| satisfied | Nat West Investment Bank Nat West Investment Bank Limited | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 12/10/1990 | 06/07/1995 | |
| satisfied | Nat West Investment Bank Nat West Investment Bank Limited | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 12/10/1990 | 06/07/1995 | |
| satisfied | Nat West Investment Bank Nat West Investment Bank Limited | Mortgage debenture | 1 property | 12/10/1990 | 06/07/1995 | |
| satisfied | Nat West Investment Bank Nat West Investment Bank Limited | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 12/10/1990 | 06/07/1995 | |
| satisfied | Nat West Investment Bank Nat West Investment Bank Limited | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 12/10/1990 | 06/07/1995 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Mortgage debenture | 1 property | 13/10/1987 | 06/07/1995 | |
| satisfied | National Bus Company | Mortgage | 1 property | 21/08/1987 | 17/07/1998 | |
| satisfied | National Bus Company | Debenture | 1 property | 21/08/1987 | 18/07/1992 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (337 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-04-01
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-12-23
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-12-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduary
accounts · AA
2025-10-07
legacy
accounts · PARENT_ACC
2025-09-02
legacy
other · GUARANTEE2
2025-09-02
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2025-09-02
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-04-03
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-02-10
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-02-05
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-02-04
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-02-04
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-02-04
memorandum-articles
incorporation · MA
2025-01-08
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-01-08