ALTON MOTORS (LONDON) LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
02187058 · ltd · incorporated 1987-11-03
Investment thesis
Zombie company — trading but stalled; unlikely mover.
Why interesting: Quiet, steady; could be a succession or carve-out candidate with the right conversation.
Why risky: No growth signal; thin margin for error on price.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Dec 2024
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
64/100
Worth a look
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 45200
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)Distressed active trading company — structural issues outweigh the discount.
Opportunity 64/100 (worth a look), bankability 75/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Resolve: Confirmation statement overdue. Annual confirmation statement not filed on time. Required statutory filing — overdue is a strong discipline signal. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (58/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
4 live charges · oldest 34.2y
45/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 34.2 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Single lender — cleanest path to refinance.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
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
4 charges (4/4 with lender, 4/4 with type)
90
Directors & officers
6 officers (1 active, 6 linked, 5 with DOB)
87
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 6 total, 6 with control declared
90
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
127 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
64/100Worth a look
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Mixed signal. Worth opening the full target workup before deciding to pursue.
Business quality
60
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
55
Some acquirability indicators.
Risk profile
59
Some moderate concerns — review 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 · FRS 102| Metric | 2024-12-31 | 2023-12-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Average employees | 900 | 900 |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
2
filings
- • 2 persons-with-significant-control
Last 180 days
3
filings
- • 3 persons-with-significant-control
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (38 events)Click to expand
- 2026-04-21📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2026-04-13📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2026-03-19📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2025-09-03📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2025-05-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-01-09📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2025-01-09📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2025-01-09📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-01-09📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-12-31➖DAVISON-ZIOLEK, Jack resigneddirector
- 2024-12-31➖ZIOLEK, Andrew resigneddirector
- 2024-09-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-09-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-09-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-01-05📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2022-01-05📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2021-11-16📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2021-11-16📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2021-11-11📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2021-10-21📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2021-10-20📄capital-name-of-class-of-sharescapital · SH08
- 2021-10-15📄capital-variation-of-rights-attached-to-sharescapital · SH10
- 2021-10-07📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2021-09-25➖CLARK, Anthony Mark resignedsecretary
- 2021-09-25➖CLARK, Anthony Mark resigneddirector
- 2021-09-25➕DAVISON-ZIOLEK, Jack appointeddirector
- 2021-09-25➖KIDD, Alan resigneddirector
- 2021-09-25➕ZIOLEK, Andrew appointeddirector
- 2020-08-01➕COULSTON, Ben Christopher appointeddirector
- 2020-02-04🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2020-02-04🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2020-02-04🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2020-02-04🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 1994-01-14🔒Charge registered #4Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1992-03-31🔒Charge registered #3Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1992-03-31🔒Charge registered #2Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1992-03-31🔒Charge registered #1Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1987-11-03🏢Company incorporatedAs ALTON MOTORS (LONDON) 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
- +Sole director: Only one active director — all governance concentrated on one person.
Succession & seller-readiness
55/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- 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
1 high · 1 med ·Confirmation statement overdue
highAnnual confirmation statement not filed on time. Required statutory filing — overdue is a strong discipline signal.
Evidence: Next due: 2026-06-13
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
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Ben Christopher Coulston Individual · British · DOB 04/1982 · age 44 | 75–100% | — | 75-100% shares | 01/01/2025 |
5 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Mr Jack Davison-Ziolekceased 31/12/2024· 25-50% shares
- Mr Andrew Ziolekceased 31/12/2024· 25-50% shares
- Mr Ben Christopher Coulstonceased 31/12/2025· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
- Mr Anthoy Clarkceased 13/09/2021· significant influence
- Mr Alan Kiddceased 13/09/2021· significant influence
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
Similar companies
Active · Automotive · SE postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1ST RAPID SERVICES LTD→ 12902558 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| 5TH GEAR MOTOR COMPANY LTD→ 11431734 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| A TEAM AUTO (ATA) LTD→ 16030878 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ACE PRESTIGE CARS LIMITED→ 16273531 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ACEOFCARS LTD→ 15981211 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ADEWAK LIMITED→ 11913922 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| ALLAM MOTOR SERVICES LIMITED→ 00777181 · est 1963 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 62y | — | — |
| ALLURIVE LIMITED→ 16569369 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ALPHA VOYAGES LTD→ 15717688 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ALPHACREDIT LIMITED→ 04190314 · est 2001 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 25y | — | — |
| ALTO GIRO MOTORCYCLES LTD→ 15586914 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ALWAYS ACTIVE APPAREL LIMITED→ 16347228 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
8 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
Incorporated1987-11-03
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC45200 — SIC 45200
Registered office
78 Norwood High Street
London
SE27 9NW
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-06-13OVERDUE
Last: 2025-05-30
Officers (1 active · 5 resigned)
COULSTON, Ben Christopher→
Activedirector · ~44y · appointed 2020-08-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
CLARK, Anthony Mark→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 2021-09-25
CLARK, Anthony Mark→
Resigneddirector · ~73y · resigned 2021-09-25
DAVISON-ZIOLEK, Jack→
Resigneddirector · ~35y · appointed 2021-09-25 · resigned 2024-12-31
KIDD, Alan→
Resigneddirector · ~72y · resigned 2021-09-25
ZIOLEK, Andrew→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 2021-09-25 · resigned 2024-12-31
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
4
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:4 of 4 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Mortgage debenture | 1 property | 14/01/1994 | 04/02/2020 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 31/03/1992 | 04/02/2020 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 31/03/1992 | 04/02/2020 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 31/03/1992 | 04/02/2020 |
Recent filings (127 total)
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2026-04-21
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
2026-04-13
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2026-03-19
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2025-09-03
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-06-12
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-05-07
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2025-01-09
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2025-01-09
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-01-09
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-01-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-09-12
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-06-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-09-20
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-06-01
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-09-29