ACORN SCREEN PRODUCTS LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
02232508 · ltd · incorporated 1988-03-18
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
—
year to Mar 2026
Net worth
£350.7k
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 20302
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
PursueAsset-holding vehicle. Family succession underway — not a classic acquisition target.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 77/100. Same-surname younger director in place — likely family handover, not open to sale. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. 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
5 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 32.1y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 32.1 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: 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
5 charges (5/5 with lender, 5/5 with type)
90
Directors & officers
7 officers (2 active, 7 linked, 5 with DOB)
84
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
3 connected companies via shared directors
54
Filing history
136 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
79/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declaredPositive net assets
Net assets £350,707
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
£351k
↑ 2.6% YoY
Current Assets
£185k
↓ 7.2% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2026-03-31 | 2025-03-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £362.7k | £350.1k |
| Current assets | £185.1k | £199.5k |
| Net assets | £350.7k | £341.9k |
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
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (39 events)Click to expand
- 2026-06-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2025-05-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2024-06-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2023-06-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2022-07-31📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2022-07-31📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2022-06-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2021-08-06📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2021-08-06📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2021-08-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2021-08-01➕DARWENT, Fraser Mark appointeddirector
- 2021-08-01➖DARWENT, Alison resigneddirector
- 2020-07-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2020-02-14📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2020-02-05📄capital-variation-of-rights-attached-to-sharescapital · SH10
- 2020-02-05📄capital-name-of-class-of-sharescapital · SH08
- 2020-02-05📄capital-variation-of-rights-attached-to-sharescapital · SH10
- 2020-02-05📄capital-variation-of-rights-attached-to-sharescapital · SH10
- 2020-02-05📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2020-02-05📄statement-of-companys-objectschange-of-constitution · CC04
- 2020-02-05📄capital-variation-of-rights-attached-to-sharescapital · SH10
- 2014-07-10🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2014-07-07➖DARWENT, Andrew David resignedsecretary
- 2009-05-30🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2009-05-30🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2009-05-30🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2006-05-22🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
- 2006-05-10🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2006-04-12🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Lloyds Tsb Commercial Finance Limited
- 2006-04-07➕DARWENT, Andrew David appointeddirector
- 2006-04-07➕DARWENT, Andrew David appointedsecretary
- 2006-04-07➖HALLIN, Sven Fergal, Dr resignedsecretary
- 2006-04-07➕DARWENT, Alison appointeddirector
- 2006-04-07➖HALLIN, Sven Fergal, Dr resigneddirector
- 2006-04-07➖WYLIE, David Patrick resigneddirector
- 2006-04-07🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Sven Hallin
- 2001-08-31🔒Charge registered #2Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1994-05-27🔒Charge registered #1Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1988-03-18🏢Company incorporatedAs ACORN SCREEN PRODUCTS LIMITED
Owner dependency
84/100
Critical — business is the founderThe business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.
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 20 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 64 — approaching natural succession window.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
46/100
Moderate signalSome succession indicators present. Worth watching; approach if sector/strategy fits.
SIGNALS
- primaryFamily succession underway: Not a takeover target — DARWENT, Fraser Mark (same surname) appointed 2021-08-01. Pattern consistent with intra-family handover.
- 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 20 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 38 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
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Andrew David Darwent Individual · British · DOB 03/1962 · age 64 | 75–100% | — | 75-100% shares | 01/10/2016 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Mrs Alison Darwentceased 01/02/2020· 25-50% shares
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 · Manufacturing · LE postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A I GENERAL TRADING LTD→ 16173878 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ADB FASHION UK LTD→ 15998797 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ADBSTYLE UK LIMITED→ 16260646 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ADEPT BESPOKE PROJECT SOLUTIONS LTD→ 16319996 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ADEY STEEL LIMITED→ 02347327 · est 1989 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 37y | — | — |
| ADEY STEELSHOP LTD.→ 02796106 · est 1993 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 33y | — | — |
| ADHOC ON-SITE SERVICES LIMITED→ 15708074 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ADRIAN ROBU LTD→ 09099813 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| ADS LASER CUTTING LTD→ 05355057 · est 2005 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 21y | — | — |
| ADVANCE LABELS LIMITED→ 06655655 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 17y | — | — |
| ADVANCED BOLTING SOLUTIONS LIMITED→ 04586551 · est 2002 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 23y | — | — |
| ADVANCED CARBIDE TOOLING LIMITED→ 01788846 · est 1984 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 42y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
6 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
Incorporated1988-03-18
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC20302 — SIC 20302
Registered office
Units 10-11 Meadow Lane Industrial Estate
Gordon Road
Loughborough
LE11 1JP
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-12-31
Last made up to: 2026-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-10-15
Last: 2025-10-01
Officers (2 active · 5 resigned)
DARWENT, Andrew David→
Activedirector · ~64y · appointed 2006-04-07
View their other companies + combined net worth →
DARWENT, Fraser Mark→
Activedirector · ~30y · appointed 2021-08-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
DARWENT, Andrew David→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2006-04-07 · resigned 2014-07-07
HALLIN, Sven Fergal, Dr→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 2006-04-07
DARWENT, Alison→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 2006-04-07 · resigned 2021-08-01
HALLIN, Sven Fergal, Dr→
Resigneddirector · ~70y · resigned 2006-04-07
WYLIE, David Patrick→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · resigned 2006-04-07
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
5
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:5 of 5 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 22/05/2006 | 30/05/2009 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Commercial Finance Limited | All assets debenture | 1 property | 12/04/2006 | 30/05/2009 | |
| satisfied | Sven Hallin | Debenture | 1 property | 07/04/2006 | 30/05/2009 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 31/08/2001 | 10/07/2014 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Mortgage debenture | 1 property | 27/05/1994 | 10/05/2006 |
Recent filings (136 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2026-06-04
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-10-14
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2025-05-13
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-10-01
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2024-06-17
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-10-12
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2023-06-06
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-10-11
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2022-07-31
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2022-07-31
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2022-06-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-10-01
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2021-08-06
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2021-08-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2021-08-04