HEMPEL FIRMUS METALS LIMITED

🌳Matureactive
02302293 · ltd · incorporated 1988-10-05
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 Dec 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
71/100
Strong
🔔
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What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 46720
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)
Distressed active trading company — structural issues outweigh the discount.

Opportunity 71/100 (strong), bankability 77/100. Strong seller-intent signal (65/100, director aged 63). Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 3 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

3 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 10.2y

35/100
too messy

Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.

  • · Oldest live charge is 10.2 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
  • · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.

Data confidence

Overall: medium (79/100)

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
3 charges (3/3 with lender, 3/3 with type)
90
Directors & officers
9 officers (2 active, 9 linked, 5 with DOB)
81
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
160 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
71/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional 

Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.

Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
70
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
59
Some moderate concerns — review flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
£0£0£0£0£0£0Dec 2024Dec 2025

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102
Metric2025-12-312024-12-31

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
1
filing
  • • 1 accounts
Last 180 days
1
filing
  • • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (40 events)Click to expand
  1. 2026-04-13
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
    accounts · AA
  2. 2025-03-01
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
    accounts · AA
  3. 2024-10-01
    📍
    change-sail-address-company-with-old-address-new-address
    address · AD02
  4. 2024-08-14
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
    accounts · AA
  5. 2023-05-16
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  6. 2022-09-30
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  7. 2022-03-03
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC05
  8. 2022-03-03
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  9. 2022-03-03
    📍
    change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
    address · AD01
  10. 2021-09-28
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  11. 2021-07-05
    📄
    resolution
    resolution · RESOLUTIONS
  12. 2021-07-05
    📄
    memorandum-articles
    incorporation · MA
  13. 2021-06-30
    📄
    capital-statement-capital-company-with-date-currency-figure
    capital · SH19
  14. 2021-06-30
    📄
    resolution
    resolution · RESOLUTIONS
  15. 2021-06-30
    📄
    legacy
    capital · SH20
  16. 2021-06-30
    ⚠️
    legacy
    insolvency · CAP-SS
  17. 2021-06-29
    📄
    mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
    mortgage · MR04
  18. 2021-06-29
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #3
  19. 2021-06-22
    📄
    capital-allotment-shares
    capital · SH01
  20. 2021-06-22
    📄
    mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
    mortgage · MR04
  21. 2021-06-22
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #2
  22. 2021-05-25
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  23. 2021-02-25
    ➖
    GLYNN, Mark resigned
    director
  24. 2020-07-01
    ➕
    ROPER, James Alexander appointed
    director
  25. 2020-01-14
    ➖
    ROWLES, Robert Lionel resigned
    director
  26. 2017-07-18
    🔒
    Charge registered #3
    Lender: Rbs Invoice Finance Limited
  27. 2017-07-13
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #1
  28. 2017-06-13
    ➕
    GLYNN, Mark appointed
    director
  29. 2016-06-01
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  30. 2016-04-01
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: Firmus Metals Limited (Company Number 07009777)
  31. 2015-03-25
    ➕
    HEMPEL, Andre Wilhelm appointed
    director
  32. 2015-03-02
    ➖
    MORTON, Tracy resigned
    secretary
  33. 2013-02-15
    ➕
    MORTON, Tracy appointed
    secretary
  34. 2013-02-15
    ➖
    PEARSON, Richard Probert resigned
    secretary
  35. 1998-06-16
    ➖
    MEYER, Janine Marjorie resigned
    secretary
  36. 1998-06-16
    ➕
    PEARSON, Richard Probert appointed
    secretary
  37. 1994-06-01
    ➖
    CROSS, Peter William Stewart resigned
    secretary
  38. 1994-06-01
    ➕
    MEYER, Janine Marjorie appointed
    secretary
  39. 1992-01-31
    ➖
    MATON, Stanley Thomas resigned
    director
  40. 1988-10-05
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As HEMPEL FIRMUS METALS LIMITED

Owner dependency

81/100
Critical — business is the founder

The 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.
  • +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "HEMPEL" — strong identity link between founder and business.
  • +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 63 — approaching natural succession window.

Succession & seller-readiness

71/100
Strong succession signal

Multiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.

SIGNALS
  • primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 63. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
  • secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
  • 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 high · 1 med ·
1 insolvency-related filing on record
high

Filings relating to insolvency, liquidation, or administration exist in the company's history. Review before proceeding.

Evidence: 2021-06-30: legacy

Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
medium

Multiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.

Group structure

Hempel Special Metals Ltd is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.

🏛️
Hempel Special Metals Ltd
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares
ultimate parent
⬇
HEMPEL FIRMUS METALS LIMITED
This company · 02302293

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%
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Hempel Special Metals Ltd
Corporate entity
75–100%
75–100%75-100% shares · 75-100% voting06/04/2016

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 →

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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
Incorporated1988-10-05
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC46720 — SIC 46720

Registered office

Unit 404 Bretton Park Way
Dewsbury
West Yorkshire
WF12 9BS
England

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2027-09-30
Last made up to: 2025-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-09-10
Last: 2025-08-27

Officers (2 active · 7 resigned)

HEMPEL, Andre Wilhelm→
director · ~63y · appointed 2015-03-25
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
ROPER, James Alexander→
director · ~61y · appointed 2020-07-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
CROSS, Peter William Stewart→
secretary · resigned 1994-06-01
Resigned
MEYER, Janine Marjorie→
secretary · appointed 1994-06-01 · resigned 1998-06-16
Resigned
MORTON, Tracy→
secretary · appointed 2013-02-15 · resigned 2015-03-02
Resigned
PEARSON, Richard Probert→
secretary · appointed 1998-06-16 · resigned 2013-02-15
Resigned
GLYNN, Mark→
director · ~54y · appointed 2017-06-13 · resigned 2021-02-25
Resigned
MATON, Stanley Thomas→
director · ~95y · resigned 1992-01-31
Resigned
ROWLES, Robert Lionel→
director · ~79y · resigned 2020-01-14
Resigned

Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.

Mortgages & charges

3
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:3 of 3 shown
TypeProperties
satisfied
NatWest Group
Rbs Invoice Finance Limited
A registered charge—18/07/201729/06/2021
satisfied
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
A registered charge—01/06/201622/06/2021
satisfied
Firmus Metals (Company Number 07009777)
Firmus Metals Limited (Company Number 07009777)
A registered charge—01/04/201613/07/2017

Recent filings (160 total)

accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2026-04-13
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-09-25
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2025-03-01
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-10-01
change-sail-address-company-with-old-address-new-address
address · AD02
2024-10-01
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2024-08-14
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-08-31
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2023-05-16
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2022-09-30
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-09-12
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC05
2022-03-03
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2022-03-03
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2022-03-03
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2021-09-28
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-08-27