SOUTHAMPTON CARGO HANDLING LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
02439620 · ltd · incorporated 1989-11-03
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
80/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 52241
Sector: Transportation & storage
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 74-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 80/100 (exceptional), bankability 57/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 74). 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 (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
6 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 20.9y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 20.9 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 30/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (60/100)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
6 charges (6/6 with lender, 6/6 with type)
90
Directors & officers
41 officers (5 active, 41 linked, 34 with DOB)
87
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
10 connected companies via shared directors
75
Filing history
231 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
80/100Exceptional
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Strong composite across quality, acquirability, and risk. High-priority target — progress to serious diligence.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
85
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
1
filing
- • 1 officers
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 officers
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 officers
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (98 events)Click to expand
- 2026-06-09📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2026-05-18➕SAVAGE, James David Grant appointeddirector
- 2025-12-03📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-11-30➖DAVIS, Lee resigneddirector
- 2025-11-18📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2025-10-28➕MARDLE, James Christopher appointeddirector
- 2025-07-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2024-12-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2024-07-18📄capital-return-purchase-own-sharescapital · SH03
- 2024-07-09📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2024-07-04🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Hsbc UK Bank PLC
- 2024-07-03📄capital-cancellation-sharescapital · SH06
- 2024-07-02📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2024-07-02📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2024-07-02📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2024-07-02📄capital-alter-shares-consolidationcapital · SH02
- 2023-12-23📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2023-12-23📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2023-11-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2023-01-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2021-10-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2021-03-09📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2021-01-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2020-07-31➖MORRISON, Ian resigneddirector
- 2019-12-31➖BURGESS, Richard William resigneddirector
- 2019-02-12➕WILLIAMS, Huw Llewelyn Francis appointeddirector
- 2019-02-12➖RAWLES, Louis John resigneddirector
- 2017-08-15🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2016-10-01➕BURGESS, Richard William appointeddirector
- 2016-10-01➕DAVIS, Lee appointeddirector
- 2016-09-14➖MCKAY, Davina resigneddirector
- 2016-04-19🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2016-03-23🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) LTD
- 2016-03-04🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2016-02-29➖DIGHE, Ian Robert resigneddirector
- 2016-02-24🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2014-07-01➖RAWLES, Louis John resignedsecretary
- 2012-06-01➕MCKAY, Davina appointeddirector
- 2012-04-01➕MORRISON, Ian appointeddirector
- 2011-12-07➖POOLE, Peter Kenneth resigneddirector
- 2011-06-30➖MCDONALD, Anthony resigneddirector
- 2010-05-19🔒Charge registered #2Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2010-02-15➕HULME, Kevin Mark appointeddirector
- 2010-02-05➖BACK, Keith Harry resigneddirector
- 2009-05-31➕RAWLES, Louis John appointedsecretary
- 2009-05-31➖TIZZARD, Sally Ann resignedsecretary
- 2009-03-16➕RAWLES, Louis John appointeddirector
- 2009-01-05➕BURGESS, Stephen William appointeddirector
- 2009-01-05➕DIGHE, Ian Robert appointeddirector
- 2009-01-05➖GALE, Victor John resigneddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 98 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
- -5 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 17 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 74 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
73/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 74 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 17 years.
- 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 Stephen William Burgess Individual · British · DOB 12/1952 · age 74 | 75–100% | — | 75-100% shares · firm interest | 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 · SO postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AERO TAXIS SOUTHAMPTON LTD→ 08787097 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| AIR2PORT SOUTHAMPTON LIMITED→ 14209917 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| AKS CARRIERS LTD→ 17088112 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ALLPORTS CHAUFFEUR SERVICES LTD→ 15612595 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ALLSET TRANSPORT LTD→ 16954921 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ALMARIN TRANS LTD→ 11771299 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| ALMOND REMOVALS LTD→ 15128002 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ALY & CO LIMITED→ 03685835 · est 1998 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 27y | — | — |
| AM&MM FAMILY LTD→ 09441815 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| AMA AND DAVID LTD→ 15629590 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| AMAN MOTOR CARS LTD→ 14417544 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| AMELIA YACHT CHARTERING LTD→ 15733304 · est 2024 · 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
Incorporated1989-11-03
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC52241 — SIC 52241
Registered office
Pilgrim House
Canute Road
Southampton
SO14 3FJ
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-11-06
Last: 2025-10-23
Officers (5 active · 36 resigned)
BURGESS, Stephen William→
Activedirector · ~74y · appointed 2009-01-05
View their other companies + combined net worth →
HULME, Kevin Mark→
Activedirector · ~71y · appointed 2010-02-15
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MARDLE, James Christopher→
Activedirector · ~48y · appointed 2025-10-28
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SAVAGE, James David Grant→
Activedirector · ~48y · appointed 2026-05-18
View their other companies + combined net worth →
WILLIAMS, Huw Llewelyn Francis→
Activedirector · ~68y · appointed 2019-02-12
View their other companies + combined net worth →
DUFTY, Richard Leslie→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1994-01-16 · resigned 2004-02-29
EDWARDS, Kenneth Royston→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1994-01-16
GILL, Brett Richard Joseph→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2006-03-03 · resigned 2007-05-17
GILL, Brett Richard Joseph→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2004-03-04 · resigned 2004-05-19
RAMSTEDT, Christopher John→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2004-05-19 · resigned 2006-03-03
RAWLES, Louis John→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2009-05-31 · resigned 2014-07-01
TIZZARD, Sally Ann→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2007-08-01 · resigned 2009-05-31
BACK, Keith Harry→
Resigneddirector · ~76y · appointed 2004-03-25 · resigned 2010-02-05
BURGESS, Richard William→
Resigneddirector · ~44y · appointed 2016-10-01 · resigned 2019-12-31
BURKE, Derek John, Councillor→
Resigneddirector · ~78y · appointed 1995-01-31 · resigned 1997-02-05
BURNET, Stuart Harvey→
Resigneddirector · ~81y · appointed 1995-01-31 · resigned 2001-02-06
DAVIS, Lee→
Resigneddirector · ~59y · appointed 2016-10-01 · resigned 2025-11-30
DIGHE, Ian Robert→
Resigneddirector · ~71y · appointed 2009-01-05 · resigned 2016-02-29
DOBLE, Peter William, Captain→
Resigneddirector · ~95y · resigned 1996-09-30
DUFTY, Richard Leslie→
Resigneddirector · ~82y · appointed 1994-10-26 · resigned 2004-02-29
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
6
Total charges
4
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:6 of 6 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc UK Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 04/07/2024 | — | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 19/04/2016 | — | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) LTD | A registered charge | — | 23/03/2016 | — | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 24/02/2016 | — | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 19/05/2010 | 04/03/2016 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Charge of deposit | 1 property | 06/07/2005 | 15/08/2017 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (231 total)
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2026-06-09
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-12-03
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-11-18
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-11-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2025-07-24
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2024-12-24
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-10-23
capital-return-purchase-own-shares
capital · SH03
2024-07-18
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2024-07-09
capital-cancellation-shares
capital · SH06
2024-07-03
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2024-07-02
memorandum-articles
incorporation · MA
2024-07-02
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2024-07-02
capital-alter-shares-consolidation
capital · SH02
2024-07-02
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2023-12-23