APPLETON FARMS LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
02580022 · ltd · incorporated 1991-02-05
Investment thesis
Established operating company — standard diligence applies, no dominant angle.
Why interesting: Live, filing, normal profile.
Why risky: No standout signals in either direction.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Dec 2024
Net worth
£1.43M
book net assets
Opportunity
76/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 01500
Sector: Agriculture, forestry & fishing
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 72-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 76/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 72). 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 (45/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
11 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 34.6y
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 34.6 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 50/100 (high).
Data confidence
Overall: medium (72/100)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
1 year of iXBRL accounts extracted (no YoY comparison) + narrative notes parsed
50
Lenders & charges
11 charges (11/11 with lender, 11/11 with type)
90
Directors & officers
8 officers (5 active, 8 linked, 5 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
120 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
76/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
60
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
75
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
82
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 £1,433,962
Key financials
1 year extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£120k
Net Worth
£1.4m
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2024-12-31 |
|---|---|
| Cash | £119.6k |
| Net assets | £1.43M |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
2 signals detected in this company's narrative notes — going-concern language, audit opinion, contingent liabilities, related-party transactions.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 180 days
2
filings
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (41 events)Click to expand
- 2025-12-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-09-29📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2025-09-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-05-21📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2025-05-21📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2025-05-20📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2025-05-20📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-07-02📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2024-06-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-06-26🔒Charge registered #11Lender: Jane Susan Gregory
- 2024-05-29📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-05-29📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-05-29📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2023-11-09📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-extendedaccounts · AA01
- 2023-06-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-03-28📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2023-03-28📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2023-03-28📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2023-02-26➖LEDGER, Kenneth Martin resigneddirector
- 2022-09-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-03-17📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2019-03-28🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Barclays Security Trustees Limited
- 2013-12-13➕BRADLEY, Samantha Jane appointeddirector
- 2013-12-13➕LEDGER, Alexander appointeddirector
- 2013-12-13➕LEDGER, Benjamin John appointeddirector
- 1994-06-20🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1992-09-30🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1991-10-21🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1991-10-21🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1991-10-21🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1991-10-21🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1991-10-21🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
- 1991-10-21🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1991-10-21🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1991-03-20➕LEDGER, Anne Marie appointedsecretary
- 1991-03-20➖LONDON LAW SECRETARIAL LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1991-03-20➕LEDGER, Kenneth Martin appointeddirector
- 1991-03-20➖LONDON LAW SERVICES LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-director
- 1991-02-05🏢Company incorporatedAs APPLETON FARMS LIMITED
- 1991-02-05➕LONDON LAW SECRETARIAL LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1991-02-05➕LONDON LAW SERVICES LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-director
Owner dependency
63/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- -4 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 72 — succession pressure is live.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
83/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 72 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 12 years.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 35 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 low11 live charges
lowHeavily leveraged with multiple live security positions — understand the capital structure before proceeding.
Shareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Benjamin John Ledger Individual · British · DOB 01/1983 · age 43 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 28/03/2025 |
Mrs Anne Marie Ledger Individual · British · DOB 05/1954 · age 72 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 26/02/2023 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Mr Kenneth Martin Ledgerceased 26/02/2023· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control
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 · Agriculture · CT postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A C HULME AND SONS→ 00803130 · est 1964 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 61y | — | — |
| A G & H T MILES LIMITED→ 07639719 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| A&A UK HOLDING LIMITED→ 06551666 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
| A&A UK INVESTMENTS LIMITED→ 06375826 · est 2007 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
| ABOUT TREES LTD→ 09321578 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| ACH FARMING LIMITED→ 12673857 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| AGRI-STARR LIMITED→ 09990948 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| APOLLO ANIMAL PHYSIOTHERAPY LTD→ 15906756 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| BAD SEAS LIMITED→ 12923107 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| BARNSOLE VINEYARD LIMITED→ 09153016 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| BAXTER FARMS LIMITED→ 02508542 · est 1990 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 35y | — | — |
| BEECOLOGY LTD→ 15630310 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1991-02-05
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC01500 — SIC 01500
Registered office
Appleton Manor Farm
Ringwould Road
Martin
Nr Dover Kent
CT15 5JS
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-04-11
Last: 2026-03-28
Officers (5 active · 3 resigned)
LEDGER, Anne Marie→
Activesecretary · appointed 1991-03-20
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BRADLEY, Samantha Jane→
Activedirector · ~37y · appointed 2013-12-13
View their other companies + combined net worth →
LEDGER, Alexander→
Activedirector · ~46y · appointed 2013-12-13
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
LEDGER, Benjamin John→
Activedirector · ~43y · appointed 2013-12-13
View their other companies + combined net worth →
LONDON LAW SECRETARIAL LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1991-02-05 · resigned 1991-03-20
LEDGER, Kenneth Martin→
Resigneddirector · ~74y · appointed 1991-03-20 · resigned 2023-02-26
LONDON LAW SERVICES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 1991-02-05 · resigned 1991-03-20
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
11
Total charges
11
Outstanding
3
Active lenders
Status:Lender:11 of 11 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Jane Susan Gregory | A registered charge | 1 property | 26/06/2024 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Security Trustees Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 28/03/2019 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 20/06/1994 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 30/09/1992 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 21/10/1991 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 21/10/1991 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 21/10/1991 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 21/10/1991 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 21/10/1991 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 21/10/1991 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 21/10/1991 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (120 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-04-17
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-12-24
change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortened
accounts · AA01
2025-09-29
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-09-29
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-05-21
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2025-05-21
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2025-05-21
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
2025-05-20
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-05-20
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2024-07-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-06-28
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-05-29
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2024-05-29
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2024-05-29
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2024-05-29