GRAPHIC ARTS EQUIPMENT LIMITED
⚰️Wound downdissolved
02693151 · ltd · incorporated 1992-03-03
Investment thesis
Company dissolved — not a live target.
Why interesting: Historical record only; useful for precedent research.
Why risky: Not transactable.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
48/100
Watch
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 5190
Sector: Transportation & storage
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)Distressed unclear — structural issues outweigh the discount.
Opportunity 48/100 (watch), bankability 32/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Asset purchase likely safer than share purchase given structural signals. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 6 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: asset disposal / carve-out (55/100). Current lenders should be on monthly review.
🏦
Refinance opportunity
8 live charges · 6 lenders · oldest 34.2y
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 34.2 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 6 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 55/100 (high).
Data confidence
Overall: low (52/100)Sparse data coverage. Treat AI-generated outputs as preliminary. Manual diligence essential.
Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
8 charges (8/8 with lender, 8/8 with type)
90
Directors & officers
8 officers (3 active, 8 linked, 5 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
No PSCs filed (unusual — worth investigating)
35
Director network
14 connected companies via shared directors
87
Filing history
106 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
48/100Watch
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Not actionable now, but monitor — distressed, succession, or structural changes could flip this into a real opportunity.
Business quality
0
Concerning — overdue filings or status flags present.
Acquirability
85
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
38
Multiple red flags — proceed with caution.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
0
filings
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (47 events)Click to expand
- 2012-11-16⚠️gazette-dissolved-liquidationgazette · GAZ2
- 2012-11-16🏁Company dissolved
- 2012-08-16⚠️liquidation-voluntary-creditors-return-of-final-meetinginsolvency · 4.72
- 2012-07-17⚠️liquidation-voluntary-statement-of-receipts-and-payments-with-brought-down-dateinsolvency · 4.68
- 2011-11-09⚠️liquidation-voluntary-statement-of-receipts-and-payments-with-brought-down-dateinsolvency · 4.68
- 2010-09-13⚠️liquidation-in-administration-move-to-creditors-voluntary-liquidationinsolvency · 2.34B
- 2010-08-12⚠️liquidation-in-administration-progress-report-with-brought-down-dateinsolvency · 2.24B
- 2010-08-11⚠️liquidation-in-administration-progress-report-with-brought-down-dateinsolvency · 2.24B
- 2010-06-29📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-addressaddress · AD01
- 2010-03-26⚠️liquidation-in-administration-result-creditors-meetinginsolvency · 2.23B
- 2010-03-25⚠️liquidation-in-administration-result-creditors-meetinginsolvency · 2.23B
- 2010-03-16⚠️liquidation-in-administration-statement-of-affairs-with-form-attachedinsolvency · 2.16B
- 2010-03-02⚠️liquidation-in-administration-proposalsinsolvency · 2.17B
- 2010-03-02⚠️liquidation-in-administration-proposalsinsolvency · 2.17B
- 2010-01-18📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-addressaddress · AD01
- 2010-01-13📄termination-secretary-company-with-nameofficers · TM02
- 2010-01-13📄termination-director-company-with-nameofficers · TM01
- 2010-01-08⚠️liquidation-in-administration-appointment-of-administratorinsolvency · 2.12B
- 2009-12-23➖WILLIAMS, Edward Gordon resigneddirector
- 2009-12-22➖WELLINGS, Simon James resignedsecretary
- 2009-12-18📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2009-12-17📄legacymortgage · MG01
- 2009-12-12📄legacymortgage · MG01
- 2009-12-08🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Horizon International Inc
- 2009-12-07🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Db Invoice Finance 12 Limited
- 2009-10-01📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2009-04-18📄legacymortgage · 395
- 2009-04-15📄legacyannual-return · 363a
- 2009-03-31🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Ing Lease (UK) LTD
- 2008-12-29📄legacyaccounts · 225
- 2008-12-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2008-09-30➖MITCHELL, John Gerald resignedsecretary
- 2008-09-30➕WELLINGS, Simon James appointedsecretary
- 2008-01-24➕HAMMOND, Michael John appointeddirector
- 2008-01-24➖GODWYN, Bryan Peter resignedsecretary
- 2008-01-24➕MITCHELL, John Gerald appointedsecretary
- 2008-01-24➖HARDS, Pauline resigneddirector
- 2008-01-24➕WILLIAMS, Edward Gordon appointeddirector
- 1999-07-28🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 1999-07-28🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 1999-03-11🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1997-05-15➕HARDS, Pauline appointeddirector
- 1997-03-14🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Singer & Friedlander Commercial Finance Limited
- 1994-06-18🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1994-05-16🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Venture Factors PLC
- 1992-04-08🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1992-03-03🏢Company incorporatedAs GRAPHIC ARTS EQUIPMENT 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
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 18 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 87 — succession pressure is live.
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 87 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 18 years.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 34 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
2 high · 1 med · 1 lowCompany dissolved
highCompany has been dissolved — it no longer legally exists. Any diligence here is historical only.
Evidence: Dissolved on 2012-11-16
13 insolvency-related filings on record
highFilings relating to insolvency, liquidation, or administration exist in the company's history. Review before proceeding.
Evidence: 2012-11-16: gazette-dissolved-liquidation; 2012-08-16: liquidation-voluntary-creditors-return-of-final-meeting
Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
6 live charges
lowHeavily leveraged with multiple live security positions — understand the capital structure before proceeding.
🔒Co-director network graph
Radial SVG graph showing every company connected via shared directors, colour-coded by status.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
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Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
11 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
Statusdissolved
Typeltd
Incorporated1992-03-03
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC5190 — SIC 5190
Registered office
The Chancery
58 Spring Gardens
Manchester
M2 1EW
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: —
Last made up to: 2008-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: —
Last: —
Officers (0 active · 5 resigned)
Active
HAMMOND, Michael John→
Activedirector · ~86y · appointed 2008-01-24
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
GODWYN, Bryan Peter→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 2008-01-24
MITCHELL, John Gerald→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2008-01-24 · resigned 2008-09-30
WELLINGS, Simon James→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2008-09-30 · resigned 2009-12-22
HARDS, Pauline→
Resigneddirector · ~80y · appointed 1997-05-15 · resigned 2008-01-24
WILLIAMS, Edward Gordon→
Resigneddirector · ~63y · appointed 2008-01-24 · resigned 2009-12-23
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
8
Total charges
6
Outstanding
4
Active lenders
Status:Lender:8 of 8 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Horizon International Horizon International Inc | Chattel mortgage | 1 property | 08/12/2009 | — | |
| outstanding | Db Invoice Finance 12 Db Invoice Finance 12 Limited | Guarantee & debenture | 1 property | 07/12/2009 | — | |
| outstanding | Ing Lease (UK) Ing Lease (UK) LTD | Long term licence to sub-let | 1 property | 31/03/2009 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Guarantee & debenture | 1 property | 11/03/1999 | — | |
| satisfied | Singer & Friedlander Commercial Finance Singer & Friedlander Commercial Finance Limited | Supplemental agreement | 1 property | 14/03/1997 | 28/07/1999 | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Fixed charge | 1 property | 18/06/1994 | — | |
| satisfied | Venture Factors Venture Factors PLC | Fixed equitable charge | 1 property | 16/05/1994 | 28/07/1999 | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 08/04/1992 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (106 total)
gazette-dissolved-liquidation
gazette · GAZ2
2012-11-16
liquidation-voluntary-creditors-return-of-final-meeting
insolvency · 4.72
2012-08-16
liquidation-voluntary-statement-of-receipts-and-payments-with-brought-down-date
insolvency · 4.68
2012-07-17
liquidation-voluntary-statement-of-receipts-and-payments-with-brought-down-date
insolvency · 4.68
2011-11-09
liquidation-in-administration-move-to-creditors-voluntary-liquidation
insolvency · 2.34B
2010-09-13
liquidation-in-administration-progress-report-with-brought-down-date
insolvency · 2.24B
2010-08-12
liquidation-in-administration-progress-report-with-brought-down-date
insolvency · 2.24B
2010-08-11
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address
address · AD01
2010-06-29
liquidation-in-administration-result-creditors-meeting
insolvency · 2.23B
2010-03-26
liquidation-in-administration-result-creditors-meeting
insolvency · 2.23B
2010-03-25
liquidation-in-administration-statement-of-affairs-with-form-attached
insolvency · 2.16B
2010-03-16
liquidation-in-administration-proposals
insolvency · 2.17B
2010-03-02
liquidation-in-administration-proposals
insolvency · 2.17B
2010-03-02
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address
address · AD01
2010-01-18
termination-secretary-company-with-name
officers · TM02
2010-01-13