AMERICAN AMUSEMENTS HOLDINGS LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
02792446 · ltd · incorporated 1993-02-22
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
75/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Other amusement and recreation activities n.e.c.
Sector: Arts, entertainment & recreation
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)Distressed active trading company — structural issues outweigh the discount.
Opportunity 75/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (68/100, director aged 71). 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 (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
4 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 22.7y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 22.7 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 35/100 — 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
4 charges (4/4 with lender, 4/4 with type)
90
Directors & officers
7 officers (3 active, 7 linked, 4 with DOB)
81
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
14 connected companies via shared directors
87
Filing history
118 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
75/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
75
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
67
Some moderate concerns — review flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
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 (34 events)Click to expand
- 2026-03-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-04-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2024-04-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2023-04-11📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2022-11-23📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-11-23🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2022-08-19📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-extendedaccounts · AA01
- 2022-07-14📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2022-07-14📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2022-07-13📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2022-07-13📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC02
- 2022-06-24📄capital-statement-capital-company-with-date-currency-figurecapital · SH19
- 2022-06-24📄legacycapital · SH20
- 2022-06-24⚠️legacyinsolvency · CAP-SS
- 2022-06-24📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2021-10-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2021-01-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2020-12-11📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2020-12-01➕MOSS, Duncan Geoffrey Frank appointeddirector
- 2020-01-30📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2018-01-30➖DRYSDALE, Robin Wordsworth resigneddirector
- 2010-11-30🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2009-02-18🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2007-04-07🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2006-11-15🔒Charge registered #2Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 2006-06-07➕MOSS, Duncan Geoffrey Frank appointedsecretary
- 2006-06-07➖APPLETON, Michael Richard Erle resignedsecretary
- 2003-10-16🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1993-02-22🏢Company incorporatedAs AMERICAN AMUSEMENTS HOLDINGS LIMITED
- 1993-02-22➕THOMAS, Howard appointednominee-secretary
- 1993-02-22➖THOMAS, Howard resignednominee-secretary
- 1993-02-22➕DRYSDALE, Robin Wordsworth appointeddirector
- 1993-02-22➕TESTER, William Andrew Joseph appointednominee-director
- 1993-02-22➖TESTER, William Andrew Joseph resignednominee-director
Owner dependency
73/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 71 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
76/100
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 71 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 33 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
Red flags
1 high ·1 insolvency-related filing on record
highFilings relating to insolvency, liquidation, or administration exist in the company's history. Review before proceeding.
Evidence: 2022-06-24: legacy
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Michael Richard Erle Appleton Individual · British · DOB 10/1959 · age 67 | 50–75% | 50–75% | board control50-75% shares · 50-75% voting · board control | 30/06/2022 |
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Big Apple Entertainments (Holdings) Limitedceased 30/06/2022· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control
- Big Apple Entertainments Limitedceased 29/06/2022· 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 · Leisure & entertainment · BH postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC BOURNEMOUTH WOMEN LIMITED→ 16529577 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AFFANITA DESIGNS LTD→ 11293149 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| AFRONAIJ UK LIMITED→ 16683233 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AG MANAGEMENT LTD→ 15253389 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ALEXIS ROSE LTD→ 15936292 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ALL STEPS FIRST DANCE LTD→ 11420277 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| AMANDA CALLAND PILATES LIMITED→ 11289693 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| AMATOUR GOLF LTD→ 13034812 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| AMERICAN AMUSEMENTS (WOKINGHAM) LIMITED→ 09964428 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| AMIGO TOURS LTD→ 09700804 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| AMONG THE BOUGHS LTD→ 13601717 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CONSERVATION TRUST→ 06932972 · est 2009 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1993-02-22
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC93290 — Other amusement and recreation activities n.e.c.
Registered office
Potterne House Potterne Way
Three Legged Cross
Wimborne
Dorset
BH21 6RS
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-03-31
Last made up to: 2025-06-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-07-28
Last: 2025-07-14
Officers (3 active · 4 resigned)
MOSS, Duncan Geoffrey Frank→
Activesecretary · appointed 2006-06-07
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
MOSS, Duncan Geoffrey Frank→
Activedirector · ~71y · appointed 2020-12-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
APPLETON, Michael Richard Erle→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 2006-06-07
THOMAS, Howard→
Resignednominee-secretary · appointed 1993-02-22 · resigned 1993-02-22
DRYSDALE, Robin Wordsworth→
Resigneddirector · ~74y · appointed 1993-02-22 · resigned 2018-01-30
TESTER, William Andrew Joseph→
Resignednominee-director · ~64y · appointed 1993-02-22 · resigned 1993-02-22
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
4
Total charges
2
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:4 of 4 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | Charge over shares | 1 property | 30/11/2010 | 23/11/2022 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Bank of Scotland PLC | Charge over shares | 1 property | 18/02/2009 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Debenture | 1 property | 15/11/2006 | — | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 16/10/2003 | 07/04/2007 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (118 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2026-03-30
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-08-15
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2025-04-02
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-08-26
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2024-04-09
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-08-21
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2023-04-11
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2022-11-23
change-account-reference-date-company-previous-extended
accounts · AA01
2022-08-19
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-07-14
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
2022-07-14
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2022-07-14
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2022-07-13
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
2022-07-13
capital-statement-capital-company-with-date-currency-figure
capital · SH19
2022-06-24