AIRWAYS OPTICAL LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
02889471 · ltd · incorporated 1994-01-20
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.
Opportunity decay
approaching window · 12-months
Approaching a transaction window — refinance or sale event plausible in the next 12 months.
- · Oldest live charge 31.4y old — refinance window within 12 months
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
77/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Other manufacturing n.e.c.
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 60-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 77/100 (strong), bankability 85/100. Strong seller-intent signal (60/100, director aged 60). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
2 live charges · oldest 31.4y
65/100
clean up first
Refinance viable after a tidy-up — address the highlighted items first.
- · Oldest live charge is 31.4 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Single lender — cleanest path to refinance.
- · Legal-friction score 28/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (61/100)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
2 charges (2/2 with lender, 2/2 with type)
90
Directors & officers
33 officers (5 active, 33 linked, 26 with DOB)
86
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
18 connected companies via shared directors
90
Filing history
200 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
77/100Strong
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
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (88 events)Click to expand
- 2025-12-22📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-12-19📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2025-10-08📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-10-08📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-10-08📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2025-10-08📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2025-10-08📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-10-08📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-09-30➕BULLER, Thomas Michael appointeddirector
- 2025-09-30➕FUSSEY, Paul Bryan appointeddirector
- 2025-09-30➕PERKINS, John Douglas appointeddirector
- 2025-09-30➖LYNES, Douglas resigneddirector
- 2025-09-30➖TIMBRELL, Lee resigneddirector
- 2025-09-30➖TUNE, Adrian William resigneddirector
- 2025-09-30➖WALKER, Craig William resigneddirector
- 2025-09-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2025-09-04📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2025-09-04📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2025-09-04📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2024-11-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2024-11-12📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2024-09-30📄appoint-corporate-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP02
- 2024-07-10📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2024-07-10📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2024-07-09📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2024-07-09📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-07-09📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-06-17➕SPECSAVERS OPTICAL SUPERSTORES LTD appointedcorporate-director
- 2024-06-17➖BOLD, Christopher resigneddirector
- 2024-06-17➕TIMBRELL, Lee appointeddirector
- 2024-06-17➕TUNE, Adrian William appointeddirector
- 2024-06-17➕WALKER, Craig William appointeddirector
- 2024-06-17➖SPECSAVERS LABORATORIES LIMITED resignedcorporate-director
- 2024-03-21📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2024-03-21📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2023-11-30➖HOLLOWAY, Simon Jon resigneddirector
- 2021-04-05➕BOLD, Christopher appointeddirector
- 2021-04-05➖COE, Michelle Jamie resigneddirector
- 2018-08-31➕COE, Michelle Jamie appointeddirector
- 2018-08-31➖TIMBRELL, Lee resigneddirector
- 2018-05-31➖LAWE, Sean Darren resigneddirector
- 2017-01-06➕LYNES, Douglas appointeddirector
- 2017-01-06➕TIMBRELL, Lee appointeddirector
- 2016-08-26➖SEYMOUR, Terry John resigneddirector
- 2016-02-29➖MCLEAN, Vincent resigneddirector
- 2014-10-10➕HOLLOWAY, Simon Jon appointeddirector
- 2011-06-01➖DRISKEL, Kevin Michael resigneddirector
- 2011-05-19➕MCLEAN, Vincent appointeddirector
- 2010-07-01➕SPECSAVERS LABORATORIES LIMITED appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2010-07-01➖SPECSAVERS OPTICAL GROUP LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
Showing most recent 50 of 88 events
Owner dependency
48/100
Moderate — manageable with handoverSome founder dependency, but not acute. A structured handover period should cover most risk.
FACTORS
- -4 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 60 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
40/100
Moderate signalSome succession indicators present. Worth watching; approach if sector/strategy fits.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 60. Early succession window.
Red flags
1 med ·4 director resignations in last 12 months
mediumMultiple recent departures can indicate governance disagreement, succession event, or preparation for sale/stress.
Evidence: LYNES, Douglas resigned 2025-09-30; TIMBRELL, Lee resigned 2025-09-30; TUNE, Adrian William resigned 2025-09-30
Group structure
Specsavers Procurement Uk Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Specsavers Procurement Uk Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
AIRWAYS OPTICAL LIMITED
This company · 02889471
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%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Specsavers Procurement Uk Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 14/09/2016 |
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 · Manufacturing · PO postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A & M KITCHEN MANUFACTURING LTD→ 07211096 · est 2010 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
| A J P COMPOSITES LTD→ 11454918 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| A&H TIMBER PRODUCTS LTD→ 11536417 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| AA HEATING GROUP LTD→ 15885450 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AHMARRA INSTALLATIONS LTD→ 06470734 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
| AIRBOB LIMITED→ 16143943 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AIRFIX TECHNICAL SERVICES LTD→ 13300181 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| AJL PROJECTS LTD→ 13041302 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| AJW77 LIMITED→ 14047914 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| ALAN BROWN ELECTRICAL LTD→ 11292658 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| ALBANY FARM & GARDEN MACHINERY LIMITED→ 07468012 · est 2010 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 15y | — | — |
| ALBION DRILLING SERVICES LTD→ 13920898 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
6 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
Incorporated1994-01-20
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC32990 — Other manufacturing n.e.c.
Registered office
Forum 6, Parkway
Solent Business Park Whiteley
Fareham
PO15 7PA
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-11-30
Last made up to: 2025-02-28
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-01-20
Last: 2026-01-06
Officers (5 active · 28 resigned)
SPECSAVERS LABORATORIES LIMITED→
Activecorporate-secretary · appointed 2010-07-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BULLER, Thomas Michael→
Activedirector · ~49y · appointed 2025-09-30
View their other companies + combined net worth →
FUSSEY, Paul Bryan→
Activedirector · ~60y · appointed 2025-09-30
View their other companies + combined net worth →
PERKINS, John Douglas→
Activedirector · ~54y · appointed 2025-09-30
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SPECSAVERS OPTICAL SUPERSTORES LTD→
Activecorporate-director · appointed 2024-06-17
View their other companies + combined net worth →
THOMAS, Howard→
Resignednominee-secretary · appointed 1994-01-20 · resigned 1994-01-20
SPECSAVERS OPTICAL GROUP LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1994-01-20 · resigned 2010-07-01
BAKER, Nicholas John→
Resigneddirector · ~76y · appointed 1999-05-14 · resigned 2000-07-03
BISHOP WHITE, Miles→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2000-03-20 · resigned 2002-12-06
BOLD, Christopher→
Resigneddirector · ~42y · appointed 2021-04-05 · resigned 2024-06-17
COE, Michelle Jamie→
Resigneddirector · ~47y · appointed 2018-08-31 · resigned 2021-04-05
DAVIS, Dean James→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 1999-05-14 · resigned 1999-11-30
DAVIS, James Edward→
Resigneddirector · ~86y · appointed 1994-03-09 · resigned 1999-11-30
DRISKEL, Kevin Michael→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2009-02-05 · resigned 2011-06-01
HOLLOWAY, Simon Jon→
Resigneddirector · ~54y · appointed 2014-10-10 · resigned 2023-11-30
LAWE, Sean Darren→
Resigneddirector · ~59y · appointed 2005-01-05 · resigned 2018-05-31
LYNES, Douglas→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 2017-01-06 · resigned 2025-09-30
MALE, Peter→
Resigneddirector · ~71y · appointed 2000-07-03 · resigned 2004-09-30
MCCARTAN, Martin→
Resigneddirector · ~56y · appointed 2002-07-02 · resigned 2009-02-28
MCLEAN, Vincent→
Resigneddirector · ~60y · appointed 2011-05-19 · resigned 2016-02-29
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
2
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:2 of 2 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Mortgage debenture | 1 property | 12/01/1995 | 13/02/2010 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 3 properties | 12/01/1995 | 13/02/2010 |
Recent filings (200 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-01-06
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-12-22
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-12-19
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-10-08
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-10-08
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-10-08
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-10-08
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-10-08
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-10-08
accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduary
accounts · AA
2025-09-04
legacy
accounts · PARENT_ACC
2025-09-04
legacy
other · GUARANTEE2
2025-09-04
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2025-09-04
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-02-24
accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduary
accounts · AA
2024-11-12