SOUND POWER LIMITED

🌳Matureactive
03044406 · ltd · incorporated 1995-04-10
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
—
year to Mar 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
75/100
Strong
🔔
Follow this company (free)
Email alerts on filings, charges, director changes, gazette notices. No account needed.

Unsubscribe any time from any email. GDPR-respectful.

🔒Generate AI memo →🔒Outreach pack →🔒Corporate story →📑 Reports →Sign in to watch
What this business does
Primary activity: Other professional, scientific and technical activities n.e.c.
Sector: Professional, scientific & technical
Investor take
Pursue
Strong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.

Opportunity 75/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. 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 (58/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

4 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 30.2y

35/100
too messy

Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.

  • · Oldest live charge is 30.2 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 (79/100)

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
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
4 charges (4/4 with lender, 4/4 with type)
90
Directors & officers
7 officers (2 active, 7 linked, 4 with DOB)
81
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
1 connected companies via shared directors
48
Filing history
90 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
🔒Estimated company valuation

Sector-multiple EBITDA, turnover, and NAV-proxy valuation range with confidence tier — derived from extracted iXBRL financials.

Available from the Pro tier upwards.

See pricing →
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
65
Some acquirability indicators.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
£0£0£0£0£0£0Mar 2024Mar 2025

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102
Metric2025-03-312024-03-31
Average employees7700

Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.

🔒Filing-note intelligence

1 signal 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 (34 events)Click to expand
  1. 2025-12-22
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  2. 2025-04-22
    📍
    change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
    address · AD01
  3. 2024-12-19
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  4. 2023-12-20
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  5. 2022-12-21
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  6. 2021-07-23
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  7. 2021-07-23
    📄
    change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortened
    accounts · AA01
  8. 2021-03-01
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  9. 2021-03-01
    📄
    change-account-reference-date-company-previous-extended
    accounts · AA01
  10. 2020-04-06
    📍
    change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
    address · AD01
  11. 2019-12-20
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  12. 2018-11-29
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  13. 2017-12-20
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  14. 2016-10-21
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
    accounts · AA
  15. 2016-10-19
    ➖
    SONNENFELD, Elaine Ann resigned
    secretary
  16. 2016-10-19
    ➖
    SONNENFELD, Elaine Ann resigned
    director
  17. 2016-10-19
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  18. 2015-10-17
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #3
  19. 2015-10-17
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #2
  20. 2008-06-13
    🔒
    Charge registered #4
    Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
  21. 2008-06-03
    ➕
    RIDOUT, David Mark appointed
    director
  22. 2005-05-24
    🔒
    Charge registered #3
    Lender: Close Brothers Limited
  23. 2004-06-28
    ➕
    SONNENFELD, Elaine Ann appointed
    director
  24. 2003-07-01
    ➕
    SONNENFELD, Elaine Ann appointed
    secretary
  25. 2003-06-30
    ➖
    WOOD, Graham resigned
    secretary
  26. 2001-11-08
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: Northern Rock PLC
  27. 1996-03-05
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
  28. 1995-04-11
    ➕
    BAXTER, Neil appointed
    director
  29. 1995-04-11
    ➕
    WOOD, Graham appointed
    secretary
  30. 1995-04-11
    ➖
    CHANCERY BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED resigned
    corporate-nominee-secretary
  31. 1995-04-11
    ➖
    COWAN, Stanford Russell resigned
    nominee-director
  32. 1995-04-10
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As SOUND POWER LIMITED
  33. 1995-04-10
    ➕
    CHANCERY BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED appointed
    corporate-nominee-secretary
  34. 1995-04-10
    ➕
    COWAN, Stanford Russell appointed
    nominee-director

Owner dependency

68/100
High — earn-out structure required

Material 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.
  • +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 31 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.

Succession & seller-readiness

66/100
Strong succession signal

Multiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.

SIGNALS
  • secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
  • primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 31 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 31 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 med ·
Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
medium

Multiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.

Shareholders & ownership

2 active beneficial owners
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Mr Neil Anthony Baxter
Individual · British · DOB 09/1969 · age 57
50–75%
—50-75% shares06/04/2016
Mr David Mark Ridout
Individual · British · DOB 05/1970 · age 56
25–50%
—25-50% shares06/04/2016

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 · Professional services · DH postcode area
CompanyEst. valueTurnoverNet worthStaffAgeOppDirector
3B SUPPORT SERVICES LIMITED→
09999912 · est 2016 · no financials extracted
————10y——
ABC NORTH EAST LIMITED→
06796066 · est 2009 · no financials extracted
————17y——
ACCELERATE INCLUSION LTD→
16968117 · est 2026 · no financials extracted
———————
ACCELERATE NE BUSINESS LTD→
12671745 · est 2020 · no financials extracted
————5y——
ACCOUNTABILITY DERBYSHIRE LTD→
11615607 · est 2018 · no financials extracted
————7y——
ACCOUNTABILITY SOUTH TYNESIDE LTD→
16395518 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
————1y——
ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE TRADE (DURHAM) LIMITED→
13653167 · est 2021 · no financials extracted
————4y——
ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE TRADE LIMITED→
12965398 · est 2020 · no financials extracted
————5y——
ACCOUNTS BY ZODRM LTD→
13344449 · est 2021 · no financials extracted
————4y——
ACCURATE MEASUREMENT SERVICES LTD→
12631868 · est 2020 · no financials extracted
————5y——
ACD SURFACING LIMITED→
15582908 · est 2024 · no financials extracted
————2y——
ACQUIRE RECRUITMENT LIMITED→
14367691 · est 2022 · no financials extracted
————3y——
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
Incorporated1995-04-10
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC74909 — Other professional, scientific and technical activities n.e.c.

Registered office

Bede House
Belmont Business Park
Durham
Co Durham
DH1 1TW
United Kingdom

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-04-24
Last: 2026-04-10

Officers (2 active · 5 resigned)

BAXTER, Neil→
director · ~57y · appointed 1995-04-11
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
RIDOUT, David Mark→
director · ~56y · appointed 2008-06-03
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
SONNENFELD, Elaine Ann→
secretary · appointed 2003-07-01 · resigned 2016-10-19
Resigned
WOOD, Graham→
secretary · appointed 1995-04-11 · resigned 2003-06-30
Resigned
CHANCERY BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED→
corporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1995-04-10 · resigned 1995-04-11
Resigned
COWAN, Stanford Russell→
nominee-director · ~90y · appointed 1995-04-10 · resigned 1995-04-11
Resigned
SONNENFELD, Elaine Ann→
director · ~70y · appointed 2004-06-28 · resigned 2016-10-19
Resigned

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
TypeProperties
outstanding
Barclays
Barclays Bank PLC
Legal charge1 property13/06/2008—
satisfied
Close Brothers
Close Brothers Limited
Aircraft mortgage1 property24/05/200517/10/2015
satisfied
Northern Rock
Northern Rock PLC
Charge1 property08/11/200117/10/2015
outstanding
Barclays
Barclays Bank PLC
Debenture1 property05/03/1996—
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (90 total)

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-04-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-12-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-04-22
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2025-04-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-12-19
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-04-24
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-12-20
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-04-24
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-12-21
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-04-26
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-07-23
change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortened
accounts · AA01
2021-07-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-05-17
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-03-01
change-account-reference-date-company-previous-extended
accounts · AA01
2021-03-01