ATLAS TRADE FINANCE LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
03463250 · ltd · incorporated 1997-11-11
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
approaching window · 12-months
Approaching a transaction window — refinance or sale event plausible in the next 12 months.
- · Oldest live charge 26.5y old — refinance window within 12 months
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to May 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
82/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: Financial intermediation not elsewhere classified
Sector: Financial & insurance
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 75-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 82/100 (exceptional), bankability 85/100. Strong seller-intent signal (73/100, director aged 75). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: strategic trade sale (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
2 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 26.5y
70/100
ready
Refinance conversation should be productive — structure clean and timing right.
- · Oldest live charge is 26.5 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · Legal-friction score 15/100 — clean.
Data confidence
Overall: high (80/100)Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.
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
2 charges (2/2 with lender, 2/2 with type)
90
Directors & officers
9 officers (3 active, 9 linked, 4 with DOB)
79
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
6 connected companies via shared directors
63
Filing history
92 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
82/100Exceptional
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Strong composite across quality, acquirability, and risk. High-priority target — progress to serious diligence.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2025-05-31 | 2024-05-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Average employees | 400 | 400 |
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
0
filings
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (37 events)Click to expand
- 2026-02-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-12-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-02-25📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-12-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-02-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-04-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-03-12📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2021-03-04📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2021-03-04📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2021-03-04📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2021-03-04📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2021-03-03📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2021-03-03🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2020-12-01➕PAGET, Emma Louise appointeddirector
- 2020-02-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-12-01➖COHERTON, Breege Geraldine resignedsecretary
- 2019-11-20➕PAGET, David John appointeddirector
- 2019-11-20📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2019-02-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-11-16📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2018-11-16📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2014-01-15🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2006-03-07🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2003-08-21➕COHERTON, Breege Geraldine appointedsecretary
- 2003-05-23➖WIGHTMAN, Donald Michael resignedsecretary
- 2003-05-23➖WIGHTMAN, Donald Michael resigneddirector
- 2000-02-28➖WIGHTMAN, Gillian Ruth resignedsecretary
- 2000-01-11🔒Charge registered #1Lender: State Street Bank and Trust Company
- 1999-01-28➕COHERTON, Stephen John appointeddirector
- 1997-12-02➕WIGHTMAN, Donald Michael appointedsecretary
- 1997-12-02➕WIGHTMAN, Gillian Ruth appointedsecretary
- 1997-12-02➖CDF SECRETARIAL SERVICES LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1997-12-02➕WIGHTMAN, Donald Michael appointeddirector
- 1997-12-02➖CDF FORMATIONS LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-director
- 1997-11-11🏢Company incorporatedAs ATLAS TRADE FINANCE LIMITED
- 1997-11-11➕CDF SECRETARIAL SERVICES LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1997-11-11➕CDF FORMATIONS LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-director
Owner dependency
83/100
Critical — business is the founderThe business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.
FACTORS
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 27 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 75 — succession pressure is live.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
90/100
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 75 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 27 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 29 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
cleanNo red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr David John Paget Individual · British · DOB 08/1962 · age 64 | 75–100% | — | 75-100% shares | 01/12/2019 |
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Mrs Breege Geraldine Cohertonceased 01/12/2019· 25-50% voting
- Mr Stephen John Cohertonceased 01/12/2019· 50-75% voting
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
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALAN M. MILNE LTD→ 12213494 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| ARIA PERI CAPITAL LIMITED→ 15594567 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ARROW MORTGAGE SOLUTIONS LTD→ 12555509 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| ARTCRY LTD→ 12599165 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| BEACON HOLDINGS SX LTD→ 12353954 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| BEDHAMPTON HOLDINGS LIMITED→ 02079977 · est 1986 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 39y | — | — |
| BICKERS INSURANCE SERVICES LIMITED→ 08432640 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| BIG D ENTERPRISES LIMITED→ 04630859 · est 2003 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 23y | — | — |
| BISHOP CALWAY INSURANCE SERVICES LIMITED→ 04615287 · est 2002 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 23y | — | — |
| BISHOP CAPITAL LIMITED→ 15310566 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| BIT EXCHANGE LTD→ 13136438 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| BIZ-WORKS UK LTD→ 05514127 · est 2005 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 20y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
7 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
Incorporated1997-11-11
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC64999 — Financial intermediation not elsewhere classified
Registered office
Wiston House
1 Wiston Avenue
Worthing
West Sussex
BN14 7QL
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-02-28
Last made up to: 2025-05-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-11-25
Last: 2025-11-11
Officers (3 active · 6 resigned)
COHERTON, Stephen John→
Activedirector · ~75y · appointed 1999-01-28
View their other companies + combined net worth →
PAGET, David John→
Activedirector · ~64y · appointed 2019-11-20
View their other companies + combined net worth →
PAGET, Emma Louise→
Activedirector · ~61y · appointed 2020-12-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
COHERTON, Breege Geraldine→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2003-08-21 · resigned 2019-12-01
WIGHTMAN, Donald Michael→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1997-12-02 · resigned 2003-05-23
WIGHTMAN, Gillian Ruth→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1997-12-02 · resigned 2000-02-28
CDF SECRETARIAL SERVICES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1997-11-11 · resigned 1997-12-02
WIGHTMAN, Donald Michael→
Resigneddirector · ~72y · appointed 1997-12-02 · resigned 2003-05-23
CDF FORMATIONS LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 1997-11-11 · resigned 1997-12-02
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 | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 07/03/2006 | 03/03/2021 | |
| satisfied | State Street Bank and Trust Company | Deed of charge | 1 property | 11/01/2000 | 15/01/2014 |
Recent filings (92 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2026-02-27
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-11-24
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-12-27
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-11-15
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-02-25
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-12-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-01-16
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-12-29
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-02-26
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-12-10
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-04-29
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2021-03-12
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2021-03-04
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
2021-03-04
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2021-03-04