AUTOBYTEL UK LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
03470555 · ltd · incorporated 1997-11-19
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
73/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Sale of new cars and light motor vehicles
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and bankable structure.
Opportunity 73/100 (strong), bankability 75/100. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (58/100).
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
Confirmed no charges registered
85
Directors & officers
32 officers (2 active, 32 linked, 26 with DOB)
86
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
12 connected companies via shared directors
81
Filing history
157 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
73/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
50
Some acquirability indicators.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
90
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
2
filings
- • 2 officers
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (83 events)Click to expand
- 2026-01-04📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2026-01-02📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-12-31➕KOTHARI, Rajvi appointeddirector
- 2025-12-31➖DINSDALE, Christian Edward Peter resigneddirector
- 2025-10-01📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2025-04-02📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-04-01➖BOWERS, Michael Jonathan resigneddirector
- 2024-09-27📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2024-09-23➕DINSDALE, Christian Edward Peter appointeddirector
- 2024-08-01➕WATERHOUSE, Tamsin appointeddirector
- 2024-08-01➖INCHCAPE UK CORPORATE MANAGEMENT LIMITED resignedcorporate-secretary
- 2024-08-01➖AHMAD, Farheen resigneddirector
- 2024-08-01➕BOWERS, Michael Jonathan appointeddirector
- 2024-08-01➖MARTIN-HICKEY, Katie resigneddirector
- 2024-08-01📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-08-01📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-08-01📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2024-08-01📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2024-08-01📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2024-08-01📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2024-07-16📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2023-10-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2022-11-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-07-21📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2022-07-21📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-07-01➕MARTIN-HICKEY, Katie appointeddirector
- 2022-06-30➖WHEATLEY, Martin Peter resigneddirector
- 2022-01-14📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2022-01-10➕AHMAD, Farheen appointeddirector
- 2021-12-21📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2021-12-13➖BREARLEY, James Richard resigneddirector
- 2021-11-02📄capital-statement-capital-company-with-date-currency-figurecapital · SH19
- 2021-11-02📄legacycapital · SH20
- 2019-09-20➖HANCOX, Elizabeth Louise, Dr resigneddirector
- 2018-11-01➕HANCOX, Elizabeth Louise, Dr appointeddirector
- 2018-09-21➖CATLIN, Claire Louise resigneddirector
- 2017-01-01➕BREARLEY, James Richard appointeddirector
- 2017-01-01➖FALLENSTEIN, Louis resigneddirector
- 2015-10-16➖MCCLUSKEY, Ross resigneddirector
- 2015-10-06➕FALLENSTEIN, Louis appointeddirector
- 2015-10-06➖MCCORMACK, Connor resigneddirector
- 2015-10-05➕CATLIN, Claire Louise appointeddirector
- 2011-12-20➕MCCLUSKEY, Ross appointeddirector
- 2011-12-20➖RONCHETTI, Marc Arthur resigneddirector
- 2009-12-01➖LOCK, Spencer resigneddirector
- 2009-12-01➕RONCHETTI, Marc Arthur appointeddirector
- 2006-09-17➖POTTS, Graeme John resigneddirector
- 2005-11-01➕MCCORMACK, Connor appointeddirector
- 2005-10-01➖RABAN, Mark Douglas resigneddirector
- 2004-08-09➖JEARY, Anton Clive resignedsecretary
Showing most recent 50 of 83 events
Owner dependency
58/100
Moderate — manageable with handoverSome founder dependency, but not acute. A structured handover period should cover most risk.
FACTORS
- +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
Succession & seller-readiness
36/100
Weak signalLimited succession signal. Not a near-term off-market candidate.
SIGNALS
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
Red flags
cleanNo red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)
Group structure
Inchcape International Holdings Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Inchcape International Holdings Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
AUTOBYTEL UK LIMITED
This company · 03470555
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Inchcape International Holdings Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 06/04/2016 |
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 · Automotive · SW postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-Z MECHANIC LONDON LTD→ 17122511 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AP CAR WASH LTD→ 16852766 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AQ AUTOS LTD→ 11135554 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| AS INVESTMENTS LONDON LIMITED→ 15777675 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ASAP MOBILE TYRE LTD→ 16329662 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AUDIONTRACKING LIMITED→ 14002393 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| AUTO AIR CONDITIONING LTD.→ 03477627 · est 1997 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 28y | — | — |
| AUTO99 LTD→ 08001906 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| AUTOBYNET INTERNATIONAL LTD→ 09186179 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| AUTOCASTLE LIMITED→ 03610801 · est 1998 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 27y | — | — |
| AUTOCENTRE SOUTH LIMITED→ 05069633 · est 2004 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 22y | — | — |
| AUTOCENTRE TOOTING LTD→ 10184075 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1997-11-19
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC45111 — Sale of new cars and light motor vehicles
Registered office
Inchcape Plc
22a St James's Square
London
SW1Y 5LP
United Kingdom
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-11-04
Last: 2025-10-21
Officers (2 active · 30 resigned)
KOTHARI, Rajvi→
Activedirector · ~40y · appointed 2025-12-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
WATERHOUSE, Tamsin→
Activedirector · ~53y · appointed 2024-08-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
JAMES, John William→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1999-07-15 · resigned 2000-04-25
JEARY, Anton Clive→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2003-11-01 · resigned 2004-08-09
KEITH, Roger Graham→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1998-11-23 · resigned 1999-07-15
LORIMER, Mark Wayne→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1997-11-19 · resigned 1998-11-23
WHEATLEY, Martin Peter→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2000-04-25 · resigned 2003-11-01
INCHCAPE UK CORPORATE MANAGEMENT LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 2004-08-09 · resigned 2024-08-01
AHMAD, Farheen→
Resigneddirector · ~39y · appointed 2022-01-10 · resigned 2024-08-01
BOWERS, Michael Jonathan→
Resigneddirector · ~59y · appointed 2024-08-01 · resigned 2025-04-01
BREARLEY, James Richard→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 2017-01-01 · resigned 2021-12-13
BUTCHER, Dale Francis→
Resigneddirector · ~71y · appointed 1998-11-23 · resigned 2002-04-12
CATLIN, Claire Louise→
Resigneddirector · ~46y · appointed 2015-10-05 · resigned 2018-09-21
DINSDALE, Christian Edward Peter→
Resigneddirector · ~49y · appointed 2024-09-23 · resigned 2025-12-31
FALLENSTEIN, Louis→
Resigneddirector · ~70y · appointed 2015-10-06 · resigned 2017-01-01
FERGUSON, Alan Murray→
Resigneddirector · ~68y · appointed 1998-11-23 · resigned 2002-04-12
GREENFIELD, John Anthony Leslie→
Resigneddirector · ~76y · appointed 1999-07-15 · resigned 2000-06-30
GRIMES, Robert Steven→
Resigneddirector · ~83y · appointed 1997-11-19 · resigned 1998-11-23
HANCOX, Elizabeth Louise, Dr→
Resigneddirector · ~56y · appointed 2018-11-01 · resigned 2019-09-20
HAZELWOOD, Robert→
Resigneddirector · ~67y · appointed 2002-04-12 · resigned 2003-04-07
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Recent filings (157 total)
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2026-01-04
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2026-01-02
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-10-21
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2025-10-01
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-04-02
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-12-09
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2024-09-27
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-08-01
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-08-01
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2024-08-01
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2024-08-01
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2024-08-01
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2024-08-01
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2024-07-16
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-12-01