1ST MACHINE TOOL ACCESSORIES LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
03472302 · ltd · incorporated 1997-11-27
Investment thesis
Zombie company — trading but stalled; unlikely mover.
Why interesting: Quiet, steady; could be a succession or carve-out candidate with the right conversation.
Why risky: No growth signal; thin margin for error on price.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Dec 2024
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 46620
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 65-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 85/100. Strong seller-intent signal (93/100, director aged 65). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Broaden director team. Sole director creates succession risk and reduces buyer comfort. Appoint a second director or strong #2. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
3 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 13.7y
30/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 13.7 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: high (81/100)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
3 charges (3/3 with lender, 3/3 with type)
90
Directors & officers
7 officers (2 active, 7 linked, 3 with DOB)
79
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
8 connected companies via shared directors
69
Filing history
86 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
79/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
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 · FRS 102| Metric | 2024-12-31 | 2023-12-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Average employees | 1300 | 1400 |
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
4
filings
- • 3 mortgage
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (35 events)Click to expand
- 2025-11-26📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-11-26📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-11-26📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-11-26🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2025-11-26🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2025-11-26🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2025-09-05📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-11-08📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2024-11-08📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2024-11-08📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2024-09-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-09-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-06-22📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2023-06-12➖MURRAY THREIPLAND, Stuart Wyndham resigneddirector
- 2022-09-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-09-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-01-25📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2021-01-25🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 2020-10-01📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-10-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-09-10📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2016-03-29🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 2012-08-13🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Lloyds Tsb Commercial Finance Limited
- 2000-05-17➕JONES, Mark appointedsecretary
- 2000-05-17➕JONES, Mark appointeddirector
- 2000-05-17➖STEEL, Anthony, Dr resignedsecretary
- 2000-05-17➖STEEL, Anthony, Dr resigneddirector
- 1997-12-12➕STEEL, Anthony, Dr appointedsecretary
- 1997-12-12➖SWIFT INCORPORATIONS LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1997-12-12➕MURRAY THREIPLAND, Stuart Wyndham appointeddirector
- 1997-12-12➕STEEL, Anthony, Dr appointeddirector
- 1997-12-12➖INSTANT COMPANIES LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-director
- 1997-11-27🏢Company incorporatedAs 1ST MACHINE TOOL ACCESSORIES LIMITED
- 1997-11-27➕SWIFT INCORPORATIONS LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1997-11-27➕INSTANT COMPANIES LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-director
Owner dependency
100/100
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
- +Sole director: Only one active director — all governance concentrated on one person.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 26 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 65 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
95/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 65. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 26 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 28 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
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Group structure
Dunbeath Engineering Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Dunbeath Engineering Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
1ST MACHINE TOOL ACCESSORIES LIMITED
This company · 03472302
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dunbeath Engineering Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 06/04/2016 |
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Mr Stuart Wyndham Murray-Threiplandceased 08/11/2024· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control · significant influence · firm interest
- Mrs Claire Rose Murray-Threiplandceased 08/11/2024· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control · significant influence · firm interest
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 · Wholesale & distribution · SP postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21STYLE LTD→ 14621413 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| A.B. BUILDING PRODUCTS LIMITED→ 02313765 · est 1988 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 37y | — | — |
| ACANTHUS AUCTIONS LTD→ 16785067 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AK GRAND SALES LIMITED→ 11717808 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| ALIIZOR LTD→ 12470545 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| AMAGEN LIMITED→ 02716881 · est 1992 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 33y | — | — |
| AMASIS LIMITED→ 04270218 · est 2001 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 24y | — | — |
| ANDOVER TIMBER COMPANY LTD→ 10955376 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| APEX PETROCAR LTD→ 16511134 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AQUATEC PLUMBING SUPPLIES LIMITED→ 05865054 · est 2006 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 19y | — | — |
| ARCSTRADING DIRECT LTD→ 15029563 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ARCX TECHNOLOGY LTD→ 12731514 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1997-11-27
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC46620 — SIC 46620
Registered office
Unit 1 The Headlands
Salisbury Road Downton
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP5 3JJ
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-12-11
Last: 2025-11-27
Officers (2 active · 5 resigned)
Active
Active
STEEL, Anthony, Dr→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1997-12-12 · resigned 2000-05-17
SWIFT INCORPORATIONS LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1997-11-27 · resigned 1997-12-12
MURRAY THREIPLAND, Stuart Wyndham→
Resigneddirector · ~79y · appointed 1997-12-12 · resigned 2023-06-12
STEEL, Anthony, Dr→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 1997-12-12 · resigned 2000-05-17
INSTANT COMPANIES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 1997-11-27 · resigned 1997-12-12
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
3
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:3 of 3 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 25/01/2021 | 26/11/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 29/03/2016 | 26/11/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Commercial Finance Limited | All assets debenture | 1 property | 13/08/2012 | 26/11/2025 |
Recent filings (86 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-12-02
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-11-26
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-11-26
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-11-26
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-09-05
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-12-02
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2024-11-08
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2024-11-08
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2024-11-08
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-09-24
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-12-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-09-26
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2023-06-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-11-29
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-09-28