ACORN ASSESSORS LIMITED
- · Thesis: well-run, low negotiation leverage
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 77/100. Strong seller-intent signal (93/100, director aged 65). 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: strategic trade sale (73/100).
Refinance opportunity
3 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 24.6y
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 24.6 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (77/100)Adequate coverage. AI outputs are reliable for the sections scored high; verify the rest in diligence.
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsHover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2025-06-30 | 2024-06-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Average employees | 28 | 3000 |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
2 signals 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
- • 1 address
- • 1 address
- • 1 accounts
- • 1 address
- • 1 accounts
Corporate timeline (45 events)Click to expand
- 2026-04-14📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2026-02-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-04-01📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2025-01-15📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-01-15🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2024-11-12📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2024-11-11📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2024-11-11📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2024-10-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-09-05➖THOMLINSON, Richard Henry resigneddirector
- 2024-09-05📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-07-16➕CZEKALA, Beata Katarzyna appointedsecretary
- 2024-07-16➖THOMLINSON, Richard Henry resignedsecretary
- 2024-07-16📄appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP03
- 2024-07-16📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2024-07-08📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2024-07-08📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2024-07-05📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2024-07-04📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2024-07-04📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2024-07-04📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2024-07-04📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2024-07-01➕KELLY, Robert Patrick appointeddirector
- 2024-07-01➕THOMLINSON, Richard Henry appointeddirector
- 2024-03-19📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-01-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-01-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2015-12-08➖NELSON, Nicola Louise resigneddirector
- 2013-02-05➖TOWNSEND, Jonathan James resigneddirector
- 2010-09-10➕NELSON, Nicola Louise appointeddirector
- 2009-12-21🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2009-12-21🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2009-12-16🔒Charge registered #3Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2009-11-30➕TOWNSEND, Pamela Jane appointeddirector
- 2009-11-23➖TOWNSEND, John resigneddirector
- 2009-06-01➕TOWNSEND, Jonathan James appointeddirector
- 2002-02-06🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Hampshire Trust Factors Limited
- 2001-09-12🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 1999-04-28➕THOMLINSON, Richard Henry appointedsecretary
- 1999-01-22➕TOWNSEND, John appointeddirector
- 1998-12-08➖BRIGHTON SECRETARY LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1998-12-08➖BRIGHTON DIRECTOR LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-director
- 1998-04-24🏢Company incorporatedAs ACORN ASSESSORS LIMITED
- 1998-04-24➕BRIGHTON SECRETARY LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1998-04-24➕BRIGHTON DIRECTOR LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-director
Owner dependency
The business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.
- +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 16 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 65 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
Multiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 65. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 16 years.
- supportingClean filings + long tenure: Disciplined long-tenure operator — classic lifestyle-business pattern that often sells quietly.
Red flags
1 med ·Multiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Shareholders & ownership
3 active beneficial owners · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Robert Patrick Kelly Individual · British · DOB 06/1986 · age 40 | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control · trust interest | 01/07/2024 |
Ms Zoe Cressey Individual · British · DOB 12/1989 · age 37 | 75–100% | 75–100% | 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · trust interest | 01/07/2024 |
Mrs Pamela Jane Townsend Individual · British · DOB 08/1961 · age 65 | 75–100% | 75–100% | 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · trust interest | 01/07/2016 |
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
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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 →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
Registered office
Filing status
Officers (3 active · 7 resigned)
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 16/12/2009 | 15/01/2025 | |
| satisfied | Hampshire Trust Factors Hampshire Trust Factors Limited | Debenture | 3 properties | 06/02/2002 | 21/12/2009 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 12/09/2001 | 21/12/2009 |