A.J. WELLS & SONS LIMITED

🌳Matureactive
03809371 · ltd · incorporated 1999-07-19
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
79/100
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: SIC 25990
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
Pursue
Active trading company with a 65-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 65). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 4 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

6 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 26.3y

35/100
too messy

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

  • · Oldest live charge is 26.3 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
  • · Legal-friction score 35/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.

Data confidence

Overall: medium (58/100)

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
6 charges (6/6 with lender, 6/6 with type)
90
Directors & officers
14 officers (5 active, 14 linked, 12 with DOB)
87
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
3 connected companies via shared directors
54
Filing history
112 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.

Recent activity

Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
1
filing
  • • 1 accounts
Last 180 days
1
filing
  • • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (51 events)Click to expand
  1. 2026-04-12
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-full
    accounts · AA
  2. 2025-03-31
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-full
    accounts · AA
  3. 2025-01-23
    📄
    termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM02
  4. 2025-01-23
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  5. 2024-11-27
    ➖
    WELLS, John resigned
    secretary
  6. 2024-11-27
    ➖
    WELLS, John resigned
    director
  7. 2024-03-27
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-full
    accounts · AA
  8. 2023-04-05
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-full
    accounts · AA
  9. 2022-04-05
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-full
    accounts · AA
  10. 2021-07-03
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-full
    accounts · AA
  11. 2021-03-08
    📄
    second-filing-notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · RP04PSC02
  12. 2021-03-08
    📄
    second-filing-cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · RP04PSC07
  13. 2021-03-02
    📄
    memorandum-articles
    incorporation · MA
  14. 2021-03-02
    📄
    resolution
    resolution · RESOLUTIONS
  15. 2021-02-03
    📄
    notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
  16. 2021-02-03
    📄
    cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
  17. 2020-03-27
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-full
    accounts · AA
  18. 2019-08-01
    📄
    cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
  19. 2019-08-01
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  20. 2019-08-01
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  21. 2014-01-01
    ➕
    WELLS, Thomas Edward appointed
    director
  22. 2012-06-28
    ➖
    BOYCE, Martin Russell resigned
    director
  23. 2010-11-24
    ➕
    BOYCE, Martin Russell appointed
    director
  24. 2010-04-14
    ➕
    WELLS, Cedric Charles appointed
    director
  25. 2010-04-14
    ➕
    WELLS, Guy Richard appointed
    director
  26. 2010-04-14
    ➕
    WELLS, Hugh John appointed
    director
  27. 2010-04-14
    ➖
    WELLS, Alistair David resigned
    director
  28. 2008-12-16
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #4
  29. 2008-12-16
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #1
  30. 2006-12-20
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #3
  31. 2006-04-10
    🔒
    Charge registered #6
    Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
  32. 2004-09-30
    ➖
    WELLS, Philip Stephen resigned
    director
  33. 2003-01-31
    ➖
    WELLS, Alan Loughnan resigned
    director
  34. 2002-02-28
    🔒
    Charge registered #5
    Lender: Lloyds Tsb Commercial Finance Limited
  35. 2001-04-24
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
  36. 2001-04-23
    🔒
    Charge registered #4
    Lender: Halifax PLC
  37. 2001-04-23
    🔒
    Charge registered #3
    Lender: Halifax PLC
  38. 2000-03-01
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: Nmb-Heller Limited
  39. 2000-01-11
    ➕
    WELLS, Paul appointed
    director
  40. 2000-01-11
    ➖
    HOLMES, Anthony Peter resigned
    secretary
  41. 2000-01-11
    ➕
    WELLS, John appointed
    secretary
  42. 2000-01-11
    ➖
    HOLMES, Anthony Peter resigned
    director
  43. 2000-01-11
    ➖
    LEDGER, Philip Peter resigned
    director
  44. 2000-01-11
    ➕
    WELLS, Alan Loughnan appointed
    director
  45. 2000-01-11
    ➕
    WELLS, Alistair David appointed
    director
  46. 2000-01-11
    ➕
    WELLS, John appointed
    director
  47. 2000-01-11
    ➕
    WELLS, Philip Stephen appointed
    director
  48. 1999-07-19
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As A.J. WELLS & SONS LIMITED
  49. 1999-07-19
    ➕
    HOLMES, Anthony Peter appointed
    secretary
  50. 1999-07-19
    ➕
    HOLMES, Anthony Peter appointed
    director
Showing most recent 50 of 51 events

Owner dependency

88/100
Critical — business is the founder

The business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.

FACTORS
  • -5 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
  • +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "WELLS" — strong identity link between founder and business.
  • +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.
  • +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.

Succession & seller-readiness

80/100
Likely off-market candidate

Strong 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.
  • primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 26 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 27 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.

Group structure

Aj Wells & Sons Group Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.

🏛️
Aj Wells & Sons Group Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares
ultimate parent
⬇
A.J. WELLS & SONS LIMITED
This company · 03809371

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%
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Aj Wells & Sons Group Limited
Corporate entity
75–100%
75–100%75-100% shares · 75-100% voting10/02/2021
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
  • Mr Paul Wellsceased 10/02/2021· 25-50% shares
  • Mr John Wellsceased 04/04/2019· 25-50% shares

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 · Manufacturing · PO postcode area
CompanyEst. valueTurnoverNet worthStaffAgeOppDirector
A & M KITCHEN MANUFACTURING LTD→
07211096 · est 2010 · no financials extracted
————16y——
A J P COMPOSITES LTD→
11454918 · est 2018 · no financials extracted
————7y——
A&H TIMBER PRODUCTS LTD→
11536417 · est 2018 · no financials extracted
————7y——
AA HEATING GROUP LTD→
15885450 · est 2024 · no financials extracted
————1y——
AHMARRA INSTALLATIONS LTD→
06470734 · est 2008 · no financials extracted
————18y——
AIRBOB LIMITED→
16143943 · est 2024 · no financials extracted
————1y——
AIRFIX TECHNICAL SERVICES LTD→
13300181 · est 2021 · no financials extracted
————5y——
AIRGARD SYSTEMS LIMITED→
12744407 · est 2020 · no financials extracted
————5y——
AIRWAYS OPTICAL LIMITED→
02889471 · est 1994 · no financials extracted
————32y——
AJ FOSTER EDITORIAL SERVICES LIMITED→
13545687 · est 2021 · no financials extracted
————4y——
AJB CARPENTRY LIMITED→
10631693 · est 2017 · no financials extracted
————9y——
AJL PROJECTS LTD→
13041302 · 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
Incorporated1999-07-19
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC25990 — SIC 25990

Registered office

A J Wells & Sons Ltd, Bishops
Way, Newport
Isle Of Wight
PO30 5WS

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2027-03-31
Last made up to: 2025-06-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-08-13
Last: 2025-07-30

Officers (5 active · 9 resigned)

WELLS, Cedric Charles→
director · ~50y · appointed 2010-04-14
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
WELLS, Guy Richard→
director · ~47y · appointed 2010-04-14
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
WELLS, Hugh John→
director · ~51y · appointed 2010-04-14
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
WELLS, Paul→
director · ~65y · appointed 2000-01-11
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
WELLS, Thomas Edward→
director · ~41y · appointed 2014-01-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
HOLMES, Anthony Peter→
secretary · appointed 1999-07-19 · resigned 2000-01-11
Resigned
WELLS, John→
secretary · appointed 2000-01-11 · resigned 2024-11-27
Resigned
BOYCE, Martin Russell→
director · ~59y · appointed 2010-11-24 · resigned 2012-06-28
Resigned
HOLMES, Anthony Peter→
director · ~75y · appointed 1999-07-19 · resigned 2000-01-11
Resigned
LEDGER, Philip Peter→
director · ~71y · appointed 1999-07-19 · resigned 2000-01-11
Resigned
WELLS, Alan Loughnan→
director · ~77y · appointed 2000-01-11 · resigned 2003-01-31
Resigned
WELLS, Alistair David→
director · ~82y · appointed 2000-01-11 · resigned 2010-04-14
Resigned
WELLS, John→
director · ~76y · appointed 2000-01-11 · resigned 2024-11-27
Resigned
WELLS, Philip Stephen→
director · ~70y · appointed 2000-01-11 · resigned 2004-09-30
Resigned

Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.

Mortgages & charges

6
Total charges
3
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:6 of 6 shown
TypeProperties
outstanding
Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
Mortgage1 property10/04/2006—
outstanding
Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Tsb Commercial Finance Limited
Book debts debenture1 property28/02/2002—
outstanding
Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
Debenture1 property24/04/2001—
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
Halifax PLC
Deed of fixed and floating charge1 property23/04/200116/12/2008
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
Halifax PLC
Legal charge1 property23/04/200120/12/2006
satisfied
Nmb-Heller
Nmb-Heller Limited
Fixed charge over book debts1 property01/03/200016/12/2008
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (112 total)

accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2026-04-12
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-09-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-03-31
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2025-01-23
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-01-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-09-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2024-03-27
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-09-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2023-04-05
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-09-05
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2022-04-05
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-09-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2021-07-03
second-filing-notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · RP04PSC02
2021-03-08
second-filing-cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · RP04PSC07
2021-03-08