ASHBURTON MOTOR WORKS LIMITED
📈Growthactive
03839497 · ltd · incorporated 1999-09-10
Investment thesis
Growth-phase business — story-led; valuation sensitive to momentum.
Why interesting: Trading is scaling; acquirers paying for trajectory get disproportionate leverage.
Why risky: Price often leads fundamentals; dependency on founder often high.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Sept 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
83/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: Sale of new cars and light motor vehicles
Sector: Wholesale & retail
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
- 45200SIC 45200
- 45310SIC 45310
- 47300Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with exceptional profile and acceptable with review structure.
Opportunity 83/100 (exceptional), bankability 67/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. 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 (78/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
3 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 26.5y
45/100
clean up first
Refinance viable after a tidy-up — address the highlighted items first.
- · Oldest live charge is 26.5 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 35/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
- · Profitable and stable/growing — lender coverage supportable.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (79/100)Adequate coverage. AI outputs are reliable for the sections scored high; verify the rest in diligence.
Company profile
address, 4 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
9 officers (4 active, 9 linked, 6 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 7 total, 7 with control declared
90
Director network
1 connected companies via shared directors
48
Filing history
101 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
🔒Estimated company valuation
Sector-multiple EBITDA, turnover, and NAV-proxy valuation range with confidence tier — derived from extracted iXBRL financials.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Opportunity Score
83/100Exceptional
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
85
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · FRS 102Profitable
Profit before tax £844,362
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 | 2025-09-30 | 2024-09-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Profit before tax | £844.4k | £677.9k |
| Average employees | 26 | 23 |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
3 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
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 (40 events)Click to expand
- 2026-04-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-11-17📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2025-11-17📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-11-14📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-09-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-08-04📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2025-08-04📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2025-08-01📄change-person-secretary-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH03
- 2025-08-01📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-08-01📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-07-24📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2025-07-24📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2025-01-31➕TILLEY, Claire Louise appointeddirector
- 2025-01-31➕TILLEY, Elizabeth Catherine appointeddirector
- 2024-09-23📄capital-return-purchase-own-sharescapital · SH03
- 2024-09-02📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2024-09-02📄capital-cancellation-sharescapital · SH06
- 2024-01-31📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2023-12-15📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-12-14➖BOND, Colin resigneddirector
- 2023-07-17📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2023-07-17📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2023-07-17📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2023-06-15📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-05-29➖TILLEY, Roger Charles resigneddirector
- 2019-11-27🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2010-06-21🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Shell UK Limited
- 2002-04-30➕WILLS, Mervyn appointeddirector
- 2002-04-30➕BOND, Colin appointeddirector
- 2000-07-31➕TILLEY, Claire Louise appointedsecretary
- 2000-07-31➖TILLEY, Catherine Anna resignedsecretary
- 2000-07-31➖TILLEY, Catherine Anna resigneddirector
- 2000-03-03🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Shell U.K. Limited
- 1999-12-01🔒Charge registered #1Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1999-09-10🏢Company incorporatedAs ASHBURTON MOTOR WORKS LIMITED
- 1999-09-10➕TILLEY, Catherine Anna appointedsecretary
- 1999-09-10➕SWIFT INCORPORATIONS LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1999-09-10➖SWIFT INCORPORATIONS LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1999-09-10➕TILLEY, Catherine Anna appointeddirector
- 1999-09-10➕TILLEY, Roger Charles appointeddirector
Owner dependency
76/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 24 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 64 — approaching natural succession window.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
70/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 64. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 24 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- 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
2 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mrs Claire Louise Tilley Individual · British · DOB 01/1969 · age 57 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 03/07/2023 |
Miss Elizabeth Catherine Tilley Individual · British · DOB 05/1967 · age 59 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 03/07/2023 |
5 historic (ceased) PSCs
- The Executors Of Roger C Tilleyceased 03/07/2023· 50-75% shares · 50-75% voting · board control
- Mr Roger Charles Tilleyceased 14/07/2021· 50-75% shares
- Mrs Claire Louise Tilleyceased 29/01/2018· 25-50% shares
- Mr Richard Tilleyceased 29/01/2018· 25-50% shares
- Miss Elizabeth Catherine Tilleyceased 29/01/2018· 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 · Automotive · TQ postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A S MOTORS (DEVON) LIMITED→ 08478605 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| A.E.M CLASSIC MOTORCYCLES LTD→ 09513041 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| ABBOT COMMERCIALS LIMITED→ 04121636 · est 2000 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 25y | — | — |
| ADAM MEDLICOTT CARS LIMITED→ 10333067 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| AFFORDABLE CAR MECHANICS LIMITED→ 10075641 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| AJTECH AUTOMOTIVE LTD.→ 10618278 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| ALGYS AUTOS IMPORTS LTD→ 09190399 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| ALTERSTART UK LTD→ 11819963 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| APHERO WHEELS LTD→ 16430385 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ARBOW GARAGE LIMITED→ 07978900 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| ARLINGTON BODYWORKS LTD→ 12071997 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| ASHBURTON TYRES LIMITED→ 07088326 · est 2009 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1999-09-10
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC45111 — Sale of new cars and light motor vehicles
Registered office
Moorgate House
King Street
Newton Abbot
Devon
TQ12 2LG
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-06-30
Last made up to: 2025-09-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-08-15
Last: 2025-08-01
Officers (4 active · 5 resigned)
TILLEY, Claire Louise→
Activesecretary · appointed 2000-07-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
TILLEY, Claire Louise→
Activedirector · ~57y · appointed 2025-01-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
TILLEY, Elizabeth Catherine→
Activedirector · ~59y · appointed 2025-01-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
WILLS, Mervyn→
Activedirector · ~64y · appointed 2002-04-30
View their other companies + combined net worth →
TILLEY, Catherine Anna→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1999-09-10 · resigned 2000-07-31
SWIFT INCORPORATIONS LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1999-09-10 · resigned 1999-09-10
BOND, Colin→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2002-04-30 · resigned 2023-12-14
TILLEY, Catherine Anna→
Resigneddirector · ~82y · appointed 1999-09-10 · resigned 2000-07-31
TILLEY, Roger Charles→
Resigneddirector · ~85y · appointed 1999-09-10 · resigned 2021-05-29
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
3
Total charges
2
Outstanding
2
Active lenders
Status:Lender:3 of 3 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Shell UK Shell UK Limited | Legal charge | 1 property | 21/06/2010 | — | |
| outstanding | Shell U.K. Shell U.K. Limited | Legal charge | 1 property | 03/03/2000 | — | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Mortgage debenture | 1 property | 01/12/1999 | 27/11/2019 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (101 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2026-04-17
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2025-11-17
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-11-17
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-11-14
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-09-24
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2025-08-04
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2025-08-04
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-08-01
change-person-secretary-company-with-change-date
officers · CH03
2025-08-01
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-08-01
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-08-01
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-07-24
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-07-24
capital-return-purchase-own-shares
capital · SH03
2024-09-23
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2024-09-02