ADVANCED CHEMICAL ETCHING LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
03951248 · ltd · incorporated 2000-03-20
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
What this business does
Primary activity: Other manufacturing n.e.c.
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. 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
7 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 21.0y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 21.0 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 40/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (57/100)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
7 charges (7/7 with lender, 7/7 with type)
90
Directors & officers
16 officers (5 active, 16 linked, 12 with DOB)
85
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
107 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 confirmation-statement
Last 180 days
2
filings
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (55 events)Click to expand
- 2025-12-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-03-24📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-03-24📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-12-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-03-19📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2024-01-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-01-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-01-05📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-03-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-12-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-12-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-06-25📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2018-06-25🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2018-06-19📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2018-06-19📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-partmortgage · MR04
- 2018-06-19📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2018-06-19📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2018-06-19🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2018-06-19🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2018-06-19🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2016-05-23➕POWELL, Jayne appointeddirector
- 2014-03-24➕WESTON, Stuart appointeddirector
- 2014-03-24➕WHATELEY, Ian William appointeddirector
- 2014-03-24➖ROLLASON, Alan Gregory resigneddirector
- 2013-04-29🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Hsbc Equipment Finance (UK) Limited
- 2012-10-01🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2011-07-25🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2009-07-21🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) LTD
- 2008-10-17➕BALL, Christopher John appointedsecretary
- 2008-10-17➖PURDON, John Powell resignedsecretary
- 2008-10-17➖BROWN, David John resigneddirector
- 2008-10-17➖PURDON, John Powell resigneddirector
- 2006-05-31🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2005-06-17🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2005-05-18🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2005-03-21➖BLOWER, Stephen William resigneddirector
- 2005-03-21➖LATHAM, David resigneddirector
- 2001-03-26➖BLOWER, Vicky resigneddirector
- 2001-03-26➕BROWN, David John appointeddirector
- 2001-03-26➖PURDON, Jean Anne resigneddirector
- 2000-04-14➕BLOWER, Vicky appointeddirector
- 2000-04-14➖BROWN, David John resigneddirector
- 2000-04-14➕PURDON, Jean Anne appointeddirector
- 2000-03-20🏢Company incorporatedAs ADVANCED CHEMICAL ETCHING LIMITED
- 2000-03-20➕BALL, Christopher John appointeddirector
- 2000-03-20➕BHARDWAJ, Ashok appointednominee-secretary
- 2000-03-20➖BHARDWAJ, Ashok resignednominee-secretary
- 2000-03-20➕PURDON, John Powell appointedsecretary
- 2000-03-20➕BLOWER, Stephen William appointeddirector
- 2000-03-20➕BROWN, David John appointeddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 55 events
Owner dependency
58/100
Moderate — manageable with handoverSome founder dependency, but not acute. A structured handover period should cover most risk.
FACTORS
- -4 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 26 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 63 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
80/100
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 63. 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 26 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.
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Christopher John Ball Individual · British · DOB 04/1969 · age 57 | 75–100% | 75–100% | 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting | 15/03/2017 |
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 · WV postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3S PROJECTS LIMITED→ 07771764 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| 4CNC LTD→ 05178656 · est 2004 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 21y | — | — |
| A.K GARAGE LTD→ 08648701 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| A.L.K. PRINT LIMITED→ 04041648 · est 2000 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 25y | — | — |
| A1 AUTO KEY MEDIC LTD→ 14546148 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| A1 WINDOW AND SHUTTER LTD→ 16891807 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AB TEMPORARY FENCING LTD→ 16999132 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ABLE ENGINEERING PRODUCTS LIMITED→ 05722184 · est 2006 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 20y | — | — |
| ACADEMY KITS LIMITED→ 15222797 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ADRIAN ASHBROOK LIMITED→ 15930137 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ADVANCED COLDFORMED SECTIONS LTD→ 06897484 · est 2009 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
| ADVANCED CONTRACTS (MIDLANDS) LIMITED→ 04164682 · est 2001 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 25y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
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 →🔒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
Incorporated2000-03-20
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC32990 — Other manufacturing n.e.c.
Registered office
Tudor House
37a Birmingham New Road
Wolverhampton
West Midlands
WV4 6BL
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-03-30
Last: 2026-03-16
Officers (5 active · 11 resigned)
BALL, Christopher John→
Activesecretary · appointed 2008-10-17
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BALL, Christopher John→
Activedirector · ~57y · appointed 2000-03-20
View their other companies + combined net worth →
POWELL, Jayne→
Activedirector · ~56y · appointed 2016-05-23
View their other companies + combined net worth →
WESTON, Stuart→
Activedirector · ~57y · appointed 2014-03-24
View their other companies + combined net worth →
WHATELEY, Ian William→
Activedirector · ~63y · appointed 2014-03-24
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BHARDWAJ, Ashok→
Resignednominee-secretary · appointed 2000-03-20 · resigned 2000-03-20
PURDON, John Powell→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2000-03-20 · resigned 2008-10-17
BLOWER, Stephen William→
Resigneddirector · ~72y · appointed 2000-03-20 · resigned 2005-03-21
BLOWER, Vicky→
Resigneddirector · ~66y · appointed 2000-04-14 · resigned 2001-03-26
BROWN, David John→
Resigneddirector · ~73y · appointed 2001-03-26 · resigned 2008-10-17
BROWN, David John→
Resigneddirector · ~73y · appointed 2000-03-20 · resigned 2000-04-14
LATHAM, David→
Resigneddirector · ~79y · appointed 2000-03-20 · resigned 2005-03-21
PURDON, Jean Anne→
Resigneddirector · ~69y · appointed 2000-04-14 · resigned 2001-03-26
PURDON, John Powell→
Resigneddirector · ~69y · appointed 2000-03-20 · resigned 2008-10-17
ROLLASON, Alan Gregory→
Resigneddirector · ~79y · appointed 2000-03-20 · resigned 2014-03-24
BHARDWAJ CORPORATE SERVICES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 2000-03-20 · resigned 2000-03-20
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
7
Total charges
3
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:7 of 7 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Equipment Finance (UK) Limited / Hsbc Asset Finance (UK) Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 29/04/2013 | 19/06/2018 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 2 properties | 01/10/2012 | 25/06/2018 | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Legal assignment | 1 property | 25/07/2011 | — | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) LTD | Fixed charge on non-vesting debts and floating charge | 1 property | 21/07/2009 | — | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 31/05/2006 | 19/06/2018 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 17/06/2005 | 19/06/2018 | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 18/05/2005 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (107 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-03-17
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-12-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-03-24
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-03-24
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-03-24
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-12-31
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-03-19
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2024-03-19
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-01-09
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-03-28
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-01-31
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-03-24
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-01-05
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-04-21
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-03-31