HOWLES ENGINEERING LIMITED
- · Thesis: well-run, low negotiation leverage
Opportunity 74/100 (strong), bankability 77/100. Strong seller-intent signal (93/100, director aged 79). 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: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
Refinance opportunity
3 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 25.4y
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 25.4 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 (79/100)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 | 2024-12-31 | 2023-12-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Average employees | 0 | 0 |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
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
Corporate timeline (31 events)Click to expand
- 2025-09-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-08-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-07-05📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-07-05📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-07-05🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2024-07-05🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2023-09-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-09-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-10-01📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-12-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-09-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-09-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-01-24📄capital-variation-of-rights-attached-to-sharescapital · SH10
- 2018-01-24📄capital-name-of-class-of-sharescapital · SH08
- 2018-01-24📄legacycapital · SH20
- 2018-01-24📄capital-statement-capital-company-with-date-currency-figurecapital · SH19
- 2018-01-24⚠️legacyinsolvency · CAP-SS
- 2018-01-24📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2018-01-24📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2007-01-04🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2006-04-20🔒Charge registered #3Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2006-01-09➕SMAIL, Faye Alexandra appointeddirector
- 2001-01-08🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Geoffrey Leslie Howles
- 2001-01-08🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2000-10-05➕HOWLES, Susan Moira appointedsecretary
- 2000-10-05➕HOWLES, Geoffrey Leslie appointeddirector
- 2000-10-05➖HUNT, Paul resignedsecretary
- 2000-10-05➖ELLIS, David Stephen resigneddirector
- 2000-10-04🏢Company incorporatedAs HOWLES ENGINEERING LIMITED
- 2000-10-04➕HUNT, Paul appointedsecretary
- 2000-10-04➕ELLIS, David Stephen appointeddirector
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.
- +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "HOWLES" — 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 79 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
Strong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 79 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- 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 high · 1 med ·Filings relating to insolvency, liquidation, or administration exist in the company's history. Review before proceeding.
Evidence: 2018-01-24: legacy
Multiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Shareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Geoff Leslie Howles Individual · British · DOB 02/1947 · age 79 | 25–50% | — | 25-50% shares | 04/10/2016 |
Mrs Faye Alexandra Smail Individual · British · DOB 02/1979 · age 47 | 25–50% | — | 25-50% shares | 04/10/2016 |
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
Radial SVG graph showing every company connected via shared directors, colour-coded by status.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
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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 →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 · 2 resigned)
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 20/04/2006 | 05/07/2024 | |
| satisfied | Geoffrey Leslie Howles | Debenture | 1 property | 08/01/2001 | 05/07/2024 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 08/01/2001 | 04/01/2007 |