FORTH ASSOCIATES LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
04308770 · ltd · incorporated 2001-10-23
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: Accounting and auditing activities
Sector: Professional, scientific & technical
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 67-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (73/100, director aged 67). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 5 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 · 5 lenders · oldest 24.1y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 24.1 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 5 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (61/100)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
11 officers (4 active, 11 linked, 8 with DOB)
85
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
20 connected companies via shared directors
90
Filing history
111 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
0
filings
Last 180 days
0
filings
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (49 events)Click to expand
- 2025-04-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-04-16📍change-sail-address-company-with-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD02
- 2024-05-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-02-01📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2024-02-01📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2024-01-19📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2024-01-18🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Santander UK PLC
- 2023-11-02📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-11-02📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-11-02🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2023-11-02🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2023-05-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-05-19📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-06-14📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2021-05-21📍change-sail-address-company-with-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD02
- 2021-03-16📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2021-03-16🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2020-10-02📄change-account-reference-date-company-current-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2020-09-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-08-19📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-extendedaccounts · AA01
- 2020-08-03📍move-registers-to-sail-company-with-new-addressaddress · AD03
- 2020-08-03📍change-sail-address-company-with-new-addressaddress · AD02
- 2020-07-28📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2020-07-22➕CULLEN-GRANT, Elaine Nicola appointeddirector
- 2020-07-22➕FRASER, Richard Cullen appointeddirector
- 2020-07-22➖FORTH, Richard Ian Elinah resignedsecretary
- 2020-07-17🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2017-03-10🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC (Trading as Both Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank) (Company Number SC001111)
- 2016-04-30➖KEELING, Timothy resigneddirector
- 2012-04-13🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2009-10-20🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Lloyds Tsb Commercial Finance Limited
- 2009-07-09➖DUDLEY, Simon John resigneddirector
- 2009-02-16🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Amazon House Properties Limited
- 2007-09-01➕KEELING, Timothy appointeddirector
- 2007-04-17➖ANDREWS, Fiona Marie resigneddirector
- 2006-12-11🔒Charge registered #2Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 2003-03-05➕ANDREWS, Fiona Marie appointeddirector
- 2003-02-01➕DUDLEY, Simon John appointeddirector
- 2002-04-23🔒Charge registered #1Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 2002-03-09➕FLINT, Anthony Edward appointeddirector
- 2002-03-09➖KEELING, Timothy Robert resigneddirector
- 2001-10-23🏢Company incorporatedAs FORTH ASSOCIATES LIMITED
- 2001-10-23➕FORTH, Richard Ian Elinah appointeddirector
- 2001-10-23➕FORTH, Richard Ian Elinah appointedsecretary
- 2001-10-23➕T.I.B. SECRETARIES LIMITED appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2001-10-23➖T.I.B. SECRETARIES LIMITED resignedcorporate-secretary
- 2001-10-23➕KEELING, Timothy Robert appointeddirector
- 2001-10-23➕T.I.B. NOMINEES LIMITED appointedcorporate-director
- 2001-10-23➖T.I.B. NOMINEES LIMITED resignedcorporate-director
Owner dependency
80/100
Critical — business is the founderThe business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.
FACTORS
- -4 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
- +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "FORTH" — strong identity link between founder and business.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 25 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 67 — succession pressure is live.
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 67. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 25 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 25 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.
Group structure
Frenkel Topping Group Plc is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Frenkel Topping Group Plc
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares
⬇
FORTH ASSOCIATES LIMITED
This company · 04308770
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%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Frenkel Topping Group Plc Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting | 22/07/2020 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Mr Richard Ian Elinah Forthceased 22/07/2020· 75-100% 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 · Professional services · M postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABD 42 LTD→ 16483576 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ABODE SWIFT LTD→ 16253103 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ACADEMIC STUDIO LTD→ 11683615 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| ACADEMY FOR DIVINE DIAMONDS LTD→ 14436286 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| ACAP MARKETING LTD→ 16145538 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ACCELERUS LIMITED→ 08628862 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| ACCESS4LOFTS LTD→ 10628875 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| ACCESSIBLE OFFICE LTD→ 12136514 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| ACCESSORY WORLD PRESTWICH LIMITED→ 07967810 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| ACCOUNT-I LIMITED→ 14305313 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| ACCOUNTABULL LIMITED→ 16017573 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ACCOUNTANC PLUS LTD→ 13770038 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
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
Incorporated2001-10-23
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC69201 — Accounting and auditing activities
Registered office
Frenkel House
15 Carolina Way
Salford
Manchester
M50 2ZY
United Kingdom
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-11-06
Last: 2025-10-23
Officers (4 active · 7 resigned)
CULLEN-GRANT, Elaine Nicola→
Activedirector · ~51y · appointed 2020-07-22
View their other companies + combined net worth →
FLINT, Anthony Edward→
Activedirector · ~49y · appointed 2002-03-09
View their other companies + combined net worth →
FORTH, Richard Ian Elinah→
Activedirector · ~55y · appointed 2001-10-23
View their other companies + combined net worth →
FRASER, Richard Cullen→
Activedirector · ~67y · appointed 2020-07-22
View their other companies + combined net worth →
FORTH, Richard Ian Elinah→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2001-10-23 · resigned 2020-07-22
T.I.B. SECRETARIES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 2001-10-23 · resigned 2001-10-23
ANDREWS, Fiona Marie→
Resigneddirector · ~48y · appointed 2003-03-05 · resigned 2007-04-17
DUDLEY, Simon John→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 2003-02-01 · resigned 2009-07-09
KEELING, Timothy→
Resigneddirector · ~48y · appointed 2007-09-01 · resigned 2016-04-30
KEELING, Timothy Robert→
Resigneddirector · ~48y · appointed 2001-10-23 · resigned 2002-03-09
T.I.B. NOMINEES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-director · appointed 2001-10-23 · resigned 2001-10-23
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
6
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:6 of 6 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Santander Santander UK PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 18/01/2024 | — | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank PLC (Trading as Both Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank) (Company Number SC001111) | A registered charge | — | 10/03/2017 | 02/11/2023 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Commercial Finance Limited | All assets debenture | 1 property | 20/10/2009 | 17/07/2020 | |
| satisfied | Amazon House Properties Amazon House Properties Limited | Rent deposit deed | 1 property | 16/02/2009 | 13/04/2012 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Legal charge | 2 properties | 11/12/2006 | 16/03/2021 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Debenture | 1 property | 23/04/2002 | 02/11/2023 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (111 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-10-29
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-04-30
change-sail-address-company-with-old-address-new-address
address · AD02
2025-04-16
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-10-25
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2024-05-13
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2024-02-01
memorandum-articles
incorporation · MA
2024-02-01
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2024-01-19
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-11-03
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2023-11-02
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2023-11-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2023-05-02
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-11-07
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2022-05-19
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-11-02