DAVID PAULL (CNC) ENGINEERING LIMITED

🌳Matureactive

04378564 · ltd · incorporated 2002-02-21

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

—

year to Mar 2026

Net worth

£3.04M

book net assets

Opportunity

80/100

Exceptional

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What this business does

Primary activity: Machining

Sector: Manufacturing

Investor take

Pursue

Active trading company with a 62-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 80/100 (exceptional), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (60/100, director aged 62). 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

4 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 18.1y

35/100

too messy

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

· Oldest live charge is 18.1 years old — likely at or near maturity.
· 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
· Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.

Data confidence

Overall: medium (77/100)

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

2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed

Lenders & charges

4 charges (4/4 with lender, 4/4 with type)

Directors & officers

11 officers (3 active, 11 linked, 7 with DOB)

Ownership & PSC

1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared

Director network

Network not yet resolved

Filing history

107 filings on record

Gazette notices

No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)

Opportunity Score

80/100Exceptional

PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional

Strong composite across quality, acquirability, and risk. High-priority target — progress to serious diligence.

Business quality

Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.

Acquirability

Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.

Risk profile

Few red flags.

Signal strength

100

Good data coverage for analysis.

Signals from accounts

Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declared

Positive net assets

Net assets £3,044,140

Cash YoY

+58%

Year on year

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts

Cash

£708k

↑ 58% YoY

Net Worth

£3.0m

↑ 21% YoY

Current Assets

—

Current Liabilities

—

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown

Metric	2026-03-31	2025-03-31
Cash	£708.1k	£447.4k
Net assets	£3.04M	£2.52M

Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.

🔒Filing-note intelligence

2 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

filings

Last 90 days

filing

• 1 accounts

Last 180 days

filings

• 1 accounts
• 1 confirmation-statement

Counts from Companies House filing history.

Corporate timeline (44 events)Click to expand

2026-05-20
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-07-08
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-07-22
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-10-20
📄
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2023-10-20
🔓
Charge satisfied #3
2023-07-21
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-03-14
➖
GOLDSWORTHY, Colin John resigned
director
2023-03-14
📄
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2023-02-21
📄
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2022-07-15
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-09-29
📄
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
2021-09-20
📄
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2021-09-20
📄
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2021-06-28
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-02-16
📄
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2021-02-11
🔒
Charge registered #4
Lender: Barclays Security Trustee Limited
2021-01-28
📄
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2021-01-28
🔓
Charge satisfied #2
2021-01-27
📄
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2021-01-22
➕
ANTHONY, Phillip Lloyd appointed
director
2020-07-16
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2019-07-29
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2017-04-06
➖
PROCTOR, David resigned
secretary
2017-04-06
➖
PROCTOR, David resigned
director
2017-04-06
🔒
Charge registered #3
Lender: David Proctor
2015-02-17
➖
STEPHENS, Roger Bennett resigned
director
2012-01-05
🔒
Charge registered #2
Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
2011-12-22
🔓
Charge satisfied #1
2008-06-05
🔒
Charge registered #1
Lender: South West of England Regional Development Agency
2008-03-03
➕
TREVAIL, Richard John appointed
director
2008-03-03
➕
GOLDSWORTHY, Colin John appointed
director
2005-09-17
➖
PAULL, John David resigned
secretary
2005-09-17
➕
PROCTOR, David appointed
secretary
2005-09-17
➖
PAULL, John David resigned
director
2002-02-21
🏢
Company incorporated
As DAVID PAULL (CNC) ENGINEERING LIMITED
2002-02-21
➕
LEGG, Martin appointed
director
2002-02-21
➕
PAULL, John David appointed
secretary
2002-02-21
➕
WATERLOW SECRETARIES LIMITED appointed
corporate-nominee-secretary
2002-02-21
➖
WATERLOW SECRETARIES LIMITED resigned
corporate-nominee-secretary
2002-02-21
➕
PAULL, John David appointed
director
2002-02-21
➕
PROCTOR, David appointed
director
2002-02-21
➕
STEPHENS, Roger Bennett appointed
director
2002-02-21
➕
WATERLOW NOMINEES LIMITED appointed
corporate-nominee-director
2002-02-21
➖
WATERLOW NOMINEES LIMITED resigned
corporate-nominee-director

Owner dependency

68/100

High — earn-out structure required

Material 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 62 — approaching natural succession window.

Succession & seller-readiness

70/100

Strong succession signal

Multiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.

SIGNALS

secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 62. Early succession window.
primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 24 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 24 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

David Paull Holdings Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.

🏛️

David Paull Holdings Limited

Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control

ultimate parent

⬇

DAVID PAULL (CNC) ENGINEERING LIMITED

This company · 04378564

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
David Paull Holdings Limited Corporate entity	75–100%	75–100%	board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control	06/04/2017

2 historic (ceased) PSCs

Mr David Proctorceased 06/04/2017· 50-75% shares · 50-75% voting · board control
Mr Martin Leggceased 06/04/2017· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting

From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.

Similar companies

Active · Manufacturing · TR postcode area

Company	Est. value	Turnover	Net worth	Staff	Age	Opp	Director
CHRISTIAN PAUL LTD→ 05448842 · est 2005 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	20y	—	—
COUNTRY COW DESIGNS LIMITED→ 13261839 · est 2021 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	5y	—	—
COWLEY STONE & SLATE LTD→ 11684803 · est 2018 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	7y	—	—
CREATURE COMFORTS (CORNWALL) LTD→ 04339115 · est 2001 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	24y	—	—
CUSTOM AWARDS LTD→ 14826062 · est 2023 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	2y	—	—
CYCLE SOLUTIONS THE FALMOUTH BIKE SHOP LTD.→ 04216183 · est 2001 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	24y	—	—
D.C ENGINEERING MAINTENANCE LIMITED→ 14187204 · est 2022 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	3y	—	—
DEAD MAN'S HUT LTD→ 14961931 · est 2023 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	2y	—	—
DESTILLERZ LTD→ 16375305 · est 2025 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	1y	—	—
DEVORAN JOINERY CO LTD→ 07146506 · est 2010 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	16y	—	—
DEVORAN METALS LIMITED→ 00882295 · est 1966 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	59y	—	—
DIGITAL FABRICATIONS LIMITED→ 08530641 · est 2013 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	12y	—	—

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

Incorporated2002-02-21

Jurisdictionengland-wales

Primary SIC25620 — Machining

Registered office

Lowin House

Tregolls Road

Truro

Cornwall

TR1 2NA

Filing status

Accounts

Next due: 2027-12-31

Last made up to: 2026-03-31

Confirmation statement

Next due: 2027-03-07

Last: 2026-02-21

Officers (3 active · 8 resigned)

ANTHONY, Phillip Lloyd→

director · ~33y · appointed 2021-01-22

View their other companies + combined net worth →

Active

LEGG, Martin→

director · ~62y · appointed 2002-02-21

View their other companies + combined net worth →

Active

TREVAIL, Richard John→

director · ~54y · appointed 2008-03-03

View their other companies + combined net worth →

Active

PAULL, John David→

secretary · appointed 2002-02-21 · resigned 2005-09-17

Resigned

PROCTOR, David→

secretary · appointed 2005-09-17 · resigned 2017-04-06

Resigned

WATERLOW SECRETARIES LIMITED→

corporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2002-02-21 · resigned 2002-02-21

Resigned

GOLDSWORTHY, Colin John→

director · ~68y · appointed 2008-03-03 · resigned 2023-03-14

Resigned

PAULL, John David→

director · ~99y · appointed 2002-02-21 · resigned 2005-09-17

Resigned

PROCTOR, David→

director · ~70y · appointed 2002-02-21 · resigned 2017-04-06

Resigned

STEPHENS, Roger Bennett→

director · ~72y · appointed 2002-02-21 · resigned 2015-02-17

Resigned

WATERLOW NOMINEES LIMITED→

corporate-nominee-director · appointed 2002-02-21 · resigned 2002-02-21

Resigned

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

Mortgages & charges

Total charges

Outstanding

Active lenders

Status:Lender:4 of 4 shown

		Type	Properties
outstanding	Barclays Barclays Security Trustee Limited	A registered charge	—	11/02/2021	—
satisfied	David Proctor	A registered charge	1 property	06/04/2017	20/10/2023
satisfied	Barclays Barclays Bank PLC	Debenture	1 property	05/01/2012	28/01/2021
satisfied	South West of England Regional Development Agency	Debenture	1 property	05/06/2008	22/12/2011

Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (107 total)

accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full

accounts · AA

2026-05-20

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates

confirmation-statement · CS01

2026-02-23

accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full

accounts · AA

2025-07-08

confirmation-statement-with-updates

confirmation-statement · CS01

2025-02-24

accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full

accounts · AA

2024-07-22

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates

confirmation-statement · CS01

2024-02-21

mortgage-satisfy-charge-full

mortgage · MR04

2023-10-20

accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full

accounts · AA

2023-07-21

termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date

officers · TM01

2023-03-14

confirmation-statement-with-updates

confirmation-statement · CS01

2023-02-24

change-person-director-company-with-change-date

officers · CH01

2023-02-21

accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full

accounts · AA

2022-07-15

confirmation-statement-with-updates

confirmation-statement · CS01

2022-02-21

notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control

persons-with-significant-control · PSC02

2021-09-29

cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control

persons-with-significant-control · PSC07

2021-09-20