AST SIGNS LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
04564916 · ltd · incorporated 2002-10-16
Investment thesis
Established operating company — standard diligence applies, no dominant angle.
Why interesting: Live, filing, normal profile.
Why risky: No standout signals in either direction.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Dec 2024
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Other business support service activities n.e.c.
Sector: Administrative & support services
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
- 96090Other service activities n.e.c.
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 65-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (83/100, director aged 65). 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).
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Refinance opportunity
12 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 21.4y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 21.4 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: high (81/100)Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.
Company profile
address, 2 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
12 charges (12/12 with lender, 12/12 with type)
90
Directors & officers
5 officers (3 active, 5 linked, 2 with DOB)
78
Ownership & PSC
3 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
11 connected companies via shared directors
78
Filing history
92 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.
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 · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2024-12-31 | 2023-12-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Average employees | 4900 | 5100 |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
4 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
0
filings
Last 180 days
0
filings
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (48 events)Click to expand
- 2025-11-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-11-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-12-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-12-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-12-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-12-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-12-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-12-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-12-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-12-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-12-14📄mortgage-charge-whole-cease-with-charge-numbermortgage · MR05
- 2022-12-14📄mortgage-charge-whole-cease-with-charge-numbermortgage · MR05
- 2022-12-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-12-14🔓Charge satisfied #12
- 2022-12-14🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 2022-12-14🔓Charge satisfied #9
- 2022-12-14🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2022-12-14🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2022-12-14🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2022-12-14🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2022-12-14🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2022-10-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-01-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-12-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-10-24📍move-registers-to-sail-company-with-new-addressaddress · AD03
- 2020-10-24📍change-sail-address-company-with-new-addressaddress · AD02
- 2018-12-07🔒Charge registered #12Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2015-11-13🔒Charge registered #11Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2015-08-21🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2015-08-21🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2015-06-08🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2015-04-29🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2014-10-15🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2014-02-28🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2014-01-22🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2013-12-20🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2013-10-30🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2013-01-14🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2011-01-07🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC
- 2004-12-22🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2002-10-16🏢Company incorporatedAs AST SIGNS LIMITED
- 2002-10-16➕BUTCHER, Richard Edward Charles appointedsecretary
- 2002-10-16➕ASTON, Mark Gerald appointeddirector
- 2002-10-16➕STOBART, William appointeddirector
- 2002-10-16➕SWIFT INCORPORATIONS LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2002-10-16➖SWIFT INCORPORATIONS LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2002-10-16➕INSTANT COMPANIES LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-director
- 2002-10-16➖INSTANT COMPANIES LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-director
Owner dependency
83/100
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
- +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 24 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 65 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
86/100
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 65. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- 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
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Shareholders & ownership
3 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr William Stobart Individual · British · DOB 11/1961 · age 65 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 06/04/2016 |
Mr Mark Gerald Aston Individual · British · DOB 10/1971 · age 55 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 06/04/2016 |
Mrs Anna Aston Individual · British · DOB 05/1982 · age 44 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 06/04/2016 |
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 · Trade services · CA postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. W. JENKINSON BUSINESS SERVICES LTD→ 13561840 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| ANGEL HAIR SALON LIMITED→ 06550695 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
| ANNEDERSKY PROPERTIES HOLDINGS LIMITED→ 13502333 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| ARC INVESTIGATIONS LIMITED→ 11919550 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| ASHLEIGH'S DOMESTIC SERVICES LTD→ 16457534 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ASHNESS FARM LIMITED→ 07991414 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| ASKJ CONSULTANCY SERVICES LIMITED→ 12246022 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| ASQUITH-VALLANCE LIMITED→ 09470965 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| ATELIER HAIR COUTURE LIMITED→ 06094245 · est 2007 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 19y | — | — |
| AUNTIE BAC CLEANERS LTD→ 12266711 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| AUTO CLEAN CAR WASH LIMITED→ 16969135 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AUTO CLEAN HAND CAR WASH LIMITED→ 14647453 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
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
Incorporated2002-10-16
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC82990 — Other business support service activities n.e.c.
Registered office
The Box
Eden Business Park
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 9FB
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-10-22
Last: 2025-10-08
Officers (3 active · 2 resigned)
BUTCHER, Richard Edward Charles→
Activesecretary · appointed 2002-10-16
View their other companies + combined net worth →
ASTON, Mark Gerald→
Activedirector · ~55y · appointed 2002-10-16
View their other companies + combined net worth →
STOBART, William→
Activedirector · ~65y · appointed 2002-10-16
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SWIFT INCORPORATIONS LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2002-10-16 · resigned 2002-10-16
INSTANT COMPANIES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 2002-10-16 · resigned 2002-10-16
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
12
Total charges
2
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:12 of 12 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 07/12/2018 | 14/12/2022 | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 13/11/2015 | — | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 21/08/2015 | 14/12/2022 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 21/08/2015 | 14/12/2022 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 08/06/2015 | 14/12/2022 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 29/04/2015 | 14/12/2022 | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 15/10/2014 | — | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 28/02/2014 | 14/12/2022 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 20/12/2013 | 14/12/2022 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 30/10/2013 | 14/12/2022 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 07/01/2011 | 22/01/2014 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 22/12/2004 | 14/01/2013 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (92 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-11-04
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-10-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-11-21
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-10-16
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-12-21
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-10-09
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2022-12-14
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2022-12-14
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2022-12-14
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2022-12-14
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2022-12-14
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2022-12-14
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2022-12-14
mortgage-charge-whole-cease-with-charge-number
mortgage · MR05
2022-12-14
mortgage-charge-whole-cease-with-charge-number
mortgage · MR05
2022-12-14