ZF AUTOMOTIVE HOLDINGS (UK) LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
04609841 · ltd · incorporated 2002-12-05
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.
Why now
Window steady · low confidence
Steady and tidy — no seller pressure yet. Approach only if an angle opens.
Opportunity decay
hardening · 12-months
Already tight — no obvious softening catalysts on the horizon.
- · Thesis: well-run, low negotiation leverage
What changed my view
Last 30 days
No material changes in the last 30 days.
Last 90 days
No snapshot from 90 days ago — start tracking from today.
Last 180 days
No snapshot from 180 days ago — start tracking from today.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
77/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Activities of head offices
Sector: Professional, scientific & technical
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and bankable structure.
Opportunity 77/100 (strong), bankability 77/100. Strong seller-intent signal (60/100, director aged 59). 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
5 live charges · 5 lenders · oldest 23.3y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 23.3 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 5 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 30/100 — 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
5 charges (5/5 with lender, 5/5 with type)
90
Directors & officers
31 officers (3 active, 31 linked, 26 with DOB)
87
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
14 connected companies via shared directors
87
Filing history
165 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
77/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
70
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
3
filings
- • 2 officers
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (89 events)Click to expand
- 2026-03-21📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2026-01-13📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2026-01-01➕MORRIS, Jacob Zachary appointeddirector
- 2025-12-31➖PANASER, Bal resigneddirector
- 2025-10-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-02-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-10-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-11-25📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-10-31📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2022-10-26➕PANASER, Bal appointeddirector
- 2022-10-18📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-10-14➖LAKIE, Peter Ross resigneddirector
- 2022-04-14➖MCQUEEN, Alastair Malcolm resigneddirector
- 2022-04-14📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2022-04-14📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-04-04➕BIRK, Arjan Singh appointeddirector
- 2021-11-23➕LAKIE, Peter Ross appointeddirector
- 2021-11-23📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2021-11-09📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2021-10-30➖BRAITHWAITE, Julia Anne resigneddirector
- 2021-10-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2021-10-20📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2021-10-01📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2021-09-28📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2021-09-28📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2021-01-06📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2020-12-31➖SHATTOCK, Daniel Edward resigneddirector
- 2020-12-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2020-02-10🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2020-02-10🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2020-02-10🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2020-02-10🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2020-02-10🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2019-12-31➖CHITTKA, Fritz resigneddirector
- 2019-12-31➖WAY, Michael John resigneddirector
- 2019-10-02➖PEGG, Jane resignedsecretary
- 2018-05-22➕BRAITHWAITE, Julia Anne appointeddirector
- 2018-03-31➖JANKOWSKI, Mark William resigneddirector
- 2017-09-04➕MCQUEEN, Alastair Malcolm appointeddirector
- 2017-08-31➖FURBER, Martin Christopher resigneddirector
- 2016-09-30➖GWOZDZ, Maciej Dominik resigneddirector
- 2015-09-30➕JANKOWSKI, Mark William appointeddirector
- 2015-09-30➖RAPIN, Peter Richard resigneddirector
- 2015-06-30➖LECHNER, Reinhard resigneddirector
- 2015-05-14➕CHITTKA, Fritz appointeddirector
- 2015-05-14➕SHATTOCK, Daniel Edward appointeddirector
- 2015-01-01➕BATTERBEE, Stephen Mark appointeddirector
- 2015-01-01➕GWOZDZ, Maciej Dominik appointeddirector
- 2014-12-31➖BASSETT, Anthony resigneddirector
- 2014-11-07➖DEGEN, Michael Gunther resigneddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 89 events
Owner dependency
58/100
Moderate — manageable with handoverSome founder dependency, but not acute. A structured handover period should cover most risk.
FACTORS
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 59 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
45/100
Moderate signalSome succession indicators present. Worth watching; approach if sector/strategy fits.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 59. Early succession window.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stadt Friedrichshafen Individual | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control · trust interest | 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 · Professional services · B postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIU PARTNERS LTD→ 16069113 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AJH ENGINEERING DESIGN LTD→ 16860083 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AJS CONSULTANTS LTD→ 17003781 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AK&M CONSULTING LIMITED→ 11678013 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| AKG FINANCIAL CONSULTANTS LTD→ 10636707 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| AKKH ASSOCIATES LTD→ 15520132 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| AKP COMPANY SERVICES LIMITED→ 11200706 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| AKP INDEMNITY SERVICES LIMITED→ 11199729 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| AKRAM GROUP LIMITED→ 12629775 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| AKS INTERIM LTD→ 10777261 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| AKT MANAGEMENT LIMITED→ 12925943 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| AL ACCOUNTANTS LTD→ 15295791 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
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
Incorporated2002-12-05
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC70100 — Activities of head offices
Registered office
The Hub Central Boulevard
Shirley
Solihull
West Midlands
B90 8BG
United Kingdom
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-12-22
Last: 2025-12-08
Officers (3 active · 28 resigned)
BATTERBEE, Stephen Mark→
Activedirector · ~59y · appointed 2015-01-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BIRK, Arjan Singh→
Activedirector · ~59y · appointed 2022-04-04
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MORRIS, Jacob Zachary→
Activedirector · ~48y · appointed 2026-01-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
GREGG, Rhona→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2003-03-11 · resigned 2004-05-13
HALL, Melanie Jane→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2004-11-10 · resigned 2008-10-31
LAMBOURNE, Alan Robert→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2004-05-13 · resigned 2004-11-10
PEGG, Jane→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2008-10-31 · resigned 2019-10-02
CLIFFORD CHANCE SECRETARIES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2002-12-05 · resigned 2003-03-11
ALMOND, Paul Martin→
Resigneddirector · ~71y · appointed 2003-03-11 · resigned 2012-12-31
ASTROF, Joshua Herbert→
Resigneddirector · ~55y · appointed 2003-02-28 · resigned 2003-03-11
BASSETT, Anthony→
Resigneddirector · ~78y · appointed 2010-08-09 · resigned 2014-12-31
BRAITHWAITE, Julia Anne→
Resigneddirector · ~59y · appointed 2018-05-22 · resigned 2021-10-30
CHITTKA, Fritz→
Resigneddirector · ~67y · appointed 2015-05-14 · resigned 2019-12-31
DEGEN, Michael Gunther→
Resigneddirector · ~69y · appointed 2010-01-12 · resigned 2014-11-07
ELMS, Barry Albert→
Resigneddirector · ~73y · appointed 2007-12-07 · resigned 2010-08-09
FURBER, Martin Christopher→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2010-08-09 · resigned 2017-08-31
GWOZDZ, Maciej Dominik→
Resigneddirector · ~51y · appointed 2015-01-01 · resigned 2016-09-30
JANKOWSKI, Mark William→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2015-09-30 · resigned 2018-03-31
KINDELAN, Hilary Annemarie→
Resigneddirector · ~66y · appointed 2007-12-19 · resigned 2010-08-09
LAKIE, Peter Ross→
Resigneddirector · ~60y · appointed 2021-11-23 · resigned 2022-10-14
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
5
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:5 of 5 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as the Collateral Agent | Security agreement | 1 property | 27/02/2013 | 10/02/2020 | |
| satisfied | J P Morgan Chase Bank N a (As Collateral Agent) | Share pledge agreement | 1 property | 26/02/2009 | 10/02/2020 | |
| satisfied | J P Morgan Chase Bank N a (The Collateral Agent) | Security agreement | 1 property | 07/08/2007 | 10/02/2020 | |
| satisfied | Jp Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (As the Collateral Agent) | Security agreement | 1 property | 04/01/2005 | 10/02/2020 | |
| satisfied | Jp Morgan Chase Bank | Security agreement | 1 property | 28/02/2003 | 10/02/2020 |
Recent filings (165 total)
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2026-03-21
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-03-19
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2026-01-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-10-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-02-26
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-12-17
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-12-24
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2023-10-09
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-01-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2022-11-25
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2022-10-31
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2022-10-18
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2022-04-14
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2022-04-14
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-01-13