BESTWORTH LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
04629662 · ltd · incorporated 2003-01-07
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
approaching window · 12-months
Approaching a transaction window — refinance or sale event plausible in the next 12 months.
- · Oldest live charge 23.2y old — refinance window within 12 months
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Jun 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 71-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 75/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 71). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Discharge stale live charges. 3 live charge(s) created 15+ years ago — likely paid but undischarged. Clean register. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
8 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 23.2y
50/100
clean up first
Refinance viable after a tidy-up — address the highlighted items first.
- · Oldest live charge is 23.2 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: high (80/100)Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.
Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
8 charges (8/8 with lender, 8/8 with type)
90
Directors & officers
9 officers (3 active, 9 linked, 4 with DOB)
79
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
7 connected companies via shared directors
66
Filing history
99 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 | 2025-06-30 | 2024-06-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Average employees | 3 | 300 |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
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
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Last 180 days
2
filings
- • 1 accounts
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (45 events)Click to expand
- 2026-03-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2024-12-05📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2024-12-03📄capital-name-of-class-of-sharescapital · SH08
- 2024-09-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2024-04-26📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2023-11-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2023-03-15📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2023-03-15📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2023-02-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2022-07-14📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2021-12-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2021-04-16📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2020-05-12📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2019-11-05📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2019-10-29📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2019-06-10📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2019-06-07➕BURTON, David appointeddirector
- 2017-11-23➕UPEX, Philip James appointeddirector
- 2010-01-27➖SLYFIELD, Lorna resignedsecretary
- 2008-01-09🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2007-11-24🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Abbey National PLC
- 2007-11-24🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Abbey National PLC
- 2007-10-27🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2007-10-27🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2007-10-27🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2007-10-27🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2007-03-02➖BURTON, Mark resigneddirector
- 2005-09-01🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
- 2005-09-01🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
- 2004-11-22🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
- 2004-08-19🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
- 2004-07-30🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
- 2004-07-05➕BURTON, Mark appointeddirector
- 2003-10-14➖KERRIDGE, Ruth resignedsecretary
- 2003-10-14➕SLYFIELD, Lorna appointedsecretary
- 2003-03-18🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
- 2003-02-20➕KERRIDGE, Ruth appointedsecretary
- 2003-02-20➖SLYFIELD, Lorna resignedsecretary
- 2003-01-07🏢Company incorporatedAs BESTWORTH LIMITED
- 2003-01-07➕BURTON, John Richard appointeddirector
- 2003-01-07➕SLYFIELD, Lorna appointedsecretary
- 2003-01-07➕CHALFEN SECRETARIES LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2003-01-07➖CHALFEN SECRETARIES LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2003-01-07➕CHALFEN NOMINEES LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-director
- 2003-01-07➖CHALFEN NOMINEES 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
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 23 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 71 — succession pressure is live.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
90/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 71 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 23 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 23 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
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr John Richard Burton Individual · British · DOB 12/1955 · age 71 | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 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 · Wholesale & distribution · OX postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A W MOBBS & CO LIMITED→ 07037680 · est 2009 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
| ABINGDON WOOD YARD LTD→ 13530218 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| ADVANCED MEDICAL SYSTEMS LTD.→ 03476650 · est 1997 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 28y | — | — |
| ALBARAKAH TRADE-LINK (UK) LIMITED→ 02559849 · est 1990 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 35y | — | — |
| ALWAYS EVERYTHING LTD→ 15164272 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ANATOLIAN OLIVE OIL COMPANY LTD→ 11037467 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| BALL COLEGRAVE LIMITED→ 01577898 · est 1981 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 44y | — | — |
| BANBURY COMMODITIES LIMITED→ 10483807 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| BECKLEY PSYTECH LIMITED→ 11496099 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| BICESTER ORIGINALS LTD→ 12398489 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| BIESTERFELD PETROPLAS LIMITED→ 04493327 · est 2002 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 23y | — | — |
| BIO-TECHNE LTD→ 02490104 · est 1990 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 36y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
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 →🔒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
Incorporated2003-01-07
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC46390 — Non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco
Registered office
First Floor 1 Des Roches Square
Witan Way
Witney
Oxfordshire
OX28 4BE
United Kingdom
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-03-31
Last made up to: 2025-06-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-01-13
Last: 2025-12-30
Officers (3 active · 6 resigned)
BURTON, David→
Activedirector · ~41y · appointed 2019-06-07
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BURTON, John Richard→
Activedirector · ~71y · appointed 2003-01-07
View their other companies + combined net worth →
UPEX, Philip James→
Activedirector · ~63y · appointed 2017-11-23
View their other companies + combined net worth →
KERRIDGE, Ruth→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2003-02-20 · resigned 2003-10-14
SLYFIELD, Lorna→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2003-10-14 · resigned 2010-01-27
SLYFIELD, Lorna→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2003-01-07 · resigned 2003-02-20
CHALFEN SECRETARIES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2003-01-07 · resigned 2003-01-07
BURTON, Mark→
Resigneddirector · ~55y · appointed 2004-07-05 · resigned 2007-03-02
CHALFEN NOMINEES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 2003-01-07 · resigned 2003-01-07
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
8
Total charges
3
Outstanding
2
Active lenders
Status:Lender:8 of 8 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Santander Abbey National PLC | Assignment of rental income | 1 property | 24/11/2007 | — | |
| outstanding | Santander Abbey National PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 24/11/2007 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | Mortgage | 1 property | 01/09/2005 | 27/10/2007 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | Mortgage | 1 property | 01/09/2005 | 27/10/2007 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | Mortgage | 1 property | 22/11/2004 | 27/10/2007 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | Mortgage | 1 property | 19/08/2004 | 27/10/2007 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | Debenture deed | 1 property | 30/07/2004 | 09/01/2008 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | Mortgage deed | 1 property | 18/03/2003 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (99 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2026-03-27
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-01-16
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-01-02
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2024-12-05
capital-name-of-class-of-shares
capital · SH08
2024-12-03
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2024-09-20
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2024-04-26
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-03-28
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2023-11-17
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2023-03-15
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2023-03-15
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-03-15
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2023-02-09
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2022-07-14
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-06-14