ACE FORMING LIMITED

🌳Matureactive
04630112 · 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 12.7y old — refinance window within 12 months
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
🔔
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What this business does
Primary activity: Machining
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
Pursue
Strong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and bankable structure.

Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 80/100. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

1 live charge · oldest 12.7y

85/100
ready

Refinance conversation should be productive — structure clean and timing right.

  • · Oldest live charge is 12.7 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · Single lender — cleanest path to refinance.
  • · Legal-friction score 15/100 — clean.

Data confidence

Overall: medium (57/100)

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
1 charges (1/1 with lender, 1/1 with type)
90
Directors & officers
13 officers (5 active, 13 linked, 9 with DOB)
84
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
79 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
70
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
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
1
filing
  • • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (38 events)Click to expand
  1. 2025-12-29
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  2. 2025-10-09
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  3. 2024-12-31
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  4. 2024-01-09
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  5. 2023-01-31
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  6. 2021-11-30
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  7. 2021-10-18
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  8. 2021-01-25
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  9. 2019-12-31
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  10. 2018-11-30
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  11. 2017-10-10
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  12. 2017-08-08
    📄
    appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP03
  13. 2017-08-08
    📄
    termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM02
  14. 2017-08-08
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  15. 2017-07-31
    ➕
    BALL, Christopher John appointed
    secretary
  16. 2017-07-31
    ➖
    WILES, Ian Marston resigned
    secretary
  17. 2017-07-31
    ➖
    WILES, Ian Marston resigned
    director
  18. 2017-06-27
    ➖
    MERCHANT, David Phillip resigned
    director
  19. 2017-06-27
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  20. 2016-12-08
    ➕
    POWELL, Jayne appointed
    director
  21. 2016-12-08
    ➕
    WHATELEY, Ian William appointed
    director
  22. 2016-12-08
    ➕
    MERCHANT, David Phillip appointed
    director
  23. 2014-02-07
    ➕
    WINCHESTER, Andrew appointed
    director
  24. 2013-08-22
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  25. 2013-05-10
    ➖
    HARRIS, Jeffrey Alan resigned
    director
  26. 2011-08-25
    ➕
    WILES, Ian Marston appointed
    director
  27. 2011-08-05
    ➖
    PEELER, Philip resigned
    director
  28. 2011-06-02
    ➕
    BALL, Christopher John appointed
    director
  29. 2011-06-02
    ➕
    HARRIS, Jeffrey Alan appointed
    director
  30. 2011-06-02
    ➖
    ROLLASON, Alan Gregory resigned
    director
  31. 2003-01-07
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As ACE FORMING LIMITED
  32. 2003-01-07
    ➕
    WILES, Ian Marston appointed
    secretary
  33. 2003-01-07
    ➕
    NOMINEE COMPANY SECRETARIES LIMITED appointed
    corporate-secretary
  34. 2003-01-07
    ➖
    NOMINEE COMPANY SECRETARIES LIMITED resigned
    corporate-secretary
  35. 2003-01-07
    ➕
    PEELER, Philip appointed
    director
  36. 2003-01-07
    ➕
    ROLLASON, Alan Gregory appointed
    director
  37. 2003-01-07
    ➕
    NOMINEE COMPANY DIRECTORS LIMITED appointed
    corporate-director
  38. 2003-01-07
    ➖
    NOMINEE COMPANY DIRECTORS LIMITED resigned
    corporate-director

Owner dependency

48/100
Moderate — manageable with handover

Some founder dependency, but not acute. A structured handover period should cover most risk.

FACTORS
  • -4 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
  • +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 63 — approaching natural succession window.

Succession & seller-readiness

73/100
Strong succession signal

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

SIGNALS
  • primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 63. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
  • secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 15 years.
  • 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

clean
No red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)

Group structure

Advanced Chemical Etching Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.

🏛️
Advanced Chemical Etching Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares
ultimate parent
⬇
ACE FORMING LIMITED
This company · 04630112

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%
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Advanced Chemical Etching Limited
Corporate entity
75–100%
—75-100% shares06/01/2017

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 →

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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
Incorporated2003-01-07
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC25620 — Machining

Registered office

Tudor House
37a Birmingham New Road
Wolverhampton
West Midlands
WV4 6BL

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-10-18
Last: 2025-10-04

Officers (5 active · 8 resigned)

BALL, Christopher John→
secretary · appointed 2017-07-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BALL, Christopher John→
director · ~57y · appointed 2011-06-02
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
POWELL, Jayne→
director · ~56y · appointed 2016-12-08
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
WHATELEY, Ian William→
director · ~63y · appointed 2016-12-08
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
WINCHESTER, Andrew→
director · ~62y · appointed 2014-02-07
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
WILES, Ian Marston→
secretary · appointed 2003-01-07 · resigned 2017-07-31
Resigned
NOMINEE COMPANY SECRETARIES LIMITED→
corporate-secretary · appointed 2003-01-07 · resigned 2003-01-07
Resigned
HARRIS, Jeffrey Alan→
director · ~73y · appointed 2011-06-02 · resigned 2013-05-10
Resigned
MERCHANT, David Phillip→
director · ~44y · appointed 2016-12-08 · resigned 2017-06-27
Resigned
PEELER, Philip→
director · ~73y · appointed 2003-01-07 · resigned 2011-08-05
Resigned
ROLLASON, Alan Gregory→
director · ~79y · appointed 2003-01-07 · resigned 2011-06-02
Resigned
WILES, Ian Marston→
director · ~75y · appointed 2011-08-25 · resigned 2017-07-31
Resigned
NOMINEE COMPANY DIRECTORS LIMITED→
corporate-director · appointed 2003-01-07 · resigned 2003-01-07
Resigned

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

Mortgages & charges

1
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:1 of 1 shown
TypeProperties
outstanding
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
A registered charge1 property22/08/2013—
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (79 total)

accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-12-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-10-09
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-10-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-12-31
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-10-08
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-01-09
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-10-17
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-01-31
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-10-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-11-30
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2021-10-18
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-10-18
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-01-25
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-11-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2019-12-31