AUTO CLASSICO LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
04807558 · ltd · incorporated 2003-06-23
Investment thesis
Zombie company — trading but stalled; unlikely mover.
Why interesting: Quiet, steady; could be a succession or carve-out candidate with the right conversation.
Why risky: No growth signal; thin margin for error on price.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Mar 2025
Net worth
£-415.4k
book net assets
Opportunity
82/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 45112
Sector: Wholesale & retail
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
- 45200SIC 45200
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)Distressed active trading company — structural issues outweigh the discount.
Opportunity 82/100 (exceptional), bankability 85/100. Strong seller-intent signal (93/100, director aged 75). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Broaden director team. Sole director creates succession risk and reduces buyer comfort. Appoint a second director or strong #2. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
2 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 17.7y
30/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 17.7 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (76/100)Adequate coverage. AI outputs are reliable for the sections scored high; verify the rest in diligence.
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
2 charges (2/2 with lender, 2/2 with type)
90
Directors & officers
6 officers (1 active, 6 linked, 1 with DOB)
73
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
68 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
82/100Exceptional
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Strong composite across quality, acquirability, and risk. High-priority target — progress to serious diligence.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · FRS 105 (micro)Negative net assets
Liabilities exceed assets by £415,374
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
-£415k
↓ 14% YoY
Current Assets
£94k
~ YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 105 (micro)| Metric | 2025-03-31 | 2024-03-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £-409.0k | £-348.9k |
| Current assets | £93.7k | £92.9k |
| Net assets | £-415.4k | £-364.9k |
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
0
filings
Last 180 days
2
filings
- • 1 mortgage
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (32 events)Click to expand
- 2026-02-06📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2026-02-06🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2025-12-10📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2024-12-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2023-12-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2022-11-11📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2022-03-21📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-03-21🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2021-09-14📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2020-10-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2020-03-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2019-12-30📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2019-03-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2018-12-27📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2018-01-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2017-06-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2016-07-01📄annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholdersannual-return · AR01
- 2016-03-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-smallaccounts · AA
- 2013-08-12🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
- 2008-08-18🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2008-04-02➖MERCER, Christine resignedsecretary
- 2006-03-14➕MERCER, Christine appointedsecretary
- 2006-03-14➖MERCER, Michael Anthony resignedsecretary
- 2005-07-13➕MERCER, Michael Anthony appointedsecretary
- 2005-07-13➖LEGAL SECRETARIES LIMITED resignedcorporate-secretary
- 2003-07-28➕LEGAL SECRETARIES LIMITED appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2003-06-24➕MERCER, Michael Anthony appointeddirector
- 2003-06-23🏢Company incorporatedAs AUTO CLASSICO LIMITED
- 2003-06-23➕CORPORATE ADMINISTRATION SECRETARIES LIMITED appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2003-06-23➖CORPORATE ADMINISTRATION SECRETARIES LIMITED resignedcorporate-secretary
- 2003-06-23➕CORPORATE ADMINISTRATION SERVICES LIMITED appointedcorporate-director
- 2003-06-23➖CORPORATE ADMINISTRATION SERVICES LIMITED resignedcorporate-director
Owner dependency
100/100
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
- +Sole director: Only one active director — all governance concentrated on one person.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 23 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 75 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
100/100
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 75 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- 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
cleanNo red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Michael Anthony Mercer Individual · British · DOB 03/1951 · age 75 | 75–100% | — | 75-100% shares | 24/06/2016 |
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
Similar companies
Active · Automotive · BS postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A&M PROFESSIONAL SERVICES LTD→ 13147986 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| A&T MOTOCROSS PARTS LIMITED→ 07156022 · est 2010 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
| AIRLUX SOLUTIONS LTD→ 16044233 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ASHLEY ENGINES LTD→ 05155486 · est 2004 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 21y | — | — |
| AUTO GARAGE BRISTOL LTD→ 16510753 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AUTO INSIGHT HUB LTD→ 16049845 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AUTO RETAILERS LTD→ 10872393 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| AUTO SPRAY BRISTOL LIMITED→ 11313643 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| AUTO TEAM ROBINSON LTD→ 11257875 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| AUTO-MECH CHEDDAR LTD→ 07604649 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 15y | — | — |
| AUTOAVE LIMITED→ 14230420 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| AUTOBAHN CARS LIMITED→ 11619980 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
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
Incorporated2003-06-23
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC45112 — SIC 45112
Registered office
Ridge Barn,
Westerleigh Road
Bristol
BS36 2UP
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-29
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-07-13
Last: 2025-06-29
Officers (1 active · 5 resigned)
MERCER, Michael Anthony→
Activedirector · ~75y · appointed 2003-06-24
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MERCER, Christine→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2006-03-14 · resigned 2008-04-02
MERCER, Michael Anthony→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2005-07-13 · resigned 2006-03-14
CORPORATE ADMINISTRATION SECRETARIES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 2003-06-23 · resigned 2003-06-23
LEGAL SECRETARIES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 2003-07-28 · resigned 2005-07-13
CORPORATE ADMINISTRATION SERVICES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-director · appointed 2003-06-23 · resigned 2003-06-23
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
2
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:2 of 2 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 12/08/2013 | 21/03/2022 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 18/08/2008 | 06/02/2026 |
Recent filings (68 total)
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2026-02-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2025-12-10
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-07-07
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2024-12-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-06-30
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2023-12-21
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-06-29
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2022-11-11
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-07-04
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2022-03-21
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2021-09-14
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-06-23
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2020-10-18
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-06-28
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2020-03-30