AXE & STATUS MACHINERY LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
05036242 · ltd · incorporated 2004-02-05
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.
Opportunity decay
hardening · 12-months
Already tight — no obvious softening catalysts on the horizon.
- · Thesis: well-run, low negotiation leverage
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 46140
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 76-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 76). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 4 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
7 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 22.1y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 22.1 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 35/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
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
7 charges (7/7 with lender, 7/7 with type)
90
Directors & officers
6 officers (4 active, 6 linked, 3 with DOB)
80
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 4 total, 4 with control declared
90
Director network
5 connected companies via shared directors
60
Filing history
88 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.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 persons-with-significant-control
Last 180 days
2
filings
- • 1 persons-with-significant-control
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (40 events)Click to expand
- 2026-03-20📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2025-11-11📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-07-11📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-07-08🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Synergy in Trade LTD
- 2025-05-02📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-extendedaccounts · AA01
- 2024-04-15📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-12-20📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2023-10-09📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-10-09📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-10-02➕SMITH, Lesley-Anne appointeddirector
- 2023-10-02➕THOMAS, Vannapha appointeddirector
- 2023-06-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-04-04📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2023-04-03📄change-person-secretary-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH03
- 2023-04-03📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2023-02-17📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2023-02-16📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2022-07-25📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-04-21📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2022-04-20🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Synergy in Trade LTD
- 2022-01-26📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2022-01-26📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2021-10-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-03-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2015-05-23🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2012-01-26🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2011-08-16🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ)
- 2011-08-13🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2010-08-05🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ)
- 2008-10-09🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2008-07-30🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ)
- 2005-05-24🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited
- 2004-05-06🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2004-02-05🏢Company incorporatedAs AXE & STATUS MACHINERY LIMITED
- 2004-02-05➕THOMAS, Vannapha appointedsecretary
- 2004-02-05➕THOMAS, Steven Gerard appointeddirector
- 2004-02-05➕LONDON LAW SECRETARIAL LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2004-02-05➖LONDON LAW SECRETARIAL LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2004-02-05➕LONDON LAW SERVICES LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-director
- 2004-02-05➖LONDON LAW SERVICES 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 22 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 76 — succession pressure is live.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
80/100
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 76 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 22 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Steven Gerard Thomas Individual · British · DOB 07/1966 · age 60 | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 06/04/2016 |
3 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Alan John Thomasceased 20/10/2022· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
- Steven Gerard Thomasceased 06/04/2016· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
- Alan John Thomasceased 06/04/2016· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
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 · MK postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AURORA FOR GOOD LTD→ 11385155 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| AUTOMEC EQUIPMENT & PARTS LIMITED→ 01333857 · est 1977 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 48y | — | — |
| AUTOPUMPS UK LTD→ 06229026 · est 2007 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
| AVALON ORGANICS LTD→ 16289433 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AVLS REMOVALS LTD→ 14511064 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| AXONFLOW LTD→ 17076266 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AZYMUSUK LIMITED→ 16791232 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BAJGIN LTD→ 16158385 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| BAKITAPANO LTD→ 17044889 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BALANCE SYSTEMS INNOVATIONS LTD→ 08802954 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| BALLOU FINDINGS LIMITED→ 02223572 · est 1988 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 38y | — | — |
| BALLYDUFF PLANT SALES LIMITED→ 03250387 · est 1996 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 29y | — | — |
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
Incorporated2004-02-05
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC46140 — SIC 46140
Registered office
2 Holdom Avenue
Saxon Park, Bletchley
Milton Keynes
Bucks
MK1 1QU
United Kingdom
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-02-03
Last: 2026-01-20
Officers (4 active · 2 resigned)
Active
SMITH, Lesley-Anne→
Activedirector · ~76y · appointed 2023-10-02
View their other companies + combined net worth →
THOMAS, Steven Gerard→
Activedirector · ~60y · appointed 2004-02-05
View their other companies + combined net worth →
THOMAS, Vannapha→
Activedirector · ~56y · appointed 2023-10-02
View their other companies + combined net worth →
LONDON LAW SECRETARIAL LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2004-02-05 · resigned 2004-02-05
LONDON LAW SERVICES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 2004-02-05 · resigned 2004-02-05
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
7
Total charges
3
Outstanding
2
Active lenders
Status:Lender:7 of 7 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Synergy in Trade Synergy in Trade LTD | A registered charge | — | 08/07/2025 | — | |
| outstanding | Synergy in Trade Synergy in Trade LTD | A registered charge | — | 20/04/2022 | — | |
| satisfied | Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ) | Memorandum of security over cash deposits | 1 property | 16/08/2011 | 26/01/2012 | |
| satisfied | Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ) | Memorandum of security over cash deposits | 1 property | 05/08/2010 | 13/08/2011 | |
| outstanding | Svenska Handelsbanken Ab (Publ) | Debenture | 1 property | 30/07/2008 | — | |
| satisfied | Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited | Rent deposit deed | 1 property | 24/05/2005 | 23/05/2015 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 06/05/2004 | 09/10/2008 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (88 total)
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2026-03-20
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-01-26
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-11-11
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-07-11
change-account-reference-date-company-previous-extended
accounts · AA01
2025-05-02
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-01-21
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-04-15
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-01-24
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2023-12-20
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2023-10-09
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2023-10-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-06-12
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2023-04-04
change-person-secretary-company-with-change-date
officers · CH03
2023-04-03
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2023-04-03