AT ENGINE CONTROLS LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
05087739 · ltd · incorporated 2004-03-30
Investment thesis
Established operating company — standard diligence applies, no dominant angle.
Why interesting: Live, filing, normal profile.
Why risky: No standout signals in either direction.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Jul 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
73/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 26110
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 65-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 73/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. Strong seller-intent signal (83/100, director aged 65). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 6 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
8 live charges · 6 lenders · oldest 21.9y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 21.9 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 6 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: high (82/100)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
12 officers (3 active, 12 linked, 7 with DOB)
82
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
11 connected companies via shared directors
78
Filing history
105 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
73/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
60
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
66
Some moderate concerns — review 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 · FRS 102| Metric | 2025-07-31 | 2024-07-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Average employees | 40 | 3600 |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
3 signals 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 (52 events)Click to expand
- 2026-04-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2026-01-07📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-09-30➖BOWDEN, John Giles resigneddirector
- 2025-09-05➖MORRIS, John resigneddirector
- 2025-09-05📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-07-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2024-11-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2024-07-24📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2024-04-26📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2024-01-30📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2024-01-29🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Time Invoice Finance LTD
- 2023-03-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2023-02-02📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2023-01-26➖ATHERTON, Steven resigneddirector
- 2021-11-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2021-10-28📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2021-10-27🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Rbs Invoice Finance LTD
- 2021-10-14📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2021-09-15📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2021-09-15📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2021-09-15📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2021-09-15📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2021-03-17📄change-person-secretary-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH03
- 2021-02-16📄appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP03
- 2021-01-29➕ABDULLA, Beverley Anne appointedsecretary
- 2021-01-29➕POOLE, Mark Alan appointeddirector
- 2021-01-29➕ATHERTON, Steven appointeddirector
- 2021-01-29🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Andrea Hough
- 2019-08-01➕MORRIS, John appointeddirector
- 2018-12-31➖HASLAM, David Howard resigneddirector
- 2018-04-05🔒Charge registered #5Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2016-10-11➖DAWES, Peter Graham resignedsecretary
- 2016-08-02➖MADDEN, Terence John resigneddirector
- 2014-10-15➕BOWDEN, John Giles appointeddirector
- 2013-03-30🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2013-03-30🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2013-03-30🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2012-11-09🔒Charge registered #4Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2007-10-23➕HASLAM, David Howard appointeddirector
- 2005-12-22🔒Charge registered #3Lender: A E Bullock Limited
- 2005-02-09➕DAWES, Peter Graham appointedsecretary
- 2005-02-09➖MADDEN, Terence John resignedsecretary
- 2004-08-09🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
- 2004-08-09🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
- 2004-07-20➕HOUGH, Andrea Lee appointeddirector
- 2004-07-20➕MADDEN, Terence John appointedsecretary
- 2004-07-20➖BONDLAW SECRETARIES LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2004-07-20➕MADDEN, Terence John appointeddirector
- 2004-07-20➖BONDLAW DIRECTORS LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-director
- 2004-03-30🏢Company incorporatedAs AT ENGINE CONTROLS LIMITED
Showing most recent 50 of 52 events
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
- +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 22 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 65 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
86/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 65. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 22 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 22 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
2 med · 1 low2 director resignations in last 12 months
mediumMultiple recent departures can indicate governance disagreement, succession event, or preparation for sale/stress.
Evidence: BOWDEN, John Giles resigned 2025-09-30; MORRIS, John resigned 2025-09-05
Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
5 live charges
lowHeavily leveraged with multiple live security positions — understand the capital structure before proceeding.
Group structure
Sareline Holdings Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Sareline Holdings Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
AT ENGINE CONTROLS LIMITED
This company · 05087739
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%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sareline Holdings Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 31/07/2018 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Sareline (Eu) Limitedceased 31/07/2018· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control
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
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUTOCONTROL PROCESS INSTRUMENTATION LTD→ 16689816 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AUXANO TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED→ 06959111 · est 2009 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
| AVOCA INDUSTRIAL TECHNICAL TEXTILES LIMITED→ 03792415 · est 1999 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 26y | — | — |
| AWAIS KNITWEAR LIMITED→ 06353887 · est 2007 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
| AWARD MAKER STUDIO LTD→ 16986107 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AYA GOLD LTD→ 15391189 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| AYAAN TEXTILES LTD→ 16406456 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AYRES VIOLINS LIMITED→ 08282730 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| AZIMI GENERAL TRADING LTD→ 16569656 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| B & A QUILTING (UK) LIMITED→ 07723683 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| B & D MORRIS ENGINEERING LIMITED→ 01846713 · est 1984 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 41y | — | — |
| B1 DESIGN LTD→ 13977372 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
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
Incorporated2004-03-30
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC26110 — SIC 26110
Registered office
Units 10 & 11 Shield Drive
Wardley Industrial Estate
Worsley
Manchester
M28 2QB
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-04-29
Last made up to: 2025-07-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-03-30
Last: 2026-03-16
Officers (3 active · 9 resigned)
ABDULLA, Beverley Anne→
Activesecretary · appointed 2021-01-29
View their other companies + combined net worth →
HOUGH, Andrea Lee→
Activedirector · ~65y · appointed 2004-07-20
View their other companies + combined net worth →
POOLE, Mark Alan→
Activedirector · ~60y · appointed 2021-01-29
View their other companies + combined net worth →
DAWES, Peter Graham→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2005-02-09 · resigned 2016-10-11
MADDEN, Terence John→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2004-07-20 · resigned 2005-02-09
BONDLAW SECRETARIES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2004-03-30 · resigned 2004-07-20
ATHERTON, Steven→
Resigneddirector · ~39y · appointed 2021-01-29 · resigned 2023-01-26
BOWDEN, John Giles→
Resigneddirector · ~48y · appointed 2014-10-15 · resigned 2025-09-30
HASLAM, David Howard→
Resigneddirector · ~68y · appointed 2007-10-23 · resigned 2018-12-31
MADDEN, Terence John→
Resigneddirector · ~77y · appointed 2004-07-20 · resigned 2016-08-02
MORRIS, John→
Resigneddirector · ~74y · appointed 2019-08-01 · resigned 2025-09-05
BONDLAW DIRECTORS LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 2004-03-30 · resigned 2004-07-20
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
8
Total charges
5
Outstanding
4
Active lenders
Status:Lender:8 of 8 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Time Invoice Finance Time Invoice Finance LTD | A registered charge | 2 properties | 29/01/2024 | — | |
| outstanding | NatWest Group Rbs Invoice Finance LTD | A registered charge | — | 27/10/2021 | — | |
| outstanding | Andrea Hough | A registered charge | 1 property | 29/01/2021 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | — | 05/04/2018 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 09/11/2012 | — | |
| satisfied | A E Bullock A E Bullock Limited | Rent deposit deed | 1 property | 22/12/2005 | 30/03/2013 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | An omnibus guarantee and set-off agreement | 1 property | 09/08/2004 | 30/03/2013 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | Debenture deed | 1 property | 09/08/2004 | 30/03/2013 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (105 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2026-04-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-03-24
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2026-01-07
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-09-05
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2025-07-28
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-03-31
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2024-11-07
change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortened
accounts · AA01
2024-07-24
change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortened
accounts · AA01
2024-04-26
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-03-19
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2024-01-30
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-03-16
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2023-03-06
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2023-02-02
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-03-16