A.W. PHOENIX & SONS LIMITED

🌳Matureactive
05089828 · ltd · incorporated 2004-03-31
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
—
year to Mar 2025
Net worth
£4.73M
book net assets
Opportunity
80/100
Exceptional
🔔
Follow this company (free)
Email alerts on filings, charges, director changes, gazette notices. No account needed.

Unsubscribe any time from any email. GDPR-respectful.

🔒Generate AI memo →🔒Outreach pack →🔒Corporate story →📑 Reports →Sign in to watch
What this business does
Primary activity: Growing of cereals (except rice), leguminous crops and oil seeds
Sector: Agriculture, forestry & fishing
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
  • 01130SIC 01130
Investor take
Pursue
Asset-holding vehicle. Family succession underway — not a classic acquisition target.

Opportunity 80/100 (exceptional), bankability 75/100. Same-surname younger director in place — likely family handover, not open to sale. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).

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
Confirmed no charges registered
85
Directors & officers
8 officers (5 active, 8 linked, 5 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
75 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
80/100Exceptional
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
90
Good data coverage for analysis.

Signals from accounts

Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declared
Positive net assets
Net assets £4,733,791
Cash YoY
-3%
Year on year

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
£1.6m
↓ 3.5% YoY
Net Worth
£4.7m
↑ 3.8% YoY
Current Assets
£2.5m
↑ 5.4% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
£0£947k£1.9m£2.8m£3.8m£4.7mMar 2024Mar 2025

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown
Metric2025-03-312024-03-31
Total assets£4.95M£4.67M
Current assets£2.45M£2.33M
Cash£1.58M£1.63M
Debtors£471.4k£441.0k
Net assets£4.73M£4.56M

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
1
filing
  • • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (27 events)Click to expand
  1. 2025-12-01
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  2. 2024-12-13
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  3. 2023-12-08
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  4. 2022-10-06
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  5. 2021-10-26
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  6. 2021-09-30
    ➕
    PHOENIX, Tom Edward appointed
    director
  7. 2021-09-30
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  8. 2020-11-04
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  9. 2019-10-16
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
    accounts · AA
  10. 2018-11-07
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
    accounts · AA
  11. 2017-11-23
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
    accounts · AA
  12. 2016-10-11
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
    accounts · AA
  13. 2016-04-19
    📄
    annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholders
    annual-return · AR01
  14. 2015-12-23
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
    accounts · AA
  15. 2015-04-13
    📄
    annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholders
    annual-return · AR01
  16. 2015-04-13
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  17. 2010-09-06
    ➖
    PHOENIX, Geoffrey Norman resigned
    director
  18. 2004-04-15
    ➕
    PHOENIX, Myrtle Marina appointed
    director
  19. 2004-04-15
    ➕
    PHOENIX, Geoffrey Norman appointed
    director
  20. 2004-03-31
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As A.W. PHOENIX & SONS LIMITED
  21. 2004-03-31
    ➕
    PHOENIX, Catherine Margaret appointed
    secretary
  22. 2004-03-31
    ➕
    PHOENIX, Catherine Margaret appointed
    director
  23. 2004-03-31
    ➕
    PHOENIX, Geoffrey David appointed
    director
  24. 2004-03-31
    ➕
    LONDON LAW SECRETARIAL LIMITED appointed
    corporate-nominee-secretary
  25. 2004-03-31
    ➖
    LONDON LAW SECRETARIAL LIMITED resigned
    corporate-nominee-secretary
  26. 2004-03-31
    ➕
    LONDON LAW SERVICES LIMITED appointed
    corporate-nominee-director
  27. 2004-03-31
    ➖
    LONDON LAW SERVICES LIMITED resigned
    corporate-nominee-director

Owner dependency

88/100
Critical — business is the founder

The business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.

FACTORS
  • -4 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
  • +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "PHOENIX" — strong identity link between founder and business.
  • +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 22 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
  • +Founder age: Director aged approximately 89 — succession pressure is live.
  • +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.

Succession & seller-readiness

50/100
Moderate signal

Some succession indicators present. Worth watching; approach if sector/strategy fits.

SIGNALS
  • primaryFamily succession underway: Not a takeover target — PHOENIX, Tom Edward (same surname) appointed 2021-09-30. Pattern consistent with intra-family handover.
  • primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 89 years old. Natural succession window is now.
  • 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

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

Shareholders & ownership

2 active beneficial owners
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Mr Geoffrey David Phoenix
Individual · British · DOB 08/1965 · age 61
50–75%
50–75%board control50-75% shares · 50-75% voting · board control06/04/2016
Mrs Myrtle Marina Phoenix
Individual · British · DOB 09/1937 · age 89
25–50%
25–50%board control25-50% shares · 25-50% voting · board control06/04/2016

From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.

Similar companies

Active · Agriculture · PE postcode area
CompanyEst. valueTurnoverNet worthStaffAgeOppDirector
A.R. CRAVEN FARMS LIMITED→
03115021 · est 1995 · no financials extracted
————30y——
ALPHA PLANTS LTD→
13099554 · est 2020 · no financials extracted
————5y——
AMBROSE LIGHTON,LIMITED→
00204860 · est 1925 · no financials extracted
————101y——
ANGLIA GROWERS LIMITED→
10451540 · est 2016 · no financials extracted
————9y——
ANGLIA SALADS LIMITED→
04333110 · est 2001 · no financials extracted
————24y——
ANGLIA TREES LTD→
13890418 · est 2022 · no financials extracted
————4y——
ANGLOFLORA FARMS LIMITED→
01425669 · est 1979 · no financials extracted
————46y——
AQUADAL LTD→
16553921 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
———————
ARB-CORE TREE CARE LIMITED→
05852432 · est 2006 · no financials extracted
————19y——
ARBORFORE LTD→
08554893 · est 2013 · no financials extracted
————12y——
ARK ARBORISTS LTD→
11974502 · est 2019 · no financials extracted
————6y——
ARMSTRONG & SON AGRI AND STRAW MANAGEMENT LIMITED→
14781745 · est 2023 · no financials extracted
————3y——
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions

7 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
Incorporated2004-03-31
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC01110 — Growing of cereals (except rice), leguminous crops and oil seeds

Registered office

Ivy House Farm
Main Road
Brothertoft Boston
Lincolnshire
PE20 3SH

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-04-14
Last: 2026-03-31

Officers (5 active · 3 resigned)

PHOENIX, Catherine Margaret→
secretary · appointed 2004-03-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
PHOENIX, Catherine Margaret→
director · ~60y · appointed 2004-03-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
PHOENIX, Geoffrey David→
director · ~61y · appointed 2004-03-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
PHOENIX, Myrtle Marina→
director · ~89y · appointed 2004-04-15
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
PHOENIX, Tom Edward→
director · ~33y · appointed 2021-09-30
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
LONDON LAW SECRETARIAL LIMITED→
corporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2004-03-31 · resigned 2004-03-31
Resigned
PHOENIX, Geoffrey Norman→
director · ~94y · appointed 2004-04-15 · resigned 2010-09-06
Resigned
LONDON LAW SERVICES LIMITED→
corporate-nominee-director · appointed 2004-03-31 · resigned 2004-03-31
Resigned

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

Recent filings (75 total)

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-04-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-12-01
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-04-07
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-12-13
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-04-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-12-08
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-04-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-10-06
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-04-05
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-10-26
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2021-09-30
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-04-07
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2020-11-04
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-04-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2019-10-16