D M ORTHOTICS LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
05276121 · ltd · incorporated 2004-11-02
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 Nov 2024
Net worth
£2.82M
book net assets
Opportunity
82/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 32500
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
PursueAsset-holding vehicle with a 67-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 82/100 (exceptional), bankability 85/100. Strong seller-intent signal (93/100, director aged 67). 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 21.3y
30/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 21.3 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: high (80/100)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
2 charges (2/2 with lender, 2/2 with type)
90
Directors & officers
9 officers (2 active, 9 linked, 5 with DOB)
81
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
5 connected companies via shared directors
60
Filing history
86 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 · accounting standard not declaredPositive net assets
Net assets £2,824,958
Cash YoY
-1%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£1.8m
↓ 1.5% YoY
Net Worth
£2.8m
↑ 7.8% YoY
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2024-11-30 | 2023-11-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash | £1.85M | £1.87M |
| Net assets | £2.82M | £2.62M |
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
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (39 events)Click to expand
- 2025-08-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-03-18📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2024-08-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-07-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-10-27📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2022-10-27📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2022-08-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-06-29📄appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP03
- 2022-06-28➕MATTHEWS, Emily Jayne appointedsecretary
- 2021-08-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-07-22📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2021-07-22📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2021-07-22📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2021-07-21➖NORTHOVER, Emma resignedsecretary
- 2021-07-21➖NORTHOVER, Emma May resigneddirector
- 2021-07-21➖SEVERN, Daniel David resigneddirector
- 2020-11-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-05-06📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2020-03-31📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2020-03-31📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2020-03-31📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2020-03-09📍move-registers-to-sail-company-with-new-addressaddress · AD03
- 2018-12-01➕NORTHOVER, Emma May appointeddirector
- 2018-11-21➕NORTHOVER, Emma appointedsecretary
- 2018-11-20➖BOSENCE, Eric Richard resignedsecretary
- 2018-11-20➖BOSENCE, Eric Richard resigneddirector
- 2017-12-01➕SEVERN, Daniel David appointeddirector
- 2017-09-11🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2012-07-10🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2009-07-05➕BOSENCE, Eric Richard appointeddirector
- 2009-02-18🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Eric R Bosence
- 2005-03-08🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2004-12-22➕BOSENCE, Eric Richard appointedsecretary
- 2004-12-01➖THORLEY, Jayne resignedsecretary
- 2004-12-01➖THORLEY, Jayne resigneddirector
- 2004-11-02🏢Company incorporatedAs D M ORTHOTICS LIMITED
- 2004-11-02➕MATTHEWS, Martin John Anthony appointeddirector
- 2004-11-02➕THORLEY, Jayne appointedsecretary
- 2004-11-02➕THORLEY, Jayne appointeddirector
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 22 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 67 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
95/100
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 67. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- 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
cleanNo 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| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Martin John Anthony Matthews Individual · British · DOB 01/1959 · age 67 | 50–75% | — | 50-75% shares | 30/06/2016 |
Mrs Geraldine Myfanwy Matthews Individual · British · DOB 07/1966 · age 60 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 30/06/2016 |
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 · Manufacturing · TR postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTIAN PAUL LTD→ 05448842 · est 2005 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 20y | — | — |
| CORNWALL HOSE AND HYDRAULICS LTD→ 15699493 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| CORNWALL WINDOW & CONSERVATORY CENTRE LTD→ 08880566 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| COUNTRY COW DESIGNS LIMITED→ 13261839 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| COWLEY STONE & SLATE LTD→ 11684803 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| CREATORS FOUNDRY LTD→ 16197418 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| CREATURE COMFORTS (CORNWALL) LTD→ 04339115 · est 2001 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 24y | — | — |
| CS AVIATION SERVICES LTD→ 16323201 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| CUSTOM AWARDS LTD→ 14826062 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| CYCLE SOLUTIONS THE FALMOUTH BIKE SHOP LTD.→ 04216183 · est 2001 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 24y | — | — |
| D. L. MARINE LIMITED→ 06540971 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
| D.C ENGINEERING MAINTENANCE LIMITED→ 14187204 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
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
Incorporated2004-11-02
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC32500 — SIC 32500
Registered office
Unit 2 Cardrew Way
Cardrew Industrial Estate
Redruth
Cornwall
TR15 1SS
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-08-31
Last made up to: 2024-11-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-04-01
Last: 2026-03-18
Officers (2 active · 7 resigned)
MATTHEWS, Emily Jayne→
Activesecretary · appointed 2022-06-28
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MATTHEWS, Martin John Anthony→
Activedirector · ~67y · appointed 2004-11-02
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BOSENCE, Eric Richard→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2004-12-22 · resigned 2018-11-20
NORTHOVER, Emma→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2018-11-21 · resigned 2021-07-21
THORLEY, Jayne→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2004-11-02 · resigned 2004-12-01
BOSENCE, Eric Richard→
Resigneddirector · ~73y · appointed 2009-07-05 · resigned 2018-11-20
NORTHOVER, Emma May→
Resigneddirector · ~44y · appointed 2018-12-01 · resigned 2021-07-21
SEVERN, Daniel David→
Resigneddirector · ~48y · appointed 2017-12-01 · resigned 2021-07-21
THORLEY, Jayne→
Resigneddirector · ~58y · appointed 2004-11-02 · resigned 2004-12-01
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 | Eric R Bosence | Debenture | 1 property | 18/02/2009 | 10/07/2012 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 08/03/2005 | 11/09/2017 |
Recent filings (86 total)
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-05-15
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-08-27
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-04-02
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2025-03-18
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-08-29
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-04-12
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-07-27
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-03-20
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2022-10-27
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2022-10-27
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-08-30
appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-date
officers · AP03
2022-06-29
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-04-29
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-08-09
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2021-07-22