AO LTD
🌳Matureactive
06861978 · ltd · incorporated 2009-03-28
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
72/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Activities of other holding companies n.e.c.
Sector: Financial & insurance
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: asset-holding vehicle with strong profile and bankable structure.
Opportunity 72/100 (strong), bankability 77/100. 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: strategic trade sale (63/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
4 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 10.0y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 10.0 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (60/100)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
4 charges (4/4 with lender, 4/4 with type)
90
Directors & officers
8 officers (3 active, 8 linked, 5 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
14 connected companies via shared directors
87
Filing history
68 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
72/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
50
Some acquirability indicators.
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 confirmation-statement
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (39 events)Click to expand
- 2025-10-01📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-11-25📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-11-19📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-11-19🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2023-10-11📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-05-10📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-05-10📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-05-10📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-05-10🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2023-05-10🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2023-05-10🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2023-04-18📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2023-04-18📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2023-04-06📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2023-04-05🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Hsbc Corporate Trustee Company (UK) Limited as Security Trustee for the Secured Parties
- 2022-12-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-09-22📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-09-16➖EMMETT, Daniel Anthony resigneddirector
- 2022-01-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-02-01📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2020-09-16📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-04-15📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2020-04-06🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Hsbc Corporate Trustee Company (UK) Limited as Security Trustee for the Secured Parties (Security Agent)
- 2019-08-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-02-15➖CAUNCE, Stephen James resigneddirector
- 2018-11-09🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC as Security Trustee for the Secured Parties (Security Agent)
- 2018-04-19➕EMMETT, Daniel Anthony appointeddirector
- 2016-06-03🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 2016-04-04➕HIGGINS, Jonathan Mark Stephen appointeddirector
- 2014-04-15➕FINNEMORE, Julie Angela Louise appointedsecretary
- 2014-04-15➖CAUNCE, Stephen James resignedsecretary
- 2014-01-17➕CAUNCE, Stephen James appointeddirector
- 2013-07-18➕ROBERTS, John Charles appointeddirector
- 2013-07-18➕CAUNCE, Stephen James appointedsecretary
- 2013-07-18➖CLARK, Virginia Olive resignedsecretary
- 2013-07-18➖CLARK, Sebastian Douglas Leonard resigneddirector
- 2009-03-28🏢Company incorporatedAs AO LTD
- 2009-03-28➕CLARK, Virginia Olive appointedsecretary
- 2009-03-28➕CLARK, Sebastian Douglas Leonard appointeddirector
Owner dependency
58/100
Moderate — manageable with handoverSome founder dependency, but not acute. A structured handover period should cover most risk.
FACTORS
- +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
Succession & seller-readiness
59/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 13 years.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 17 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
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.
Group structure
Ao World Plc is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Ao World Plc
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares
⬇
AO LTD
This company · 06861978
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ao World Plc Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting | 02/06/2016 |
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
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 NEWCO3 LTD→ 12589708 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| 243 HOLMESDALE ROAD LTD→ 14997875 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 28 BRAILSFORD ROAD LIMITED→ 04588117 · est 2002 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 23y | — | — |
| AB INVESTMENT PROJECTS LTD→ 13443350 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| ABBEY VILLAGE MANAGEMENT COMPANY LIMITED→ 14732323 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| ACQUIESCE GROUP LTD→ 16998764 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ACQUIESCE HOLDINGS LTD→ 14026985 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| AD 01 LIMITED→ 09540399 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| ADAM PROPERTIES NORTH WEST LTD→ 15144803 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ADAMS & CO ACCOUNTANTS LIMITED→ 13727880 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| ADE GROUP HOLDINGS LTD→ 13938906 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| ADK HOLDINGS LIMITED→ 09916139 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
6 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
Incorporated2009-03-28
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC64209 — Activities of other holding companies n.e.c.
Registered office
Unit 5a The Parklands
Lostock
Bolton
BL6 4SD
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-04-11
Last: 2026-03-28
Officers (3 active · 5 resigned)
FINNEMORE, Julie Angela Louise→
Activesecretary · appointed 2014-04-15
View their other companies + combined net worth →
HIGGINS, Jonathan Mark Stephen→
Activedirector · ~48y · appointed 2016-04-04
View their other companies + combined net worth →
ROBERTS, John Charles→
Activedirector · ~53y · appointed 2013-07-18
View their other companies + combined net worth →
CAUNCE, Stephen James→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2013-07-18 · resigned 2014-04-15
CLARK, Virginia Olive→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2009-03-28 · resigned 2013-07-18
CAUNCE, Stephen James→
Resigneddirector · ~57y · appointed 2014-01-17 · resigned 2019-02-15
CLARK, Sebastian Douglas Leonard→
Resigneddirector · ~52y · appointed 2009-03-28 · resigned 2013-07-18
EMMETT, Daniel Anthony→
Resigneddirector · ~42y · appointed 2018-04-19 · resigned 2022-09-16
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
4
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:4 of 4 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Corporate Trustee Company (UK) Limited as Security Trustee for the Secured Parties | A registered charge | — | 05/04/2023 | 19/11/2024 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Corporate Trustee Company (UK) Limited as Security Trustee for the Secured Parties (Security Agent) | A registered charge | 1 property | 06/04/2020 | 10/05/2023 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC as Security Trustee for the Secured Parties (Security Agent) | A registered charge | 1 property | 09/11/2018 | 10/05/2023 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 03/06/2016 | 10/05/2023 |
Recent filings (68 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-04-08
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-10-01
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-03-28
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2024-11-25
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2024-11-19
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-04-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2023-10-11
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2023-05-10
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2023-05-10
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2023-05-10
memorandum-articles
incorporation · MA
2023-04-18
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2023-04-18
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2023-04-06
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-03-28
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2022-12-21