ACE CULTURAL TOURS LIMITED

🌳Matureactive
07058084 · ltd · incorporated 2009-10-27
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
approaching window · 12-months
Approaching a transaction window — refinance or sale event plausible in the next 12 months.
  • · Oldest live charge 16.3y old — refinance window within 12 months
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Dec 2023
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
80/100
Exceptional
🔔
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What this business does
Primary activity: Travel agency activities
Sector: Administrative & support services
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
  • 79120Tour operator activities
Investor take
Pursue
Active trading company with a 71-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 80/100 (exceptional), bankability 75/100. Strong seller-intent signal (73/100, director aged 71). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

4 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 16.3y

70/100
ready

Refinance conversation should be productive — structure clean and timing right.

  • · Oldest live charge is 16.3 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
  • · Legal-friction score 20/100 — clean.

Data confidence

Overall: medium (75/100)

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
1 year of iXBRL accounts extracted (no YoY comparison) + narrative notes parsed
50
Lenders & charges
4 charges (4/4 with lender, 4/4 with type)
90
Directors & officers
15 officers (4 active, 15 linked, 15 with DOB)
90
Ownership & PSC
3 active PSC(s) of 5 total, 5 with control declared
90
Director network
8 connected companies via shared directors
69
Filing history
97 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
85
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.

Key financials

1 year extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102
Metric2023-12-31
Average employees1900

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
1
filing
  • • 1 officers
Last 90 days
1
filing
  • • 1 officers
Last 180 days
1
filing
  • • 1 officers
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (52 events)Click to expand
  1. 2026-05-01
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  2. 2026-04-21
    ➕
    DOWSETT, Samuel Christopher Phillip appointed
    director
  3. 2025-08-19
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  4. 2025-08-05
    ➕
    THOMPSON, Lesley Margaret appointed
    director
  5. 2025-06-18
    📄
    capital-allotment-shares
    capital · SH01
  6. 2025-05-29
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  7. 2025-01-21
    ➖
    HAWKINS, Ruth Elizabeth resigned
    director
  8. 2025-01-21
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  9. 2025-01-16
    📄
    cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
  10. 2025-01-16
    📄
    notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
  11. 2024-06-18
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  12. 2023-06-26
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  13. 2023-04-24
    ➖
    ATHERTON, Mark resigned
    director
  14. 2023-04-24
    ➕
    HAWKINS, Ruth Elizabeth appointed
    director
  15. 2023-04-24
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  16. 2023-04-24
    📄
    notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
  17. 2023-04-24
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  18. 2023-04-24
    📄
    cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
  19. 2022-09-20
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  20. 2021-08-13
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  21. 2020-07-02
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  22. 2020-06-24
    ➖
    BARRETT, Ann, Prof resigned
    director
  23. 2020-06-24
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  24. 2019-06-06
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
  25. 2017-09-29
    ➖
    WRIGHT, Nicholas Rodney Molyneaux resigned
    director
  26. 2016-04-12
    ➕
    ATHERTON, Mark appointed
    director
  27. 2015-04-16
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #3
  28. 2015-04-16
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #2
  29. 2015-03-20
    ➕
    BURGE, Richard appointed
    director
  30. 2015-03-20
    ➖
    BURGE, Richard resigned
    director
  31. 2014-11-28
    🔒
    Charge registered #4
    Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
  32. 2014-09-04
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #1
  33. 2014-09-01
    ➖
    MELLARS, Paul Antony, Professor Sir resigned
    director
  34. 2014-09-01
    ➕
    WRIGHT, Nicholas Rodney Molyneux appointed
    director
  35. 2014-09-01
    ➖
    WRIGHT, Nicholas Rodney Molyneux resigned
    director
  36. 2014-09-01
    ➕
    WRIGHT, Nicholas Rodney Molyneaux appointed
    director
  37. 2012-07-19
    🔒
    Charge registered #3
    Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
  38. 2012-05-30
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
  39. 2011-11-10
    ➕
    BARRETT, Ann, Prof appointed
    director
  40. 2011-10-28
    ➕
    SANDERS, Christopher Mark appointed
    director
  41. 2011-07-06
    ➖
    FERGUSON, Michael John resigned
    director
  42. 2011-06-08
    ➖
    BARNES, Hugh Brooke resigned
    director
  43. 2011-05-17
    ➕
    BARNES, Paul Brooke, Dr appointed
    director
  44. 2011-05-17
    ➕
    MELLARS, Paul Antony, Professor Sir appointed
    director
  45. 2011-04-12
    ➖
    VAIZEY, Marina, Lady resigned
    director
  46. 2010-01-29
    ➕
    VAIZEY, Marina, Lady appointed
    director
  47. 2010-01-29
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: The Association for Cultural Exchange Limited
  48. 2009-11-13
    ➕
    BARNES, Hugh Brooke appointed
    director
  49. 2009-11-13
    ➕
    FERGUSON, Michael John appointed
    director
  50. 2009-11-13
    ➖
    HICKFORD, Robert Alan resigned
    director
Showing most recent 50 of 52 events

Owner dependency

65/100
High — earn-out structure required

Material founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.

FACTORS
  • -4 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
  • +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 15 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
  • +Founder age: Director aged approximately 71 — succession pressure is live.

Succession & seller-readiness

73/100
Strong succession signal

Multiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.

SIGNALS
  • primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 71 years old. Natural succession window is now.
  • secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 15 years.
  • 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
medium

Multiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.

Group structure

Association For Cultural Exchange Ltd is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.

🏛️
Association For Cultural Exchange Ltd
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
ultimate parent
⬇
ACE CULTURAL TOURS LIMITED
This company · 07058084

Parent relationships inferred from Persons with Significant Control filings. Full subsidiary tree requires reverse-lookup (coming).

Shareholders & ownership

3 active beneficial owners · dominant holder ≥75%
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Association For Cultural Exchange Ltd
Corporate entity
75–100%
75–100%board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control31/12/2024
Mr Paul Brooke Barnes
Individual · British · DOB 06/1966 · age 60
——sig. influencesignificant influence01/10/2016
Mr Christopher Mark Sanders
Individual · British · DOB 08/1955 · age 71
——sig. influencesignificant influence01/10/2016
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
  • Mrs Ruth Elizabeth Hawkinsceased 31/12/2024· significant influence
  • Mr Mark Athertonceased 24/04/2023· significant influence

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 →

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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
Incorporated2009-10-27
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC79110 — Travel agency activities

Registered office

Stapleford Granary Bury Road
Stapleford
Cambridge
CB22 5BP
England

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-10-15
Last: 2025-10-01

Officers (4 active · 11 resigned)

BARNES, Paul Brooke, Dr→
director · ~60y · appointed 2011-05-17
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
DOWSETT, Samuel Christopher Phillip→
director · ~41y · appointed 2026-04-21
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
SANDERS, Christopher Mark→
director · ~71y · appointed 2011-10-28
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
THOMPSON, Lesley Margaret→
director · ~67y · appointed 2025-08-05
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
ATHERTON, Mark→
director · ~64y · appointed 2016-04-12 · resigned 2023-04-24
Resigned
BARNES, Hugh Brooke→
director · ~63y · appointed 2009-11-13 · resigned 2011-06-08
Resigned
BARRETT, Ann, Prof→
director · ~83y · appointed 2011-11-10 · resigned 2020-06-24
Resigned
BURGE, Richard→
director · ~91y · appointed 2015-03-20 · resigned 2015-03-20
Resigned
FERGUSON, Michael John→
director · ~67y · appointed 2009-11-13 · resigned 2011-07-06
Resigned
HAWKINS, Ruth Elizabeth→
director · ~60y · appointed 2023-04-24 · resigned 2025-01-21
Resigned
HICKFORD, Robert Alan→
director · ~62y · appointed 2009-10-27 · resigned 2009-11-13
Resigned
MELLARS, Paul Antony, Professor Sir→
director · ~87y · appointed 2011-05-17 · resigned 2014-09-01
Resigned
VAIZEY, Marina, Lady→
director · ~88y · appointed 2010-01-29 · resigned 2011-04-12
Resigned
WRIGHT, Nicholas Rodney Molyneux→
director · ~81y · appointed 2014-09-01 · resigned 2014-09-01
Resigned
WRIGHT, Nicholas Rodney Molyneaux→
director · ~81y · appointed 2014-09-01 · resigned 2017-09-29
Resigned

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

Mortgages & charges

4
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:4 of 4 shown
TypeProperties
outstanding
Lloyds Banking Group
The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
A registered charge—28/11/2014—
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
Charge of deposit1 property19/07/201216/04/2015
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
Charge of deposit1 property30/05/201216/04/2015
satisfied
The Association for Cultural Exchange
The Association for Cultural Exchange Limited
Debenture1 property29/01/201004/09/2014
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (97 total)

appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2026-05-01
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-10-14
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-08-19
capital-allotment-shares
capital · SH01
2025-06-18
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2025-05-29
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-01-21
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2025-01-16
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
2025-01-16
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-10-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2024-06-18
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-10-10
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2023-06-26
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2023-04-24
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
2023-04-24
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2023-04-24