ARO UNDERWRITING GROUP LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
07491066 · ltd · incorporated 2011-01-12
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 Dec 2024
Net worth
£562.0k
book net assets
Opportunity
74/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Activities of insurance agents and brokers
Sector: Financial & insurance
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and bankable structure.
Opportunity 74/100 (strong), bankability 80/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. 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: strategic trade sale (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
1 live charge · oldest 5.9y
45/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 5.9 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Single lender — cleanest path to refinance.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (73/100)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
1 year of iXBRL accounts extracted (no YoY comparison) + narrative notes parsed
50
Lenders & charges
1 charges (1/1 with lender, 1/1 with type)
90
Directors & officers
8 officers (1 active, 8 linked, 8 with DOB)
90
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 5 total, 5 with control declared
90
Director network
3 connected companies via shared directors
54
Filing history
96 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
74/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
60
Some acquirability indicators.
Risk profile
77
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 £561,987
Key financials
1 year extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£52k
Net Worth
£562k
Current Assets
£709k
Current Liabilities
—
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2024-12-30 |
|---|---|
| Total assets | £1.32M |
| Current assets | £709.1k |
| Cash | £51.6k |
| Debtors | £657.5k |
| Net assets | £562.0k |
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 capital
Last 180 days
3
filings
- • 2 confirmation-statement
- • 1 capital
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (40 events)Click to expand
- 2026-05-15📄capital-cancellation-sharescapital · SH06
- 2025-11-27📄second-filing-of-annual-return-with-made-up-dateannual-return · RP04AR01
- 2025-11-27📄second-filing-of-annual-return-with-made-up-dateannual-return · RP04AR01
- 2025-11-27📄second-filing-of-annual-return-with-made-up-dateannual-return · RP04AR01
- 2025-11-20📄capital-return-purchase-own-sharescapital · SH03
- 2025-11-19📄capital-cancellation-sharescapital · SH06
- 2025-10-02📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2025-10-02📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2025-09-30📄capital-allotment-sharescapital · SH01
- 2025-09-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2025-09-04📄second-filing-notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · RP04PSC02
- 2025-09-03📄capital-alter-shares-subdivisioncapital · SH02
- 2025-08-19📄second-filing-notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · RP04PSC02
- 2025-08-18📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2025-08-15📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC05
- 2025-08-15📄second-filing-cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · RP04PSC07
- 2025-08-13📄second-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-dateconfirmation-statement · RP04CS01
- 2025-08-13📄second-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-dateconfirmation-statement · RP04CS01
- 2025-08-13📄second-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-dateconfirmation-statement · RP04CS01
- 2025-08-13📄second-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-dateconfirmation-statement · RP04CS01
- 2025-08-13📄second-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-dateconfirmation-statement · RP04CS01
- 2025-08-13✏️legacychange-of-name · RP04SH01
- 2025-08-13📄capital-allotment-sharescapital · SH01
- 2025-07-11➖TEE, Richard John resigneddirector
- 2022-02-28➖PAGE, Ian Kenneth resigneddirector
- 2020-09-03🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Hsbc UK Bank PLC
- 2020-02-19➖CRABB, Steven Lee resigneddirector
- 2017-12-31➖HARMAN, Christopher Gill resigneddirector
- 2017-12-31➖SMITH, Andrew George resigneddirector
- 2014-10-10➖GRAY, Martin Bevis resigneddirector
- 2014-10-10➕TEE, Richard John appointeddirector
- 2012-10-25➕PAGE, Ian Kenneth appointeddirector
- 2011-11-10➕SMITH, Andrew George appointeddirector
- 2011-11-10➖WALTON, Michael John resigneddirector
- 2011-05-10➕CRABB, Steven Lee appointeddirector
- 2011-03-01➕BRIGHT, James Michael appointeddirector
- 2011-03-01➕HARMAN, Christopher Gill appointeddirector
- 2011-01-12🏢Company incorporatedAs ARO UNDERWRITING GROUP LIMITED
- 2011-01-12➕GRAY, Martin Bevis appointeddirector
- 2011-01-12➕WALTON, Michael John appointeddirector
Owner dependency
85/100
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 15 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
Succession & seller-readiness
68/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 15 years.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 16 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 ·Name changed recently
mediumName changes can be benign (rebrand) but can also precede distress, phoenix activity, or buyer concealment.
Evidence: 2025-08-13: legacy
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr James Michael Bright Individual · British · DOB 04/1972 · age 54 | 50–75% | 50–75% | 50-75% shares · 50-75% voting | 01/01/2018 |
4 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Avantis Ltdceased 20/06/2025· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
- Mr Richard John Teeceased 03/10/2023· 50-75% shares · 50-75% voting
- Hebrides Investments No.1 Ltdceased 20/06/2025· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
- Heritage Group Holdings Limitedceased 25/10/2017· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
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 · Financial services · TN postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AXE ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD→ 13947001 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| BRINDLEY RISK CONSULTANCY LIMITED→ 07888597 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| BROCKHURST CAPITAL LTD→ 15790678 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| BROOKHURST RISK SOLUTIONS LIMITED→ 12946236 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| BULMER HOUSE ADVISORY LTD→ 10309223 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| CAPITAL CONNECTION LIMITED→ 04094829 · est 2000 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 25y | — | — |
| CAPITAL PLANNING PARTNERS LTD→ 14924173 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| CAPITAL PLASTIC INVESTMENTS LIMITED→ 15165750 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| CAPITALISE BUSINESS SUPPORT LIMITED→ 05003078 · est 2003 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 22y | — | — |
| CAPON CAPITAL LIMITED→ 13535466 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| CARAVAN INSURANCE SERVICES LIMITED→ 04154246 · est 2001 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 25y | — | — |
| CARLETON-LIGHTFOOT SERVICES LIMITED→ 02625309 · est 1991 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 34y | — | — |
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
Incorporated2011-01-12
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC66220 — Activities of insurance agents and brokers
Registered office
3 The Old Yard Rectory Lane
Brasted
Westerham
Kent
TN16 1JP
United Kingdom
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-02-16
Last: 2026-02-02
Officers (1 active · 7 resigned)
BRIGHT, James Michael→
Activedirector · ~54y · appointed 2011-03-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
CRABB, Steven Lee→
Resigneddirector · ~57y · appointed 2011-05-10 · resigned 2020-02-19
GRAY, Martin Bevis→
Resigneddirector · ~75y · appointed 2011-01-12 · resigned 2014-10-10
HARMAN, Christopher Gill→
Resigneddirector · ~76y · appointed 2011-03-01 · resigned 2017-12-31
PAGE, Ian Kenneth→
Resigneddirector · ~65y · appointed 2012-10-25 · resigned 2022-02-28
SMITH, Andrew George→
Resigneddirector · ~77y · appointed 2011-11-10 · resigned 2017-12-31
TEE, Richard John→
Resigneddirector · ~65y · appointed 2014-10-10 · resigned 2025-07-11
WALTON, Michael John→
Resigneddirector · ~66y · appointed 2011-01-12 · resigned 2011-11-10
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
1
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:1 of 1 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc UK Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 03/09/2020 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (96 total)
capital-cancellation-shares
capital · SH06
2026-05-15
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-02-02
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-01-30
second-filing-of-annual-return-with-made-up-date
annual-return · RP04AR01
2025-11-27
second-filing-of-annual-return-with-made-up-date
annual-return · RP04AR01
2025-11-27
second-filing-of-annual-return-with-made-up-date
annual-return · RP04AR01
2025-11-27
capital-return-purchase-own-shares
capital · SH03
2025-11-20
capital-cancellation-shares
capital · SH06
2025-11-19
memorandum-articles
incorporation · MA
2025-10-02
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2025-10-02
capital-allotment-shares
capital · SH01
2025-09-30
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2025-09-30
second-filing-notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · RP04PSC02
2025-09-04
capital-alter-shares-subdivision
capital · SH02
2025-09-03
second-filing-notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · RP04PSC02
2025-08-19