CERES GROUP LIMITED

🌳Matureactive
NI037036 · ltd · incorporated 1999-09-30
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
76/100
Strong
🔔
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: Other business support service activities n.e.c.
Sector: Administrative & support services
Investor take
Pursue
Strong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and bankable structure.

Opportunity 76/100 (strong), bankability 75/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: strategic trade sale (63/100).

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
Confirmed no charges registered
85
Directors & officers
11 officers (3 active, 11 linked, 9 with DOB)
86
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
16 connected companies via shared directors
90
Filing history
83 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
76/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional 

Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.

Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
65
Some acquirability indicators.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
90
Good data coverage for analysis.

Recent activity

Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
1
filing
  • • 1 accounts
Last 180 days
2
filings
  • • 1 accounts
  • • 1 officers
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (35 events)Click to expand
  1. 2026-04-20
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
    accounts · AA
  2. 2026-02-20
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  3. 2026-02-12
    ➖
    BARNETT, Robert resigned
    director
  4. 2025-04-22
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
    accounts · AA
  5. 2024-12-16
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  6. 2024-11-29
    ➖
    MCDONNELL, Bernard Neillus resigned
    director
  7. 2024-09-25
    ➕
    O'CALLAGHAN, Gerard Austin appointed
    director
  8. 2024-09-25
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  9. 2024-04-25
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
    accounts · AA
  10. 2023-04-21
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
    accounts · AA
  11. 2022-04-26
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
    accounts · AA
  12. 2021-04-19
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
    accounts · AA
  13. 2021-02-12
    📄
    appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP03
  14. 2021-02-12
    📄
    termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM02
  15. 2021-02-10
    ➕
    BROWN, Jason appointed
    secretary
  16. 2021-02-10
    ➖
    JORDAN, Geoffrey William, Mr. resigned
    secretary
  17. 2020-07-28
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
    accounts · AA
  18. 2019-04-12
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
    accounts · AA
  19. 2018-04-24
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
    accounts · AA
  20. 2017-05-04
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
    accounts · AA
  21. 2013-07-31
    ➖
    MCAREE, Michael Joseph resigned
    director
  22. 2010-01-14
    ➕
    MCDONNELL, Bernard Neillus appointed
    director
  23. 2010-01-14
    ➖
    THOMPSON, Adrian Louis resigned
    director
  24. 2009-04-27
    ➕
    BARNETT, William Bingham appointed
    director
  25. 2008-11-30
    ➖
    MCAULEY, John Morton resigned
    director
  26. 1999-12-01
    ➕
    BARNETT, Robert appointed
    director
  27. 1999-12-01
    ➖
    HENDERSON, Brian Lindsay resigned
    director
  28. 1999-12-01
    ➕
    MCAREE, Michael Joseph appointed
    director
  29. 1999-12-01
    ➕
    MCAULEY, John Morton appointed
    director
  30. 1999-12-01
    ➖
    MCBRIDE, Paul resigned
    director
  31. 1999-12-01
    ➕
    THOMPSON, Adrian Louis appointed
    director
  32. 1999-09-30
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As CERES GROUP LIMITED
  33. 1999-09-30
    ➕
    JORDAN, Geoffrey William, Mr. appointed
    secretary
  34. 1999-09-30
    ➕
    HENDERSON, Brian Lindsay appointed
    director
  35. 1999-09-30
    ➕
    MCBRIDE, Paul appointed
    director

Owner dependency

68/100
High — earn-out structure required

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

FACTORS
  • +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
  • +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 17 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.

Succession & seller-readiness

49/100
Moderate signal

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

SIGNALS
  • secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
  • secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 17 years.
  • 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.)

Group structure

W&R Barnett Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.

🏛️
W&R Barnett Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares
ultimate parent
⬇
CERES GROUP LIMITED
This company · NI037036

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%
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
W&R Barnett Limited
Corporate entity
75–100%
75–100%75-100% shares · 75-100% voting06/04/2016

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 · Trade services · BT postcode area
CompanyEst. valueTurnoverNet worthStaffAgeOppDirector
ASCOT SIGNS LTD→
NI616201 · est 2013
£17.14M
£12.85M–£21.42M
£18.46M—900013y9366y
CALVERT OFFICE EQUIPMENT LIMITED→
NI006103 · est 1964
£8.84M
£6.63M–£11.04M
£11.08M—450061y8761y
MCELMEEL MOBILITY SERVICES LIMITED→
NI031911 · est 1997
£5.01M
£3.75M–£6.26M
£20.88M—790029y9575y
BELFAST EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (STRABANE) HOLDINGS LIMITED→
NI057726 · est 2006
£2.32M
£1.74M–£2.90M
——020y8561y
BELFAST EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (DOWN & CONNOR) LIMITED→
NI070347 · est 2008
£2.31M
£1.73M–£2.89M
——017y8561y
BELFAST EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (DOWN & CONNOR) HOLDINGS LIMITED→
NI070500 · est 2008
£2.30M
£1.72M–£2.87M
——017y8561y
BELFAST EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (STRABANE) LIMITED→
NI057713 · est 2006
£2.23M
£1.67M–£2.78M
——020y8561y
BELFAST EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (DERRY) LIMITED→
NI070493 · est 2008
£2.09M
£1.57M–£2.61M
——017y8561y
BELFAST EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (DERRY) HOLDINGS LIMITED→
NI070498 · est 2008
£1.80M
£1.35M–£2.25M
——017y8561y
BELFAST EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (OMAGH) LIMITED→
NI042760 · est 2002
£1.76M
£1.32M–£2.20M
——024y8561y
BELFAST EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (OMAGH) HOLDINGS LIMITED→
NI042770 · est 2002
£1.62M
£1.22M–£2.03M
——024y8561y
BELFAST EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (HOLDINGS) LIMITED→
NI038642 · est 2000
£1.60M
£1.20M–£2.00M
——026y8461y
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
Incorporated1999-09-30
Jurisdictionnorthern-ireland
Primary SIC82990 — Other business support service activities n.e.c.

Registered office

Clarendon House
23 Clarendon Road
Belfast
BT1 3BG

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2027-04-30
Last made up to: 2025-07-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-10-14
Last: 2025-09-30

Officers (3 active · 8 resigned)

BROWN, Jason→
secretary · appointed 2021-02-10
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BARNETT, William Bingham→
director · ~50y · appointed 2009-04-27
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
O'CALLAGHAN, Gerard Austin→
director · ~52y · appointed 2024-09-25
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
JORDAN, Geoffrey William, Mr.→
secretary · appointed 1999-09-30 · resigned 2021-02-10
Resigned
BARNETT, Robert→
director · ~82y · appointed 1999-12-01 · resigned 2026-02-12
Resigned
HENDERSON, Brian Lindsay→
director · ~75y · appointed 1999-09-30 · resigned 1999-12-01
Resigned
MCAREE, Michael Joseph→
director · ~73y · appointed 1999-12-01 · resigned 2013-07-31
Resigned
MCAULEY, John Morton→
director · ~80y · appointed 1999-12-01 · resigned 2008-11-30
Resigned
MCBRIDE, Paul→
director · ~60y · appointed 1999-09-30 · resigned 1999-12-01
Resigned
MCDONNELL, Bernard Neillus→
director · ~67y · appointed 2010-01-14 · resigned 2024-11-29
Resigned
THOMPSON, Adrian Louis→
director · ~76y · appointed 1999-12-01 · resigned 2010-01-14
Resigned

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

Recent filings (83 total)

accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2026-04-20
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2026-02-20
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-10-15
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2025-04-22
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-12-16
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-10-29
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2024-09-25
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2024-04-25
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-10-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2023-04-21
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-10-07
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2022-04-26
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-10-05
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2021-04-19
appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-date
officers · AP03
2021-02-12