PROTON (SOUTHERN) LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
05096198 · ltd · incorporated 2004-04-06
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: Wholesale of other machinery and equipment
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.
Opportunity 72/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. 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: share sale to pe / searcher (58/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
7 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 21.9y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 21.9 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 30/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (61/100)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
7 charges (7/7 with lender, 7/7 with type)
90
Directors & officers
15 officers (2 active, 15 linked, 12 with DOB)
86
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
17 connected companies via shared directors
90
Filing history
104 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
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (60 events)Click to expand
- 2025-07-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2025-07-29📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2025-07-29📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2025-07-29📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2024-12-05📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-09-16📄auditors-resignation-companyauditors · AUD
- 2024-07-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2024-07-20📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2024-07-20📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2024-07-20📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2023-07-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2022-08-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-07-04➕NORTON, Sarah Jane appointeddirector
- 2022-07-04➖TANASE, Mircea Daniel resigneddirector
- 2022-07-04📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2022-07-04📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-02-28➖DUVALL, Anton James resigneddirector
- 2022-02-28📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-02-25➕TANASE, Mircea Daniel appointeddirector
- 2022-02-25📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2021-08-17📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2021-08-17📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2021-08-08📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-08-01➕DUVALL, Anton James appointeddirector
- 2021-08-01➖EASTWOOD, Paul Anthony resigneddirector
- 2020-09-28➖ASHTON, Helen Jane resigneddirector
- 2020-09-28➕EASTWOOD, Paul Anthony appointeddirector
- 2020-04-14🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Glas Trust Corporation Limited
- 2020-01-01➕GUJRAL, Ben appointeddirector
- 2019-12-31➖HUMPHREYS, Paul resignedsecretary
- 2019-12-31➖HUMPHREYS, Paul Justin resigneddirector
- 2019-01-01➕ASHTON, Helen Jane appointeddirector
- 2019-01-01➖BAXTER, Stephen Roy resigneddirector
- 2018-11-12🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Glas Trust Corporation Limited
- 2018-08-15🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2018-01-15🔒Charge registered #5Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland
- 2015-01-23➖BARR, Alan Andrew resignedsecretary
- 2015-01-23➕HUMPHREYS, Paul appointedsecretary
- 2015-01-23➖BARR, Alan Andrew resigneddirector
- 2014-10-22➕HUMPHREYS, Paul Justin appointeddirector
- 2013-10-31➕BARR, Alan Andrew appointedsecretary
- 2013-10-31➖LIVERSAGE, Terence Paul resignedsecretary
- 2013-10-31➕BARR, Alan Andrew appointeddirector
- 2013-10-31➖BARRON, David Austin resigneddirector
- 2013-10-31➖BARRON, Richard Andrew resigneddirector
- 2013-10-31➕BAXTER, Stephen Roy appointeddirector
- 2013-10-31➖LIVERSAGE, Terence Paul resigneddirector
- 2013-09-26🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2012-08-01🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2007-05-25🔓Charge satisfied #4
Showing most recent 50 of 60 events
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
46/100
Moderate signalSome succession indicators present. Worth watching; approach if sector/strategy fits.
SIGNALS
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 22 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
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
Vanilla Group Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Vanilla Group Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
PROTON (SOUTHERN) LIMITED
This company · 05096198
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Vanilla Group Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 06/04/2016 |
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 · Wholesale & distribution · HX postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A 2 Z MANCHESTER WHOLESALE LIMITED→ 16785941 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| A A R COMMERCIAL LTD→ 07854971 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| A.R.P. SECURITY SERVICES LIMITED→ 01806089 · est 1984 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 42y | — | — |
| A&T BATHROOM DISTRIBUTION LTD→ 12316181 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| AAC FORKLIFTS LTD→ 15020212 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ABRAM PULMAN & SONS LIMITED→ 00056547 · est 1898 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 128y | — | — |
| ACE GAS LIMITED→ 04741464 · est 2003 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 22y | — | — |
| ACORN RYLEY LTD→ 16492104 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ACTIVLUX LTD→ 16674979 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ADAPTIS CARE SOLUTIONS LTD→ 16352881 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AIMS TRADER PRIVATE LIMITED→ 14961459 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| AIRE THE LABEL LTD→ 15832999 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
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
Incorporated2004-04-06
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC46690 — Wholesale of other machinery and equipment
Registered office
Meadowcroft Lane Halifax Road
Ripponden
Sowerby Bridge
West Yorkshire
HX6 4AJ
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-07-31
Last made up to: 2024-10-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-04-20
Last: 2026-04-06
Officers (2 active · 13 resigned)
Active
NORTON, Sarah Jane→
Activedirector · ~49y · appointed 2022-07-04
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BARR, Alan Andrew→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2013-10-31 · resigned 2015-01-23
HUMPHREYS, Paul→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2015-01-23 · resigned 2019-12-31
LIVERSAGE, Terence Paul→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2004-04-06 · resigned 2013-10-31
ASHTON, Helen Jane→
Resigneddirector · ~54y · appointed 2019-01-01 · resigned 2020-09-28
BARR, Alan Andrew→
Resigneddirector · ~59y · appointed 2013-10-31 · resigned 2015-01-23
BARRON, David Austin→
Resigneddirector · ~66y · appointed 2004-04-06 · resigned 2013-10-31
BARRON, Richard Andrew→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2004-04-06 · resigned 2013-10-31
BAXTER, Stephen Roy→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 2013-10-31 · resigned 2019-01-01
DUVALL, Anton James→
Resigneddirector · ~57y · appointed 2021-08-01 · resigned 2022-02-28
EASTWOOD, Paul Anthony→
Resigneddirector · ~57y · appointed 2020-09-28 · resigned 2021-08-01
HUMPHREYS, Paul Justin→
Resigneddirector · ~68y · appointed 2014-10-22 · resigned 2019-12-31
LIVERSAGE, Terence Paul→
Resigneddirector · ~73y · appointed 2004-04-06 · resigned 2013-10-31
TANASE, Mircea Daniel→
Resigneddirector · ~39y · appointed 2022-02-25 · resigned 2022-07-04
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
7
Total charges
2
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:7 of 7 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Glas Trust Corporation Glas Trust Corporation Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 14/04/2020 | — | |
| outstanding | Glas Trust Corporation Glas Trust Corporation Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 12/11/2018 | — | |
| satisfied | The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland | A registered charge | 1 property | 15/01/2018 | 15/08/2018 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 30/04/2005 | 25/05/2007 | |
| satisfied | Peter William Lowden | Legal charge | 3 properties | 30/04/2005 | 25/05/2007 | |
| satisfied | Peter William Lowden | Mortgage debenture | 1 property | 12/05/2004 | 01/08/2012 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 12/05/2004 | 26/09/2013 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (104 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-04-08
accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduary
accounts · AA
2025-07-29
legacy
accounts · PARENT_ACC
2025-07-29
legacy
other · GUARANTEE2
2025-07-29
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2025-07-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-04-08
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2024-12-05
auditors-resignation-company
auditors · AUD
2024-09-16
accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduary
accounts · AA
2024-07-21
legacy
accounts · PARENT_ACC
2024-07-20
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2024-07-20
legacy
other · GUARANTEE2
2024-07-20
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-04-08
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2023-07-24
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-04-06