A.B. DISTRIBUTORS LIMITED

📉Decliningactive
NI008366 · ltd · incorporated 1971-09-01
Investment thesis
Established operating company — standard diligence applies, no dominant angle.
Why interesting: Live, filing, normal profile.
Why risky: No standout signals in either direction.
Opportunity decay
drifting distress · 6-months
Drifting toward distress — expect more negotiability in 3–6 months, but also more friction.
  • · Lifecycle stage drifting downward
  • · Currently "declining"
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
£7.36M
year to Dec 2024
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
82/100
Exceptional
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What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 46439
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
Pursue
Strong opportunity: conservative operator with exceptional profile and bankable structure.

Opportunity 82/100 (exceptional), bankability 80/100. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: strategic trade sale (78/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

1 live charge · oldest 6.5y

85/100
ready

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

  • · Oldest live charge is 6.5 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · Single lender — cleanest path to refinance.
  • · Legal-friction score 20/100 — clean.

Data confidence

Overall: high (80/100)

Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.

Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
1 charges (1/1 with lender, 1/1 with type)
90
Directors & officers
16 officers (5 active, 16 linked, 14 with DOB)
88
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
153 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
🔒Estimated company valuation

Sector-multiple EBITDA, turnover, and NAV-proxy valuation range with confidence tier — derived from extracted iXBRL financials.

Available from the Pro tier upwards.

See pricing →
Opportunity Score
82/100Exceptional
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
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.

Signals from accounts

Derived from iXBRL accounts · FRS 102
Profitable
Profit before tax £192,178
Revenue decline
Turnover down 15% YoY
Turnover YoY
-15%
Year on year

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
£0£0£0£0£0£0Dec 2023Dec 2024

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102
Metric2024-12-312023-12-31
Turnover£7.36M£8.71M
Gross profit£1.82M£2.14M
Operating profit£181.2k£247.0k
Profit before tax£192.2k£259.8k
Average employees11001100

Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.

🔒Filing-note intelligence

3 signals 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
0
filings
Last 180 days
0
filings
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (48 events)Click to expand
  1. 2025-09-29
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-full
    accounts · AA
  2. 2024-08-23
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-full
    accounts · AA
  3. 2023-09-27
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  4. 2023-06-08
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  5. 2023-06-08
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  6. 2023-06-08
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  7. 2023-03-03
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  8. 2022-12-13
    ➖
    MAUGHAN, Michael Matthew resigned
    director
  9. 2022-10-07
    📄
    memorandum-articles
    incorporation · MA
  10. 2022-10-07
    📄
    resolution
    resolution · RESOLUTIONS
  11. 2022-09-27
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  12. 2022-03-25
    📄
    notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
  13. 2022-03-25
    📄
    withdrawal-of-a-person-with-significant-control-statement
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC09
  14. 2021-09-07
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  15. 2020-12-16
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  16. 2020-04-02
    📄
    notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control-statement
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC08
  17. 2020-04-02
    📄
    cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
  18. 2019-10-30
    📄
    mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
    mortgage · MR01
  19. 2019-10-18
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland
  20. 2019-10-16
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  21. 2019-10-10
    ➕
    MAUGHAN, Michael Matthew appointed
    director
  22. 2019-10-04
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  23. 2017-10-31
    ➕
    HUGHES, Jonathan appointed
    director
  24. 2017-10-31
    ➖
    BRODERICK, Richard resigned
    director
  25. 2015-03-24
    ➕
    LENNOX, Eamon Francis appointed
    director
  26. 2012-12-31
    ➖
    BRIGGS, Wilson Murdoch resigned
    director
  27. 2011-04-08
    ➕
    MURPHY, Frank appointed
    director
  28. 2011-04-08
    ➖
    LUPARI, Paul resigned
    director
  29. 2009-12-31
    ➕
    BURGESS, Leslie appointed
    secretary
  30. 2009-12-31
    ➖
    THOMPSON, Paul resigned
    secretary
  31. 2009-12-31
    ➖
    THOMPSON, Paul resigned
    director
  32. 2009-11-30
    ➖
    BARNES, Alan resigned
    director
  33. 2007-11-28
    ➕
    BRODERICK, Richard appointed
    director
  34. 2007-11-28
    ➖
    HUMPHREYS, Andy resigned
    director
  35. 2007-09-01
    ➖
    CROZIER, Paul Robert resigned
    director
  36. 2007-04-13
    ➕
    THOMPSON, Paul appointed
    secretary
  37. 2007-04-13
    ➕
    THOMPSON, Paul appointed
    director
  38. 2007-01-01
    ➕
    LUPARI, Paul appointed
    director
  39. 2006-09-12
    ➖
    HALL, Philip Edward John resigned
    director
  40. 2004-06-25
    ➕
    BARNES, Alan appointed
    director
  41. 2004-06-25
    ➕
    CROZIER, Paul Robert appointed
    director
  42. 2004-01-02
    ➕
    DWAN, Michael Joseph appointed
    director
  43. 2004-01-02
    ➕
    HALL, Philip Edward John appointed
    director
  44. 2004-01-02
    ➕
    HUMPHREYS, Andy appointed
    director
  45. 2000-06-27
    ➖
    BRIGGS, Isabella resigned
    director
  46. 1971-09-01
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As A.B. DISTRIBUTORS LIMITED
  47. 1971-09-01
    ➕
    BRIGGS, Isabella appointed
    director
  48. 1971-09-01
    ➕
    BRIGGS, Wilson Murdoch appointed
    director

Owner dependency

58/100
Moderate — manageable with handover

Some founder dependency, but not acute. A structured handover period should cover most risk.

FACTORS
  • -4 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
  • +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 22 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
  • +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 62 — approaching natural succession window.

Succession & seller-readiness

70/100
Strong succession signal

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

SIGNALS
  • secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 62. Early succession window.
  • primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 22 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 55 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

clean
No red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)

Group structure

Gowan Investments Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.

🏛️
Gowan Investments Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares
ultimate parent
⬇
A.B. DISTRIBUTORS LIMITED
This company · NI008366

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
Gowan Investments Limited
Corporate entity
75–100%
—75-100% shares06/04/2016
1 historic (ceased) PSC
  • Gemma Maughanceased 06/04/2016· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · firm interest

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
Incorporated1971-09-01
Jurisdictionnorthern-ireland
Primary SIC46439 — SIC 46439

Registered office

2 Cromac Place The Gasworks
Ormeau Road
Belfast
BT7 2JB

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-06-04
Last: 2025-05-21

Officers (5 active · 11 resigned)

BURGESS, Leslie→
secretary · appointed 2009-12-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
DWAN, Michael Joseph→
director · ~62y · appointed 2004-01-02
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
HUGHES, Jonathan→
director · ~55y · appointed 2017-10-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
LENNOX, Eamon Francis→
director · ~52y · appointed 2015-03-24
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
MURPHY, Frank→
director · ~59y · appointed 2011-04-08
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
THOMPSON, Paul→
secretary · appointed 2007-04-13 · resigned 2009-12-31
Resigned
BARNES, Alan→
director · ~61y · appointed 2004-06-25 · resigned 2009-11-30
Resigned
BRIGGS, Isabella→
director · ~118y · appointed 1971-09-01 · resigned 2000-06-27
Resigned
BRIGGS, Wilson Murdoch→
director · ~83y · appointed 1971-09-01 · resigned 2012-12-31
Resigned
BRODERICK, Richard→
director · ~72y · appointed 2007-11-28 · resigned 2017-10-31
Resigned
CROZIER, Paul Robert→
director · ~55y · appointed 2004-06-25 · resigned 2007-09-01
Resigned
HALL, Philip Edward John→
director · ~67y · appointed 2004-01-02 · resigned 2006-09-12
Resigned
HUMPHREYS, Andy→
director · ~84y · appointed 2004-01-02 · resigned 2007-11-28
Resigned
LUPARI, Paul→
director · ~60y · appointed 2007-01-01 · resigned 2011-04-08
Resigned
MAUGHAN, Michael Matthew→
director · ~88y · appointed 2019-10-10 · resigned 2022-12-13
Resigned
THOMPSON, Paul→
director · ~62y · appointed 2007-04-13 · resigned 2009-12-31
Resigned

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
TypeProperties
outstanding
The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland
A registered charge—18/10/2019—
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (153 total)

accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-09-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-06-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2024-08-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-05-29
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2023-09-27
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-07-14
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2023-06-08
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2023-06-08
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2023-06-08
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2023-03-03
memorandum-articles
incorporation · MA
2022-10-07
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2022-10-07
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2022-09-27
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-05-31
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
2022-03-25