HOUGHTON LIMITED

1. HOUGHTON LIMITED 2020-11-18 → present
2. HOUGHTON PLC 1999-11-01 → 2020-11-18
3. HOUGHTON VAUGHAN PLC 1991-05-03 → 1999-11-01
4. EDGAR VAUGHAN & COMPANY LIMITED 1899-10-11 → 1991-05-03

Values shown as filed in the company's annual accounts. — indicates the figure wasn't present under that line item in that period. About these numbers

Margins divide P&L lines by turnover. Gearing is liabilities over total assets. Current ratio is current assets over creditors falling due within one year. Interest cover is operating profit over absolute finance costs. Sector-distribution context coming next.

Accounting basis

FRS 101

Reporting scope

Standalone (parent only)

Auditor

BDO LLP

Audit opinion

Unqualified (clean)

Going concern

Affirmed

“Detailed trading forecasts that run to October 2026 have been prepared to support this assessment. These are based upon known orders from group companies plus any further contribution required to cover any overheads. For the purposes of this forecast, the entity has assumed that intercompany balances it owes will not be recalled in the year. This is on the basis the Company has received irrevocable written assurances from Quaker Chemical Corporation that it will provide such financial support as may be required for a period of at least 12 months from the date of approval of these financial statements, including any financial support required should amounts payable to other group companies be called for payment and should any amounts due from other group companies to the entity.”

Significant events

• “During 2024, the business saw a reduction in revenue of 19%, from £14,373,000 to £11,586,000. This was due to a reduction in the operating costs incurred in provision of fluidcare and administrative services, as these costs are recharged to the group as a service fee this has resulted in lower revenue when compared to the previous year.”
• “The Company had maintained a strong balance sheet with closing net asset position of £7,745,000 (2023 - £11,733,000). The decrease in closing net assets is as a result of a dividend distribution during the year of £4,900,000.”

Auditor, going-concern and subsidiary information is drawn from the narrative of the latest annual accounts. About these numbers

Filings

2

last 12 months

Capital events

0

last 24 months

Officers appointed

0

last 12 months

Officers resigned

0

last 12 months

Direct counts from the register. No score, no rating — see the Filing timeline for the underlying events.

• Turnover

  -19.4%

  £14,373,000 → £11,586,000

• Cash

  +8.9%

  £1,518,000 → £1,653,000

• Net assets

  -34%

  £11,733,000 → £7,745,000

• Employees

  -10.6%

  188 → 168

• Operating profit

  -39%

  £1,115,000 → £680,000

• Profit before tax

  -16.6%

  £904,000 → £754,000

• Wages

  -16%

  £8,056,000 → £6,769,000

Each % is (latest − prior) ÷ |prior| for the line item as filed. The comparison is only shown when the latest and prior accounts cover broadly equal-length periods — short or long stubs (typical around incorporation or a year-end change) are suppressed rather than misrepresented. Lines a company doesn't report are omitted. About these numbers