ao world plc
ao world plc Company Information
Company Number
05525751
Next Accounts
Sep 2025
Shareholders
undisclosed
Group Structure
View All
Industry
Non-trading company
+1Registered Address
unit 5a the parklands, lostock, bolton, BL6 4SD
Website
www.ao.comao world plc Estimated Valuation
Pomanda estimates the enterprise value of AO WORLD PLC at £1b based on a Turnover of £1b and 0.99x industry multiple (adjusted for size and gross margin).
ao world plc Estimated Valuation
Pomanda estimates the enterprise value of AO WORLD PLC at £352.1m based on an EBITDA of £45.1m and a 7.81x industry multiple (adjusted for size and gross margin).
ao world plc Estimated Valuation
Pomanda estimates the enterprise value of AO WORLD PLC at £235m based on Net Assets of £137.8m and 1.71x industry multiple (adjusted for liquidity).
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Ao World Plc Overview
Ao World Plc is a live company located in bolton, BL6 4SD with a Companies House number of 05525751. It operates in the activities of head offices sector, SIC Code 70100. Founded in August 2005, it's largest shareholder is undisclosed with a 100% stake. Ao World Plc is a mature, mega sized company, Pomanda has estimated its turnover at £1b with declining growth in recent years.
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Ao World Plc Health Check
Pomanda's financial health check has awarded Ao World Plc a 3.5 rating. We use a traffic light system to show it exceeds the industry average on 4 measures and has 5 areas for improvement. Company Health Check FAQs
4 Strong
3 Regular
5 Weak
Size
annual sales of £1b, make it larger than the average company (£11.4m)
£1b - Ao World Plc
£11.4m - Industry AVG
Growth
3 year (CAGR) sales growth of -14%, show it is growing at a slower rate (7.8%)
-14% - Ao World Plc
7.8% - Industry AVG
Production
with a gross margin of 23.4%, this company has a higher cost of product (33.9%)
23.4% - Ao World Plc
33.9% - Industry AVG
Profitability
an operating margin of 3.5% make it less profitable than the average company (5.5%)
3.5% - Ao World Plc
5.5% - Industry AVG
Employees
with 2842 employees, this is above the industry average (73)
2842 - Ao World Plc
73 - Industry AVG
Pay Structure
on an average salary of £43k, the company has an equivalent pay structure (£44.3k)
£43k - Ao World Plc
£44.3k - Industry AVG
Efficiency
resulting in sales per employee of £365.7k, this is more efficient (£167.5k)
£365.7k - Ao World Plc
£167.5k - Industry AVG
Debtor Days
it gets paid by customers after 40 days, this is near the average (40 days)
40 days - Ao World Plc
40 days - Industry AVG
Creditor Days
its suppliers are paid after 103 days, this is slower than average (41 days)
103 days - Ao World Plc
41 days - Industry AVG
Stock Days
it holds stock equivalent to 36 days, this is in line with average (44 days)
36 days - Ao World Plc
44 days - Industry AVG
Cash Balance
has cash to cover current liabilities for 8 weeks, this is less cash available to meet short term requirements (32 weeks)
8 weeks - Ao World Plc
32 weeks - Industry AVG
Debt Level
it has a ratio of liabilities to total assets of 68.8%, this is a higher level of debt than the average (46.7%)
68.8% - Ao World Plc
46.7% - Industry AVG
AO WORLD PLC financials
Ao World Plc's latest turnover from March 2024 is £1 billion and the company has net assets of £137.8 million. According to their latest financial statements, Ao World Plc has 2,842 employees and maintains cash reserves of £40.1 million as reported in the balance sheet.
Data source: Companies House, Pomanda Estimates
| Mar 2024 | Mar 2023 | Mar 2022 | Mar 2021 | Mar 2020 | Mar 2019 | Mar 2018 | Mar 2017 | Mar 2016 | Mar 2015 | Mar 2014 | Mar 2013 | Mar 2012 | Mar 2011 | Mar 2010 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turnover | 1,039,300,000 | 1,138,500,000 | 1,368,300,000 | 1,660,900,000 | 1,045,700,000 | 902,500,000 | 796,800,000 | 701,200,000 | 599,200,000 | 476,700,000 | 384,918,000 | 274,909,000 | 207,461,293 | 162,546,065 | 126,716,030 |
| Other Income Or Grants | |||||||||||||||
| Cost Of Sales | 796,000,000 | 900,300,000 | 1,104,900,000 | 1,368,400,000 | 867,900,000 | 750,000,000 | 655,000,000 | 572,000,000 | 493,300,000 | 389,100,000 | 310,741,000 | 224,108,000 | 172,889,179 | 133,986,233 | 105,384,442 |
| Gross Profit | 243,300,000 | 238,200,000 | 263,400,000 | 292,500,000 | 177,800,000 | 152,500,000 | 141,800,000 | 129,200,000 | 105,900,000 | 87,600,000 | 74,177,000 | 50,801,000 | 34,572,114 | 28,559,832 | 21,331,588 |
| Admin Expenses | 207,100,000 | 225,700,000 | 270,900,000 | 262,800,000 | 182,100,000 | 165,500,000 | 158,000,000 | 141,200,000 | 116,500,000 | 89,800,000 | 81,417,000 | 42,438,000 | 36,758,890 | 25,341,885 | 18,005,458 |
| Operating Profit | 36,200,000 | 12,500,000 | -7,500,000 | 29,700,000 | -4,300,000 | -13,000,000 | -16,200,000 | -12,000,000 | -10,600,000 | -2,200,000 | -7,240,000 | 8,363,000 | -2,186,776 | 3,217,947 | 3,326,130 |
| Interest Payable | 6,400,000 | 7,800,000 | 5,600,000 | 13,800,000 | 5,600,000 | 6,700,000 | 2,100,000 | 1,800,000 | 300,000 | 1,000,000 | 391,000 | 259,000 | 111,719 | 144,289 | 256,153 |
| Interest Receivable | 4,500,000 | 2,900,000 | 2,600,000 | 4,300,000 | 10,500,000 | 2,600,000 | 3,700,000 | 2,200,000 | 1,500,000 | 300,000 | 80,000 | 43,000 | 11,464 | 3,408 | 1,886 |
| Pre-Tax Profit | 34,300,000 | 7,600,000 | -10,500,000 | 20,200,000 | 600,000 | -20,200,000 | -13,500,000 | -7,000,000 | -6,700,000 | -2,900,000 | -7,551,000 | 8,147,000 | -2,287,031 | 3,077,066 | 3,165,259 |
| Tax | -9,600,000 | -1,200,000 | 7,200,000 | -3,100,000 | 100,000 | 2,100,000 | 200,000 | -400,000 | 600,000 | 400,000 | -2,022,000 | -1,824,000 | 324,099 | -1,049,857 | -914,094 |
| Profit After Tax | 24,700,000 | 6,400,000 | -3,300,000 | 17,100,000 | 700,000 | -18,100,000 | -13,300,000 | -7,400,000 | -6,100,000 | -2,500,000 | -9,573,000 | 6,323,000 | -1,962,932 | 2,027,209 | 2,251,165 |
| Dividends Paid | |||||||||||||||
| Retained Profit | 24,700,000 | 6,400,000 | -30,400,000 | 17,700,000 | 1,000,000 | -18,600,000 | -13,300,000 | -7,400,000 | -6,000,000 | -2,500,000 | -9,573,000 | 6,323,000 | -1,962,932 | 2,027,209 | 2,251,165 |
| Employee Costs | 122,300,000 | 133,000,000 | 157,200,000 | 144,700,000 | 114,000,000 | 107,500,000 | 97,300,000 | 80,000,000 | 61,100,000 | 49,100,000 | 32,375,000 | 21,589,000 | 17,723,712 | 12,261,693 | 11,075,912 |
| Number Of Employees | 2,842 | 3,373 | 3,974 | 3,916 | 3,227 | 3,119 | 2,771 | 2,506 | 2,101 | 1,517 | 1,193 | 834 | 670 | 471 | 395 |
| EBITDA* | 45,100,000 | 23,900,000 | 21,100,000 | 54,300,000 | 16,800,000 | 5,500,000 | -8,600,000 | -6,000,000 | -5,800,000 | 1,700,000 | -4,444,000 | 10,142,000 | -417,497 | 4,352,268 | 4,211,227 |
* Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation
| Mar 2024 | Mar 2023 | Mar 2022 | Mar 2021 | Mar 2020 | Mar 2019 | Mar 2018 | Mar 2017 | Mar 2016 | Mar 2015 | Mar 2014 | Mar 2013 | Mar 2012 | Mar 2011 | Mar 2010 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tangible Assets | 113,100,000 | 122,500,000 | 230,700,000 | 204,900,000 | 185,000,000 | 175,300,000 | 81,400,000 | 73,900,000 | 50,700,000 | 31,400,000 | 23,239,000 | 15,156,000 | 6,358,586 | 2,032,836 | 1,209,872 |
| Intangible Assets | 94,000,000 | 107,200,000 | 40,400,000 | 43,800,000 | 44,000,000 | 45,100,000 | 14,700,000 | 15,300,000 | 15,600,000 | 14,300,000 | 12,830,000 | 12,587,000 | 9,153,712 | 9,763,516 | 10,373,320 |
| Investments & Other | 1,000,000 | 1,300,000 | 600,000 | 800,000 | 3,800,000 | 3,000,000 | 800,000 | ||||||||
| Debtors (Due After 1 year) | 92,900,000 | 101,600,000 | 101,400,000 | 90,900,000 | 84,800,000 | 79,400,000 | 29,500,000 | 17,100,000 | 11,255,000 | ||||||
| Total Fixed Assets | 207,100,000 | 229,700,000 | 262,100,000 | 243,100,000 | 223,400,000 | 220,400,000 | 96,100,000 | 89,200,000 | 66,300,000 | 45,700,000 | 36,069,000 | 27,743,000 | 15,512,298 | 11,796,352 | 11,583,192 |
| Stock & work in progress | 79,500,000 | 73,100,000 | 97,000,000 | 139,600,000 | 72,700,000 | 76,300,000 | 53,200,000 | 44,800,000 | 34,000,000 | 31,500,000 | 15,881,000 | 8,708,000 | 4,688,385 | 3,736,981 | 3,714,107 |
| Trade Debtors | 115,100,000 | 137,800,000 | 169,700,000 | 166,200,000 | 134,900,000 | 12,900,000 | 54,800,000 | 41,100,000 | 34,400,000 | 30,300,000 | 6,294,000 | 18,916,000 | 2,534,138 | 4,116,256 | 2,512,677 |
| Group Debtors | 46,000 | ||||||||||||||
| Misc Debtors | 101,600,000 | 700,000 | 700,000 | 15,371,000 | 16,841,040 | 10,718,977 | 6,058,358 | ||||||||
| Cash | 40,100,000 | 19,100,000 | 19,500,000 | 67,100,000 | 7,000,000 | 29,000,000 | 56,000,000 | 29,400,000 | 33,400,000 | 44,900,000 | 55,050,000 | 12,210,000 | 2,903,028 | 4,144,537 | 4,153,713 |
| misc current assets | 600,000 | 400,000 | 200,000 | ||||||||||||
| total current assets | 234,700,000 | 230,600,000 | 288,100,000 | 373,900,000 | 215,600,000 | 220,400,000 | 164,400,000 | 115,500,000 | 102,500,000 | 107,400,000 | 92,642,000 | 39,834,000 | 26,966,591 | 22,716,751 | 16,438,855 |
| total assets | 441,800,000 | 460,300,000 | 550,200,000 | 617,000,000 | 439,000,000 | 440,800,000 | 260,500,000 | 204,700,000 | 168,800,000 | 153,100,000 | 128,711,000 | 67,577,000 | 42,478,889 | 34,513,103 | 28,022,047 |
| Bank overdraft | 3,100,000 | 3,100,000 | |||||||||||||
| Bank loan | 200,000 | 10,000,000 | 45,000,000 | 9,500,000 | |||||||||||
| Trade Creditors | 225,600,000 | 249,500,000 | 313,900,000 | 411,400,000 | 249,600,000 | 229,800,000 | 118,400,000 | 105,900,000 | 79,300,000 | 66,500,000 | 45,006,000 | 32,771,000 | 21,691,286 | 14,292,918 | 9,207,840 |
| Group/Directors Accounts | |||||||||||||||
| other short term finances | 5,200,000 | 4,200,000 | 3,700,000 | 2,200,000 | 2,100,000 | 1,996,000 | 1,497,589 | 1,470,574 | 1,255,812 | ||||||
| hp & lease commitments | 16,900,000 | 17,800,000 | 20,300,000 | 21,400,000 | 16,100,000 | 14,300,000 | 854,733 | 87,405 | 76,187 | ||||||
| other current liabilities | 1,200,000 | 1,200,000 | 400,000 | 100,000 | 900,000 | 600,000 | 38,000,000 | 34,400,000 | 29,700,000 | 21,000,000 | 19,267,000 | 13,442,000 | 8,262,686 | 6,711,143 | 6,034,196 |
| total current liabilities | 243,900,000 | 278,500,000 | 379,600,000 | 432,900,000 | 271,800,000 | 254,200,000 | 163,700,000 | 144,000,000 | 111,200,000 | 89,600,000 | 66,269,000 | 49,313,000 | 32,306,294 | 22,562,040 | 16,574,035 |
| loans | 107,400,000 | 135,000,000 | 176,600,000 | 147,800,000 | 170,400,000 | 180,300,000 | 24,200,000 | 30,800,000 | 14,300,000 | 9,800,000 | 4,403,000 | 7,516,000 | 1,980,567 | 3,090,000 | 4,490,000 |
| hp & lease commitments | 51,800,000 | 67,500,000 | 88,300,000 | 73,900,000 | 68,100,000 | 67,800,000 | 3,100,000 | 2,382,848 | 124,158 | ||||||
| Accruals and Deferred Income | |||||||||||||||
| other liabilities | 2,500,000 | 4,800,000 | 6,400,000 | 7,900,000 | 7,500,000 | 7,400,000 | |||||||||
| provisions | 7,800,000 | 7,600,000 | 5,000,000 | 9,200,000 | 8,800,000 | 9,800,000 | 3,600,000 | 2,800,000 | 1,600,000 | ||||||
| total long term liabilities | 60,100,000 | 76,100,000 | 97,200,000 | 86,400,000 | 97,500,000 | 103,900,000 | 15,600,000 | 18,500,000 | 9,300,000 | 4,900,000 | 4,403,000 | 3,758,000 | 4,363,415 | 3,090,000 | 4,614,158 |
| total liabilities | 304,000,000 | 354,600,000 | 476,800,000 | 519,300,000 | 369,300,000 | 358,100,000 | 179,300,000 | 162,500,000 | 120,500,000 | 94,500,000 | 70,672,000 | 53,071,000 | 36,669,709 | 25,652,040 | 21,188,193 |
| net assets | 137,800,000 | 105,700,000 | 73,400,000 | 97,700,000 | 69,700,000 | 82,700,000 | 81,200,000 | 42,200,000 | 48,300,000 | 58,600,000 | 58,039,000 | 14,506,000 | 5,809,180 | 8,861,063 | 6,833,854 |
| total shareholders funds | 137,800,000 | 105,700,000 | 73,400,000 | 97,700,000 | 69,700,000 | 82,700,000 | 81,200,000 | 42,200,000 | 48,300,000 | 58,600,000 | 58,039,000 | 14,506,000 | 5,809,180 | 8,861,063 | 6,833,854 |
| Mar 2024 | Mar 2023 | Mar 2022 | Mar 2021 | Mar 2020 | Mar 2019 | Mar 2018 | Mar 2017 | Mar 2016 | Mar 2015 | Mar 2014 | Mar 2013 | Mar 2012 | Mar 2011 | Mar 2010 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Activities | |||||||||||||||
| Operating Profit | 36,200,000 | 12,500,000 | -7,500,000 | 29,700,000 | -4,300,000 | -13,000,000 | -16,200,000 | -12,000,000 | -10,600,000 | -2,200,000 | -7,240,000 | 8,363,000 | -2,186,776 | 3,217,947 | 3,326,130 |
| Depreciation | 6,600,000 | 8,800,000 | 24,800,000 | 21,800,000 | 18,900,000 | 17,400,000 | 6,600,000 | 5,300,000 | 4,300,000 | 3,700,000 | 2,546,000 | 1,779,000 | 1,159,475 | 524,517 | 275,293 |
| Amortisation | 2,300,000 | 2,600,000 | 3,800,000 | 2,800,000 | 2,200,000 | 1,100,000 | 1,000,000 | 700,000 | 500,000 | 200,000 | 250,000 | 609,804 | 609,804 | 609,804 | |
| Tax | -9,600,000 | -1,200,000 | 7,200,000 | -3,100,000 | 100,000 | 2,100,000 | 200,000 | -400,000 | 600,000 | 400,000 | -2,022,000 | -1,824,000 | 324,099 | -1,049,857 | -914,094 |
| Stock | 6,400,000 | -23,900,000 | -42,600,000 | 66,900,000 | -3,600,000 | 23,100,000 | 8,400,000 | 10,800,000 | 2,500,000 | 15,619,000 | 7,173,000 | 4,019,615 | 951,404 | 22,874 | 3,714,107 |
| Debtors | -31,400,000 | -31,700,000 | 14,000,000 | 37,400,000 | 25,800,000 | 139,100,000 | 13,700,000 | -23,500,000 | 16,500,000 | 15,134,000 | 14,050,000 | -459,178 | 4,539,945 | 6,264,198 | 8,571,035 |
| Creditors | -23,900,000 | -64,400,000 | -97,500,000 | 161,800,000 | 19,800,000 | 111,400,000 | 12,500,000 | 26,600,000 | 12,800,000 | 21,494,000 | 12,235,000 | 11,079,714 | 7,398,368 | 5,085,078 | 9,207,840 |
| Accruals and Deferred Income | 800,000 | 300,000 | -800,000 | 300,000 | -37,400,000 | 3,600,000 | 4,700,000 | 8,700,000 | 1,733,000 | 5,825,000 | 5,179,314 | 1,551,543 | 676,947 | 6,034,196 | |
| Deferred Taxes & Provisions | 200,000 | 2,600,000 | -4,200,000 | 400,000 | -1,000,000 | 6,200,000 | 800,000 | 1,200,000 | 1,600,000 | ||||||
| Cash flow from operations | 36,800,000 | 17,300,000 | -44,500,000 | 108,300,000 | 13,800,000 | -74,400,000 | -13,600,000 | 38,800,000 | -1,100,000 | -5,426,000 | -9,629,000 | 21,016,591 | 3,365,164 | 2,777,364 | 6,254,027 |
| Investing Activities | |||||||||||||||
| capital expenditure | -5,715,919 | -1,347,481 | -920,610 | ||||||||||||
| Change in Investments | -1,000,000 | -300,000 | 700,000 | -200,000 | -3,000,000 | 800,000 | 2,200,000 | 800,000 | |||||||
| cash flow from investments | -5,715,919 | -1,347,481 | -920,610 | ||||||||||||
| Financing Activities | |||||||||||||||
| Bank loans | -9,800,000 | -35,000,000 | 45,000,000 | -9,500,000 | 9,500,000 | ||||||||||
| Group/Directors Accounts | |||||||||||||||
| Other Short Term Loans | -5,200,000 | 5,200,000 | -4,200,000 | 500,000 | 1,500,000 | 100,000 | 104,000 | 1,996,000 | -1,497,589 | 27,015 | 214,762 | 1,255,812 | |||
| Long term loans | -27,600,000 | -41,600,000 | 28,800,000 | -22,600,000 | -9,900,000 | 156,100,000 | -6,600,000 | 16,500,000 | 4,500,000 | 5,397,000 | -3,113,000 | 5,535,433 | -1,109,433 | -1,400,000 | 4,490,000 |
| Hire Purchase and Lease Commitments | -16,600,000 | -23,300,000 | 13,300,000 | 11,100,000 | 2,100,000 | 82,100,000 | -3,100,000 | 3,100,000 | -3,237,581 | 3,150,176 | -112,940 | 200,345 | |||
| other long term liabilities | -2,300,000 | -1,600,000 | -1,500,000 | 400,000 | 100,000 | 7,400,000 | |||||||||
| share issue | |||||||||||||||
| interest | -1,900,000 | -4,900,000 | -3,000,000 | -9,500,000 | 4,900,000 | -4,100,000 | 1,600,000 | 400,000 | 1,200,000 | -700,000 | -311,000 | -216,000 | -100,255 | -140,881 | -254,267 |
| cash flow from financing | -50,800,000 | -80,500,000 | 88,700,000 | -15,500,000 | -21,100,000 | 266,900,000 | 47,800,000 | 16,600,000 | 4,600,000 | 7,862,000 | 51,678,000 | 2,958,083 | 878,552 | -1,439,059 | 10,274,579 |
| cash and cash equivalents | |||||||||||||||
| cash | 21,000,000 | -400,000 | -47,600,000 | 60,100,000 | -22,000,000 | -27,000,000 | 26,600,000 | -4,000,000 | -11,500,000 | -10,150,000 | 42,840,000 | 9,306,972 | -1,241,509 | -9,176 | 4,153,713 |
| overdraft | -3,100,000 | 3,100,000 | -3,100,000 | 3,100,000 | |||||||||||
| change in cash | 21,000,000 | -400,000 | -47,600,000 | 60,100,000 | -22,000,000 | -23,900,000 | 23,500,000 | -4,000,000 | -11,500,000 | -10,150,000 | 45,940,000 | 6,206,972 | -1,241,509 | -9,176 | 4,153,713 |
ao world plc Credit Report and Business Information
Ao World Plc Competitor Analysis
Perform a competitor analysis for ao world plc by selecting its closest rivals, whether from the PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES sector, other mega companies, companies in BL6 area or any other competitors across 12 key performance metrics.
ao world plc Ownership
AO WORLD PLC group structure
Ao World Plc has 17 subsidiary companies.
Ultimate parent company
AO WORLD PLC
05525751
17 subsidiaries
ao world plc directors
Ao World Plc currently has 7 directors. The longest serving directors include Mr John Roberts (Aug 2005) and Mr Christopher Hopkinson (Dec 2005).
| officer | country | age | start | end | role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr John Roberts | England | 51 years | Aug 2005 | - | Director |
| Mr Christopher Hopkinson | England | 66 years | Dec 2005 | - | Director |
| Mr Jonathan Higgins | England | 47 years | Aug 2015 | - | Director |
| Mr Geoffrey Cooper | England | 71 years | Jul 2016 | - | Director |
| Mr Shaun McCabe | United Kingdom | 56 years | Jul 2018 | - | Director |
| Mr Peter Pritchard | United Kingdom | 54 years | Oct 2022 | - | Director |
| Mrs Sarah Venning | 51 years | Nov 2022 | - | Director |
P&L
March 2024turnover
1b
-9%
operating profit
36.2m
+190%
gross margin
23.5%
+11.89%
turnover
Turnover, or revenue, is the amount of sales generated by a company within the financial year.
Balance Sheet
March 2024net assets
137.8m
+0.3%
total assets
441.8m
-0.04%
cash
40.1m
+1.1%
net assets
Total assets minus all liabilities
ao world plc company details
company number
05525751
Type
Public limited with Share Capital
industry
74990 - Non-trading company
70100 - Activities of head offices
incorporation date
August 2005
age
20
incorporated
UK
ultimate parent company
accounts
Group
last accounts submitted
March 2024
previous names
drl holdings limited (February 2014)
accountant
-
auditor
KPMG LLP
address
unit 5a the parklands, lostock, bolton, BL6 4SD
Bank
BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Legal Advisor
-
ao world plc Charges & Mortgages
A charge, or mortgage, refers to the rights a company gives to a lender in return for a loan, often in the form of security given over business assets.
We found 6 charges/mortgages relating to ao world plc. Currently there are 0 open charges and 6 have been satisfied in the past.
ao world plc Capital Raised & Share Issues BETA
When a company issues new shares, e.g. to new investors following a funding round, it is required to notify Companies House within one month of making an allotment of shares.
Click to start generating capital raising & share issue transactions for AO WORLD PLC. This can take several minutes, an email will notify you when this has completed.
ao world plc Companies House Filings - See Documents
| date | description | view/download |
|---|
