DUERDEN BROS. LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
00293137 · ltd · incorporated 1934-10-17
Investment thesis
Zombie company — trading but stalled; unlikely mover.
Why interesting: Quiet, steady; could be a succession or carve-out candidate with the right conversation.
Why risky: No growth signal; thin margin for error on price.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Oct 2024
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 01130
Sector: Agriculture, forestry & fishing
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
- 01290SIC 01290
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 65/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Broaden director team. Sole director creates succession risk and reduces buyer comfort. Appoint a second director or strong #2. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
5 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 16.9y
30/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 16.9 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (78/100)Adequate coverage. AI outputs are reliable for the sections scored high; verify the rest in diligence.
Company profile
address, 2 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
5 charges (5/5 with lender, 5/5 with type)
90
Directors & officers
13 officers (2 active, 13 linked, 10 with DOB)
85
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
138 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
79/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
70
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2024-10-31 | 2023-10-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Average employees | 1500 | 1500 |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
1 signal 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
2
filings
- • 1 mortgage
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (38 events)Click to expand
- 2026-03-04📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2026-03-03🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Barclays Security Trustee Limited
- 2025-09-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-07-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-10-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-10-25📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-10-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-10-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-05-15📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2020-05-11🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Barclays Security Trustee Limited
- 2019-07-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-12-21📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2018-12-07🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Barclays Security Trustee Limited
- 2018-08-30📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2018-08-30📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2018-08-30📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2018-08-30📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2018-08-23📄capital-cancellation-sharescapital · SH06
- 2018-08-23📄capital-return-purchase-own-sharescapital · SH03
- 2018-07-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-07-16➖DUERDEN, Paul Frank resigneddirector
- 2016-10-25🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2015-08-07🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2009-09-09🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2008-03-27➖DUERDEN, Howard David resigneddirector
- 1999-12-31➕DUERDEN, James Anthony appointedsecretary
- 1999-12-31➖DUERDEN, Peter Samuel resignedsecretary
- 1999-12-31➖DUERDEN, Susan Elizabeth resigneddirector
- 1998-04-30➖DUERDEN, Glenys resigneddirector
- 1998-03-16➖DUERDEN, David Michael resigneddirector
- 1998-03-16➖DUERDEN, Peter Samuel resigneddirector
- 1997-10-21➖DUERDEN, James Edwin resignedsecretary
- 1997-10-21➕DUERDEN, Peter Samuel appointedsecretary
- 1997-10-21➖DUERDEN, James Edwin resigneddirector
- 1997-10-21➖DUERDEN, Jean resigneddirector
- 1997-10-21➖DUERDEN, John Paul resigneddirector
- 1995-04-06➕DUERDEN, John Paul appointeddirector
- 1934-10-17🏢Company incorporatedAs DUERDEN BROS. LIMITED
Owner dependency
98/100
Critical — business is the founderThe business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.
FACTORS
- +Sole director: Only one active director — all governance concentrated on one person.
- +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "DUERDEN" — strong identity link between founder and business.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 58 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
65/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 58. Early succession window.
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 92 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
Red flags
cleanNo red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr James Anthony Duerden Individual · British · DOB 12/1968 · age 58 | 75–100% | 75–100% | 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting | 17/07/2018 |
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Mr James Anthony Duerdenceased 16/07/2018· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
- Mr Paul Frank Duerdenceased 16/07/2018· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
Similar companies
Active · Agriculture · PR postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DENIZES LABRADORS LTD→ 15270662 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| DWB FARMING LTD→ 11537500 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| E.N. COXHEAD LIMITED→ 03900701 · est 1999 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 26y | — | — |
| EAGLE HEIGHTS (NORTH WEST) LIMITED→ 05880194 · est 2006 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 19y | — | — |
| ENGAGE CROP SOLUTIONS LTD→ 07928817 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| ERFMANN MANOR FARM LTD→ 17075977 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| F B EMINSON & SON LIMITED→ 05523097 · est 2005 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 20y | — | — |
| FARE FARMS LTD→ 09879743 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| FEATHER, FLEECE & FUR LIMITED→ 14106201 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| FERGUSON PET CARE LTD→ 14017363 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| FGH DOGS LTD→ 15766721 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| FINDLAY PET CARE LTD→ 15340630 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
8 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
Incorporated1934-10-17
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC01130 — SIC 01130
Registered office
Parker Lane Parker Lane
Whitestake
Preston
Lancashire
PR4 4JX
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-07-31
Last made up to: 2024-10-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-02-21
Last: 2026-02-07
Officers (2 active · 11 resigned)
DUERDEN, James Anthony→
Activesecretary · appointed 1999-12-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
DUERDEN, James Edwin→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1997-10-21
DUERDEN, Peter Samuel→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1997-10-21 · resigned 1999-12-31
DUERDEN, David Michael→
Resigneddirector · ~86y · resigned 1998-03-16
DUERDEN, Glenys→
Resigneddirector · ~79y · resigned 1998-04-30
DUERDEN, Howard David→
Resigneddirector · ~56y · resigned 2008-03-27
DUERDEN, James Edwin→
Resigneddirector · ~82y · resigned 1997-10-21
DUERDEN, Jean→
Resigneddirector · ~76y · resigned 1997-10-21
DUERDEN, John Paul→
Resigneddirector · ~53y · appointed 1995-04-06 · resigned 1997-10-21
DUERDEN, Paul Frank→
Resigneddirector · ~59y · resigned 2018-07-16
DUERDEN, Peter Samuel→
Resigneddirector · ~82y · resigned 1998-03-16
DUERDEN, Susan Elizabeth→
Resigneddirector · ~79y · resigned 1999-12-31
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
5
Total charges
4
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:5 of 5 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Security Trustee Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 03/03/2026 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Security Trustee Limited | A registered charge | 3 properties | 11/05/2020 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Security Trustee Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 07/12/2018 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 25/10/2016 | — | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 09/09/2009 | 07/08/2015 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (138 total)
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2026-03-04
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-02-12
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-09-22
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-03-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-07-03
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-02-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-10-31
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-02-10
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-10-25
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-02-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-10-21
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-02-15
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2020-10-29
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2020-05-15
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-02-12