C.H.MARLOW LIMITED

💤Zombieactive
00656311 · ltd · incorporated 1960-04-13
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 Dec 2024
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
75/100
Strong
🔔
Follow this company (free)
Email alerts on filings, charges, director changes, gazette notices. No account needed.

Unsubscribe any time from any email. GDPR-respectful.

🔒Generate AI memo →🔒Outreach pack →🔒Corporate story →📑 Reports →Sign in to watch
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 46170
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
Pursue
Active trading company with a 63-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 75/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. Strong seller-intent signal (70/100, director aged 63). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 7 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (53/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

13 live charges · 7 lenders · oldest 56.9y

15/100
under pressure

Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.

  • · Oldest live charge is 56.9 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · 7 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
  • · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.

Data confidence

Overall: medium (79/100)

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
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
13 charges (13/13 with lender, 13/13 with type)
90
Directors & officers
6 officers (1 active, 6 linked, 3 with DOB)
80
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
112 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
75/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional 

Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.

Business quality
60
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
74
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.

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 · accounting standard unknown
Metric2024-12-312023-12-31
Average employees300300

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
1
filing
  • • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (43 events)Click to expand
  1. 2025-09-30
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  2. 2024-09-30
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  3. 2024-05-14
    📄
    mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
    mortgage · MR01
  4. 2024-05-01
    🔒
    Charge registered #13
    Lender: Howard John Marlow
  5. 2023-06-12
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  6. 2022-07-13
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  7. 2021-06-09
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  8. 2020-07-22
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  9. 2019-08-21
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  10. 2018-06-20
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  11. 2017-09-01
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  12. 2016-09-21
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
    accounts · AA
  13. 2016-01-22
    📄
    annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholders
    annual-return · AR01
  14. 2015-07-29
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
    accounts · AA
  15. 2014-12-15
    📄
    annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholders
    annual-return · AR01
  16. 2014-09-26
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-small
    accounts · AA
  17. 2012-10-05
    ➖
    WILLIAMS, Clive Phillip resigned
    secretary
  18. 2010-01-11
    🔒
    Charge registered #12
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  19. 2006-08-10
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #6
  20. 2004-04-30
    ➕
    WILLIAMS, Clive Phillip appointed
    secretary
  21. 2004-04-29
    ➖
    MARLOW, Eileen Mary resigned
    secretary
  22. 2002-06-22
    ➕
    MARLOW, Eileen Mary appointed
    secretary
  23. 2002-06-21
    ➖
    MARLOW, John Henry resigned
    secretary
  24. 2002-03-06
    🔒
    Charge registered #11
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  25. 2001-08-03
    🔒
    Charge registered #10
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  26. 2001-05-23
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #5
  27. 2001-05-23
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #4
  28. 2001-05-23
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #1
  29. 1999-04-30
    ➖
    MARLOW, John Henry resigned
    director
  30. 1998-09-01
    ➖
    MARLOW, Eileen Mary resigned
    director
  31. 1997-04-14
    🔒
    Charge registered #9
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  32. 1993-12-14
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #3
  33. 1993-10-11
    🔒
    Charge registered #8
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  34. 1993-07-01
    ➕
    MARLOW, Howard John appointed
    director
  35. 1992-01-13
    🔒
    Charge registered #7
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  36. 1992-01-13
    🔒
    Charge registered #6
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  37. 1989-04-27
    🔒
    Charge registered #5
    Lender: Union Discount Invoice Financing Limited
  38. 1989-04-05
    🔒
    Charge registered #4
    Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
  39. 1987-04-11
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #2
  40. 1986-11-27
    🔒
    Charge registered #3
    Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC.
  41. 1982-12-13
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: Trustee Savings Bank
  42. 1969-07-07
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: The Mayor Alderman & Burgesses of Brecon.
  43. 1960-04-13
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As C.H.MARLOW LIMITED

Owner dependency

100/100
Critical — business is the founder

The 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 "MARLOW" — strong identity link between founder and business.
  • +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 33 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
  • +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 63 — approaching natural succession window.

Succession & seller-readiness

95/100
Likely off-market candidate

Strong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.

SIGNALS
  • primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 63. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
  • primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
  • primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 33 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 66 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

1 med · 1 low
Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
medium

Multiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.

7 live charges
low

Heavily leveraged with multiple live security positions — understand the capital structure before proceeding.

Shareholders & ownership

1 active beneficial owner
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Howard Marlow
Individual · British · DOB 04/1963 · age 63
——sig. influencesignificant influence06/04/2016

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 · LD postcode area
CompanyEst. valueTurnoverNet worthStaffAgeOppDirector
ADVANTAGE ENGINEERING GROUP LIMITED→
03628340 · est 1998 · no financials extracted
————27y——
AQUILA DISTRIBUTION LIMITED→
13071965 · est 2020 · no financials extracted
————5y——
ASIAN SOURCING & CONSULTANCY LIMITED→
11580545 · est 2018 · no financials extracted
————7y——
ATM ORGANICS LIMITED→
05764819 · est 2006 · no financials extracted
————20y——
AZORA COSMETICS LIMITED→
12806005 · est 2020 · no financials extracted
————5y——
BARRELSTONE SPIRITS LTD→
16860193 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
———————
BRECON BARRELLS LIMITED→
13295717 · est 2021 · no financials extracted
————5y——
BRYNTHOMAS POULTRY LTD→
16933333 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
———————
CAPTAIN BROWN'S PIZZA'S LTD→
12059546 · est 2019 · no financials extracted
————6y——
CASTLE FARM FEEDS LTD→
10671518 · est 2017 · no financials extracted
————9y——
CEFNLLYS POULTRY LTD→
16933783 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
———————
CHARCROFT ELECTRONICS LIMITED→
01181853 · est 1974 · no financials extracted
————51y——
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
Incorporated1960-04-13
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC46170 — SIC 46170

Registered office

Kings Arms Vaults
The Watton
Brecon
Powys
LD3 7EF

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-12-20
Last: 2025-12-06

Officers (1 active · 5 resigned)

MARLOW, Howard John→
director · ~63y · appointed 1993-07-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
MARLOW, Eileen Mary→
secretary · appointed 2002-06-22 · resigned 2004-04-29
Resigned
MARLOW, John Henry→
secretary · resigned 2002-06-21
Resigned
WILLIAMS, Clive Phillip→
secretary · appointed 2004-04-30 · resigned 2012-10-05
Resigned
MARLOW, Eileen Mary→
director · ~104y · resigned 1998-09-01
Resigned
MARLOW, John Henry→
director · ~94y · resigned 1999-04-30
Resigned

Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.

Mortgages & charges

13
Total charges
7
Outstanding
2
Active lenders
Status:Lender:13 of 13 shown
TypeProperties
outstanding
Howard John Marlow
A registered charge1 property01/05/2024—
outstanding
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Legal charge1 property11/01/2010—
outstanding
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Legal charge of licensed premises1 property06/03/2002—
outstanding
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Legal mortgage1 property03/08/2001—
outstanding
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Legal mortgage1 property14/04/1997—
outstanding
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Legal mortgage1 property11/10/1993—
outstanding
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Legal mortgage1 property13/01/1992—
satisfied
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Mortgage debenture1 property13/01/199210/08/2006
satisfied
Union Discount Invoice Financing
Union Discount Invoice Financing Limited
Fixed equitable charge1 property27/04/198923/05/2001
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
Debenture1 property05/04/198923/05/2001
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC.
Debenture1 property27/11/198614/12/1993
satisfied
Trustee Savings Bank
Legal charge1 property13/12/198211/04/1987
satisfied
The Mayor Alderman & Burgesses of Brecon.
Charge1 property07/07/196923/05/2001
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (112 total)

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-02-18
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2025-09-30
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-01-07
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-09-30
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2024-05-14
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-12-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-06-12
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-01-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-07-13
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-01-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-06-09
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-03-01
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2020-07-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2019-12-16
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2019-08-21