BRIAN LEIGHTON (GARAGES) LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
00845651 · ltd · incorporated 1965-04-13
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
68/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Sale of new cars and light motor vehicles
Sector: Wholesale & retail
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
- 45112SIC 45112
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)Distressed active trading company — structural issues outweigh the discount.
Opportunity 68/100 (strong), bankability 52/100. Strong seller-intent signal (65/100, director aged 60). Asset purchase likely safer than share purchase given structural signals. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 6 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: asset disposal / carve-out (45/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
12 live charges · 6 lenders · oldest 45.6y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 45.6 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 6 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: high (80/100)Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.
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
12 charges (12/12 with lender, 12/12 with type)
90
Directors & officers
6 officers (2 active, 6 linked, 3 with DOB)
80
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
5 connected companies via shared directors
60
Filing history
147 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
68/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
50
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
70
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
69
Some moderate concerns — review 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 | 2024-12-29 | 2023-12-29 |
|---|---|---|
| Average employees | 0 | 0 |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
2 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
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (47 events)Click to expand
- 2025-09-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2024-12-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2023-09-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2023-03-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2022-12-20📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2021-12-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2020-11-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2019-10-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-10-01📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-01-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2017-09-29📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2017-02-02📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2017-01-29➖LEIGHTON, Nicholas Brian resigneddirector
- 2017-01-24📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2017-01-24🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 2017-01-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2017-01-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2017-01-14🔓Charge satisfied #11
- 2017-01-14🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2017-01-14🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2017-01-14🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2017-01-14🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2013-10-23🔓Charge satisfied #12
- 2013-03-28🔒Charge registered #12Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2011-09-29🔒Charge registered #11Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2009-09-14➕LEIGHTON, Timothy Edward appointedsecretary
- 2009-09-14➖MOORE, Jonathan Charles Dowsland resignedsecretary
- 2009-09-09➖LEIGHTON, Susan Mary resignedsecretary
- 2009-09-09➕MOORE, Jonathan Charles Dowsland appointedsecretary
- 2006-10-03➕LEIGHTON, Nicholas Brian appointeddirector
- 2006-09-16➖LEIGHTON, Brian Michael resigneddirector
- 2003-04-01🔓Charge satisfied #9
- 2002-04-27🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2001-06-22🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Bp Oil UK Limited
- 2000-08-17🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 1994-12-02🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Lombard North Central PLC
- 1992-05-08🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Midland Bank PLC
- 1991-01-08🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 1991-01-08🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 1990-11-27🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Midland Bank PLC
- 1990-11-27🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Midland Bank PLC
- 1990-11-27🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Midland Bank PLC
- 1990-11-27🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Midland Bank PLC
- 1990-09-24🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Mobil Oil Company Limited
- 1981-11-19🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1980-11-19🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1965-04-13🏢Company incorporatedAs BRIAN LEIGHTON (GARAGES) 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 "LEIGHTON" — strong identity link between founder and business.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 60 — 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 60. 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 61 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
Red flags
2 med ·Has insolvency history
mediumCompanies House flags prior insolvency events. Review the insolvency filings for context.
Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Timothy Edward Leighton Individual · British · DOB 02/1966 · age 60 | 75–100% | — | 75-100% shares | 06/04/2016 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Mr Nicholas Brian Leightonceased 20/02/2017· 25-50% shares
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 · Automotive · DN postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BDM MOTORS LTD→ 17030094 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BOLHAM LANE GARAGE LIMITED→ 10827278 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| BORUSIAK LTD→ 10743663 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| BRM CAR SALES SCUNTHORPE LTD→ 15883955 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| BUFF N SCUFFS LTD→ 10538123 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| BULLCROFT CAR SALES LIMITED→ 15124997 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| BULLSEYE SUPERFACTORS HOLDINGS LIMITED→ 11714506 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| BULLSEYE SUPERFACTORS LTD→ 03140971 · est 1995 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 30y | — | — |
| BURTON UK COMMERCIALS LTD→ 12183873 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| CANEMS ENGINE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS LIMITED→ 08598238 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| CANNON CONVERSIONS LIMITED→ 16005506 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| CAR CLINIC GRIMSBY LIMITED→ 14265222 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1965-04-13
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC45111 — Sale of new cars and light motor vehicles
Registered office
Townends Accountants Llp
Carlisle Street
Goole
East Yorkshire
DN14 5DX
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-29
Last made up to: 2024-12-29
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-04-06
Last: 2026-03-23
Officers (2 active · 4 resigned)
LEIGHTON, Timothy Edward→
Activesecretary · appointed 2009-09-14
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
LEIGHTON, Susan Mary→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 2009-09-09
MOORE, Jonathan Charles Dowsland→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2009-09-09 · resigned 2009-09-14
LEIGHTON, Brian Michael→
Resigneddirector · ~89y · resigned 2006-09-16
LEIGHTON, Nicholas Brian→
Resigneddirector · ~55y · appointed 2006-10-03 · resigned 2017-01-29
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
12
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:12 of 12 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 28/03/2013 | 23/10/2013 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 29/09/2011 | 14/01/2017 | |
| satisfied | Bp Oil UK Bp Oil UK Limited | Legal charge | 1 property | 22/06/2001 | 24/01/2017 | |
| satisfied | Lombard North Central Lombard North Central PLC | Floating charge over stock | 1 property | 02/12/1994 | 01/04/2003 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Charge | 1 property | 08/05/1992 | 14/01/2017 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Fixed and floating charge | 1 property | 27/11/1990 | 14/01/2017 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 27/11/1990 | 14/01/2017 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 27/11/1990 | 14/01/2017 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 27/11/1990 | 17/08/2000 | |
| satisfied | Mobil Oil Company Mobil Oil Company Limited | Legal charge | 1 property | 24/09/1990 | 27/04/2002 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 19/11/1981 | 08/01/1991 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 19/11/1980 | 08/01/1991 |
Recent filings (147 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-03-24
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2025-09-24
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-04-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2024-12-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-04-03
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2023-09-28
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-03-28
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2023-03-17
change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortened
accounts · AA01
2022-12-20
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-03-29
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2021-12-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-03-29
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2020-11-27
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-04-15
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2019-10-02