BRACES BAKERY LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
01223575 · ltd · incorporated 1975-08-19
Investment thesis
Established operating company — standard diligence applies, no dominant angle.
Why interesting: Live, filing, normal profile.
Why risky: No standout signals in either direction.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
73/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Manufacture of bread; manufacture of fresh pastry goods and cakes
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 69-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 73/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. Strong seller-intent signal (83/100, director aged 69). Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 14 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (45/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
25 live charges · 13 lenders · oldest 46.3y
25/100
too messy
Structure is too messy for a clean refinance right now — clean up first or expect bespoke terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 46.3 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 13 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 50/100 (high).
Data confidence
Overall: medium (58/100)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
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
25 charges (25/25 with lender, 25/25 with type)
90
Directors & officers
7 officers (3 active, 7 linked, 6 with DOB)
87
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
3 connected companies via shared directors
54
Filing history
160 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
73/100Strong
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
66
Some moderate concerns — review flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
2
filings
- • 2 mortgage
Last 180 days
5
filings
- • 2 mortgage
- • 2 accounts
- • 1 address
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (63 events)Click to expand
- 2026-03-30📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2026-03-30📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2026-03-27🔒Charge registered #25Lender: Hsbc UK Bank PLC
- 2026-03-27🔒Charge registered #24Lender: Hirwaun Enterprise Limited
- 2026-01-22📄change-account-reference-date-company-current-extendedaccounts · AA01
- 2026-01-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-12-18📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2025-11-13📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-11-13📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-11-10📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-11-07🔒Charge registered #23Lender: Reward Finance Group Limited
- 2025-11-07🔒Charge registered #22Lender: Reward Finance Group Limited
- 2025-11-07🔒Charge registered #21Lender: Hsbc Equipment Finance (UK) Limited
- 2025-09-09📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2025-09-08📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-05-21📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-05-21🔓Charge satisfied #11
- 2025-04-29📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-04-28📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-04-25🔒Charge registered #20Lender: Dbw Investments (3) Limited
- 2025-04-25🔒Charge registered #19Lender: Dbw Investments (3) Limited
- 2024-12-27📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2024-12-23🔒Charge registered #18Lender: Hsbc UK Bank PLC
- 2024-09-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-09-06📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-09-06📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-08-13📄change-person-secretary-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH03
- 2024-08-13📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-08-13📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-06-25📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2024-06-24📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2024-06-18🔒Charge registered #17Lender: Hsbc UK Bank PLC
- 2024-04-08📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2024-03-20🔒Charge registered #16Lender: Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) Limited
- 2022-07-01🔒Charge registered #15Lender: Hsbc Equipment Finance (UK) LTD
- 2018-02-12➖BRACE, Ernest Colin resigneddirector
- 2017-09-02🔓Charge satisfied #14
- 2016-08-12➖RICHARDSON, Scott Owen resigneddirector
- 2016-01-19🔓Charge satisfied #9
- 2016-01-19🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2016-01-19🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2015-10-05🔒Charge registered #14Lender: Hsbc Equipment Finance (UK) LTD
- 2011-02-17🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2011-02-11🔒Charge registered #13Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2011-02-11🔒Charge registered #12Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2011-02-11🔒Charge registered #11Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2011-02-11🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2007-07-24🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2006-11-23🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2006-11-06🔓Charge satisfied #7
Showing most recent 50 of 63 events
Owner dependency
100/100
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
- +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
- +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "BRACE" — strong identity link between founder and business.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 40 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 69 — succession pressure is live.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
86/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 69. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 40 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 51 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
2 med · 1 low5 new charges in last 12 months
mediumHeavy recent charge activity can indicate refinancing pressure, aggressive leverage, or multiple lender rotation.
Evidence: 2026-03-27: A registered charge; 2026-03-27: A registered charge; 2025-11-07: A registered charge
Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
17 live charges
lowHeavily leveraged with multiple live security positions — understand the capital structure before proceeding.
Shareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Norman Mark Brace Individual · British · DOB 06/1957 · age 69 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 06/04/2016 |
Jonathan Colin Brace Individual · British · DOB 11/1962 · age 64 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 06/04/2016 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Ms Estate Of Tystian Mary Sargeant (Deceased)ceased 10/04/2019· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
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 · Food & drink · NP postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A PIE IN THE SKY CYFYNGEDIG→ 15878850 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| A-O BREWING COMPANY LIMITED→ 12311275 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| ABERGAVENNY FOOD AND WINES LTD→ 14505959 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| ALFIES FANCIES CYF.→ 12088151 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| ANR BLEND LIMITED→ 16281008 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ASAGA NOODLE BAR LIMITED→ 12219707 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| B SIDOLI & SONS LIMITED→ 00768047 · est 1963 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 62y | — | — |
| BARISTA CULTURE LTD→ 16164622 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| BE:VITO LIMITED→ 12849434 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| BLACK MOUNTAINS SMOKERY LIMITED→ 03128086 · est 1995 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 30y | — | — |
| BOOZY BODS LTD→ 07965761 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| BREADLY BAKERY UK LIMITED→ 15427844 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
9 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
Incorporated1975-08-19
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC10710 — Manufacture of bread; manufacture of fresh pastry goods and cakes
Registered office
Cambrian House Croespenmaen Industrial Estate
Newbridge
Gwent
NP11 3AG
Wales
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-28
Last made up to: 2024-09-28
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-09-19
Last: 2025-09-05
Officers (3 active · 4 resigned)
Active
BRACE, Jonathan Colin→
Activedirector · ~64y · appointed 1986-07-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BRACE, Ernest Colin→
Resigneddirector · ~104y · resigned 2018-02-12
RICHARDSON, Scott Owen→
Resigneddirector · ~56y · appointed 2000-09-01 · resigned 2016-08-12
SARGEANT, Tystian Mary→
Resigneddirector · ~102y · resigned 1998-07-06
THOMAS, Jeffrey Guest→
Resigneddirector · ~88y · resigned 1993-07-13
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
25
Total charges
17
Outstanding
5
Active lenders
Status:Lender:25 of 25 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc UK Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 27/03/2026 | — | |
| outstanding | Hirwaun Enterprise Hirwaun Enterprise Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 27/03/2026 | — | |
| outstanding | Reward Finance Group Reward Finance Group Limited | A registered charge | — | 07/11/2025 | — | |
| outstanding | Reward Finance Group Reward Finance Group Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 07/11/2025 | — | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Equipment Finance (UK) Limited | A registered charge | — | 07/11/2025 | — | |
| outstanding | Dbw Investments (3) Dbw Investments (3) Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 25/04/2025 | — | |
| outstanding | Dbw Investments (3) Dbw Investments (3) Limited | A registered charge | 2 properties | 25/04/2025 | — | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc UK Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 23/12/2024 | — | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc UK Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 18/06/2024 | — | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) Limited | A registered charge | — | 20/03/2024 | — | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Equipment Finance (UK) LTD | A registered charge | — | 01/07/2022 | — | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Equipment Finance (UK) LTD / Hsbc Asset Finance (UK) LTD | A registered charge | — | 05/10/2015 | 02/09/2017 | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 11/02/2011 | — | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 11/02/2011 | — | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 11/02/2011 | 21/05/2025 | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 11/02/2011 | — | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Mortgage | 1 property | 24/07/2007 | 19/01/2016 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Mortgage | 1 property | 23/11/2006 | 19/01/2016 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 05/10/2005 | 06/11/2006 | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 01/04/2004 | — | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 5 properties | 20/03/1997 | 14/06/2001 | |
| satisfied | Monmouthshire Building Society | Mortgage | 1 property | 29/05/1992 | 17/02/2011 | |
| satisfied | Allied Mills Allied Mills Limited | Chattel mortgage | 1 property | 27/11/1986 | 19/01/2016 | |
| outstanding | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Fixed & floating charge | 1 property | 31/07/1986 | — | |
| outstanding | Midland Bank Midland Bank LTD | Mortgage | 2 properties | 18/01/1980 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (160 total)
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2026-03-30
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2026-03-30
change-account-reference-date-company-current-extended
accounts · AA01
2026-01-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2026-01-04
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2025-12-18
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-11-13
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-11-13
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-11-10
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-09-15
change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortened
accounts · AA01
2025-09-09
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-09-08
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-05-21
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-04-29
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-04-28
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2024-12-27