A.E. WAKEMAN & SONS LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
01335038 · ltd · incorporated 1977-10-20
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
70/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 47791
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.
Opportunity 70/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 5 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (38/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
26 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 41.4y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 41.4 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 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
26 charges (26/26 with lender, 26/26 with type)
90
Directors & officers
4 officers (1 active, 4 linked, 3 with DOB)
85
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
1 connected companies via shared directors
48
Filing history
166 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
70/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
60
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
60
Some acquirability indicators.
Risk profile
74
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 · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2024-10-31 | 2023-10-31 |
|---|
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
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (64 events)Click to expand
- 2025-07-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-09-18📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-09-18📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2024-07-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-07-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-07-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-03-23📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2022-03-23📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2022-03-23📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2022-02-01📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2022-01-06📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2021-12-18📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2021-12-18📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2021-12-18📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2021-12-15📄capital-name-of-class-of-sharescapital · SH08
- 2021-12-10📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2021-12-10📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2021-12-10📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2021-12-09📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2021-12-03➖WAKEMAN, Andrew Peter resignedsecretary
- 2021-12-03➖WAKEMAN, Andrew Peter resigneddirector
- 2021-12-03➖WAKEMAN, Glenys Mary resigneddirector
- 2021-12-03🔒Charge registered #26Lender: Andrew Peter Wakeman
- 2021-12-03🔒Charge registered #25Lender: Andrew Peter Wakeman
- 2018-04-24🔓Charge satisfied #20
- 2018-04-21🔓Charge satisfied #18
- 2018-04-21🔓Charge satisfied #17
- 2018-04-21🔓Charge satisfied #13
- 2018-04-21🔓Charge satisfied #12
- 2018-04-21🔓Charge satisfied #11
- 2018-04-21🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 2018-04-21🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2017-11-13🔒Charge registered #24Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2017-06-29🔒Charge registered #23Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2017-06-29🔒Charge registered #22Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2015-04-08🔒Charge registered #21Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2014-05-21🔒Charge registered #20Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2013-09-27🔒Charge registered #19Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2011-07-29🔒Charge registered #18Lender: Andrew Peter Wakeman, Glenys Mary Wakeman, Andrew Anthony Wakeman and Union Pension Trustees Limited
- 2009-01-14🔒Charge registered #17Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2004-01-30🔒Charge registered #16Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2002-05-23🔒Charge registered #15Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2001-03-15🔒Charge registered #14Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1999-04-30🔒Charge registered #13Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1998-08-14🔒Charge registered #12Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1998-01-06🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 1993-11-08🔒Charge registered #11Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1993-11-08🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1993-09-16🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 1993-09-16🔓Charge satisfied #5
Showing most recent 50 of 64 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
- +Sole director: Only one active director — all governance concentrated on one person.
- +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "WAKEMAN" — 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.
Succession & seller-readiness
75/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- 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 49 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 lowCharge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
12 live charges
lowHeavily leveraged with multiple live security positions — understand the capital structure before proceeding.
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Andrew Antony Wakeman Individual · British · DOB 07/1974 · age 52 | 50–75% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 06/04/2016 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Mr Andrew Peter Wakemanceased 01/05/2021· 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 · Retail · EX postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 SEASONS HOLDINGS LTD→ 12639942 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| 3 BHAI LIMITED→ 15632224 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| A LITTLE OF WHAT YOU FANCY LTD→ 12702867 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| A-LINE PRODUCTS LTD→ 13822861 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| A.L.MARTIN & SON,LIMITED→ 00490040 · est 1951 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 75y | — | — |
| ABSOLUTELY MINTAGE LIMITED→ 10789874 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| ACTIVE ITEMS LTD→ 03931086 · est 2000 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 26y | — | — |
| ADAPT ARCHIVE LTD→ 15624175 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ADELLA LOU BRIDAL LIMITED→ 17065668 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ADRIFT FROM THE QUAY LIMITED→ 11255064 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| AFRI-TREASURES LIMITED→ 16289412 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AGAINST ALL ODDS LTD→ 15024494 · 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
Incorporated1977-10-20
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC47791 — SIC 47791
Registered office
Lloyds Bank Chambers
High Street
Crediton
Devon
EX17 3AH
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-07-31
Last made up to: 2024-10-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-04-06
Last: 2026-03-23
Officers (1 active · 3 resigned)
WAKEMAN, Andrew Antony→
Activedirector · ~52y · appointed 1993-02-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
WAKEMAN, Andrew Peter→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 2021-12-03
WAKEMAN, Andrew Peter→
Resigneddirector · ~76y · resigned 2021-12-03
WAKEMAN, Glenys Mary→
Resigneddirector · ~78y · resigned 2021-12-03
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
26
Total charges
12
Outstanding
3
Active lenders
Status:Lender:26 of 26 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Andrew Peter Wakeman / Glenys Mary Wakeman | A registered charge | 1 property | 03/12/2021 | — | |
| outstanding | Andrew Peter Wakeman / Glenys Mary Wakeman | A registered charge | 1 property | 03/12/2021 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 13/11/2017 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 29/06/2017 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 29/06/2017 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 08/04/2015 | — | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 21/05/2014 | 24/04/2018 | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 27/09/2013 | — | |
| satisfied | Andrew Peter Wakeman, Glenys Mary Wakeman, Andrew Anthony Wakeman and Union Pension Trustees Andrew Peter Wakeman, Glenys Mary Wakeman, Andrew Anthony Wakeman and Union Pension Trustees Limited | Legal charge | 1 property | 29/07/2011 | 21/04/2018 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 14/01/2009 | 21/04/2018 | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 30/01/2004 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 2 properties | 23/05/2002 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 15/03/2001 | — | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 2 properties | 30/04/1999 | 21/04/2018 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 14/08/1998 | 21/04/2018 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 08/11/1993 | 21/04/2018 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 08/11/1993 | 21/04/2018 | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 23/08/1993 | — | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 26/07/1993 | 06/01/1998 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 26/07/1993 | 21/04/2018 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 24/06/1991 | 16/09/1993 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 25/08/1987 | 16/09/1993 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 14/08/1987 | 16/09/1993 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 02/09/1986 | 16/09/1993 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 02/09/1986 | 16/09/1993 | |
| outstanding | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Charge over all book debts. | 1 property | 11/01/1985 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (166 total)
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-03-26
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-07-18
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-03-31
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2024-09-18
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2024-09-18
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-07-12
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-03-28
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-07-28
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-03-23
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-07-30
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-03-23
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2022-03-23
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2022-03-23
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2022-03-23
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2022-02-01