BALLUFF LTD

💤Zombieactive
01349404 · ltd · incorporated 1978-01-23
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
£1.98M
book net assets
Opportunity
73/100
Strong
🔔
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What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 46520
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
Pursue
Strong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.

Opportunity 73/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. 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 (58/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

7 live charges · 5 lenders · oldest 44.5y

15/100
under pressure

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

  • · Oldest live charge is 44.5 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · 5 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
  • · 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, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
7 charges (7/7 with lender, 7/7 with type)
90
Directors & officers
16 officers (1 active, 16 linked, 14 with DOB)
88
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
139 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
60
Some acquirability indicators.
Risk profile
82
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.

Signals from accounts

Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declared
Positive net assets
Net assets £1,977,079
Net assets shrinking
Down £371,095 YoY
Cash YoY
-25%
Year on year

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
£1.0m
↓ 25% YoY
Net Worth
£2.0m
↓ 16% YoY
Current Assets
£2.5m
↓ 7.5% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
£0£537k£1.1m£1.6m£2.1m£2.7mDec 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
Total assets£2.07M£2.45M
Current assets£2.48M£2.68M
Cash£1.04M£1.40M
Debtors£1.44M£1.29M
Net assets£1.98M£2.35M

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
1
filing
  • • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 180 days
1
filing
  • • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (50 events)Click to expand
  1. 2025-12-01
    📄
    mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
    mortgage · MR01
  2. 2025-11-27
    🔒
    Charge registered #7
    Lender: Hsbc UK Bank PLC
  3. 2025-10-24
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC05
  4. 2025-07-18
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  5. 2025-05-02
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC05
  6. 2024-12-02
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  7. 2024-11-26
    ➖
    SORSBY, Adrian resigned
    director
  8. 2024-05-14
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  9. 2023-06-10
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  10. 2022-09-20
    📄
    accounts-amended-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AAMD
  11. 2022-09-07
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  12. 2022-05-20
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  13. 2022-05-12
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  14. 2022-05-09
    ➕
    SORSBY, Adrian appointed
    director
  15. 2022-05-06
    ➖
    RADFORD, John Francis resigned
    director
  16. 2021-07-19
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  17. 2020-11-30
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  18. 2019-07-03
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  19. 2018-09-11
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  20. 2017-09-13
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-full
    accounts · AA
  21. 2010-01-01
    ➕
    STEGMAIER-HERMLE, Katrin appointed
    director
  22. 2010-01-01
    ➖
    SPEARING, Gary Neville resigned
    secretary
  23. 2010-01-01
    ➖
    GEISSEL, Volker resigned
    director
  24. 2010-01-01
    ➖
    HALL, Bryan James resigned
    director
  25. 2010-01-01
    ➖
    HERMLE, Rolf resigned
    director
  26. 2010-01-01
    ➖
    SPEARING, Gary Neville resigned
    director
  27. 2009-07-31
    ➖
    PAVELIN, Christopher Julian resigned
    director
  28. 2008-11-14
    ➖
    COYNE, Thomas Francis resigned
    director
  29. 2007-10-09
    🔒
    Charge registered #6
    Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
  30. 2006-11-16
    🔒
    Charge registered #5
    Lender: Amec Developments Limited
  31. 2003-10-01
    ➕
    HALL, Bryan James appointed
    director
  32. 2003-10-01
    ➕
    PAVELIN, Christopher Julian appointed
    director
  33. 2003-10-01
    ➕
    SPEARING, Gary Neville appointed
    director
  34. 2003-03-31
    ➖
    WARD, James Peter resigned
    director
  35. 2001-11-30
    ➖
    WADSWORTH, Martin James resigned
    director
  36. 2001-09-21
    ➕
    RADFORD, John Francis appointed
    director
  37. 2001-04-02
    ➕
    WADSWORTH, Martin James appointed
    director
  38. 2001-02-20
    ➖
    COYNE, Thomas Francis resigned
    secretary
  39. 2000-02-20
    ➕
    SPEARING, Gary Neville appointed
    secretary
  40. 1998-12-24
    ➖
    THOROGOOD, Andrew resigned
    director
  41. 1997-12-31
    ➖
    JOHNSON, Derek resigned
    director
  42. 1997-03-21
    ➕
    GEISSEL, Volker appointed
    director
  43. 1997-03-21
    ➕
    HERMLE, Rolf appointed
    director
  44. 1997-03-21
    ➖
    WARD, Carol Ann resigned
    director
  45. 1993-06-01
    ➕
    THOROGOOD, Andrew appointed
    director
  46. 1984-07-20
    🔒
    Charge registered #4
    Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
  47. 1983-08-19
    🔒
    Charge registered #3
    Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
  48. 1982-04-19
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: Lloyds Bank LTD
  49. 1981-12-21
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: Lloyds Bank LTD
  50. 1978-01-23
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As BALLUFF LTD

Owner dependency

85/100
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.
  • +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 16 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.

Succession & seller-readiness

68/100
Strong succession signal

Multiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.

SIGNALS
  • primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
  • secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 16 years.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 48 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 low
7 live charges
low

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

Group structure

Balluff Verwaltungs Gmbh is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.

🏛️
Balluff Verwaltungs Gmbh
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares
ultimate parent
⬇
BALLUFF LTD
This company · 01349404

Parent relationships inferred from Persons with Significant Control filings. Full subsidiary tree requires reverse-lookup (coming).

Shareholders & ownership

1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Balluff Verwaltungs Gmbh
Corporate entity
75–100%
—75-100% shares06/04/2016

From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.

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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
Incorporated1978-01-23
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC46520 — SIC 46520

Registered office

20 Cheshire Avenue
Lostock Gralam
Northwich
Cheshire
CW9 7UA

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-04-20
Last: 2026-04-06

Officers (1 active · 15 resigned)

STEGMAIER-HERMLE, Katrin→
director · ~53y · appointed 2010-01-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
COYNE, Thomas Francis→
secretary · resigned 2001-02-20
Resigned
SPEARING, Gary Neville→
secretary · appointed 2000-02-20 · resigned 2010-01-01
Resigned
COYNE, Thomas Francis→
director · ~81y · resigned 2008-11-14
Resigned
GEISSEL, Volker→
director · ~83y · appointed 1997-03-21 · resigned 2010-01-01
Resigned
HALL, Bryan James→
director · ~74y · appointed 2003-10-01 · resigned 2010-01-01
Resigned
HERMLE, Rolf→
director · ~85y · appointed 1997-03-21 · resigned 2010-01-01
Resigned
JOHNSON, Derek→
director · ~89y · resigned 1997-12-31
Resigned
PAVELIN, Christopher Julian→
director · ~62y · appointed 2003-10-01 · resigned 2009-07-31
Resigned
RADFORD, John Francis→
director · ~57y · appointed 2001-09-21 · resigned 2022-05-06
Resigned
SORSBY, Adrian→
director · ~52y · appointed 2022-05-09 · resigned 2024-11-26
Resigned
SPEARING, Gary Neville→
director · ~68y · appointed 2003-10-01 · resigned 2010-01-01
Resigned
THOROGOOD, Andrew→
director · ~65y · appointed 1993-06-01 · resigned 1998-12-24
Resigned
WADSWORTH, Martin James→
director · ~62y · appointed 2001-04-02 · resigned 2001-11-30
Resigned
WARD, Carol Ann→
director · ~86y · resigned 1997-03-21
Resigned
WARD, James Peter→
director · ~90y · resigned 2003-03-31
Resigned

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

Mortgages & charges

7
Total charges
7
Outstanding
3
Active lenders
Status:Lender:7 of 7 shown
TypeProperties
outstanding
HSBC
Hsbc UK Bank PLC
A registered charge1 property27/11/2025—
outstanding
Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
Mortgage1 property09/10/2007—
outstanding
Amec Developments
Amec Developments Limited
Legal charge1 property16/11/2006—
outstanding
Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Bank PLC
Counter indemnity or charge on deposit1 property20/07/1984—
outstanding
Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Bank PLC
Legal charge1 property19/08/1983—
outstanding
Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Bank LTD
Legal mortgage1 property19/04/1982—
outstanding
Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Bank LTD
Legal charge1 property21/12/1981—
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (139 total)

confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-04-20
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-12-01
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC05
2025-10-24
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2025-07-18
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-05-14
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC05
2025-05-02
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-12-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2024-05-14
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-05-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2023-06-10
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-05-04
accounts-amended-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AAMD
2022-09-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2022-09-07
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2022-05-20
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2022-05-12