AFRO EXPORTS LIMITED

💤Zombieactive
01679028 · ltd · incorporated 1982-11-17
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
77/100
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: Agents specialised in the sale of other particular products
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
Pursue
Strong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.

Opportunity 77/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (80/100, director aged 59). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 8 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

9 live charges · 8 lenders · oldest 41.3y

15/100
under pressure

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

  • · Oldest live charge is 41.3 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · 8 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
9 charges (9/9 with lender, 9/9 with type)
90
Directors & officers
5 officers (1 active, 5 linked, 4 with DOB)
86
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
119 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
77/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional 

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

Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
80
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 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 · FRS 102
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

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
4
filings
  • • 2 officers
  • • 1 persons-with-significant-control
  • • 1 address
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (41 events)Click to expand
  1. 2026-01-12
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  2. 2026-01-12
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
  3. 2026-01-12
    📄
    termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM02
  4. 2026-01-12
    📍
    change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
    address · AD01
  5. 2025-12-31
    ➖
    WATTS, Heather resigned
    secretary
  6. 2025-12-31
    ➖
    FUNKE, Carel Wilhelmus resigned
    director
  7. 2025-06-12
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  8. 2024-04-26
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  9. 2023-06-07
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  10. 2022-09-30
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  11. 2022-05-10
    📍
    change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
    address · AD01
  12. 2022-02-15
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  13. 2021-06-01
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  14. 2020-05-06
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  15. 2019-09-13
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  16. 2019-07-16
    📄
    mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
    mortgage · MR01
  17. 2019-07-15
    🔒
    Charge registered #9
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  18. 2019-05-23
    📍
    change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
    address · AD01
  19. 2018-08-03
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  20. 2017-10-04
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  21. 2015-05-12
    ➖
    FUNKE, Carel Wilhelmus resigned
    director
  22. 2015-04-14
    ➕
    FUNKE, Carel Wilhelmus appointed
    director
  23. 2013-11-29
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #8
  24. 2009-12-27
    ➕
    MCWILLIAMS, Marianne appointed
    director
  25. 2006-06-13
    🔒
    Charge registered #8
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  26. 2006-05-31
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #7
  27. 2006-05-31
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #5
  28. 2006-05-31
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #4
  29. 1999-12-11
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #6
  30. 1999-11-04
    🔒
    Charge registered #7
    Lender: Belgolaise S.A.
  31. 1998-04-27
    🔒
    Charge registered #6
    Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
  32. 1996-05-15
    🔒
    Charge registered #5
    Lender: Belgolaise Sa
  33. 1993-07-01
    ➖
    MOHN, Gustav resigned
    director
  34. 1992-04-02
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #3
  35. 1992-04-02
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #2
  36. 1992-04-02
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #1
  37. 1990-01-08
    🔒
    Charge registered #4
    Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
  38. 1988-07-14
    🔒
    Charge registered #3
    Lender: Republic National Bank of New York.
  39. 1987-01-09
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: Standard Chartered Bank
  40. 1985-01-24
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: Bank Mees & Hope N.V.
  41. 1982-11-17
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As AFRO EXPORTS LIMITED

Owner dependency

93/100
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.
  • +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 59 — approaching natural succession window.

Succession & seller-readiness

78/100
Likely off-market candidate

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

SIGNALS
  • secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 59. Early succession window.
  • 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 44 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 ·
2 director resignations in last 12 months
medium

Multiple recent departures can indicate governance disagreement, succession event, or preparation for sale/stress.

Evidence: WATTS, Heather resigned 2025-12-31; FUNKE, Carel Wilhelmus resigned 2025-12-31

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.

Shareholders & ownership

1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Mr Carel Wilhelmus Funke
Individual · Dutch · DOB 08/1969 · age 57
75–100%
75–100%board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control23/04/2016

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

Similar companies

Active · Wholesale & distribution · CH postcode area
CompanyEst. valueTurnoverNet worthStaffAgeOppDirector
1DISENO LTD→
15839400 · est 2024 · no financials extracted
————1y——
A & L TIMBER AND BUILDING SUPPLIES LIMITED→
14731398 · est 2023 · no financials extracted
————3y——
A.C. FLYNN REFRIGERATION LTD.→
06369881 · est 2007 · no financials extracted
————18y——
A.L.T ORIGENS COFFEE LTD→
16397110 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
———————
A.M. CUSTOM CLOTHING (UK) LIMITED→
09204720 · est 2014 · no financials extracted
————11y——
ACOUSTICA SOUND PROOFING SOLUTIONS LTD→
12906793 · est 2020 · no financials extracted
————5y——
AESTHETICARE LTD→
15462160 · est 2024 · no financials extracted
————2y——
AI PAINT SUPPLIES LTD.→
04578295 · est 2002 · no financials extracted
————23y——
AIRSEA CONTAINERS LIMITED→
01550861 · est 1981 · no financials extracted
————45y——
AJ KICKZZZ LTD→
17062630 · est 2026 · no financials extracted
———————
ALBIE CLOTHES LTD→
16691626 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
———————
ALLEN ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS LIMITED→
07553156 · est 2011 · no financials extracted
————15y——
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions

7 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
Incorporated1982-11-17
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC46180 — Agents specialised in the sale of other particular products

Registered office

4 Ryecroft Road
Heswall
Wirral
CH60 1XB
England

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-06-25
Last: 2025-06-11

Officers (1 active · 4 resigned)

MCWILLIAMS, Marianne→
director · ~59y · appointed 2009-12-27
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
WATTS, Heather→
secretary · resigned 2025-12-31
Resigned
FUNKE, Carel Wilhelmus→
director · ~57y · appointed 2015-04-14 · resigned 2025-12-31
Resigned
FUNKE, Carel Wilhelmus→
director · ~93y · resigned 2015-05-12
Resigned
MOHN, Gustav→
director · ~91y · resigned 1993-07-01
Resigned

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

Mortgages & charges

9
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:9 of 9 shown
TypeProperties
outstanding
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
A registered charge—15/07/2019—
satisfied
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
Legal mortgage1 property13/06/200629/11/2013
satisfied
Belgolaise S.A.
Legal charge1 property04/11/199931/05/2006
satisfied
Barclays
Barclays Bank PLC
Legal charge1 property27/04/199811/12/1999
satisfied
Belgolaise Sa
General letter of pledge1 property15/05/199631/05/2006
satisfied
Barclays
Barclays Bank PLC
Legal charge1 property08/01/199031/05/2006
satisfied
Republic National Bank of New York.
General account conditions.1 property14/07/198802/04/1992
satisfied
Standard Chartered Bank
Charge over cash deposits.1 property09/01/198702/04/1992
satisfied
Bank Mees & Hope N.V.
Memorandum of charge1 property24/01/198502/04/1992
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (119 total)

termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2026-01-12
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2026-01-12
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2026-01-12
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2026-01-12
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-06-12
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-06-12
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-06-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-04-26
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-06-21
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-06-07
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-09-30
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-06-17
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2022-05-10
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2022-02-15
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-06-21