CRONAPRESS LIMITED

💤Zombieactive
02395908 · ltd · incorporated 1989-06-16
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 Sept 2024
Net worth
£274.5k
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: Other manufacturing n.e.c.
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
Pursue
Active trading company with a 69-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 77/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (68/100, director aged 69). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 9 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

7 live charges · 7 lenders · oldest 36.5y

15/100
under pressure

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

  • · Oldest live charge is 36.5 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · 7 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, 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
9 officers (2 active, 9 linked, 7 with DOB)
86
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
4 connected companies via shared directors
57
Filing history
137 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
70
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
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 £274,509

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
—
Net Worth
£275k
↑ 9.5% YoY
Current Assets
£483k
↓ 1.5% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
£0£98k£196k£294k£392k£490kSept 2023Sept 2024

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown
Metric2024-09-302023-09-30
Total assets£378.8k£385.0k
Current assets£483.1k£490.3k
Debtors£241.3k£230.2k
Net assets£274.5k£250.6k

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
2
filings
  • • 1 persons-with-significant-control
  • • 1 officers
Last 90 days
2
filings
  • • 1 persons-with-significant-control
  • • 1 officers
Last 180 days
4
filings
  • • 2 officers
  • • 1 persons-with-significant-control
  • • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (43 events)Click to expand
  1. 2026-07-09
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
  2. 2026-07-09
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  3. 2026-01-26
    📄
    change-person-secretary-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH03
  4. 2025-07-16
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  5. 2024-09-04
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  6. 2023-09-21
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  7. 2022-06-22
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  8. 2021-06-23
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  9. 2020-09-30
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  10. 2019-06-25
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  11. 2018-08-15
    📄
    change-account-reference-date-company-current-extended
    accounts · AA01
  12. 2018-08-14
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  13. 2018-07-24
    📄
    mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
    mortgage · MR04
  14. 2018-07-24
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #7
  15. 2018-07-18
    📄
    gazette-filings-brought-up-to-date
    gazette · DISS40
  16. 2018-04-14
    📄
    dissolved-compulsory-strike-off-suspended
    dissolution · DISS16(SOAS)
  17. 2018-03-06
    📄
    gazette-notice-compulsory
    gazette · GAZ1
  18. 2016-05-23
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #5
  19. 2015-06-29
    🔒
    Charge registered #7
    Lender: Edinburgh Alternative Finance LTD (Trading as Lendingcrowd)
  20. 2014-12-15
    🔒
    Charge registered #6
    Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
  21. 2014-07-01
    ➖
    BUTLER, Nigel Peter resigned
    director
  22. 2012-05-14
    ➖
    BUTLER, Alison Mary resigned
    director
  23. 2010-12-29
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #4
  24. 2010-08-31
    ➖
    KEERY, Frederick William resigned
    director
  25. 2009-10-13
    🔒
    Charge registered #5
    Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
  26. 2009-07-15
    ➕
    BUTLER, Shelley appointed
    secretary
  27. 2009-07-15
    ➖
    BUTLER, Alison Mary resigned
    secretary
  28. 2009-01-23
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #2
  29. 2008-06-17
    ➖
    BUTLER, Eileen May resigned
    director
  30. 2008-06-17
    ➖
    BUTLER, William Peter resigned
    director
  31. 2007-06-15
    ➖
    PARKER, James Ian resigned
    director
  32. 2007-01-03
    🔒
    Charge registered #4
    Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC
  33. 2006-04-17
    ➕
    KEERY, Frederick William appointed
    director
  34. 2001-11-13
    ➕
    PARKER, James Ian appointed
    director
  35. 1999-06-11
    🔒
    Charge registered #3
    Lender: Alison Mary Butler
  36. 1998-06-17
    ➕
    BUTLER, Nigel Peter appointed
    director
  37. 1997-04-01
    ➕
    BUTLER, Eileen May appointed
    director
  38. 1997-04-01
    ➕
    BUTLER, William Peter appointed
    director
  39. 1996-05-01
    ➕
    BUTLER, Alison Mary appointed
    director
  40. 1992-10-21
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #1
  41. 1992-07-10
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  42. 1990-01-03
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
  43. 1989-06-16
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As CRONAPRESS LIMITED

Owner dependency

90/100
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.
  • +Founder age: Director aged approximately 69 — succession pressure is live.

Succession & seller-readiness

75/100
Likely off-market candidate

Strong 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.
  • primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 37 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.

Red flags

1 med ·
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 Christopher Martin Butler
Individual · British · DOB 05/1957 · age 69
—75–100%75-100% voting06/04/2016

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 · Manufacturing · LS postcode area
CompanyEst. valueTurnoverNet worthStaffAgeOppDirector
CRAFT MASTER LIMITED→
10057645 · est 2016
———10010y——
CRICKET COACHING MATS LIMITED→
05788578 · est 2006 · no financials extracted
————19y——
CRS COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED→
06455449 · est 2007 · no financials extracted
————18y——
CRYO PREPARATION LIMITED→
16391604 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
————1y——
CRYSTAL & SON LIMITED→
04807158 · est 2003 · no financials extracted
————22y——
CS MACHINERY SERVICES LTD→
15402312 · est 2024 · no financials extracted
————2y——
CSJA SERVICES LIMITED→
15585320 · est 2024 · no financials extracted
————2y——
CSUR02 LTD→
08956827 · est 2014 · no financials extracted
————12y——
CTCI LIMITED→
08740141 · est 2013 · no financials extracted
————12y——
CURTIS FURNITURE LIMITED→
03406972 · est 1997 · no financials extracted
————28y——
CUSTOM AIR FRESHENERS LIMITED→
13617832 · est 2021 · no financials extracted
————4y——
CUSTOM CABINETRY LTD→
13619336 · est 2021 · no financials extracted
————4y——
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
Incorporated1989-06-16
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC32990 — Other manufacturing n.e.c.

Registered office

Parkside Works
Otley Road
Guiseley
West Yorkshire
LS20 8BH

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-09-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-02-09
Last: 2026-01-26

Officers (2 active · 7 resigned)

BUTLER, Shelley→
secretary · appointed 2009-07-15
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BUTLER, Christopher Martin→
director · ~69y
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BUTLER, Alison Mary→
secretary · resigned 2009-07-15
Resigned
BUTLER, Alison Mary→
director · ~62y · appointed 1996-05-01 · resigned 2012-05-14
Resigned
BUTLER, Eileen May→
director · ~100y · appointed 1997-04-01 · resigned 2008-06-17
Resigned
BUTLER, Nigel Peter→
director · ~71y · appointed 1998-06-17 · resigned 2014-07-01
Resigned
BUTLER, William Peter→
director · ~100y · appointed 1997-04-01 · resigned 2008-06-17
Resigned
KEERY, Frederick William→
director · ~72y · appointed 2006-04-17 · resigned 2010-08-31
Resigned
PARKER, James Ian→
director · ~90y · appointed 2001-11-13 · resigned 2007-06-15
Resigned

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

Mortgages & charges

7
Total charges
2
Outstanding
2
Active lenders
Status:Lender:7 of 7 shown
TypeProperties
satisfied
Edinburgh Alternative Finance (Trading as Lendingcrowd)
Edinburgh Alternative Finance LTD (Trading as Lendingcrowd)
A registered charge—29/06/201524/07/2018
outstanding
Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Bank PLC
A registered charge—15/12/2014—
satisfied
HSBC
Hsbc Bank PLC
Debenture1 property13/10/200923/05/2016
satisfied
Virgin Money
Clydesdale Bank PLC
Debenture1 property03/01/200729/12/2010
outstanding
Alison Mary Butler / Christopher Martin Butler / Nigel Butleras Trustees of the Ennell Welding Pension Fund
Composite guarantee and debenture1 property11/06/1999—
satisfied
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Mortgage debenture1 property10/07/199223/01/2009
satisfied
Barclays
Barclays Bank PLC
Debenture1 property03/01/199021/10/1992
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (137 total)

change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2026-07-09
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2026-07-09
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-01-26
change-person-secretary-company-with-change-date
officers · CH03
2026-01-26
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-07-16
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-06-26
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-09-04
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-07-01
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-09-21
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-06-27
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-06-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-06-15
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-06-28
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-06-23
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2020-09-30