AQUALAND LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
02690043 · ltd · incorporated 1992-02-21
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 Mar 2025
Net worth
£232.5k
book net assets
Opportunity
82/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: Other manufacturing n.e.c.
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
PursueAsset-holding vehicle with a 63-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 82/100 (exceptional), bankability 85/100. Strong seller-intent signal (80/100, director aged 63). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Cash flow review and working-capital discipline. Cash down -43% YoY — forensic review of receivables, stock turns, and creditor days. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
2 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 24.1y
30/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 24.1 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · 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
2 charges (2/2 with lender, 2/2 with type)
90
Directors & officers
7 officers (2 active, 7 linked, 3 with DOB)
79
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
92 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
82/100Exceptional
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Strong composite across quality, acquirability, and risk. High-priority target — progress to serious diligence.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declaredPositive net assets
Net assets £232,494
Net assets shrinking
Down £9,301 YoY
Cash draining
Cash down 43% YoY
Cash YoY
-43%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£90k
↓ 43% YoY
Net Worth
£232k
↓ 3.8% YoY
Current Assets
£499k
↓ 12% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2025-03-31 | 2024-03-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £239.7k | £249.0k |
| Current assets | £498.8k | £565.0k |
| Cash | £89.8k | £158.6k |
| Debtors | £93.1k | £83.8k |
| Net assets | £232.5k | £241.8k |
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
0
filings
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (32 events)Click to expand
- 2025-08-14📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-07-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-07-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-08-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-09-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-12-23📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2020-12-23📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2020-12-23🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2020-12-23🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2020-08-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-10-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2018-11-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2017-12-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2016-12-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2016-02-22📄annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholdersannual-return · AR01
- 2015-11-25📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2015-02-24📄annual-return-company-with-made-up-date-full-list-shareholdersannual-return · AR01
- 2002-05-01➕HURDMAN, Charlotte Mary appointedsecretary
- 2002-05-01➖WILLIAMS, Timothy Gordon resignedsecretary
- 2002-04-30➕WILLIAMS, Timothy Gordon appointedsecretary
- 2002-04-30➖WILSON, Susan resignedsecretary
- 2002-04-30➖WILSON, Kenneth, Director resigneddirector
- 2002-04-30🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Kenneth George Wilson
- 2002-04-30🔒Charge registered #1Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 1994-11-04➕HURDMAN, Richard William appointeddirector
- 1994-11-04➖WILSON, Susan resigneddirector
- 1992-02-21🏢Company incorporatedAs AQUALAND LIMITED
- 1992-02-21➖YORK PLACE COMPANY NOMINEES LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1992-02-18➕WILSON, Susan appointedsecretary
- 1992-02-18➕YORK PLACE COMPANY NOMINEES LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1992-02-18➕WILSON, Kenneth, Director appointeddirector
- 1992-02-18➕WILSON, Susan appointeddirector
Owner dependency
93/100
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.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 32 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 63 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
95/100
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 63. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 32 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 34 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
cleanNo red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Richard William Hurdman Individual · British · DOB 07/1963 · age 63 | 50–75% | — | 50-75% shares | 06/04/2016 |
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| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B&D TILING LIMITED→ 16292266 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| B1 AVIATION LTD→ 16028323 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| BA CARPENTRY LTD→ 13541755 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| BAF PRINTERS (1962) LIMITED→ 07647054 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| BALLARD INNOVATIONS LIMITED→ 16666855 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BANO GLOW LTD→ 16639299 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BAPP INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES (LEEDS) LIMITED→ 09056051 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| BARK PRODUCTS LTD→ 14389613 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| BARKSTON PLASTICS (NEWCASTLE) LIMITED→ 05425761 · est 2005 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 21y | — | — |
| BARKSTON PLASTICS ENGINEERING LIMITED→ 01114463 · est 1973 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 52y | — | — |
| BARKSTON PLASTICS LTD→ 00959719 · est 1969 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 56y | — | — |
| BASKERVILLE REACTORS & AUTOCLAVES LIMITED→ 09705309 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1992-02-21
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC32990 — Other manufacturing n.e.c.
Registered office
Unit 4 (X) Hill Top Commercial
Centre Houghley Lane Bramley
Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS13 2DN
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-03-07
Last: 2026-02-21
Officers (2 active · 5 resigned)
HURDMAN, Charlotte Mary→
Activesecretary · appointed 2002-05-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
HURDMAN, Richard William→
Activedirector · ~63y · appointed 1994-11-04
View their other companies + combined net worth →
WILLIAMS, Timothy Gordon→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2002-04-30 · resigned 2002-05-01
WILSON, Susan→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1992-02-18 · resigned 2002-04-30
YORK PLACE COMPANY NOMINEES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1992-02-18 · resigned 1992-02-21
WILSON, Kenneth, Director→
Resigneddirector · ~85y · appointed 1992-02-18 · resigned 2002-04-30
WILSON, Susan→
Resigneddirector · ~74y · appointed 1992-02-18 · resigned 1994-11-04
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
2
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:2 of 2 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Kenneth George Wilson | Guarantee & debenture | 1 property | 30/04/2002 | 23/12/2020 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 30/04/2002 | 23/12/2020 |
Recent filings (92 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-03-05
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-08-14
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-03-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-07-30
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-04-10
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-07-21
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-04-24
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-08-04
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-02-21
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-09-03
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-02-22
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2020-12-23
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2020-12-23
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2020-08-26
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-03-04