ARCTIC TRADERS LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
02845655 · ltd · incorporated 1993-08-18
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
—
book net assets
Opportunity
75/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Wholesale of other food, including fish, crustaceans and molluscs
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 68-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 75/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. Strong seller-intent signal (83/100, director aged 68). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 7 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 · 7 lenders · oldest 28.9y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 28.9 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 7 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
4 officers (1 active, 4 linked, 1 with DOB)
75
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
105 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
75/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
60
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
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 · FRS 102| Metric | 2025-03-31 | 2024-03-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | — | £1.05M |
| Current assets | — | £4.02M |
| Cash | — | £106.3k |
| Debtors | — | £1.81M |
| Net assets | — | £437.7k |
| Average employees | 6 | — |
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
2
filings
- • 1 persons-with-significant-control
- • 1 officers
Last 180 days
2
filings
- • 1 persons-with-significant-control
- • 1 officers
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (39 events)Click to expand
- 2026-05-28📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2026-05-28📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-09-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-12-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-11-12📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2024-11-12🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 2024-09-27📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-09-27🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2024-05-24📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-extendedaccounts · AA01
- 2023-08-24📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2023-08-21🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Nucleus Cash Flow FINANCE2 Limited
- 2023-04-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-08-26📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-08-26🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2022-06-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-05-20➖SALTER, Andrew James Henry resignedsecretary
- 2021-05-20📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2021-02-19📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2021-02-17🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Seneca Trade Finance LTD
- 2020-12-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-09-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-12-10📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2019-12-10🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2019-02-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-12-06📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-extendedaccounts · AA01
- 2012-08-24🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
- 2012-08-24🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
- 2010-10-26🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Lloyds Tsb Commercial Finance Limited
- 2007-04-11🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC
- 2006-11-10🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2002-06-17🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Aib Group (UK) P.L.C.
- 1997-08-15🔒Charge registered #1Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland
- 1993-08-18🏢Company incorporatedAs ARCTIC TRADERS LIMITED
- 1993-08-18➕GRAY, Simon Livesey appointeddirector
- 1993-08-18➕SALTER, Andrew James Henry appointedsecretary
- 1993-08-18➕NOMINEE SECRETARIES LTD appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1993-08-18➖NOMINEE SECRETARIES LTD resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1993-08-18➕NOMINEE DIRECTORS LTD appointedcorporate-nominee-director
- 1993-08-18➖NOMINEE DIRECTORS LTD resignedcorporate-nominee-director
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.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 33 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 68 — succession pressure is live.
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 68. 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 33 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 33 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.
5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Simon Livesey Gray Individual · British · DOB 08/1958 · age 68 | 75–100% | 75–100% | 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting | 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 · Wholesale & distribution · CM postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALL TECH 45 LIMITED→ 11191465 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| AMBER PATH TRADING LTD→ 16184224 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ARMSEC UK LIMITED→ 10718174 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| ATELIER TIME LIMITED→ 16838476 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ATHAM GROUPS LTD→ 12022622 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| ATLANTIC SCIENTIFIC LTD→ 16987178 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ATLANTIS FOOD LTD→ 12555176 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| ATLANTIS RESOURCES LTD→ 16173115 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ATLAS VALVE INTERNATIONAL LTD→ 15435715 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ATM GLOBAL SYSTEM UK LTD→ 16342854 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AUCKLAND INTERNATIONAL LIMITED→ 02495432 · est 1990 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 35y | — | — |
| AUGMENTA GLOBAL LTD→ 11427721 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
9 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
Incorporated1993-08-18
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC46380 — Wholesale of other food, including fish, crustaceans and molluscs
Registered office
The Old Grange Warren Estate
Lordship Road Writtle
Chelmsford
Essex
CM1 3WT
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-11-27
Last: 2025-11-13
Officers (1 active · 3 resigned)
GRAY, Simon Livesey→
Activedirector · ~68y · appointed 1993-08-18
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SALTER, Andrew James Henry→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1993-08-18 · resigned 2021-05-20
NOMINEE SECRETARIES LTD→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1993-08-18 · resigned 1993-08-18
NOMINEE DIRECTORS LTD→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 1993-08-18 · resigned 1993-08-18
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
9
Total charges
5
Outstanding
2
Active lenders
Status:Lender:9 of 9 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 12/11/2024 | — | |
| outstanding | Nucleus Cash Flow FINANCE2 Nucleus Cash Flow FINANCE2 Limited | A registered charge | — | 21/08/2023 | — | |
| satisfied | Seneca Trade Finance Seneca Trade Finance LTD | A registered charge | 3 properties | 17/02/2021 | 27/09/2024 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | Deposit agreement | 1 property | 24/08/2012 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | Mortgage | 1 property | 24/08/2012 | 26/08/2022 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Commercial Finance Limited | All assets debenture | 1 property | 26/10/2010 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 11/04/2007 | — | |
| satisfied | Aib Group (UK) P.L.C. | Charge over deposits | 1 property | 17/06/2002 | 10/12/2019 | |
| satisfied | The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland | Debenture | 1 property | 15/08/1997 | 10/11/2006 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (105 total)
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2026-05-28
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2026-05-28
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-11-17
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-09-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-12-09
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-12-02
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2024-11-12
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2024-09-27
change-account-reference-date-company-previous-extended
accounts · AA01
2024-05-24
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-11-29
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2023-08-24
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-04-21
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-11-28
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2022-08-26
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-06-30