ACORN ARABLE LIMITED

💤Zombieactive
02890785 · ltd · incorporated 1994-01-19
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 Jan 2025
Net worth
£71.8k
book net assets
Opportunity
82/100
Exceptional
🔔
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 selling agricultural raw materials, live animals, textile raw materials and semi-finished goods
Sector: Wholesale & retail
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
  • 46210SIC 46210
Investor take
Pursue
Active trading company with a 64-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 82/100 (exceptional), bankability 75/100. Strong seller-intent signal (70/100, director aged 64). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Cash flow review and working-capital discipline. Cash down -100% 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 22.2y

30/100
under pressure

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

  • · Oldest live charge is 22.2 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, 2 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 (1 active, 7 linked, 4 with DOB)
81
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
1 connected companies via shared directors
48
Filing history
106 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 declared
Positive net assets
Net assets £71,825
Very low cash
Cash position: £16
Cash draining
Cash down 100% YoY
Cash YoY
-100%
Year on year

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
£16
↓ 100% YoY
Net Worth
£72k
↑ 456% YoY
Current Assets
£1.3m
↓ 19% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
£0£308k£616k£924k£1.2m£1.5mJan 2024Jan 2025

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown
Metric2025-01-312024-01-31
Total assets£237.0k£61.4k
Current assets£1.25M£1.54M
Cash£16£61.0k
Debtors£1.25M£1.48M
Net assets£71.8k£12.9k

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 (34 events)Click to expand
  1. 2025-10-31
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  2. 2025-07-04
    📄
    termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM02
  3. 2025-03-31
    📄
    notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
  4. 2025-03-31
    📄
    cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
  5. 2025-03-31
    📄
    cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
  6. 2024-11-19
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  7. 2024-10-31
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  8. 2024-10-08
    📄
    mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
    mortgage · MR01
  9. 2024-10-03
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
  10. 2024-07-11
    ➖
    MEREDITH, Samantha Rose resigned
    secretary
  11. 2024-07-11
    ➖
    MEREDITH, Samantha Rose resigned
    director
  12. 2023-10-30
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  13. 2022-10-14
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  14. 2021-05-25
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  15. 2021-01-28
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  16. 2020-01-22
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
  17. 2020-01-22
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
  18. 2019-11-12
    📍
    change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
    address · AD01
  19. 2019-11-11
    📄
    change-person-secretary-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH03
  20. 2019-11-11
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  21. 2012-03-13
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #1
  22. 2004-03-15
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
  23. 2002-12-23
    ➖
    BURT, Richard Michael Lewis resigned
    director
  24. 2000-07-11
    ➖
    SMART, Mary Millicent resigned
    secretary
  25. 2000-07-11
    ➖
    SMART, Mary Millicent resigned
    director
  26. 2000-04-11
    ➕
    MEREDITH, Samantha Rose appointed
    secretary
  27. 1999-04-01
    ➕
    BURT, Richard Michael Lewis appointed
    director
  28. 1994-02-01
    ➕
    WELLS, Bromley Kim appointed
    director
  29. 1994-02-01
    ➕
    MEREDITH, Samantha Rose appointed
    director
  30. 1994-01-28
    ➖
    MACKENZIE, Patricia Jane resigned
    nominee-secretary
  31. 1994-01-28
    ➕
    SMART, Mary Millicent appointed
    secretary
  32. 1994-01-19
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As ACORN ARABLE LIMITED
  33. 1994-01-19
    ➕
    MACKENZIE, Patricia Jane appointed
    nominee-secretary
  34. 1994-01-19
    ➕
    SMART, Mary Millicent appointed
    director

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 32 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
  • +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 64 — approaching natural succession window.

Succession & seller-readiness

95/100
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 64. 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 32 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

clean
No red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)

Group structure

Acorn Arable Holdings Ltd is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.

🏛️
Acorn Arable Holdings Ltd
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
ultimate parent
⬇
ACORN ARABLE LIMITED
This company · 02890785

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
Acorn Arable Holdings Ltd
Corporate entity
75–100%
75–100%board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control28/02/2025
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
  • Mr Bromley Kim Wellsceased 28/02/2025· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting · board control
  • Mrs Samantha Rose Meredithceased 04/02/2025· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting · board control

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 · WR postcode area
CompanyEst. valueTurnoverNet worthStaffAgeOppDirector
1ST CHOICE BLINDS DIRECT LIMITED→
13250226 · est 2021 · no financials extracted
————5y——
21STCENTURY DRINKS LIMITED→
02167338 · est 1987 · no financials extracted
————38y——
3B PACKAGING SERVICES LTD→
14662136 · est 2023 · no financials extracted
————3y——
5 STAR RECYCLING LTD→
13545873 · est 2021 · no financials extracted
————4y——
A & A.K. BUTTERWORTH LIMITED→
04027838 · est 2000 · no financials extracted
————25y——
A & P SVS LIMITED→
12497530 · est 2020 · no financials extracted
————6y——
A S GREEN PRODUCE LIMITED→
11411556 · est 2018 · no financials extracted
————7y——
ABSTRACT SOURCING AND TRADING LIMITED→
06677911 · est 2008 · no financials extracted
————17y——
AC SANDERS LIMITED→
16939687 · est 2026 · no financials extracted
———————
ACORN ENERGY LTD→
09819470 · est 2015 · no financials extracted
————10y——
ACTIVE METAL RECYCLING LIMITED→
14756084 · est 2023 · no financials extracted
————3y——
ADAM SUPERMARKET LIMITED→
14839362 · est 2023 · no financials extracted
————2y——
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
Incorporated1994-01-19
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC46110 — Agents selling agricultural raw materials, live animals, textile raw materials and semi-finished goods

Registered office

The Courtyard
19 High Street
Pershore
Worcestershire
WR10 1AA
United Kingdom

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-10-31
Last made up to: 2025-01-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-03-31
Last: 2026-03-17

Officers (1 active · 6 resigned)

WELLS, Bromley Kim→
director · ~64y · appointed 1994-02-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
MACKENZIE, Patricia Jane→
nominee-secretary · appointed 1994-01-19 · resigned 1994-01-28
Resigned
MEREDITH, Samantha Rose→
secretary · appointed 2000-04-11 · resigned 2024-07-11
Resigned
SMART, Mary Millicent→
secretary · appointed 1994-01-28 · resigned 2000-07-11
Resigned
BURT, Richard Michael Lewis→
director · ~58y · appointed 1999-04-01 · resigned 2002-12-23
Resigned
MEREDITH, Samantha Rose→
director · ~61y · appointed 1994-02-01 · resigned 2024-07-11
Resigned
SMART, Mary Millicent→
director · ~70y · appointed 1994-01-19 · resigned 2000-07-11
Resigned

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

Mortgages & charges

2
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:2 of 2 shown
TypeProperties
outstanding
Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Bank PLC
A registered charge—03/10/2024—
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
Debenture1 property15/03/200413/03/2012
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (106 total)

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-04-07
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-10-31
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2025-07-04
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-03-31
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
2025-03-31
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2025-03-31
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2025-03-31
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-11-19
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-10-31
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2024-10-08
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-03-21
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-10-30
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-03-25
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-10-14
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-03-23