21 PUBLISHING LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
03153443 · ltd · incorporated 1996-01-31
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
£-480.2k
book net assets
Opportunity
82/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: Other manufacturing n.e.c.
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)Distressed active trading company — structural issues outweigh the discount.
Opportunity 82/100 (exceptional), bankability 85/100. Strong seller-intent signal (83/100, director aged 83). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Broaden director team. Sole director creates succession risk and reduces buyer comfort. Appoint a second director or strong #2. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
1 live charge · oldest 27.2y
45/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 27.2 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Single lender — cleanest path to refinance.
- · 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
1 charges (1/1 with lender, 1/1 with type)
90
Directors & officers
10 officers (2 active, 10 linked, 3 with DOB)
76
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
3 connected companies via shared directors
54
Filing history
102 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 declaredNegative net assets
Liabilities exceed assets by £480,158
Cash YoY
-20%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£5k
↓ 20% YoY
Net Worth
-£480k
↓ 3.5% YoY
Current Assets
£28k
↓ 34% 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 | £27.0k | £41.3k |
| Current assets | £28.3k | £42.6k |
| Cash | £4.9k | £6.1k |
| Debtors | £5.3k | £4.4k |
| Net assets | £-480.2k | £-463.8k |
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
2
filings
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 persons-with-significant-control
Last 180 days
3
filings
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 persons-with-significant-control
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (40 events)Click to expand
- 2026-02-11📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2025-11-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-02-13📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-02-13📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2024-12-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-02-29📄change-person-secretary-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH03
- 2024-02-29📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2024-02-29📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-02-29📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2024-02-29📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2023-11-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-08-24📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2023-08-24📄change-person-secretary-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH03
- 2023-08-24📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2023-08-24📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2023-01-31📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2023-01-31📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2022-10-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-12-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2010-04-19➕DELANEY, Robert appointedsecretary
- 2010-04-19➖MCALLESTER, Jane resignedsecretary
- 2007-09-22🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2006-04-05➖SAINSBURY, Timothy Alan Davan, The Right Honourable Sir resigneddirector
- 2001-10-22➕MCALLESTER, Jane appointedsecretary
- 2001-06-30➖JOHNSTON, Elizabeth resignedsecretary
- 2000-08-03➖WRIGHT, Karen Jocelyn resigneddirector
- 1999-02-16🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Adam & Company PLC
- 1997-07-24➕JOHNSTON, Elizabeth appointedsecretary
- 1997-07-24➖WRIGHT, Karen Jocelyn resignedsecretary
- 1997-07-24➕SAINSBURY, Timothy Alan Davan, The Right Honourable Sir appointeddirector
- 1996-01-31🏢Company incorporatedAs 21 PUBLISHING LIMITED
- 1996-01-31➕JACOBSON, Bernard appointeddirector
- 1996-01-31➕WRIGHT, Karen Jocelyn appointedsecretary
- 1996-01-31➕COMBINED SECRETARIAL SERVICES LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1996-01-31➖COMBINED SECRETARIAL SERVICES LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1996-01-31➕WRIGHT, Karen Jocelyn appointeddirector
- 1996-01-31➕COMBINED NOMINEES LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-director
- 1996-01-31➖COMBINED NOMINEES LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-director
- 1996-01-31➕COMBINED SECRETARIAL SERVICES LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-director
- 1996-01-31➖COMBINED SECRETARIAL SERVICES LIMITED 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 30 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 83 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
100/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 83 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 30 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 30 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 Bernard Jacobson Individual · British · DOB 05/1943 · age 83 | 50–75% | 50–75% | board control50-75% shares · 50-75% voting · board control | 06/04/2016 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Mr David Robert Jonesceased 31/01/2026· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
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 · W postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 007 AUTOMOTIVE LTD→ 16238847 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 10 FIGURES & ASSOCIATES LTD→ 14311880 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| 100% INVOICE LTD→ 16960839 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 100KGEMS LTD→ 15993431 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 101CLOTHINGGH LTD→ 16267312 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 12 WESTON LONDON LTD→ 15351484 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 12NOTE LIMITED→ 16324977 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 2 EXCEL ENGINEERING LIMITED→ 08965471 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| 20TH CENTURY FRAMES LIMITED→ 06775455 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 17y | — | — |
| 21MD LIMITED→ 17104028 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 26MINUTES LIMITED→ 15421940 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 2KL CLEANING LIMITED→ 14756869 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1996-01-31
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC32990 — Other manufacturing n.e.c.
Registered office
8 Golden Square
London
W1F 9HY
United Kingdom
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-02-14
Last: 2026-01-31
Officers (2 active · 8 resigned)
Active
JACOBSON, Bernard→
Activedirector · ~83y · appointed 1996-01-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
JOHNSTON, Elizabeth→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1997-07-24 · resigned 2001-06-30
MCALLESTER, Jane→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2001-10-22 · resigned 2010-04-19
WRIGHT, Karen Jocelyn→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1996-01-31 · resigned 1997-07-24
COMBINED SECRETARIAL SERVICES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1996-01-31 · resigned 1996-01-31
SAINSBURY, Timothy Alan Davan, The Right Honourable Sir→
Resigneddirector · ~94y · appointed 1997-07-24 · resigned 2006-04-05
WRIGHT, Karen Jocelyn→
Resigneddirector · ~76y · appointed 1996-01-31 · resigned 2000-08-03
COMBINED NOMINEES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 1996-01-31 · resigned 1996-01-31
COMBINED SECRETARIAL SERVICES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 1996-01-31 · resigned 1996-01-31
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
1
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:1 of 1 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Adam & Company Adam & Company PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 16/02/1999 | 22/09/2007 |
Recent filings (102 total)
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-02-24
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2026-02-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-11-20
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-02-13
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-02-13
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2025-02-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-12-17
change-person-secretary-company-with-change-date
officers · CH03
2024-02-29
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2024-02-29
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2024-02-29
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2024-02-29
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2024-02-29
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-02-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-11-13
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2023-08-24