NPL ESTATES LTD.

💤Zombieactive
03505485 · ltd · incorporated 1998-02-05
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
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
77/100
Strong
🔔
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What this business does
Primary activity: Buying and selling of own real estate
Sector: Real estate
Investor take
Pursue
Property-backed borrower with a 85-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 77/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (68/100, director aged 85). 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

24 live charges · 7 lenders · oldest 27.8y

15/100
under pressure

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

  • · Oldest live charge is 27.8 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · 7 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
  • · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.

Data confidence

Overall: medium (55/100)

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
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
24 charges (24/24 with lender, 24/24 with type)
90
Directors & officers
10 officers (1 active, 10 linked, 8 with DOB)
86
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
152 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.

Recent activity

Last 30 days
1
filing
  • • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 90 days
2
filings
  • • 1 confirmation-statement
  • • 1 accounts
Last 180 days
2
filings
  • • 1 confirmation-statement
  • • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (83 events)Click to expand
  1. 2026-03-30
    📄
    change-account-reference-date-company-current-shortened
    accounts · AA01
  2. 2025-01-05
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  3. 2024-01-12
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  4. 2023-01-10
    ➕
    WALKER, Stewart appointed
    director
  5. 2023-01-10
    ➖
    MCFARLANE, Michelle resigned
    secretary
  6. 2023-01-10
    ➖
    LEWSLEY, John Charles resigned
    director
  7. 2023-01-10
    ➖
    MCFARLANE, Michelle resigned
    director
  8. 2023-01-10
    ➖
    MCFARLANE, Robert resigned
    director
  9. 2023-01-10
    ➖
    THOMSON, Carol resigned
    director
  10. 2023-01-10
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  11. 2023-01-10
    📄
    termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM02
  12. 2023-01-10
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  13. 2023-01-10
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  14. 2023-01-10
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  15. 2023-01-10
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  16. 2023-01-05
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  17. 2022-09-16
    📄
    mortgage-create-without-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
    mortgage · MR08
  18. 2022-09-14
    🔒
    Charge registered #24
    Lender: Mr Robert Mcfarlane
  19. 2021-12-31
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-small
    accounts · AA
  20. 2021-06-30
    ➕
    LEWSLEY, John Charles appointed
    director
  21. 2021-06-30
    ➖
    TOWERS, Simon resigned
    director
  22. 2021-06-30
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  23. 2021-06-30
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  24. 2021-04-12
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  25. 2020-04-16
    📄
    notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
  26. 2019-10-29
    📄
    change-account-reference-date-company-current-extended
    accounts · AA01
  27. 2018-02-06
    ➖
    TAYLOR, Eric resigned
    director
  28. 2015-09-30
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #22
  29. 2015-09-30
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #21
  30. 2015-09-30
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #20
  31. 2015-09-30
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #19
  32. 2015-09-30
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #17
  33. 2015-09-30
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #15
  34. 2015-09-30
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #12
  35. 2015-09-30
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #11
  36. 2015-09-24
    🔒
    Charge registered #23
    Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
  37. 2014-11-18
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #16
  38. 2014-11-18
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #14
  39. 2014-11-18
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #13
  40. 2011-10-13
    🔒
    Charge registered #22
    Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
  41. 2010-10-15
    🔒
    Charge registered #21
    Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
  42. 2010-10-15
    🔒
    Charge registered #20
    Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC
  43. 2010-05-06
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #18
  44. 2009-07-14
    🔒
    Charge registered #19
    Lender: Bank of Scotland PLC (Formerly Known as the Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland)
  45. 2007-08-29
    ➕
    TOWERS, Simon appointed
    director
  46. 2007-06-28
    ➕
    MCFARLANE, Robert appointed
    director
  47. 2007-03-23
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #8
  48. 2007-03-09
    🔒
    Charge registered #18
    Lender: Miller Homes Limited
  49. 2006-01-19
    🔒
    Charge registered #17
    Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
  50. 2005-06-21
    🔒
    Charge registered #16
    Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
Showing most recent 50 of 83 events

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 85 — succession pressure is live.

Succession & seller-readiness

85/100
Likely off-market candidate

Strong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.

SIGNALS
  • primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 85 years old. Natural succession window is now.
  • primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 28 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.

Group structure

Le-Fylde Estates Ltd is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.

🏛️
Le-Fylde Estates Ltd
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares
ultimate parent
⬇
NPL ESTATES LTD.
This company · 03505485

Parent relationships inferred from Persons with Significant Control filings. Full subsidiary tree requires reverse-lookup (coming).

Shareholders & ownership

2 active beneficial owners · dominant holder ≥75%
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Le-Fylde Estates Ltd
Corporate entity
75–100%
—75-100% shares11/02/2020
Mr Robert Mcfarlane
Individual · British · DOB 08/1946 · age 80
——sig. influencesignificant influence01/02/2017

From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.

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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
Incorporated1998-02-05
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC68100 — Buying and selling of own real estate

Registered office

One St Peter's Square
Manchester
M2 3DE
United Kingdom

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-06-30
Last made up to: 2024-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-05-10
Last: 2026-04-26

Officers (1 active · 9 resigned)

WALKER, Stewart→
director · ~85y · appointed 2023-01-10
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
MCFARLANE, Michelle→
secretary · appointed 1998-02-05 · resigned 2023-01-10
Resigned
REID, Brian→
nominee-secretary · appointed 1998-02-05 · resigned 1998-02-05
Resigned
LEWSLEY, John Charles→
director · ~50y · appointed 2021-06-30 · resigned 2023-01-10
Resigned
MABBOTT, Stephen→
nominee-director · ~76y · appointed 1998-02-05 · resigned 1998-02-05
Resigned
MCFARLANE, Michelle→
director · ~58y · appointed 2000-05-30 · resigned 2023-01-10
Resigned
MCFARLANE, Robert→
director · ~80y · appointed 2007-06-28 · resigned 2023-01-10
Resigned
TAYLOR, Eric→
director · ~75y · appointed 1998-02-05 · resigned 2018-02-06
Resigned
THOMSON, Carol→
director · ~55y · appointed 2004-09-15 · resigned 2023-01-10
Resigned
TOWERS, Simon→
director · ~58y · appointed 2007-08-29 · resigned 2021-06-30
Resigned

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

Mortgages & charges

24
Total charges
2
Outstanding
2
Active lenders
Status:Lender:24 of 24 shown
TypeProperties
outstanding
Mr Robert Mcfarlane
Charge1 property14/09/2022—
outstanding
Lloyds Banking Group
Bank of Scotland PLC
A registered charge—24/09/2015—
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
Bank of Scotland PLC
Assignment of legal charge2 properties13/10/201130/09/2015
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
Bank of Scotland PLC
Assignment of contract for sale1 property15/10/201030/09/2015
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
Bank of Scotland PLC
Assignment of legal charge1 property15/10/201030/09/2015
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
Bank of Scotland PLC (Formerly Known as the Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland)
Deed of confirmation2 properties14/07/200930/09/2015
satisfied
Miller Homes
Miller Homes Limited
Legal charge1 property09/03/200706/05/2010
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
Legal charge1 property19/01/200630/09/2015
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
Legal charge1 property21/06/200518/11/2014
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
Assigment1 property20/09/200430/09/2015
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
Legal charge1 property15/06/200418/11/2014
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
Legal charge1 property15/06/200418/11/2014
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
Legal charge1 property15/06/200430/09/2015
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
Debenture1 property15/06/200430/09/2015
satisfied
Co-operative Bank
The Co-Operative Bank PLC
Deed of assignment in respect of a sale agreement between the company (1) and wilson bowden developments limited(2)1 property13/12/200208/07/2004
satisfied
Co-operative Bank
The Co-Operative Bank PLC
Deed of assignment in respect of an option agreement between wbd (blackpool) limited (1) the company (2) and wilson bowden developments limited (3)1 property13/12/200208/07/2004
satisfied
Barratt Homes
Barratt Homes Limited
Legal mortgage2 properties05/07/200223/03/2007
satisfied
Co-operative Bank
The Co-Operative Bank PLC
Deed of legal charge3 properties22/01/200208/07/2004
satisfied
Co-operative Bank
The Co-Operative Bank PLC
Deed of legal charge1 property08/06/200108/07/2004
satisfied
Co-operative Bank
The Co-Operative Bank PLC
Legal charge1 property04/10/200008/07/2004
satisfied
Co-operative Bank
The Co-Operative Bank PLC
Legal charge1 property26/09/200008/07/2004
satisfied
Co-operative Bank
The Co-Operative Bank PLC
Legal charge1 property26/09/200008/07/2004
satisfied
Co-operative Bank
The Co-Operative Bank PLC
Debenture1 property20/08/199808/07/2004
satisfied
Co-operative Bank
The Co-Operative Bank PLC
Legal charge1 property20/08/199808/07/2004
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (152 total)

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-05-05
change-account-reference-date-company-current-shortened
accounts · AA01
2026-03-30
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-05-08
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2025-01-05
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-05-14
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2024-01-12
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-05-09
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2023-01-10
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2023-01-10
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2023-01-10
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2023-01-10
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2023-01-10
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2023-01-10
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2023-01-05
mortgage-create-without-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR08
2022-09-16