848 CARS LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
04524869 · ltd · incorporated 2002-09-03
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 Aug 2024
Net worth
£52.9k
book net assets
Opportunity
82/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 49320
Sector: Transportation & storage
Investor take
PursueAsset-holding vehicle with a 71-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 82/100 (exceptional), bankability 85/100. Strong seller-intent signal (83/100, director aged 71). 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 8.5y
45/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 8.5 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
5 officers (1 active, 5 linked, 2 with DOB)
78
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
69 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 £52,851
Net assets shrinking
Down £97,611 YoY
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
£53k
↓ 65% YoY
Current Assets
£168k
↑ 200% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2024-08-31 | 2023-08-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £133.9k | £150.5k |
| Current assets | £167.8k | £56.0k |
| Net assets | £52.9k | £150.5k |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
0
filings
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (28 events)Click to expand
- 2025-08-18📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-08-18🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2025-07-10📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2025-06-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2024-06-06➖GLADEN, Moira Anne resignedsecretary
- 2024-06-06📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2024-06-06📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2024-05-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2024-03-05📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2023-11-16📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2023-11-16📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2023-05-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2022-05-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2021-05-19📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2020-05-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2019-05-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2018-05-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2017-11-08📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2017-11-07🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Just Cash Flow PLC
- 2006-03-31➕GLADEN, Moira Anne appointedsecretary
- 2006-03-31➖MCCARTHY, John resignedsecretary
- 2005-06-03➕GLADEN, Andrew Ernest appointeddirector
- 2005-06-03➖HARRINGTON, Kevin resigneddirector
- 2003-02-10➖FROSTICK, Irene resignedsecretary
- 2003-02-10➕MCCARTHY, John appointedsecretary
- 2002-09-03🏢Company incorporatedAs 848 CARS LIMITED
- 2002-09-03➕FROSTICK, Irene appointedsecretary
- 2002-09-03➕HARRINGTON, Kevin appointeddirector
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 21 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 71 — 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 71 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 21 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 24 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 · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Andrew Ernest Gladen Individual · British · DOB 11/1955 · age 71 | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 02/09/2016 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Mrs Moira Anne Gladenceased 06/06/2024· 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 · Transport & logistics · RM postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1ST CLASS LINES LTD→ 15268086 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 24-7 FLY SERVICES LTD→ 16344108 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 247 TAXI CABS LTD→ 16941638 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 247 TOTALCARE LIMITED→ 14861312 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 247CAB786 LTD→ 15281860 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 2GO TRANSPORT LTD→ 16148265 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 3 JAY’S TRANSPORT LTD→ 15827969 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 43 LOGISTICS LIMITED→ 15102095 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 4CK WAWERU LTD→ 15934290 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 4STRANS LTD→ 16551707 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 838 MOTORS LTD→ 17128762 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 999 LOGISTICS LTD→ 16821648 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
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
Incorporated2002-09-03
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC49320 — SIC 49320
Registered office
Unit 8
Elms Industrial Estate. Church Road
Romford
Essex
RM3 0JU
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-05-31
Last made up to: 2024-08-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-06-20
Last: 2025-06-06
Officers (1 active · 4 resigned)
GLADEN, Andrew Ernest→
Activedirector · ~71y · appointed 2005-06-03
View their other companies + combined net worth →
FROSTICK, Irene→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2002-09-03 · resigned 2003-02-10
GLADEN, Moira Anne→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2006-03-31 · resigned 2024-06-06
MCCARTHY, John→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2003-02-10 · resigned 2006-03-31
HARRINGTON, Kevin→
Resigneddirector · ~57y · appointed 2002-09-03 · resigned 2005-06-03
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 | Just Cash Flow Just Cash Flow PLC | A registered charge | — | 07/11/2017 | 18/08/2025 |
Recent filings (69 total)
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-08-18
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2025-07-10
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2025-06-26
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-06-06
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2024-06-06
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2024-06-06
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-06-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2024-05-29
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2024-03-05
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2023-11-16
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
2023-11-16
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-09-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2023-05-24
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-09-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2022-05-31