A B CABLES LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
04640903 · ltd · incorporated 2003-01-17
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
£-225.9k
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)Distressed active trading company — structural issues outweigh the discount.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (70/100, director aged 60). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 12 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: distressed disposal / insolvency (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
13 live charges · 12 lenders · oldest 23.1y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 23.1 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 12 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
13 charges (13/13 with lender, 13/13 with type)
90
Directors & officers
8 officers (1 active, 8 linked, 2 with DOB)
75
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
108 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
79/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
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 £225,866
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
-£226k
↓ 9.3% YoY
Current Assets
£741k
↓ 1.6% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2025-01-31 | 2024-01-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £-134.5k | £-114.3k |
| Current assets | £741.4k | £753.7k |
| Debtors | £294.4k | £323.7k |
| Net assets | £-225.9k | £-206.6k |
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
0
filings
Last 180 days
2
filings
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 officers
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (59 events)Click to expand
- 2026-02-11📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-09-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-08-22📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-08-22📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-08-22🔓Charge satisfied #12
- 2025-08-06🔒Charge registered #13Lender: Optimum Sme Finance Limited
- 2025-03-25📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-03-25🔓Charge satisfied #11
- 2025-03-20📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-03-19🔒Charge registered #12Lender: Df Capital Bank Limited
- 2025-01-23📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2025-01-22📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-10-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-12-19📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-12-19🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 2023-12-01📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2023-12-01🔒Charge registered #11Lender: Satago Financial Solutions Limited
- 2023-10-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-01-31📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2023-01-17➖KNIGHT, Adam resignedsecretary
- 2022-09-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-02-04📄capital-name-of-class-of-sharescapital · SH08
- 2022-02-03📄capital-alter-shares-subdivisioncapital · SH02
- 2022-01-27📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2022-01-26📄appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP03
- 2022-01-25➕KNIGHT, Adam appointedsecretary
- 2021-08-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-11-13🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Marketfinance Limited
- 2020-11-10🔓Charge satisfied #9
- 2020-11-10🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2020-11-10🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2020-11-10🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2019-05-02🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2019-05-02🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2019-05-01🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Paul Michel Investments Limited
- 2019-04-01➖CLAPTON, Matthew resignedsecretary
- 2019-04-01➖CLAPTON, Matthew resigneddirector
- 2018-01-09🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Close Brothers Limited (The “Security Trustee”)
- 2017-10-18🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2016-10-28🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Ultimate Trade Finance Limited
- 2016-09-29🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Ultimate Invoice Finance LTD
- 2009-08-06🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2009-08-05🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Lloyds Tsb Commercial Finance Limited
- 2007-03-02🔒Charge registered #4Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 2005-08-02🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Pearl (Blakelands 1) Limited and Pearl (Blakelands 2) Limited
- 2005-03-07🔒Charge registered #2Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2003-04-01🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Pearl (Blakelands 1) Limited and Pearl (Blakelands 2) Limited
- 2003-01-24➕BROWN, Alan appointeddirector
- 2003-01-24➕CLAPTON, Matthew appointedsecretary
- 2003-01-24➕AD VALOREM COMPANY SECRETARIAL LIMITED appointedcorporate-secretary
Showing most recent 50 of 59 events
Owner dependency
93/100
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 23 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 60 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
85/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 60. Early succession window.
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 23 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 23 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 ·Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Alan Brown Individual · British · DOB 10/1966 · age 60 | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 06/04/2016 |
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Matthew Claptonceased 31/03/2019· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
- Alan Brownceased 17/01/2018· 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 · Retail · MK postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 123FLOOR LIMITED→ 07385620 · est 2010 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 15y | — | — |
| 1744 LTD→ 13531385 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| 234NG LTD→ 13103521 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| A BUNCH OF OLD BOOKS LTD→ 16532471 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| A&D PHARMACHEM LIMITED→ 07635513 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| AB AUTISM SUPPORT & EMPOWERMENT CIC→ 11690273 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| ABAYAELEGANCE LTD→ 16991615 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ABEAUTIOUS LIMITED→ 13107464 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| ABHIRAMSOFT LIMITED→ 07834095 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| ABI NEWSAGENTS LTD→ 09540046 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| ABR STATION EXPRESS LTD→ 09922484 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| ABSOLUTE NUMBER PLATES LIMITED→ 13247446 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
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
Incorporated2003-01-17
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC47990 — Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets
Registered office
38 Clarke Road
Mount Farm
Bletchley
Buckinghamshire
MK1 1LG
United Kingdom
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-10-31
Last made up to: 2025-01-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-01-31
Last: 2026-01-17
Officers (1 active · 7 resigned)
Active
CLAPTON, Matthew→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2003-01-24 · resigned 2019-04-01
KNIGHT, Adam→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2022-01-25 · resigned 2023-01-17
AD VALOREM COMPANY SECRETARIAL LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 2003-01-24 · resigned 2003-01-24
HCS SECRETARIAL LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2003-01-17 · resigned 2003-01-22
CLAPTON, Matthew→
Resigneddirector · ~52y · appointed 2003-01-17 · resigned 2019-04-01
AD VALOREM DIRECTORS LTD→
Resignedcorporate-director · appointed 2003-01-24 · resigned 2003-01-24
HANOVER DIRECTORS LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 2003-01-17 · resigned 2003-01-22
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
13
Total charges
2
Outstanding
2
Active lenders
Status:Lender:13 of 13 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Optimum Sme Finance Optimum Sme Finance Limited | A registered charge | 2 properties | 06/08/2025 | — | |
| satisfied | Df Capital Bank Df Capital Bank Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 19/03/2025 | 22/08/2025 | |
| satisfied | Satago Financial Solutions Satago Financial Solutions Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 01/12/2023 | 25/03/2025 | |
| satisfied | Marketfinance Marketfinance Limited | A registered charge | — | 13/11/2020 | 19/12/2023 | |
| satisfied | Paul Michel Investments Paul Michel Investments Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 01/05/2019 | 10/11/2020 | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited (The “Security Trustee”) | A registered charge | — | 09/01/2018 | 10/11/2020 | |
| satisfied | Ultimate Trade Finance Ultimate Trade Finance Limited | A registered charge | 8 properties | 28/10/2016 | 02/05/2019 | |
| satisfied | Ultimate Invoice Finance Ultimate Invoice Finance LTD | A registered charge | 8 properties | 29/09/2016 | 02/05/2019 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Tsb Commercial Finance Limited | All assets debenture | 1 property | 05/08/2009 | 18/10/2017 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Debenture | 1 property | 02/03/2007 | — | |
| satisfied | Pearl (Blakelands 1) and Pearl (Blakelands 2) Pearl (Blakelands 1) Limited and Pearl (Blakelands 2) Limited | Stakeholder rent deposit deed | 1 property | 02/08/2005 | 10/11/2020 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 07/03/2005 | 06/08/2009 | |
| satisfied | Pearl (Blakelands 1) and Pearl (Blakelands 2) Pearl (Blakelands 1) Limited and Pearl (Blakelands 2) Limited | Stakeholder rent deposit deed | 1 property | 01/04/2003 | 10/11/2020 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (108 total)
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-02-11
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2026-02-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-09-09
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-08-22
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-08-22
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-03-25
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-03-20
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-01-23
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2025-01-23
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-01-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-10-30
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-01-31
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2023-12-19
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2023-12-01
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-10-24