THE SUFFOLK ATTIC LTD.

🚨Distressedactive
04835626 · ltd · incorporated 2003-07-17
Investment thesis
Attractive distress candidate — real problems but workable structure.
Why interesting: Falling signals but no deal-breakers yet; room for negotiation and turnaround.
Why risky: Signals worsening; needs speed and capital discipline.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Apr 2021
Net worth
£-6.5k
book net assets
Opportunity
56/100
Worth a look
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What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 47799
Sector: Wholesale & retail
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
  • 47910Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)
Distressed admin-neglect survivor — structural issues outweigh the discount.

Opportunity 56/100 (worth a look), bankability 45/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Biggest value-creation lever: File overdue accounts. Clears statutory overdue flag — immediate bankability uplift for refinance conversations. Most likely exit: distressed disposal / insolvency (65/100). Current lenders should be on monthly review.

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, 2 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
Confirmed no charges registered
85
Directors & officers
13 officers (1 active, 13 linked, 6 with DOB)
79
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
1 connected companies via shared directors
48
Filing history
91 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
56/100Worth a look
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional 

Mixed signal. Worth opening the full target workup before deciding to pursue.

Business quality
45
Concerning — overdue filings or status flags present.
Acquirability
60
Some acquirability indicators.
Risk profile
46
Multiple red flags — proceed with caution.
Signal strength
90
Good data coverage for analysis.

Signals from accounts

Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declared
Negative net assets
Liabilities exceed assets by £6,539
Net assets shrinking
Down £16,444 YoY

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
—
Net Worth
-£7k
↓ 166% YoY
Current Assets
£491
↓ 94% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
-£7k-£3k£39£3k£7k£10kApr 2020Apr 2021

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown
Metric2021-04-052020-04-05
Total assets£2.9k£14.4k
Current assets£491£7.7k
Net assets£-6.5k£9.9k

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 (46 events)Click to expand
  1. 2025-01-16
    📍
    default-companies-house-service-address-applied-psc
    address · RP10
  2. 2025-01-16
    📍
    default-companies-house-service-address-applied-officer
    address · RP09
  3. 2025-01-16
    📍
    default-companies-house-registered-office-address-applied
    address · RP05
  4. 2021-11-10
    📄
    dissolution-voluntary-strike-off-suspended
    dissolution · SOAS(A)
  5. 2021-10-19
    📄
    gazette-notice-voluntary
    gazette · GAZ1(A)
  6. 2021-10-12
    📄
    dissolution-application-strike-off-company
    dissolution · DS01
  7. 2021-10-12
    📄
    cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
  8. 2021-10-12
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  9. 2021-10-12
    📍
    change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
    address · AD01
  10. 2021-10-01
    ➖
    FRANCIS-SMITH, Charlie Patrick resigned
    director
  11. 2021-04-10
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  12. 2020-12-09
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  13. 2020-11-18
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  14. 2020-11-18
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
  15. 2020-01-13
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  16. 2019-07-19
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  17. 2019-06-10
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
  18. 2018-04-25
    📄
    change-account-reference-date-company-current-extended
    accounts · AA01
  19. 2018-04-24
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  20. 2018-01-10
    📍
    change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
    address · AD01
  21. 2017-05-09
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
    accounts · AA
  22. 2017-02-01
    ➖
    A. RODEN LTD resigned
    corporate-secretary
  23. 2015-10-01
    ➕
    A. RODEN LTD appointed
    corporate-secretary
  24. 2012-01-19
    ➖
    A. RODEN LTD resigned
    corporate-secretary
  25. 2010-12-08
    ➕
    FRANCIS-SMITH, Laura Margaret appointed
    director
  26. 2010-12-08
    ➕
    FRANCIS-SMITH, Charlie Patrick appointed
    director
  27. 2010-12-08
    ➖
    RODEN, Andre Beverley resigned
    director
  28. 2009-07-16
    ➖
    FRANCIS-SMITH, Laura resigned
    director
  29. 2009-07-16
    ➕
    RODEN, Andre Beverley appointed
    director
  30. 2008-11-07
    ➖
    FRANCIS SMITH, Colin Patrick resigned
    secretary
  31. 2008-11-07
    ➖
    FRANCIS-SMITH, Laura resigned
    secretary
  32. 2008-11-07
    ➖
    FRANCIS SMITH, Colin Patrick resigned
    director
  33. 2008-09-11
    ➕
    FRANCIS-SMITH, Laura appointed
    secretary
  34. 2008-09-11
    ➕
    A. RODEN LTD appointed
    corporate-secretary
  35. 2008-09-11
    ➕
    FRANCIS-SMITH, Laura appointed
    director
  36. 2007-07-01
    ➖
    DAY, Richard John resigned
    director
  37. 2006-06-30
    ➕
    FRANCIS SMITH, Colin Patrick appointed
    secretary
  38. 2006-06-30
    ➖
    LEDGER, Mark Philip resigned
    secretary
  39. 2003-08-13
    ➕
    LEDGER, Mark Philip appointed
    secretary
  40. 2003-08-13
    ➖
    THE COMPANY REGISTRATION AGENTS LIMITED resigned
    corporate-nominee-secretary
  41. 2003-08-13
    ➕
    DAY, Richard John appointed
    director
  42. 2003-08-13
    ➕
    FRANCIS SMITH, Colin Patrick appointed
    director
  43. 2003-08-13
    ➖
    LUCIENE JAMES LIMITED resigned
    corporate-nominee-director
  44. 2003-07-17
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As THE SUFFOLK ATTIC LTD.
  45. 2003-07-17
    ➕
    THE COMPANY REGISTRATION AGENTS LIMITED appointed
    corporate-nominee-secretary
  46. 2003-07-17
    ➕
    LUCIENE JAMES LIMITED appointed
    corporate-nominee-director

Owner dependency

85/100
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 16 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.

Succession & seller-readiness

63/100
Strong succession signal

Multiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.

SIGNALS
  • primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
  • secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 16 years.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 23 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.

Red flags

2 high · 1 low
Accounts overdue
high

Statutory accounts have not been filed by their due date. Can indicate admin breakdown, cash preservation, or deliberate delay.

Evidence: Next due: 2023-01-05

Confirmation statement overdue
high

Annual confirmation statement not filed on time. Required statutory filing — overdue is a strong discipline signal.

Evidence: Next due: 2021-12-27

Multiple registered office changes
low

Multiple address changes in a short period can indicate operational instability or admin disorder.

Shareholders & ownership

1 active beneficial owner
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Mrs Laura Margaret Francis-Smith
Individual · British · DOB 04/1973 · age 53
25–50%
25–50%board control25-50% shares · 25-50% voting · board control06/04/2016
1 historic (ceased) PSC
  • Mr Charlie Patrick Francis-Smithceased 01/10/2021· 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 →

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Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions

10 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
Incorporated2003-07-17
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC47799 — SIC 47799

Registered office

04835626 - COMPANIES HOUSE DEFAULT ADDRESS
Cardiff
CF14 8LH

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2023-01-05OVERDUE
Last made up to: 2021-04-05
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2021-12-27OVERDUE
Last: 2020-12-13

Officers (1 active · 12 resigned)

FRANCIS-SMITH, Laura Margaret→
director · ~53y · appointed 2010-12-08
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
FRANCIS SMITH, Colin Patrick→
secretary · appointed 2006-06-30 · resigned 2008-11-07
Resigned
FRANCIS-SMITH, Laura→
secretary · appointed 2008-09-11 · resigned 2008-11-07
Resigned
LEDGER, Mark Philip→
secretary · appointed 2003-08-13 · resigned 2006-06-30
Resigned
A. RODEN LTD→
corporate-secretary · appointed 2015-10-01 · resigned 2017-02-01
Resigned
A. RODEN LTD→
corporate-secretary · appointed 2008-09-11 · resigned 2012-01-19
Resigned
THE COMPANY REGISTRATION AGENTS LIMITED→
corporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2003-07-17 · resigned 2003-08-13
Resigned
DAY, Richard John→
director · ~70y · appointed 2003-08-13 · resigned 2007-07-01
Resigned
FRANCIS SMITH, Colin Patrick→
director · ~53y · appointed 2003-08-13 · resigned 2008-11-07
Resigned
FRANCIS-SMITH, Charlie Patrick→
director · ~53y · appointed 2010-12-08 · resigned 2021-10-01
Resigned
FRANCIS-SMITH, Laura→
director · ~53y · appointed 2008-09-11 · resigned 2009-07-16
Resigned
RODEN, Andre Beverley→
director · ~69y · appointed 2009-07-16 · resigned 2010-12-08
Resigned
LUCIENE JAMES LIMITED→
corporate-nominee-director · appointed 2003-07-17 · resigned 2003-08-13
Resigned

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

Recent filings (91 total)

default-companies-house-service-address-applied-psc
address · RP10
2025-01-16
default-companies-house-service-address-applied-officer
address · RP09
2025-01-16
default-companies-house-registered-office-address-applied
address · RP05
2025-01-16
dissolution-voluntary-strike-off-suspended
dissolution · SOAS(A)
2021-11-10
gazette-notice-voluntary
gazette · GAZ1(A)
2021-10-19
dissolution-application-strike-off-company
dissolution · DS01
2021-10-12
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2021-10-12
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2021-10-12
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2021-10-12
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2021-04-10
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-12-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2020-12-09
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2020-11-18
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2020-11-18
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-07-17