BARGAIN BUYS RETAIL LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
05036720 · ltd · incorporated 2004-02-06
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 Apr 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
70/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Retail sale of electrical household appliances in specialised stores
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.
Opportunity 70/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 4 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (58/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
11 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 14.9y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 14.9 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · 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
11 charges (11/11 with lender, 11/11 with type)
90
Directors & officers
4 officers (1 active, 4 linked, 2 with DOB)
80
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 4 total, 4 with control declared
90
Director network
3 connected companies via shared directors
54
Filing history
86 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
🔒Estimated company valuation
Sector-multiple EBITDA, turnover, and NAV-proxy valuation range with confidence tier — derived from extracted iXBRL financials.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Opportunity Score
70/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
60
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
60
Some acquirability indicators.
Risk profile
74
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2025-04-30 | 2024-04-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Average employees | 100 | 400 |
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 mortgage
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (42 events)Click to expand
- 2026-02-21📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2026-02-20🔒Charge registered #11Lender: Barclays Security Trustee Limited
- 2025-05-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-01-16📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2025-01-15📄capital-allotment-sharescapital · SH01
- 2024-09-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-11-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-07-24📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2023-07-21📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-07-21📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-07-21🔓Charge satisfied #9
- 2023-07-21🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2023-07-20🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Allica Bank Limited
- 2022-10-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-02-16📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2022-02-15📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2022-02-15📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2022-02-09📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2022-02-08📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2022-02-08📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2021-12-20📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2021-12-20🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2021-12-09📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2021-12-09📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2021-12-07🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Gfs 1 LTD
- 2021-12-07🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Gfs 1 LTD
- 2021-07-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-02-19🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Barclays Security Trustee Limited
- 2020-03-27🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Barclays Security Trustee Limited
- 2016-09-20🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2016-05-23🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2016-05-23🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2011-09-09🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2011-08-22🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2008-03-29➖O'BRIEN, Barbara Anne resignedsecretary
- 2004-02-06🏢Company incorporatedAs BARGAIN BUYS RETAIL LIMITED
- 2004-02-06➕ROWLAND, David James appointeddirector
- 2004-02-06➕DAVIES, Margaret Michelle appointednominee-secretary
- 2004-02-06➖DAVIES, Margaret Michelle resignednominee-secretary
- 2004-02-06➕O'BRIEN, Barbara Anne appointedsecretary
- 2004-02-06➕PIKE, Pamela appointednominee-director
- 2004-02-06➖PIKE, Pamela resignednominee-director
Owner dependency
85/100
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 22 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
Succession & seller-readiness
75/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 22 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 22 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 · 1 lowCharge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
8 live charges
lowHeavily leveraged with multiple live security positions — understand the capital structure before proceeding.
Shareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Kimberley Rowland Individual · British · DOB 06/1986 · age 40 | 25–50% | — | 25-50% shares | 01/08/2017 |
Mr David Rowland Individual · English · DOB 08/1981 · age 45 | 25–50% | — | 25-50% shares | 06/04/2016 |
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Mr David Rowlandceased 06/04/2016· 25-50% shares
- Mr David James Rowlandceased 06/04/2016· 25-50% shares
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 · DL postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASGARD 2.0 LTD→ 12509616 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| ASIM ENTERPRISES LTD→ 15148344 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ASUN LTD→ 16992747 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AURA HAVEN LIMITED→ 16372037 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AYSVERA LTD→ 16902412 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BAKER'S OVEN LTD→ 11229886 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| BAKI MEGA LTD→ 16891825 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BALLANTYNE'S CHOCOLATES AND CONFECTIONERY LTD→ 12853324 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| BAMBOO SUPPLY LIMITED→ 14643485 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| BARGAIN TILES DARLINGTON LIMITED→ 08209845 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| BARKERS (NORTHALLERTON) LIMITED→ 00432294 · est 1947 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 79y | — | — |
| BARRONVALE LTD→ 16779880 · 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
Incorporated2004-02-06
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC47540 — Retail sale of electrical household appliances in specialised stores
Registered office
Bargain Buys Limited
Shafto Way
Newton Aycliffe
County Durham
DL5 5QN
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-01-31
Last made up to: 2025-04-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-02-23
Last: 2026-02-09
Officers (1 active · 3 resigned)
ROWLAND, David James→
Activedirector · ~45y · appointed 2004-02-06
View their other companies + combined net worth →
DAVIES, Margaret Michelle→
Resignednominee-secretary · appointed 2004-02-06 · resigned 2004-02-06
O'BRIEN, Barbara Anne→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2004-02-06 · resigned 2008-03-29
PIKE, Pamela→
Resignednominee-director · ~77y · appointed 2004-02-06 · resigned 2004-02-06
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
11
Total charges
8
Outstanding
2
Active lenders
Status:Lender:11 of 11 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Security Trustee Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 20/02/2026 | — | |
| outstanding | Allica Bank Allica Bank Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 20/07/2023 | — | |
| satisfied | Gfs 1 Gfs 1 LTD | A registered charge | 1 property | 07/12/2021 | 21/07/2023 | |
| satisfied | Gfs 1 Gfs 1 LTD | A registered charge | — | 07/12/2021 | 21/07/2023 | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Security Trustee Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 19/02/2021 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Security Trustee Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 27/03/2020 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 20/09/2016 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 23/05/2016 | — | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 23/05/2016 | 20/12/2021 | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 09/09/2011 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 22/08/2011 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (86 total)
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2026-02-21
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-02-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-05-29
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-02-21
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2025-01-16
capital-allotment-shares
capital · SH01
2025-01-15
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-09-30
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-02-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-11-29
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2023-07-24
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2023-07-21
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2023-07-21
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-02-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-10-13
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2022-02-16