STEPHENS CATERING EQUIPMENT COMPANY LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
NI011092 · ltd · incorporated 1975-12-31
Investment thesis
Established operating company — standard diligence applies, no dominant angle.
Why interesting: Live, filing, normal profile.
Why risky: No standout signals in either direction.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
£19.96M
year to Apr 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
80/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with exceptional profile and acceptable with review structure.
Opportunity 80/100 (exceptional), bankability 67/100. 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: strategic trade sale (78/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
5 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 33.9y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 33.9 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 35/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: high (80/100)Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.
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
5 charges (5/5 with lender, 5/5 with type)
90
Directors & officers
12 officers (4 active, 12 linked, 9 with DOB)
85
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
3 connected companies via shared directors
54
Filing history
140 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
80/100Exceptional
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
85
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 · FRS 102Profitable
Profit before tax £498,447
Turnover YoY
+11%
Year on year
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Turnover | £19.96M | £17.96M |
| Gross profit | £5.43M | £5.49M |
| Operating profit | £545.0k | — |
| Profit before tax | £498.4k | £506.2k |
| Average employees | 9500 | 9600 |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
2 signals 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 accounts
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (47 events)Click to expand
- 2026-01-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-03-25📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-02-25➖O'NEILL, Colm resigneddirector
- 2025-01-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-11-04📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC02
- 2024-11-04📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2024-11-04📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2024-04-25➖MANSON, Ian Charles resigneddirector
- 2024-04-25📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-02-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-10-16📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-10-16📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-10-16📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-10-16🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2023-10-16🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2023-10-16🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2023-02-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-02-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-03-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-02-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-12-04📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2019-12-04📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2019-12-04📄appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP03
- 2019-03-29➕CAVES, Paul appointedsecretary
- 2019-03-29➖HART, Eamon resignedsecretary
- 2019-03-29➖HART, Eamon resigneddirector
- 2016-07-04➕GREENE, Conrad appointeddirector
- 2016-07-04➖CAVES, Elizabeth resignedsecretary
- 2016-07-04➕HART, Eamon appointedsecretary
- 2016-07-04➖CAVES, Elizabeth resigneddirector
- 2016-07-04➖CAVES, Thomas Sterling resigneddirector
- 2016-07-04➕HART, Eamon appointeddirector
- 2016-07-04➕MANSON, Ian Charles appointeddirector
- 2016-07-04➕O'NEILL, Colm appointeddirector
- 2015-03-04🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Ulster Bank Limited
- 2011-08-25➖MURRAY, Edwin resigneddirector
- 2005-04-17➕MORRISSEY, Patricia Julie Anne appointeddirector
- 2005-03-21🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Ulster Bank Ireland Limited
- 2005-02-15➕CAVES, Thomas Paul appointeddirector
- 2005-02-07🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Ulster Bank Ireland Limited
- 2004-04-15🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Belfast
- 1992-06-25🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Ulster Bank Limited
- 1975-12-31🏢Company incorporatedAs STEPHENS CATERING EQUIPMENT COMPANY LIMITED
- 1975-12-31➕CAVES, Elizabeth appointedsecretary
- 1975-12-31➕CAVES, Elizabeth appointeddirector
- 1975-12-31➕CAVES, Thomas Sterling appointeddirector
- 1975-12-31➕MURRAY, Edwin appointeddirector
Owner dependency
68/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 21 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 62 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
70/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 62. Early succession window.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 21 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 50 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.
Group structure
Carnalbanagh Holdings Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Carnalbanagh Holdings Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares
⬇
STEPHENS CATERING EQUIPMENT COMPANY LIMITED
This company · NI011092
Parent relationships inferred from Persons with Significant Control filings. Full subsidiary tree requires reverse-lookup (coming).
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Carnalbanagh Holdings Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | — | 75-100% shares | 29/10/2024 |
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Mrs Elizabeth Cavesceased 29/10/2024· 25-50% shares
- Mr Thomas Stirling Cavesceased 29/10/2024· 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 · BT postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAMONT STONE LIMITED→ NI031454 · est 1996 | £12.57M £9.43M–£15.71M | — | — | 73 | 29y | 87 | 74y |
| BLAIR'S CARAVANS LIMITED→ NI012772 · est 1978 | £10.95M £8.21M–£13.69M | £13.81M | — | 6400 | 48y | 88 | 58y |
| BOLAN INVESTMENTS LIMITED→ NI030942 · est 1996 | £5.21M £3.91M–£6.52M | — | — | 18100 | 29y | 84 | 72y |
| CREATIVE GARDENS (NI) LIMITED→ NI043559 · est 2002 | £4.31M £3.23M–£5.39M | £13.07M | — | 20900 | 23y | 84 | 77y |
| MURDOCK HARDWOOD INDUSTRIES LIMITED→ NI015426 · est 1982 | £3.94M £2.96M–£4.93M | £14.10M | — | 3300 | 44y | 87 | 63y |
| R & J FOODS LTD→ NI035741 · est 1999 | £3.17M £2.38M–£3.96M | — | — | 114 | 27y | 84 | 64y |
| ROBINSON'S OF BALLYMENA LTD→ NI601985 · est 2010 | £2.20M £1.65M–£2.75M | £11.23M | — | 8100 | 16y | 84 | 66y |
| BASIL KNIPE ELECTRICS LIMITED→ NI070354 · est 2008 | £2.04M £1.53M–£2.56M | — | — | 4300 | 17y | 87 | 61y |
| CHARIOTEER LIMITED→ NI038821 · est 2000 | £1.83M £1.37M–£2.29M | £16.58M | — | 9400 | 25y | 85 | 61y |
| JESROE (SERVICES) LIMITED→ NI033828 · est 1998 | £1.19M £889.9k–£1.48M | — | — | 3000 | 28y | 87 | 69y |
| WINE INNS LIMITED→ NI008313 · est 1971 | £1.15M £863.8k–£1.44M | — | — | 12200 | 54y | 85 | 80y |
| BELFAST TILES AND BATHROOM CENTRE LTD→ NI055324 · est 2005 | £80.5k £60.4k–£100.7k | £373.4k | — | 300 | 20y | 85 | 62y |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
6 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
Incorporated1975-12-31
Jurisdictionnorthern-ireland
Primary SIC47990 — Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets
Registered office
205 Carnalbanagh Road
Broughshane
Ballymena
County Antrim
BT42 4NY
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-01-31
Last made up to: 2025-04-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-12-05
Last: 2025-11-21
Officers (4 active · 8 resigned)
Active
CAVES, Thomas Paul→
Activedirector · ~53y · appointed 2005-02-15
View their other companies + combined net worth →
GREENE, Conrad→
Activedirector · ~62y · appointed 2016-07-04
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MORRISSEY, Patricia Julie Anne→
Activedirector · ~51y · appointed 2005-04-17
View their other companies + combined net worth →
CAVES, Elizabeth→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1975-12-31 · resigned 2016-07-04
HART, Eamon→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2016-07-04 · resigned 2019-03-29
CAVES, Elizabeth→
Resigneddirector · ~77y · appointed 1975-12-31 · resigned 2016-07-04
CAVES, Thomas Sterling→
Resigneddirector · ~80y · appointed 1975-12-31 · resigned 2016-07-04
HART, Eamon→
Resigneddirector · ~43y · appointed 2016-07-04 · resigned 2019-03-29
MANSON, Ian Charles→
Resigneddirector · ~66y · appointed 2016-07-04 · resigned 2024-04-25
MURRAY, Edwin→
Resigneddirector · ~78y · appointed 1975-12-31 · resigned 2011-08-25
O'NEILL, Colm→
Resigneddirector · ~52y · appointed 2016-07-04 · resigned 2025-02-25
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
5
Total charges
2
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:5 of 5 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | NatWest Group Ulster Bank Limited | A registered charge | 4 properties | 04/03/2015 | — | |
| satisfied | NatWest Group Ulster Bank Ireland Limited | Mortgage or charge | 1 property | 21/03/2005 | 16/10/2023 | |
| satisfied | NatWest Group Ulster Bank Ireland Limited | Solicitors letter of undertaking | 1 property | 07/02/2005 | 16/10/2023 | |
| outstanding | NatWest Group Belfast / Ulster Bank LTD | Mortgage or charge | 1 property | 15/04/2004 | — | |
| satisfied | NatWest Group Ulster Bank Limited | Mortgage debenture | 1 property | 25/06/1992 | 16/10/2023 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (140 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2026-01-31
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-12-05
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-03-25
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-01-31
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-12-02
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
2024-11-04
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2024-11-04
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2024-11-04
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-04-25
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2024-02-13
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-12-21
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2023-10-16
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2023-10-16
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2023-10-16
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2023-02-02