PARRAGON BOOKS LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
02252808 · ltd · incorporated 1988-05-09
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
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
73/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Book publishing
Sector: Information & communication
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and bankable structure.
Opportunity 73/100 (strong), bankability 77/100. 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. 3 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: strategic trade sale (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
8 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 37.4y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 37.4 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (59/100)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
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
8 charges (8/8 with lender, 8/8 with type)
90
Directors & officers
22 officers (1 active, 22 linked, 15 with DOB)
84
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
10 connected companies via shared directors
75
Filing history
210 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
73/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
55
Some acquirability indicators.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 180 days
3
filings
- • 2 accounts
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (76 events)Click to expand
- 2025-12-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2025-12-21📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2025-10-20📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2025-10-20📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2024-12-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2024-12-31📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2024-11-04📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2024-11-04📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2024-03-04📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC05
- 2024-01-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2024-01-29📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2023-11-01📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2023-11-01📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2022-11-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2022-04-08📍move-registers-to-registered-office-company-with-new-addressaddress · AD04
- 2022-04-01📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-03-31➖THOMSON, Andrew Francis resigneddirector
- 2021-12-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2021-06-07📍move-registers-to-registered-office-company-with-new-addressaddress · AD04
- 2021-06-07📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2018-07-28🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2018-07-28🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2018-07-28🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2018-07-28🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2018-07-28🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2018-05-23➖STAUNTON, Susan Claire resignedsecretary
- 2018-03-20➕THOMSON, Andrew Francis appointeddirector
- 2017-12-20➖BAILEY, Stewart Andrew resigneddirector
- 2017-12-20➖TAYLOR, Paul resigneddirector
- 2016-06-07➕THOMSON, David Howard Eric appointeddirector
- 2016-06-07➖HALL, Alan Richard Finden resigneddirector
- 2016-06-07➖THOMSON, Andrew Francis resigneddirector
- 2016-06-07➖THOMSON, Christopher Harold William resigneddirector
- 2010-09-27➖BILSTEIN, Lutz resigneddirector
- 2010-04-01➕BAILEY, Stewart Andrew appointeddirector
- 2009-11-20➖THOMSON, John Sidney resigneddirector
- 2009-02-12➕HALL, Alan Richard Finden appointeddirector
- 2008-02-15➕BILSTEIN, Lutz appointeddirector
- 2008-02-15➖MCCURDIE, Trevor Alastair resigneddirector
- 2008-02-15➖PARR, Guy resigneddirector
- 2007-04-25➕STAUNTON, Susan Claire appointedsecretary
- 2007-04-25➖WRIGHT, Richard David resignedsecretary
- 2006-11-08🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2006-06-02➖MCCURDIE, Trevor Alastair resignedsecretary
- 2006-06-02➕WRIGHT, Richard David appointedsecretary
- 2004-10-05🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2002-07-23🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2002-07-01➕TAYLOR, Paul appointeddirector
- 2002-07-01➕THOMSON, John Sidney appointeddirector
- 2000-02-03➖PACKE, Maxwell Gordon resigneddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 76 events
Owner dependency
75/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Sole director: Only one active director — all governance concentrated on one person.
Succession & seller-readiness
55/100
Strong succession signalMultiple 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.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 38 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
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
Parragon Publishing Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Parragon Publishing Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
PARRAGON BOOKS LIMITED
This company · 02252808
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Parragon Publishing Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 06/04/2016 |
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 · Technology · EC postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 TOUCH HOSTING LTD→ 15812868 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 0ASISTAX LIMITED→ 17111074 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 0M TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS LTD→ 15151063 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 0TU100 IT SERVICES LTD→ 13634095 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| 0XB TECHNOLOGIES LTD→ 16814379 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 0XINA LTD→ 15306787 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 10 10 NETWORKS LIMITED→ 16391915 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 10 LIVES STUDIOS LTD→ 16775247 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10/10 HOLDINGS LTD→ 16173478 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 100CGI STUDIO LTD→ 12363951 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| 100K CREATOR LTD→ 16275681 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 100X REPS LIMITED→ 16287395 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
7 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
Incorporated1988-05-09
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC58110 — Book publishing
Registered office
185 Fleet Street
London
United Kingdom
EC4A 2HS
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-04-14
Last: 2026-03-31
Officers (1 active · 21 resigned)
THOMSON, David Howard Eric→
Activedirector · ~53y · appointed 2016-06-07
View their other companies + combined net worth →
ANDERSON, Paul→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1993-07-01 · resigned 1997-10-31
MCCURDIE, Trevor Alastair→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1999-02-16 · resigned 2006-06-02
MCCURDIE, Trevor Alastair→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1997-10-31 · resigned 1999-11-25
PARR, Guy→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1993-07-01
STAUNTON, Susan Claire→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2007-04-25 · resigned 2018-05-23
TYRER, Ian→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1999-11-25 · resigned 1999-12-16
WRIGHT, Richard David→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2006-06-02 · resigned 2007-04-25
ANDERSON, Paul→
Resigneddirector · ~66y · resigned 1998-12-04
BAILEY, Stewart Andrew→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2010-04-01 · resigned 2017-12-20
BILSTEIN, Lutz→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2008-02-15 · resigned 2010-09-27
HALL, Alan Richard Finden→
Resigneddirector · ~74y · appointed 2009-02-12 · resigned 2016-06-07
MCCURDIE, Trevor Alastair→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 1997-10-31 · resigned 2008-02-15
PACKE, Maxwell Gordon→
Resigneddirector · ~81y · appointed 1997-10-31 · resigned 2000-02-03
PARR, Guy→
Resigneddirector · ~66y · resigned 2008-02-15
ROWELL, Jack→
Resigneddirector · ~90y · appointed 1995-02-23 · resigned 1995-11-03
TAYLOR, Paul→
Resigneddirector · ~56y · appointed 2002-07-01 · resigned 2017-12-20
THOMSON, Andrew Francis→
Resigneddirector · ~84y · appointed 2018-03-20 · resigned 2022-03-31
THOMSON, Andrew Francis→
Resigneddirector · ~84y · appointed 2000-02-03 · resigned 2016-06-07
THOMSON, Christopher Harold William→
Resigneddirector · ~76y · appointed 2000-02-03 · resigned 2016-06-07
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
8
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:8 of 8 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Guarantee & debenture | 1 property | 08/11/2006 | 28/07/2018 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Assignment and charge of copyright and design right | 1 property | 05/10/2004 | 28/07/2018 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Assignment of contract by way of security | 2 properties | 23/07/2002 | 28/07/2018 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Assignment and charge of copyright and design right | 1 property | 03/07/1997 | 28/07/2018 | |
| satisfied | West Bromwich Building Society | Mortgage | 1 property | 30/03/1994 | 16/12/1998 | |
| satisfied | West Bromwich Building Society | Floating charge | 1 property | 30/03/1994 | 16/12/1998 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 16/05/1989 | 28/07/2018 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Fixed and floating charge | 1 property | 25/11/1988 | 16/02/1991 |
Recent filings (210 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-04-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduary
accounts · AA
2025-12-21
legacy
accounts · PARENT_ACC
2025-12-21
legacy
other · GUARANTEE2
2025-10-20
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2025-10-20
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-04-01
accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduary
accounts · AA
2024-12-31
legacy
accounts · PARENT_ACC
2024-12-31
legacy
other · GUARANTEE2
2024-11-04
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2024-11-04
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-04-02
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC05
2024-03-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduary
accounts · AA
2024-01-29
legacy
accounts · PARENT_ACC
2024-01-29
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2023-11-01