4. NON-FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Non-financial assets comprise:

  • goodwill;
  • intangible assets;
  • property, plant and equipment; and
  • inventories.

Impairment of non-financial assets

The Group evaluates the carrying value of assets with indefinite useful lives when events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable and when there are indicators of impairment. These assets are tested annually for impairment and more frequently when events or circumstances indicate that there may be impairment.

An impairment loss is recognised in the income statement when the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its recoverable amount. An asset's recoverable amount is the higher of the fair value less cost of disposal (the amount obtainable from the sale of an asset in an arm's-length transaction between knowledgeable willing parties), or its value-in-use. Value-in-use is the present value of estimated future cash flows expected to arise from the continuing use of an asset and from its disposal at the end of its useful life. The estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. For the purposes of assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash flows.

An impairment loss recognised for an asset, other than goodwill, in prior years is reversed if there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the asset's recoverable amount since the last impairment loss was recognised and the recoverable amount exceeds the new carrying amount. The reversal of the impairment is limited to the carrying amount that would have been determined (net of depreciation or amortisation) had no impairment loss been recognised in prior years. The reversal of such an impairment loss is recognised in the income statement in the same line item as the original impairment charge.

4.1 Goodwill
 

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the Group's share of the net identifiable assets of the acquired subsidiary, associate or jointly controlled entity at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is attributable to synergies that the Group expects to derive from the transaction. If the cost of acquisition is less than the net assets of the subsidiary acquired, the difference is recognised directly in the income statement. Goodwill on the acquisition of subsidiaries is included in "Goodwill" in the statement of financial position. Goodwill on the acquisition of associates and joint ventures is included in "Investments in and loans to associates and joint ventures."

Goodwill is allocated to cash-generating units for the purpose of impairment testing. Impairment is determined by assessing the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the goodwill relates. Where the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit is less than the carrying amount, an impairment is recognised.

Separately recognised goodwill is tested annually for impairment and carried at cost less accumulated impairment losses. Impairment losses on goodwill are not reversed. Gains and losses on the disposal of an entity include the carrying amount of goodwill relating to the entity sold.

Critical accounting estimates and assumptions

Assessment of goodwill for impairment

The Group tests annually whether goodwill has suffered any impairment, in accordance with the accounting policy. The recoverable amounts of cash-generating units have been determined based on value-in-use calculations.

These calculations require the use of estimates.

      2025
R'000
   2024
R'000
Year ended 31 May              
Opening carrying amount     717 475     717 475 
Acquisition of subsidiaries     —     — 
Closing carrying amount     717 475     717 475 
At 31 May              
Cost     1 113 173     1 113 173 
Accumulated impairments     (395 698)    (395 698)
Carrying amount     717 475     717 475 

The carrying amount of goodwill and intangible assets is reduced to their recoverable amounts through recognition of an impairment loss when required.

The cash-generating units to which goodwill is allocated are presented below:

    2025
R’000
  2024
R’000
Aligned Partnered Solutions Proprietary Limited   4 091   4 091
Blue Label Distribution Proprietary Limited   36 364   36 364
CEC Proprietary Limited   335 468   335 468
Datacel Group   79 854   79 854
Glocell Distribution Proprietary Limited   161 697   161 697
Heroticket Proprietary Limited   511   511
Lipa Payments Proprietary Limited   31 630   31 630
The Prepaid Company Proprietary Limited   62 113   62 113
TicketPros Proprietary Limited   5 104   5 104
Visual Revenue Management Proprietary Limited   643   643
    717 475   717 475

Goodwill is allocated to cash-generating units for the purpose of impairment testing

The recoverable amount has been determined based on value-in-use calculations. These calculations utilise cash flow projections derived from budget information for the forthcoming financial year that are approved by the Board of Directors, as well as management forecasts for an extended four-year period, which are based on assumptions of the business, industry, and economic growth. Cash flows beyond this period are extrapolated using terminal growth rates, which do not exceed the expected long-term economic growth rate.

The key assumptions used for the value-in-use calculations are as follows:

      2025       2024  
    Average
EBITDA
margin
%
Terminal
growth
rate
%
Pre-tax
discount
rate
%
  Average
EBITDA
margin
%
Terminal
growth
rate
%
Pre-tax
discount
rate
%
Blue Label Distribution Proprietary Limited   8.17 4.5 26.44   6.1 4.5 30.2
CEC Proprietary Limited   15.56 4.5 21.97   13.5 4.5 22.9
Datacel Group   18.60 4.5 27.87   13.3 4.5 31.2
Glocell Distribution Proprietary Limited   85.29 2.51 23.34   89.7 4.5 19.5
The Prepaid Company Proprietary Limited   4.65 4.5 19.79   2.5 4.5 21.6
1 The decrease in the terminal growth rate % is primarily attributable to the restructuring of Glocell Distribution.

The discount rates used are pre-tax and reflect specific risks relating to the relevant associates and subsidiaries. The growth rate is used to extrapolate cash flows beyond the forecast period. The growth rates were consistent with publicly available information relating to long-term average growth rates for each of the markets in which the companies/cash-generating units operate. The Group's target debt-to-equity ratio is applied in the calculation of the weighted average cost of capital.

For all significant goodwill balances, if one or more of the inputs were changed to a reasonable possible alternative assumption, there would be no impairments that would have to be recognised.

The goodwill balances did not result in impairment charges for the year when compared to recoverable amounts (2024: Rnil).