If there is an indication of impairment, or at least annually, all indefinite life intangible assets and goodwill are assessed for impairment unless stated otherwise. Goodwill acquired through business combinations, trademarks, licence agreements, supplier relationships and customer lists have been allocated to cash-generating units to facilitate this assessment.

The key assumptions disclosed below are based on management’s past experience and expectations. Based on this experience and the well-established brands the group owns, management considers forecast cash flow periods in excess of five years to be appropriate.

The group applies a discounted cash flow methodology (value in use) to assess goodwill and certain indefinite life intangible assets for impairment. Where this results in a value lower than the carrying amount, the higher of this value or the fair value less costs of disposal is used. For the current year, all recoverable amounts were based on the value in use, being the higher value. This methodology entails a calculation of the present value of future cash flows generated by applicable cash-generating units over a period of five years and incorporates a terminal growth rate.

These cash flows have been based on the approved budget for the 2020 financial year which include assumptions on profit before interest and tax, depreciation, working capital movements, capital expenditure, an appropriate discount rate and a terminal growth rate. The terminal growth rate used is 5,5% (2018: 1,0% and 5,5%). However, it is dependent on the industry and maturity of the cash-generating unit (CGU).

The group has calculated a weighted average cost of capital (WACC) which is utilised as a basis for performing the value-in-use calculation. In cases where the cash-generating unit is deemed to be of greater risk than the group as a whole, a risk premium has been included within the discount rate applied. The discount rate utilised for the purposes of the impairment testing was between 13,5% and 17,6% (2018: 12,5% and 17,9%). A comparable pre-tax discount rate for purpose of the impairment testing would be between 14,3% and 18,5% (2018: 16,3% and 21,5%).

In determining the growth rate, consideration is given to the growth potential of the respective cash-generating unit. As part of this assessment, a prudent outlook is adopted that mirrors an inflationary increase in line with the consumer price index and real growth expected within the specific market. Based on these factors, the growth rates applied for the purposes of the impairment testing ranges between 5% and 8%. Volume growth assumptions are based on management’s best estimates of known strategies and future plans to grow the business.

The table below reflects the detail of the respective impairments for the year, with the comparatives noted.

The impairments recognised in the current year are as a result of the annual impairment assessment performed on property, plant and equipment, goodwill and indefinite useful life intangible assets.

The impairments recognised in the prior year relate mainly to the Personal Care category within the HPCB business (R125,0 million) as well as the full impairment of the goodwill and the intangible assets of the Hercules business (R19,3 million). The impairments on property, plant and equipment in the prior year within International and Exports, Consumer Brands food and Grains were derived as a result of the ongoing portfolio analysis and category optimisation processes. These assets were fully impaired down to a recoverable amount of Rnil, being their value in use. This is also representative of fair value less cost to sell given the nature of these assets. Other impairments related to group infrastructure assets, which were identified as part of the ongoing portfolio efficiency and capability analysis.

The determined value in use of each cash-generating unit is sensitive to the discount rate. No reasonably probable change in any of the above key valuation assumptions would cause the carrying amount of cash-generating units to materially exceed their recoverable amounts, with the exception of the Crosse & Blackwell intangible asset, where a further 1% increase in the discount rate applied would result in an impairment of R4,3 million.