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Notes to the summarised consolidated financial statements

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

1. REPORTING ENTITY

EOH Holdings Limited (EOH or the Company) is a holding company domiciled in South Africa that is listed on the JSE Limited under the category Technology: Software and Computer Services. EOH is one of the largest Information and Communications Technology (ICT) services providers in South Africa and is committed to providing the technology, knowledge, skills and organisational ability critical to the development and growth of the markets it serves. The summarised consolidated financial statements of EOH, as at 31 July 2021 and for the year ended 31 July 2021, comprise the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the Group) and the Group's investments in associates and joint ventures.

2. STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE

The summarised consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with the requirements of the JSE Limited Listings Requirements for provisional reports, and the requirements of the Companies Act of South Africa applicable to summarised financial statements. The Listings Requirements require abridged reports to be prepared in accordance with the framework concepts and the measurement and recognition requirements of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the SAICA Financial Reporting Guides as issued by the Accounting Practices Committee and Financial Pronouncements as issued by the Financial Reporting Standards Council and to also, as a minimum, contain the information required by IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting.

These summarised consolidated financial statements were compiled under the supervision of Megan Pydigadu CA(SA), the Group Chief Financial Officer ("CFO").

3. BASIS OF PREPARATION

The summarised consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, except for certain financial instruments that are measured at fair value through profit or loss at the end of each reporting period as explained in the accounting policies below.

The summarised consolidated financial statements are presented in South African Rand, which is the Group's presentation currency, rounded to the nearest thousand except for when otherwise indicated. The going concern basis has been used in preparing the summarised consolidated financial statements as the directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group will continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future.

Going concern

The IFRS Conceptual Framework states that going concern is an underlying assumption in the preparation of IFRS financial statements. Therefore, the financial statements presume that an entity will continue in operation in the foreseeable future or, if that presumption is not valid, disclosure and a different basis of reporting are required. The board of directors ("Board") believes that, as of the date of this report, the going concern presumption is still appropriate and accordingly the summarised consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared on the going concern basis.

IAS 1 Preparation of financial statements ("IAS 1") requires management to perform an assessment of the Group's ability to continue as a going concern. If management is aware of material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt upon the Group's ability to continue as a going concern, IAS 1 requires these uncertainties to be disclosed.

In conducting this assessment, the Board has taken into consideration the following factors:

The financial performance, condition and cash flows for the Group reflect a loss for the year of R280 million, net asset value attributable to the owners of EOH Holdings Limited at the end of the year of R158 million and cash inflows from operating activities of R80 million (including continuing and discontinued operations). Details of the financial performance, condition and cash flows for the Group are explained in the consolidated financial statements. A detailed action plan for deleveraging the Group to a sustainable level and resolving the "fit-for-purpose" cost structure was developed by the Group and its lenders and committed to in October 2019, revised in April 2020 and again in November 2020. Since its announcement in October 2019, the plan has been largely executed against and the directors reasonably believe it can continue to be implemented going forward in order to ensure the Group's ability to continue as a going concern.

The key deliverables implemented by the Group in relation to the deleveraging plan have been focused around the disposal of assets. The sale of Sybrin was announced in June 2021. Currently, conditions precedent are being fulfilled and are expected to be finalised in November/December of this calendar year. This should result in approximately R334 million of funds to deleverage the debt. The remaining IP asset, InfoSys is in the late stages of being disposed and will also assist in the deleverage of a portion of the bridge facility. The Group obtained a deferral letter from its lenders relating to the repayment of the debt and a waiver of the events of default related to repayment and financial covenants which existed at 31 July 2021.

The Group has also implemented initiatives to improve liquidity. The Group also showed its ability to be agile and respond to new challenges as is evident from the liquidity initiatives implemented with the onset of COVID-19 restrictions in March 2020. The Group also has R537 million of net cash and access to overdraft facilities of R400 million.

The Group over the past year has revised its go-to-market strategy and brought in an industry veteran to spearhead the commercial strategy for the Group and improve the quality of revenue.

The directors' assessment of whether the Group is a going concern was considered and the directors concluded that:

  1. The Group is solvent and is expected to remain solvent after considering the approved budget and expected performance;
  2. While the Group's current liabilities exceeded its current assets by R1.8 billion, with the subsequent events of signing the Common Terms Agreement this will result in current assets exceeding current liabilities refer to note 22;
  3. There is an approved budget for the following 24 months;
  4. There are cash flow forecasts for the following 12 months, which were interrogated and adjusted for anomalies for each of the periods under review together with a detailed review of one-off cash payments; and
  5. The Group has sufficient access to facilities and liquidity events to fund operations for the following 12 months based on the following assumptions:
    • improved operational performance;
    • the sale of non-core assets, which are at a relatively advanced stage;
    • the Group's assets are appropriately insured; and
    • there is currently no outstanding litigation, that the directors believe has not been adequately provided for, that could pressurise the Group's ability to meet its obligations.

The Board remains focused on and committed to the turnaround strategy and improving the capital structure.

The Board, after considering the negotiated terms and mitigating actions described above, has concluded that the Group should be able to discharge its liabilities as they fall due in the normal course of business and is therefore of the opinion that the going concern assumption is appropriate in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.

Accounting policies

The accounting policies applied in the consolidated financial statements are consistent with those applied in the previous years.

A number of new standards and/or interpretations are effective for the annual reporting period commencing 1 August 2020, with no material effect on the Group's financial statements.

4. AUDIT OPINION

These summarised consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2021 have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc., who expressed an unmodified opinion thereon. The auditor also expressed an unmodified opinion on the consolidated financial statements from which these summarised consolidated financial statements were derived.

A copy of the auditor's report on the summarised consolidated financial statements and of the auditor's report on the consolidated financial statements are available for inspection at the Company's registered office or can be downloaded from the Company's website: www.eoh.co.za, together with the consolidated financial statements identified in the respective auditor's reports.

5. NEW STANDARDS AND INTERPRETATIONS

5.1

Standards issued but not yet effective

 

Certain new accounting standards and interpretations have been published that are not effective for 31 July 2021 reporting periods. These standards are not expected to have a material impact on the Group in the current or future reporting periods and on foreseeable future transactions.

5.2

Standards and interpretations early adopted

 

The Group has chosen not to early adopt any new standards or interpretations.

6. RESTATEMENT OF SUMMARISED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

During the current year, management identified the following matters which were incorrectly accounted for and presented in prior periods:

  • SARS VAT Voluntary Disclosure Programme ("VDP") liability (6.1);
  • Fair value adjustments on treasury shares not eliminated on consolidation (6.2); and
  • Expired Vendors For Acquisition ("VFA") balance within other reserves (6.3).

The 2020 summarised financial statements and the summarised consolidated statement of financial position as at 1 August 2019 have been restated to correct the prior period errors.

A brief explanation of each category of error is provided below, following which an analysis is included of the financial impact on the affected financial statement line items:

6.1

SARS VAT VDP liability

 

During the disposal process of one of the discontinued subsidiaries in the Group, a tax due diligence finding was raised, regarding VAT not raised on services billed from the subsidiary to another foreign entity within the Group for the period August 2013 to 28 February 2021. The invoices were zero rated as export services to the foreign entity under the Income Tax Act of South Africa section 11(2)l, although after consultations with Senior Counsel, the opinion was that these services were being rendered to a tax resident, while the foreign entity was not carrying on an enterprise in South Africa, it was tax resident for income tax and by default should be a resident for VAT.

Therefore section 11(2)k was applicable and not 11(2)l, and in that case VAT needed to be raised for all services performed from within South Africa and only those physically rendered outside South Africa could be zero rated. EOH submitted a VAT VDP to the South African Revenue Service and the total VAT liability for the period August 2013 to 28 February 2021 (R66 million at 31 July 2020 including related interest of R14 million) would be settled through the sale proceeds from the buyer using an ESCROW account.

6.2

Fair value adjustments on treasury shares not eliminated on consolidation

 

A subsidiary within the Group as well as the Trusts previously acquired EOH Holdings' shares. Such shares were remeasured to fair value within these entities, with the fair value gains or losses being recognised within other reserves in equity. The fair value adjustments that had occurred prior to the 2019 financial year were not reversed on consolidation. This resulted in an overstatement of the other reserves, an overstatement of the stated capital and an understatement of accumulated loss with no impact on total equity.

6.3

Expired VFA balance within other reserves

 

Prior to the 2019 financial year, a subsidiary within the Group had made an acquisition of a business through which a portion of the consideration was contingent based on profit warranties. The liability for the contingent consideration was recognised. Subsequently, prior to the 2019 financial year, the subsidiary no longer had the obligation for the contingent consideration due to expiry and the liability was derecognised, with the other side of the entry being in other reserves. The derecognition of the liability should have been recognised in the income statement and ultimately to accumulated loss rather than directly to other reserves. This resulted in an overstatement of the other reserves and an overstatement of accumulated loss, with no impact on total equity.

The errors have been corrected by restating each of the affected financial statement line items for the prior periods as follows:

Summarised statement of financial position (extract) as at 1 August 2019

Figures in Rand thousand   1 August 
2019 
SARS
VAT VDP
liability
Fair value 
adjust- 
ments on 
treasury 
shares 
Expired 
VFA 
Restated 
1 August 
2019 
Stated capital   (4 239 621) 22 153  –  (4 217 468)
Other reserves   (742 597) 245 437  56 239  (440 921)
Accumulated loss   3 047 669  (267 590) (56 239) 2 723 840 
Total equity   (1 995 427) –  (1 995 427)

Summarised statement of financial position (extract) as at 31 July 2020

Figures in Rand thousand As 
previously 
stated 
31 July 
2020 
SARS 
VAT VDP 
liability 
Fair value  
adjustments  
on  
treasury  
shares*
Expired      
VFA**
Restated 
31 July 
2020 
Liabilities directly associated with assets held for sale (834 092) (66 314) –   –       (900 406)
Net assets 539 499  (66 314) –   –       473 185 
Stated capital (4 250 219) –  32 934   –       (4 217 285)
Other reserves (924 862) –  234 656   56 239       (633 967)
Accumulated loss 4 680 506  66 314  (267 590)  (56 239)    4 422 991 
Total equity (539 499) 66 314  –   –       (473 185)
* Represents the accumulated correction for the fair value adjustment on treasury shares, including the 2020 correction of R10 million.
** Represents the accumulated correction for the expired VFA.

Summarised statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income (extract) for the year ended 31 July 2020

Figures in Rand thousand    31 July 
2020 
SARS 
VAT VDP 
liability 
Represented 
as discontinued 
operations 
(note 10)
Restated 
31 July 
2020 
Continuing operations               
Revenue    8 690 350  –  81 784  8 772 134 
Cost of sales    (6 893 957) –  (80 345) (6 974 302)
Gross profit    1 796 393  –  1 439  1 797 832 
Net financial asset impairment losses    (320 712) –  (2 732) (323 444)
Operating expenses    (2 417 575) –  6 662  (2 410 913)
Operating loss    (941 894) –  5 369  (936 525)
Investment income    26 984  –  (582) 26 402 
Share of equity-accounted loss    (565) –  –  (565)
Finance costs    (410 875) –  (328) (411 203)
Loss before taxation    (1 326 350) –  4 459  (1 321 891)
Taxation    64 030  –  (3 796) 60 234 
Loss for the year from continuing operations    (1 262 320) –  663  (1 261 657)
Loss for the year from discontinued operations    (364 494) (66 314) (663) (431 471)
Loss for the year    (1 626 814) (66 314) –  (1 693 128)
Other comprehensive income    155 010  –  –  155 010 
Total comprehensive loss for the year   (1 471 804) (66 314) –  (1 538 118)

Figures in Rand thousand     31 July 
2020 
Restated 
31 July 
2020 
Loss attributable to:         
Owners of EOH Holdings Limited    (1 620 721) (1 687 035)
Non-controlling interests    (6 093) (6 093)
Total    (1 626 814) (1 693 128)
Total comprehensive loss attributable to:         
Owners of EOH Holdings Limited    (1 462 568) (1 528 882)
Non-controlling interests    (9 236) (9 236)
Total    (1 471 804) (1 538 118)
From continuing and discontinued operations (cents)        
Loss per share    (961) (1 000)
Diluted loss per share    (961) (1 000)
Headline loss per share    (495) (534)
Diluted headline loss per share    (495) (534)
From continuing operations (cents)        
Loss per share    (747) (747)
Diluted loss per share    (747) (747)
Headline loss per share    (505) (505)
Diluted headline loss per share    (505) (505)

The restatement adjustments are all non-cash adjustments and therefore do not impact cash generated before working capital changes or any other line items on the summarised consolidated statement of cash flows.

7. REVENUE

Disaggregated revenue

       
Figures in Rand thousand   2021 Restated*
2020  
Revenue by sector      
Public sector   22% 21%  
Private sector   78% 79%  
Total   100%  100%  
Major revenue types      
Hardware sales   746 815 1 075 631  
Services   6 652 479 9 311 943  
Software/licence contracts   383 557 816 376  
Rentals**   99 572 72 753  
Total   7 882 423 11 276 703  
Continuing operations   6 874 212 8 772 134  
Discontinued operations (note 10)   1 008 211 2 504 569  
Total   7 882 423 11 276 703  
* Comparative figures previously reported have been amended to reflect continuing operations prevailing for the year ended 31 July 2021.
** Rentals recognised are excluded from revenue from contracts with customers and accounted for under IFRS 16 Leases.

8. HEADLINE LOSS PER SHARE

       
Figures in Rand thousand    2021 Restated*#
2020      
Headline loss per share and diluted headline loss per share        
Headline loss from continuing operations (R'000)   (183 861) (851 118)     
Weighted average number of shares in issue ('000)**    168 737  168 635      
Headline and diluted loss per share from continuing operations (cents)   (109) (505)     
Headline loss from continuing and discontinued operations (R'000)   (37 135) (900 513)     
Weighted average number of shares in issue ('000)**    168 737  168 635      
Headline and diluted loss per share from continuing and discontinued operations (cents)   (22) (534)     
Reconciliation between earnings, headline earnings and diluted headline earnings from continuing and discontinued operations         
Loss attributable to owners of EOH Holdings Limited    (279 655) (1 687 035)     
Adjusted for:         
Loss/(profit) on disposal of property, plant and equipment^    6 824  (37 032)     
Loss on sale of subsidiaries and equity-accounted investments    39 700  300 707      
IAS 36 Impairment of goodwill    136 359  232 874      
IAS 36 Impairment of intangible assets and property, plant and equipment^    20 778  11 232      
IFRS 5 remeasurement to fair value less costs to sell    46 207  278 369      
Total tax effects on adjustments    (7 347) 518      
Total non-controlling interest effects on adjustments    (1) (146)     
Headline loss from continuing and discontinued operations    (37 135) (900 513)     
* Comparative figures previously reported have been amended to reflect continuing operations prevailing for the year ended 31 July 2021. Refer to note 6 for correction of prior period error.
** The impact of shares to be issued to vendors, share options and EOH A shares has been excluded from the weighted average diluted number of shares as they would be anti-dilutive.
^ Tax effects on loss/(profit) on disposal of property, plant and equipment and impairment of intangible assets and property, plant and equipment are (R1 529) (2020: R8 295) and (R5 818) (2020: (R7 777)) respectively.
# Comparatives have been disaggregated to show each remeasurement separately.
       
Figures in Rand thousand    2021  Restated*#
2020      
Reconciliation between earnings, headline earnings and diluted headline earnings from continuing operations         
Loss attributable to owners of EOH Holdings Limited    (279 655) (1 687 035)     
Adjusted for discontinued operations (note 10)   (44 709) 427 554      
Continuing loss attributable to ordinary shareholders    (324 364) (1 259 481)     
Continuing operations adjustments:       
Loss/(profit) on disposal of property, plant and equipment^    6 141  (16 224)     
(Profit)/loss on sale of subsidiaries and equity-accounted investments    (16 889) 90 476      
IAS 36 Impairment of intangible assets and property, plant and equipment^    8 938  11 232      
IAS 36 Impairment of goodwill    136 359  232 874      
IFRS 5 remeasurement to fair value less costs to sell    9 833  89 525      
Total tax effect on adjustments    (3 878) 489      
Total non-controlling interest effect on adjustments    (1) (9)     
Headline loss from continuing operations    (183 861) (851 118)     
* Comparative figures previously reported have been amended to reflect continuing operations prevailing for the year ended 31 July 2021. Refer to note 6 for correction of prior period error.
^ Tax effects on loss/(profit) on disposal of property, plant and equipment and impairment of intangible assets and property, plant and equipment are (R1 376) (2020: R3 634) and (R2 502) (2020: (R3 145)) respectively.
# Comparatives have been disaggregated to show each remeasurement separately.

9. NET FINANCIAL ASSET IMPAIRMENT LOSSES

Impairment losses on financial assets recognised in profit or loss from continuing operations were as follows:

       
Figures in Rand thousand    2021  Restated*
2020  
Impairment loss on trade and other receivables    38 531  192 893  
Impairment loss on other financial assets    45 554  68 982  
Impairment (reversal)/loss on contract assets    (2 826) 64 250  
Impairment loss/(reversal) on finance lease receivables    5 739  (2 681) 
     86 998  323 444  
* Comparative figures previously reported have been amended to reflect continuing operations prevailing for the year ended 31 July 2021.

10. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

Identification and classification of discontinued operations

There were a number of businesses that were approved for sale at 31 July 2021, and for which the sale is expected to be completed within 12 months from the reporting date, as well as businesses that were already sold during the current and previous reporting periods that have met the requirements to be presented as discontinued operations and have accordingly been presented as such.

Judgement was applied in determining whether a component is a discontinued operation by assessing whether it represents a separate major line of business or geographical area of operations or is part of a single plan to dispose of a separate major line of business or geographical area of operations.

The Group's intention to dispose of these non-core assets triggered an initial impairment assessment on the underlying assets at 31 July 2020, and these continue to be measured at fair value less costs to sell at 31 July 2021. The resulting impairment has been allocated to the identified disposal groups (note 12).

         
Figures in Rand thousand     2021  Restated#*
2020 
  
Revenue     1 008 211  2 504 569    
Cost of sales     (531 245) (1 833 502)   
Gross profit     476 966  671 067    
Net financial asset impairment losses     (3 494) (8 875)   
Remeasurement to fair value less costs to sell     (36 374) (188 844)   
Loss on disposal     (56 589) (210 231)   
Other operating expenses     (269 891) (645 716)   
Operating profit/(loss)    110 618  (382 599)   
Investment income     3 451  13 881    
Share of equity-accounted profits     –  10 034    
Finance costs     (8 280) (20 907)   
Profit/(loss) before taxation     105 789  (379 591)   
Taxation     (59 735) (51 880)   
Profit/(loss) for the year from discontinued operations     46 054  (431 471)   
Other comprehensive income             
Attributable to:             
Owners of EOH Holdings Limited     44 709  (427 554)   
Non-controlling interests     1 345  (3 917)   
Loss per share (cents)            
Earnings/(loss) per share from discontinued operations     26  (253)   
Diluted earnings/(loss) per share from discontinued operations     26  (253)   
Net cash flows in relation to discontinued operations:             
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents**     (266 558) (178 656)   
  Operating activities     20 881  175 751    
  Investing activities     (276 771) (342 246)   
  Financing activities     (10 669) (12 161)   
# Comparative figures previously reported have been amended to reflect continuing operations prevailing for the year ended 31 July 2021.
* Refer to note 6 for the correction of prior period error.
** Comparative amounts have been disaggregated to show the cash flows related to discounted operations from operating, investing and financing activities.

Profit before taxation before including the gain/(loss) on disposal and remeasurement to fair value less costs to sell was R198.8 million (2020: R19.5 million).

11. PROPERTY, PLANT, EQUIPMENT, RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The Group acquired property, plant, equipment and right-of-use assets at a value of R67 million (2020: R210 million) and intangible assets at a value of R79 million (2020: R187 million). The Group disposed of property, plant and equipment with a carrying value of R56 million (2020: R72 million) and intangible assets with a carrying value of R18 million (2020: R19 million).

An impairment charge of R21 million and Rnil (2020: R2 million and R26 million) against property, plant, equipment and right-of-use assets, and intangible assets respectively has been recognised at year-end.

12. GOODWILL

           
Figures in Rand thousand     2021  2020    
Cost     3 225 516  3 657 801    
Accumulated impairments     (1 704 698) (1 484 715)   
Opening balance     1 520 818  2 173 086    
Foreign currency translation     (6 688) 8 975    
Disposals     (117 436) (248 149)   
Impairments: discontinued operations     (36 374) (147 870)   
Impairments: continuing operations     (144 912) (265 224)   
Closing balance before assets held for sale     1 215 408  1 520 818    
Cost     3 101 392  3 225 516    
Accumulated impairments     (1 885 984) (1 704 698)   
Assets held for sale (note 14)    (469 564) (604 075)   
Closing balance     745 844  916 743    

A number of economic and operational events during the year ended 31 July 2021 had a negative impact on EOH's market capitalisation and certain underlying businesses. The Group's annual review of goodwill highlighted impairments of R181 million (R130 million in the iOCO segment, R15 million in the NEXTEC segment and R36 million in the IP segment).

iOCO

An impairment charge amounting to R108 million was recognised for the Compute cash-generating unit ("CGU"). The impairment was predominantly driven by lost or delayed contracts and projects as a result of challenging market conditions and the impact of COVID-19. The goodwill balance for Compute at 31 July 2021 amounts to R104 million, after recognising the impairment charge.

The Employee Benefits CGU was impaired by R15 million having been negatively impacted by part of its customer base opting out of their pension fund contributions due to the weak performance of equity markets driven by COVID-19.

An impairment charge amounting to R6 million was recognised for the Sortit CGU, with the related employees and contracts having been transferred to other businesses within the Group after the related legal entity entered a deregistration process.

During the year, In the Cloud and Coastal CGUs were merged to form a single CGU. EOH undertook a strategic business decision to use a single executive team to manage and report on the merged CGU due to the businesses having the same service offering and sharing the same markets and prospective customer base.

As part of the Group's reorganisation and structure simplification, two additional business units were incorporated into the Freethinking CGU as they are collectively managed, measured and reported on by a single management team, share the same markets and offer their services collectively to prospective customers.

NEXTEC

The ESA CGU was impaired by R9 million during 2021 due mainly to the increased risk of non-renewal of key customer contracts.

As part of the Group's reorganisation and corporate structure simplification, MBAT has been merged with the Learning and Development CGU. The performance of MBAT and the remaining Learning and Development CGU are now being collectively managed, measured and reported on by a single executive team, sharing the same markets and offering its services collectively to prospective customers.

IP

An impairment of goodwill amounting to R30 million was attributable to Sybrin as a result of its write- down to fair value less costs of disposal, which was primarily as a result of the negative effects of COVID-19 on the business, which caused a decrease in profitability as a result of delays in key projects. The Afiswitch CGU was impaired by R6 million driven mainly by increased risk of non-renewal of key customer contracts.

Prior year impairments

Prior year goodwill impairments amounted to R413 million (R110 million in the iOCO segment, R243 million in the NEXTEC segment and R60 million in the IP segment). The impairments in iOCO were largely driven by lost or unrenewed contracts, delayed projects with customers as a result of ongoing challenging market conditions, or businesses that were rendered non-operational during the year. The largest contributor to the NEXTEC impairments was the TCD CGU, which incurred an impairment of R93 million due to the effects of changes in clinical trials legislation which led to a loss of customers and consequent restructuring of the business. The PiA Solar CGU incurred a R49 million impairment to goodwill relating to renewable energy loss-making contracts. The PCI CGU incurred a R39 million impairment, primarily due to continued material delays in the commencement or award of projects in the water sector. The impairment of goodwill of R60 million in the IP segment related to key long-term contract renewal challenges. The balance of impairments sustained in the prior year related mainly to the prevailing challenging market conditions.

Impairment testing

During the financial year ended 31 July 2021, the depressed economic environment as a result of COVID-19 impacted a number of the Group's operations giving rise to impairments of goodwill in certain CGUs.

For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill is allocated to the Group's CGUs. The recoverable amount of these CGUs were determined based on value-in-use calculations, discounting the future cash flows expected to be generated from the continuing operations of each CGU. Impairment tests on assets held for sale were based on fair value less costs of disposal.

A pre-tax discount rate was used in discounting the projected cash flows depending on the nature of business and operating markets. These calculations use cash flow projections based on financial budgets and forecasts for three years, as approved by the Board, which are based on assumptions of the business, industry and economic growth. A perpetuity growth rate is calculated using long-term growth rates, this is further applied based on conservative historical market trends and operating markets.

Key assumptions used in discounted cash flow projection calculations

The values assigned to the key assumptions represent management's assessment of future trends in the industry and are based on past experience and both external and internal data.

Changes in key assumptions, as well as the actual cash flows achieved against forecasts, may result in further impairments to the CGUs impaired during the year. The forecast cash flows of these CGUs are reliant on a certain level of anticipated improvement within the forecast period.

The assumptions below have been applied to calculate the recoverable amount of CGUs based on value- in-use calculations. The discount rates used in the discounted cash flow models are calculated using the principles of the Capital Asset Pricing Model, taking into account current market conditions.

The following key assumptions were used for the value-in-use calculations:

  • Growth rates: the Group used growth rates for the forecast period based on the different industries the CGUs operate in, as well as management's views on the growth prospects of the businesses.
  • Discount rates: discount rates used reflect both time value of money and other specific risks relating to the relevant CGU;
  • Adjusted EBITDA margins in the following ranges: iOCO (1.5% - 43.1%) (prior year: 3.4% - 45.3%) and NEXTEC (5.1% - 23.3%) (prior year: 6.4% - 19.8%); and
  • Perpetuity growth rates: a perpetuity growth rate of 4.0% (prior year: 4.0%) has been used for the Group.
        
      2021 
Figures in Rand thousand     Goodwill 
closing 
balance 
Pre-tax 
discount 
rates 
Growth 
rates 
 
iOCO               
Compute     103 662  24.4  3.5   
Managed Services     80 793  24.2  1.5   
Symplexity     50 123  25.8  5.5   
Softworks     39 345  23.0  5.4   
Microsoft     35 707  23.5  5.0   
Employee Benefits#     22 758  26.9  (6.8)  
Coastal* (including In the Cloud)    32 014  25.1  12.9   
Legal     29 177  26.7  3.5   
Network Solutions     29 101  27.2  2.6   
IoT*     14 814  32.1  16.4   
Freethinking*     14 081  25.5  14.7   
XTND     13 333  23.1  7.7   
Impressions**     12 240  25.4  50.5   
Connection 42     12 016  26.2  6.2   
Other     22 057  n/a  n/a   
                
NEXTEC               
Learning and Development*     93 488  24.5  17.1   
JOAT*     59 463  27.9  17.2   
Scan RF     28 155  26.3  2.5   
Energy Insight*     12 261  28.1  12.5   
ILS*     10 429  24.4  10.1   
BT Cape*     8 104  25.6  16.7   
Impact HR#     7 904  27.7  (1.4)  
Other     9 289  n/a  n/a   
* The higher growth rates are applied to CGUs that had shown growth despite the COVID-19 impacted economic conditions, CGUs with low budgeted 2022 revenue bases due to the expected negative impacts of COVID-19, which are anticipated to grow over the forecasted periods to historically achieved or improved levels or CGUs demonstrating significant secured work or probable pipeline to support the growth. In the prior year, the higher growth rates were driven by businesses that had shown significant growth amidst COVID-19 impacted conditions.
** The Impressions CGU is forecasted to grow significantly due to its early stage in its lifecycle and expectations to leverage off its investments in its IP and route to market.
# The negative average revenue growth rates forecasted for the Employee Benefits and Impact HR CGUs were caused mainly by a decrease in revenue forecast in year one, after which a moderate annual growth rate is forecast thereafter.

      2020  
Figures in Rand thousand      Goodwill 
closing 
balance 
Pre-tax 
discount 
rates 
Growth 
rates 
iOCO              
Compute      211 899  23.4  7.8 
Managed Services      80 793  23.9  5.8 
Symplexity      50 123  23.6  0.8 
Softworks      39 345  22.1  7.4 
Microsoft      38 162  23.4  3.2 
Employee Benefits#      35 707  22.5  11.4 
Coastal (including In the Cloud)    31 163  22.1  4.6 
Legal      29 177  23.5  2.9 
Network Solutions      22 342  22.9  13.5 
IoT      14 814  25.6  6.0 
Freethinking    14 081  22.5  14.4 
XTND      13 333  23.9  6.9 
Impressions    12 240  24.6  37.2 
Connection 42      12 016  23.7  9.4 
Other      55 305  n/a  n/a 
NEXTEC              
Learning and Development    93 488  25.1  17.7 
JOAT    59 463  27.3  10.6 
Scan RF      28 155  25.6  (2.2)
Energy Insight    12 261  24.9  17.6 
ESA#     31 773  25.6  (2.3)
Other*     31 103  n/a  n/a 
* Other includes ILS, BT Cape and Impact HR.
# ESA was shown under iOCO in 2020 and has been correctly moved to be shown under NEXTEC.

Sensitivity analysis on value in use

In performing the impairment test for goodwill, EOH considered the sensitivity of the EOH CGUs to changes in assumptions around key value drivers. The key value drivers for the EOH CGUs are adjusted EBITDA margins, discount rates and revenue growth assumptions. Revenue growth and discount rate assumptions were adjusted upwards and downwards by a percentage point and the adjusted EBITDA margins were adjusted by 2.5 percentage points. The aforementioned sensitivities are considered reasonable based on the sensitivity of the models to the key drivers. The CGUs not included in the table below have sufficient headroom and are not sensitive to the changes applied to the assumptions. However, a decrease in the adjusted EBITDA margin of 2.5 percentage points resulted in the following CGUs being impaired by the values listed:

         
Figures in Rand thousand   2021   2020  
iOCO          
Legal   12 752   6 412  
Symplexity   10 685   n/a  
Compute   n/a   3 110  
Impressions   8 490   8 405  
Network Solutions          
NEXTEC   6 028   n/a  
GLS Consulting   n/a   3 280  
Impact Human Resources   n/a   16 258  

Assets held for sale

The Group tested its asset held for sale assets, for impairment in line with IFRS 5. The recoverable amount was determined as the fair value less costs of disposal which was compared to the goodwill balances for potential impairment. The fair value was determined primarily with reference to advanced offers from potential acquirers less estimated disposal costs.

During the year, goodwill from the InfoSys CGU which relates to the Afiswitch business was separated and subjected to a separate sales process as a result of a change in the sale process. Afiswitch historically formed part of the InfoSys sale assets. As a result the goodwill that historically formed part of the InfoSys CGU which was applicable to Afiswitch has been shown separately for 2021.

         
Figures in Rand thousand   Goodwill
closing
balance
2021
  Goodwill
closing
balance
2020
 
IP          
InfoSys   208 101   248 443  
Sybrin   204 135   242 630  
Syntell     38 601  
Afiswitch   34 108    
NEXTEC          
ESA     74 401  
DENIS   23 220    
Total   469 564   604 075  

In assessing sensitivity for InfoSys, the advanced offer was adjusted down by 5% and sufficient headroom remained.

13. INVENTORIES

       
Figures in Rand thousand   2021   2020
Finished goods   95 853   110 298
Consumables   5 289   3 122
Work-in-progress   34 432   12 930
    135 574   126 350
Provision for write-down of inventories to its net realisable value   (23 026)   (12 596)
    112 548   113 754
Cost of goods sold during the year from continuing operations amounted to:   2 502 099   3 238 440
Write-down of inventories of R7 million (2020: R31 million) to net realisable value were recognised as an expense during the year and included in costs of sales in the statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income.

14. ASSETS HELD FOR SALE

The Group refined its operational structure during the 2019 financial year into three distinct operating units to allow for leaner and more agile core businesses with separate capital and governance structures. On 11 December 2018, the Group announced that opportunities would be explored for the sale of certain non-core assets, of which many have been sold during the current financial year.

The Sybrin, DENIS, Syntell and InfoSys groups of companies were classified as held for sale and discontinued operations in the prior year, with DENIS and Syntell being disposed of during the current year. At the reporting date the Sybrin and InfoSys groups of companies are held for sale with sales of both groups of companies expected to finalise within 12 months. The sale of Sybrin was concluded, subject to the fulfilment or waiver of a few suspensive conditions.

There continues to be a number of businesses approved for sale and for which the sale is expected to be completed within 12 months from the reporting date. These businesses are classified as disposal groups held for sale and the assets and liabilities of these disposal groups have been presented as held for sale. Unforeseen delays, mostly due to COVID-19 related implications, outside the control of management have prevented the sale of certain businesses within 12 months from the prior year reporting date. These continue to be held for sale as both management and the prospective purchaser are committed to the sale transaction.

The major classes of assets and liabilities of the disposal groups, per reportable segment, classified as held for sale are as follows:

        
Figures in Rand thousand     iOCO  NEXTEC  IP  2021 
Assets                
Property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets     –  2 744  54 244  56 988 
Goodwill and intangible assets     –  31 968  756 179  788 147 
Equity-accounted investments     5 979  –  –  5 979 
Other financial assets     –  –  60  60 
Deferred taxation     –  2 202  8 968  11 170 
Inventories     –  –  3 197  3 197 
Current taxation receivable     –  –  2 822  2 822 
Trade and other receivables     –  –  161 703  161 703 
Cash and cash equivalents     –  27 872  60 572  88 444 
Assets held for sale     5 979  64 786  1 047 745  1 118 510 
Liabilities                
Other financial liabilities     –  (328) (5 121) (5 449)
Lease liabilities     –  –  (17 008) (17 008)
Deferred taxation     –  –  (32 441) (32 441)
Current taxation payable     –  (857) (4 842) (5 699)
Trade and other payables     –  (27 313) (119 893) (147 206)
Provisions     –  –  (78 308) (78 308)
Liabilities directly associated with assets held for sale     –  (28 498) (257 613) (286 111)
Net assets directly associated with the disposal groups     5 979  36 288  790 132  832 399 
Cumulative amounts recognised in other comprehensive income                
Foreign currency translation reserve     (8 290) –  (65 884) (74 174)
Impairment loss for write-down to fair value less costs to sell                
Continuing operations – operating expenses     (1 280) (8 553) –  (9 833)
Discontinued operations (note 10)    –  –  (36 374) (36 374)
      (1 280) (8 553) (36 374) (46 207)

 

Figures in Rand thousand     iOCO  NEXTEC  IP  Restated*
2020  
  
Assets                   
Property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets     2 513  101 932  140 373  244 818    
Goodwill and intangible assets     406  88 863  860 127  949 396    
Equity-accounted investments     11 000  –  –  11 000    
Other financial assets     –  13 811  5 060  18 871    
Deferred taxation     –  21 152  9 979  31 131    
Finance lease receivables     –  1 197  479  1 676    
Inventories     –  3 804  19 472  23 276    
Current taxation receivable     2 925  2 712  14 078  19 715    
Trade and other receivables     53 547  225 513  244 680  523 740    
Cash and cash equivalents     205  171 938  156 600  328 743    
Assets held for sale     70 596  630 922  1 450 848  2 152 366    
Liabilities                   
Other financial liabilities     (12 739) –  (16 777) (29 516)   
Lease liabilities     –  (27 834) (56 709) (84 543)   
Deferred taxation     –  (1 389) (30 094) (31 483)   
Current taxation payable     –  (22 364) (15 343) (37 707)   
Trade and other payables     (51 292) (319 702) (279 849) (650 843)   
Provisions     –  –  (66 314) (66 314)   
Liabilities directly associated with assets held for sale     (64 031) (371 289) (465 086) (900 406)   
Net assets directly associated with the disposal groups     6 565  259 633  985 762  1 251 960    
Cumulative amounts recognised in other comprehensive income                   
Foreign currency translation reserve     (933) (45) (20 808) (21 786)   
Impairment loss for write-down to fair value less costs to sell                   
Continuing operations – operating expenses     (57 175) (32 350) –  (89 525)   
Discontinued operations (note 10)    (63 108) (65 736) (60 000) (188 844)   
      (120 283) (98 086) (60 000) (278 369)   
* Refer to note 6 for the correction of the prior period error.

15. DISPOSAL OF SUBSIDIARIES AND EQUITY-ACCOUNTED INVESTMENTS

On 11 December 2018, the Group announced that opportunities would be explored for the sale of certain non-core assets. In line with this strategy the Group has disposed of its investments in a number of subsidiaries, associate and joint ventures during the year.

Figures in Rand thousand   Treatment
before
disposal
Percentage
holding
disposed
Date of disposal Consideration
received or
receivable**
(Loss)/gain
on disposal
Entity disposed#            
NEXTEC            
PCI Group   Subsidiary 100% 1 August 2020 5 000 2 354
DENIS Group   Subsidiary 100% 30 September 2020 160 359 (14 473)
SI Analytics Proprietary Limited   Subsidiary 100% 30 November 2020 10 994 (1 993)
Civec Civil Engineers Consultants Proprietary Limited   Subsidiary 100% 1 March 2021 (1 536)
iOCO            
NEXTEC Advisory Proprietary Limited*   Subsidiary 100% 31 October 2020 22 984
Allos SRL (Italy)   Subsidiary 100% 31 December 2020 8 956 (3 911)
Çözümevi Yönetim Danişmanli i Ve   Joint venture 50% 31 December 2020 2 895 (1 105)
Bilgisayar Yazilm            
Ticaret Anonim            
Șirketi            
IP   Subsidiary 75% 1 August 2020 (20 099)
Imaging Solutions Zimbabwe Private Limited            
Syntell Group***   Subsidiary 100% 18 November 2020 175 132 (8 065)
Transaction costs           (13 856)
Net loss on disposal of subsidiaries and equity-accounted investments         363 336 (39 700)
* NEXTEC Advisory Proprietary Limited has been disposed of by way of liquidation.
** Consideration reflected does not include extinguishment of debt on sale.
*** EOH Group held a 50.1% interest in both Syntell Systems Proprietary Limited and Mikros Systems Proprietary Limited, these companies form part of the Syntell Group.
# NEXTEC Advisory Proprietary Limited, SI Analytics Proprietary Limited and Civec Civil Engineers Consultants Proprietary Limited are shown within continuing operations of the Group. The remaining entities disposed are included within discontinued operations in note 10.
       
Figures in Rand thousand     2021     2020  
Opening balance     82 052     –  
Cash consideration received or receivable     363 336     416 709  
Less: amount outstanding at year end     (17 660)   (82 052)
Cash received from disposal of businesses     427 728     334 657  
Less: cash balances disposed of     (214 792)   (170 032)
Cash receipt from disposal of businesses, net of cash given up     212 936     164 625  

The carrying amount of major classes of assets and liabilities, associated with subsidiaries and equityaccounted investments disposed of during the current period, are as follows:

             
Figures in Rand thousand     Notes  2021    2020   
Assets                 
Property, plant and equipment        181 670    71 495   
Goodwill and intangible assets        174 290    303 537   
Equity-accounted investments        4 000    245 950   
Other financial assets        19 352    –   
Deferred taxation        17 637    10 259   
Inventories        26 737    14 950   
Current taxation receivable            9 458   
Trade and other receivables        365 910    630 142   
Cash and cash equivalents        214 792    170 032   
Liabilities                 
Other financial liabilities     17  (64 962)   (244 266)  
Lease liabilities        (52 028)   (2 764)  
Trade and other payables        (481 076)   (547 774)  
Current taxation payable        (22 171)      

16. STATED CAPITAL

       
Figures in Rand thousand     2021    Restated*
2020  
Stated capital          
Restated opening balance     4 217 285  4 217 468  
Treasury shares     –  (183)
      4 217 285  4 217 285  
* Refer to note 6 – Restatement of summarised consolidated financial statements.

Authorised
500 000 000 ordinary shares of no par value.
40 000 000 EOH A shares of no par value.

Issued

       
Figures in Rand thousand     2021  2020 
Reconciliation of the number of shares in issue          
Opening balance     176 545  176 545 
Shares in issue at the end of the year     176 545  176 545 
Less:          
Treasury shares held in the Group share incentive schemes     (2 341) (2 341)
Treasury shares held by wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company     (5 446) (5 548)
      168 758  168 656 
EOH A shares of no par value:          
Reconciliation of the number of shares in issue          
Opening balance*     40 000  40 000 
Closing balance     40 000  40 000 
* The Lebashe transaction was approved by shareholders on 18 September 2018 and effectively implemented on 1 October 2018. Since the date of approval Lebashe has:
invested R750 million in three tranches in EOH ordinary shares based on a 30-day VWAP at a 10% discount for an average share price of R33,59; and
received 40 million unlisted EOH A shares which will be redeemed in five years on 1 October 2023 through an ordinary share issue. The A shares rank equal to an EOH ordinary share in respect of voting rights and each EOH A share will receive cash dividends in an amount equal to the value of 15% of dividends paid by EOH to ordinary shareholders. The remaining 85% of the dividend value will be accrued and redeemed through the redemption of the A shares. Despite the variability in the number of EOH ordinary shares that will be issued, the obligation to Lebashe is treated as an equity transaction as the settlement will be undertaken in ordinary shares and the transaction is therefore within the scope of IFRS 2.

Unissued
323 455 039 (2020: 323 455 039) unissued ordinary shares.

17. OTHER FINANCIAL LIABILITIES

           
Figures in Rand thousand    2021    Restated#
2020 
 
Interest-bearing liabilities    2 568 834    2 739 175   
Interest-bearing bank loans secured through Security SPV    2 061 321    2 267 269   
Bank overdrafts    387 665    115 253   
Project finance loan*    114 902    135 080   
Unsecured interest-bearing bank loans    3 185    215 247   
Interest-bearing bank loans secured by fixed property    1 761    6 326   
Non-interest-bearing liabilities    4 138    44 043   
Vendors for acquisition    4 138    44 043   
Liabilities directly associated with assets held for sale (note 14)   (5 449)    (29 516)   
    2 567 523    2 753 702   
Non-current financial liabilities    –    5 674   
Current financial liabilities    2 567 523    2 748 028   
    2 567 523    2 753 702   
Reconciliation of other financial liabilities           
Balance at the beginning of the year    2 783 218    3 333 205   
Bank overdrafts    272 412    115 253   
Proceeds from other financial liabilities    52 387    –   
Repayment of other financial liabilities    (512 864)    (321 128)   
Repayment of vendors for acquisitions    (14 494)    (75 286)   
Disposal of subsidiaries (note 15)   (64 962)    (244 266)   
Net changes in fair value of vendors for acquisitions    10 864    3 685   
Interest accrued on other financial liabilities    179 540    362 585   
Interest repaid on other financial liabilities    (191 533)    (323 718)   
Movement in capitalised debt restructuring fee    51 028    (51 028)   
Other non-cash items    7 376    (16 084)   
Closing balance before liabilities directly associated with assets held for sale    2 572 972    2 783 218   
Liabilities directly associated with assets held for sale (note 14)   (5 449)    (29 516)   
    2 567 523    2 753 702   
Financial instruments    2 563 385    2 709 659   
Measured at amortised cost    4 138    44 043   
Financial liabilities carried at fair value through profit or loss    2 567 523    2 753 702   
Vendors for acquisition           
Current financial liabilities    4 138    44 043   
    4 138    44 043   
* Ring-fenced debt.
# Comparatives have been restated to present interest accrued and interest repaid separately.

Interest-bearing bank loans are secured through a Security SPV which require that all the South African wholly owned subsidiaries of the Group provide a pledge and cession of:

  • all shares in, and claims on loan account against, any member of the Group incorporated in South Africa;
  • cash;
  • cash equivalents;
  • bank accounts;
  • investments;
  • claims;
  • disposal proceeds;
  • any other amounts, of any nature whatsoever, now or from time to time in the future owing to that Obligor by any third person arising out of any cause of action whatsoever, including, without limitation, all amounts owing or becoming payable to that Obligor by any of its debtors; and
  • related rights.

South African wholly owned subsidiaries contributing more than 80% of the Group's adjusted EBITDA is pledged as required above and the process of providing the security is ongoing.

The interest-bearing bank loans secured through the Security SPV comprises:

  • an amortising facility at an interest rate of 3-month Johannesburg Interbank Average Rate (JIBAR) + 265 basis points;
  • revolving credit facility at an interest rate of 3-month JIBAR + 220 basis points;
  • a bullet facility at an interest rate of 3-month JIBAR + 285 basis points; and
  • a dematerialised note at an interest rate of 3-month JIBAR + 240 basis points.

From 1 April 2019 the secured lenders (excluding the note) have charged an additional 250 basis points of default interest on top of the above fully drawn facilities. The penalty interest was reduced to 170 basis points with effect from 1 September 2020.

The 3-month JIBAR referred to above is reset quarterly.

Refer to note 22 for subsequent events on the above loans.

18. FINANCIAL ASSETS AND FINANCIAL LIABILITIES

The following table shows the carrying amounts and fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities, including their levels in the fair value hierarchy at 31 July 2021:

     
    Carrying amount  Fair value 
Figures in Rand thousand    Mandatorily 
at FVTPL 
Amortised 
cost 
Total  Held 
for sale 
Balance  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Total 
Financial assets                     
Cash and cash equivalents    –  913 346  913 346  (88 444) 824 902  –  –  –  – 
Trade and other receivables    –  1 382 196  1 382 196  (130 416) 1 251 780  –  –  –  – 
Finance lease receivables    –  109 329  109 329  –  109 329  –  –  –  – 
Other financial assets    –  11 118  11 118  (60) 11 058  –  –  –  – 
Financial liabilities                     
Trade and other payables    –  412 169  412 169  (33 456) 378 713  –  –  –  – 
Lease liabilities    –  180 318  180 318  (17 008) 163 310  –  –  –  – 
Other financial liabilities    4 138  2 568 834  2 572 972  (5 449) 2 567 523  –  –  4 138  4 138 

The following table shows the carrying amounts and fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities, including their levels in the fair value hierarchy at 31 July 2020:

      Carrying amount     Fair value   
Figures in Rand thousand    Mandatorily
at FVTPL 
Amortised
cost 
Total  Held
for sale 
Balance  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Total 
Financial assets                     
Cash and cash equivalents                     
Trade and other receivables    –  974 580  974 580  (328 743) 645 837  –  –  –  – 
Finance lease receivables    –  1 751 276  1 751 276  (361 515) 1 389 761  –  –  –  – 
Other financial assets    –  124 516  124 516  (1 676) 122 840  –  –  –  – 
Financial liabilities    –  216 861  216 861  (18 871) 197 990  –  –  –  – 
Trade and other payables    –  858 743  858 743  (355 816) 502 927  –  –  –  – 
Lease liabilities    –  360 965  360 965  (84 543) 276 422  –  –  –  – 
Other financial liabilities    44 043  2 739 175  2 783 218  (29 516) 2 753 702  –  –  44 043  44 043 

The Group does not have any financial instruments that are subject to offsetting.

All cash and cash equivalents, short-term receivables and short-term payables carrying amounts approximate their fair values due to their short-term nature.

Other financial liabilities carrying amounts approximate their fair values due to the nature and contractual terms of the instruments.

There have been no transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy.

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

Financial liabilities measured at fair value through profit or loss, in terms of the hierarchy, are classified as level 3 as the valuation techniques used are based on unobservable inputs for the liability.

Vendors for acquisition

The balance in respect of vendors for acquisition relates to the contingent consideration where business combinations are subject to profit warranties. The profit warranties allow for a defined adjusted value to the consideration payable in the event that the warranted profit after tax is not achieved, or in the event that it is exceeded, an agreed sharing in the surplus. The fair value of the contingent arrangement is initially estimated by applying the income approach, assuming that the relevant profit warrant will be achieved. Subsequent measurement uses the income approach to calculate the present value of the expected settlement payment using the latest approved budgeted results and reasonable growth rates for the remainder of the relevant warranty periods taking into account any specific circumstances.

Profit warrant periods normally extend over a 24-month period.

Upwardly revised performance expectations would result in an increase in the related liability, limited to the terms of the applicable purchase agreement.

Fair values have been determined using discounted cash flows. Unobservable inputs include budgeted results based on margins, discount rates and revenue growth rates historically achieved by the various segments. The applicable discount rate is 7% (2020: 7%), discounting cash flows over a twoyear period. Changing such inputs to reflect reasonably possible alternative assumptions does not significantly change the fair value of the vendors for acquisition liability.

The EOH Group has an established control framework with respect to the measurement of fair values. This includes a valuation team that reports directly to the Group Chief Financial Officer who oversees all significant fair value measurements.

Vendors for acquisition reconciliation of movement
           
Figures in Rand thousand   2021    2020   
Balance at the beginning of the year   44 043    303 313   
Disposals   (36 275)   (187 735)  
Paid to vendors   (14 494)   (75 286)  
Foreign exchange effects     66   
Net changes in fair value   10 864    3 685   
Balance at the end of the year   4 138    44 043   

Non-recurring fair value measurements

Disposal groups classified as held for sale are measured at the lower of their carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell. The fair values are determined based on sales agreements that are in place for each of the disposal groups that are held for sale. The total of such fair values is R834 million (2020: R1 033 million). These fair values are categorised as level 3, based on inputs used.

19. CASH GENERATED FROM OPERATIONS

         
 Figures in Rand thousand   2021    Restated*
2020 
 
(Loss)/profit before taxation from:    (122 818)   (1 701 482)  
  Continuing operations   (228 607)   (1 321 891)  
  Discontinued operations (note 10)   105 789    (379 591)  
Adjustments for:           
Depreciation and amortisation    274 667    498 004   
Impairment of assets    182 941    522 475   
Loss on disposal of subsidiaries, equity-accounted investments and property, plant and equipment    46 524    263 675   
Change in fair value for vendors for acquisition    10 864    –   
Share of equity-accounted profits    (2 973)   (7 282)  
Share-based payments expense    4 684    48 285   
Net finance costs    272 745    377 917   
Net financial asset impairment losses    90 492    332 319   
Inventory write-off/impairment    7 352    30 907   
Movement in provisions    (90 880)   326 012   
Foreign exchange losses/(gains)   15 089    (5 429)  
Other non-cash items    (5 402)   (11 824)  
Cash generated before changes in working capital    683 285    673 577   
Working capital changes net of effects of disposal of subsidiaries    (278 343)   33 158   
  (Increase)/decrease in inventories    (12 803)   103 625   
  Decrease in trade and other receivables    154 746    596 569   
  Decrease in trade and other payables    (420 286)   (667 036)  
Cash generated from operations    404 942    706 735   
* Refer to note 6 – Restatement of summarised consolidated financial statements.

20. RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Group entered into various transactions with related parties.

       
Figures in Rand thousand    2021  2020   
Transactions with associates and joint ventures         
Sales of products and services    29  3 899   
Purchases of products and services    2 792  3 272   
Balances arising from sales/purchases of goods and services with associates and joint ventures         
Trade receivable balances with related parties    46  3 773   
Trade payable balances with related parties    471  8 176   
Loans receivable from associates and joint ventures:    –  21 322   
– Gross loans receivable from associates and joint ventures     51 564  57 772   
– Allowances for expected credit losses on loans to associates and joint ventures    (51 564) (36 450)  
Transactions between Group companies (subsidiaries)        
Sale of products and services    1 610 641  2 075 904   
Purchases of products and services    1 099 800  1 741 043   
Operating expenses    566 151  334 861   
Outstanding loan balances         
Loans from EOH Holdings Limited to subsidiaries    2 511 277  163 193   
Loans to EOH Holdings Limited from subsidiaries    370 619  59 149   
Vendor loans and receivables      287   

21. CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS

Parent Company Guarantees

EOH issued parent company guarantees ("PCGs") during May 2019, as required by a client for a wholly owned subsidiary, PiA Solar SA Proprietary Limited ("PiA"). The guarantees provided are for a period of years during both construction and after handover, including an operation warranty guarantee, which by nature could (in the event of underperformance by PiA) compel EOH to either ensure physical performance or settle such underperformance in cash terms. While PiA had undergone some operational challenges as a result of several factors, including COVID-19, EOH has intervened in order to minimise the potential impact of these PCGs. The projects subject to these PCGs are now substantially complete, and PiA is engaging with the customer in respect of the handover of the last project. EOH thus believes that the risk presented by the PCGs, albeit still in existence is and will be, mitigated pursuant to the handover.

During the prior financial year, EOH also issued a PCG for another subsidiary, EOH Mthombo Proprietary Limited ("EOH Mthombo"), relating to the implementation of an ERP solution at the City of Johannesburg ("COJ") for a project which was signed during the 2017 financial year. The agreement terminated in early 2021 and subsequent to year-end, the PCG was returned to EOH in terms of the Exit Management Plan and has been cancelled.

Fine imposed by the JSE Limited

The JSE Limited imposed a fine on EOH on 29 July 2020 for prior period errors contained in EOH's previously published financial statements for the financial years ended 31 July 2017 and 31 July 2018. The fine was for R7.5 million of which R2.5 million is suspended for a period of five years on condition that EOH is not found to be in breach of material and important provisions of the JSE Listings Requirements. The R5 million was raised as liability at 31 July 2020, against which payments have been made, with the suspended amount being a contingent liability.

Litigation

EOH and its subsidiaries are involved in various litigation matters arising in the ordinary course of business, none of which are considered material on an individual basis or in aggregate. Management has no reason to believe that the disposition of these matters will have a materially adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, financial results or cash flows of EOH.

Uncertain indirect tax exposure

The Group has an ongoing tax dispute dating back to 2012 related to a PAYE dispute in one of its staff outsourcing businesses. At 31 July 2021, the Group had provided for R267 million on the PAYE liability assessed and potential future assessments, and has submitted a notice of objection to the South African Revenue Service ("SARS"). Based on internal and external legal and technical advice obtained, the Group remains confident that it has a strong legal case to contest the remaining exposure. A total of R52 million of the R267 million provision was repaid up to 31 July 2021.

Uncertain exposure due to suspect transactions

Alleged financial misconduct by a prescribed officer of the Group and director of a subsidiary within the Group

EOH became aware of alleged fraudulent conduct that was perpetrated between certain executives of a subsidiary, Cornastone Enterprise Systems Proprietary Limited ("Cornastone"), together with executives at Cell C Limited ("Cell C"), as it related to the supply of certain equipment and software licences. EOH commissioned an investigation in collaboration with Cell C, which has culminated in criminal charges being levelled against the alleged perpetrators.

The findings of the investigation identified a preliminary financial loss to Cornastone amounting to approximately R64 million relating to the cost of sales, covering a period of eight years from 2012 to 2020. The nature of the amounts was categorised as being "irregular" which relates almost exclusively to payments from Cornastone to the fictitious suppliers.

The current EOH leadership have undertaken the following corrective measures:

  • The executives of the Cornastone management alleged to have been involved in the fraudulent conduct are, within effect from 2020, no longer in the employ of the Company;
  • EOH has also taken legal advice in relation to its potential reporting obligations under section 34 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2004 in respect of the possible theft;
  • This matter coming to light is evidence of the improved controls that have been introduced by the new management of the Group;
  • Cases against all alleged perpetrators were reported to the South African Police Service which had led to their subsequent arrests;
  • Third-party screening and procurement onboarding processes have been centralised within the Group in order to effectively exercise the necessary controls; and
  • The financial department within the Group has been restructured to enhance oversight in regard to financial controls and risk management.

EOH's external auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. ("PwC"), reported that a suspected irregularity had taken place as defined in the Auditing Profession Act, 2005 ("APA") to the Independent Regulatory Board of Auditors ("IRBA") on 13 October 2021 relating to the supply of certain equipment and software licences by Cornastone.

PwC subsequently submitted a second report to the IRBA as required by the APA, advising the IRBA that, in its view, the reportable irregularity was no longer occurring as the Company had acted on this matter as set out above.

ENSafrica assessment into contracts associated with suspicious activities

An assessment was undertaken in relation to contracts flagged by ENSafrica as being associated with suspicious activities, for purposes of determining the likelihood of a claim/s being raised against EOH Mthombo in relation to the contracts in question. The total contingent exposure identified in consequence of the results of that assessment is R48 million.

The assessments which resulted in a claim being regarded as likely and where a contingent liability was identified were in relation to the following contracts:

  • Amathole District Municipality ("ADM") - SAP Implementation Contracts: there are disputes raised by ADM as to deliverables and sums payable to EOH under this contract, however, EOH maintains that it has performed substantially on the contract.

    Deloitte prepared a forensic report on the instruction of National Treasury (10 October 2019). The National Treasury issued an intervention and close-out report (27 February 2020). ADM did not accept the findings of the intervention and close-out report (27 February 2020). However, no further steps have yet been taken by ADM. In the event of a successful challenge to the validity of the contract, EOH would be entitled to just and equitable relief and would never be exposed for the full value of the contract.
  • USAASA - SAP Implementation: In early 2021, National Treasury investigated the procurement of the SAP implementation-services by USAASA from EOH. There is a risk that there may be a finding of impropriety in the contract. This contract came to a natural conclusion at the end of 2017, with EOH having performed and with no claims or complaints having arisen since. In the event of a successful challenge to the validity of this contract, EOH, having performed under the contract, would be entitled to motivate a just and equitable remedy. It would be unlikely and certainly contrary to the principles of just and equitable relief, that EOH would have to "refund" USAASA.
Commitments
       
Figures in Rand thousand 2021 2020  
Expected, but not yet contracted capital expenditure 85 635 169 171  
  85 635 169 171  

22. EVENTS AFTER REPORTING DATE

Deleveraging

A detailed action plan for deleveraging the Group to a sustainable level and resolving the capital structure was developed and committed to by the Group and its lenders in the prior financial year, with a revision in November 2020.

Term sheets were signed in April 2021 and since then, management have been engaging with lenders on the terms and conditions governing the new Common Terms Agreement ("CTA"). The CTA was signed by all parties on 20 October 2021. The refinancing contemplated by the CTA is subject to the Closing Date (as defined in the CTA) having occurred by 1 December 2021, and any other conditions of the CTA and the other legal documentation referred to in the CTA.

The new terms of the CTA outlines the following deleveraging plan:

  1. A R500 million three-year term loan;
  2. R1 500 million bridge facility repayable on 31 October 2022;
  3. Disposal of the Sybrin Group - completion pending Competition Commission approval;
  4. Disposal of the Information Services Group; and
  5. Optimisation of the overall capital structure of the Group.

The refinancing of the existing debt package provides the Group with greater certainty with respect to the overall debt outstanding and provides a more stable platform for the optimisation of the capital structure.

Disposal of Energy Solutions and Analytics

Effective 23 September 2021, the Group closed a sale of business agreement to dispose of Energy Solutions and Analytics ("ESA"), a business unit of NEXTEC Industrial Technologies Proprietary Limited. The purchase consideration is expected to be between R26 million and R29 million, dependent on the final reviewed effective date accounts of ESA. The purchase consideration will be settled in two tranches, the first of which amounting to R23 million, was received on 1 October 2021.

Disposal of Afiswitch

Effective 1 October 2021, the Group concluded the sale of 100% of the issued ordinary shares of Afiswitch Proprietary Limited for a consideration of R49 million. The purchase consideration may be adjusted based on the closing date accounts. R39 million was received on 11 October 2021.

The above transactions are in line with EOH's stated strategic intent of selling non-core assets as it seeks to right-size the Group and deleverage its balance sheet. The cash consideration received by EOH will primarily be utilised to reduce debt with the remainder being utilised for the working capital requirements of the Group.