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 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 of five years to be appropriate.

15.1

Methods and assumptions

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. 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 2025 financial year which includes assumptions on profit before interest and tax, depreciation, working capital movements, capital maintenance expenditure, an appropriate discount rate and a terminal growth rate. The terminal growth rate used is 4,5% (2023: 5,0%), however it is dependent on the industry and maturity of the cash-generating unit, as well as the inflationary outlook.

15.2

Discount rates

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 13,1% for South African entities and 17,8% for the international component of Davita (2023: 14,1% and 18,0% respectively). A pre-tax discount rate for purpose of the impairment testing would be between 15,5% and 18,6% (2023: 17,3% and 23,2%).

15.3

Growth rates

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 nominal price growth rates applied for the purposes of the impairment testing ranges between 5% and 10%. Volume growth assumptions are based on management's best estimates of known strategies and plans.

15.4

Specific impairments in the current year

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, indefinite useful life intangible assets and investments.

15.5

Changes in key assumptions

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.