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Cambria Africa plc

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FY2018 Annual Report · Cambria Africa plc
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CAMBRIA AFRICA PLC
ANNUAL REPORT
2018

Committed to relentlessly
    increasing shareholder value.

Table of Contents
Results for the year 

Chief Executive Officer’s Statement 

Directors 

Directors’ Responsibilities Statement 

Directors’ Report 

1 to 3

4 to 9

10

11

12 to 18

Report of the Independent Auditors, Baker Tilly Isle of Man LLC 

19 to 21

Consolidated and Company Income Statement 

22 to 23

Consolidated and Company Statement of Comprehensive Income 

24

Consolidated and Company Statement of Changes in Equity 

25 to 26

Consolidated and Company Statement of Financial Position 

27

Consolidated and Company Statement of Cash Flows 

Notes to the Financial Statements 

Corporate information 

Shareholder information 

28 to 29

30 to 67

68

69

Cambria Africa Plc (AIM: CMB), is an AIM listed investment company holding controlling interests and active management 
control in companies well-positioned to benefit from the growth and modernisation of Zimbabwe’s economy. Its wholly 
owned operations in Zimbabwe are:

About Cambria Africa Plc:

• 

Payserv Africa, a FinTech company with $7.57 million in revenues in FY 2018. Payserv’s Paynet Zimbabwe subsidiary 
holds  a  dominant  position  in  the  country’s  electronic  payments  market,  facilitating  about  40%  of  all  payments 
in the country.  Paynet has a proven track record of secure transactions with ubiquitous presence in all financial 
institutions and Mobile Network Operations (MNO’s). Paynet’s product is used by every government department 
and by over 5,500 of the largest private banking customers. Paynet serves over 2.5 million unique final beneficiaries 
in  Zimbabwe. Paynet  also  cuts a wide  swath in  Zimbabwe’s payroll  management and  consumer loan  processing 
markets. Payserv is ideally positioned to leverage its existing technology platforms to exploit opportunities which 
arise  from  FinTech  disruptions.  Payserv  intends  to  introduce  innovative  payment  technologies  and  distributed 
ledger security to increase its penetration in the consumer market which represents 97% of transaction volumes.

•  Millchem Zimbabwe is a value-added chemicals distributor with $1.88 million in revenues for FY 2018.  The company 
is currently focused on ethanol based solvents due to the significant local availability of ethanol.  Millchem achieved 
its first profit in more than four years following the successful implementation of Cambria’s turnaround program.

The company achieved record audited earnings per share of 0.50 US cents (0.38 p) in FY 2018.  This differs by 0.02 cents per 
share from the preliminary unaudited results announced by the company on 8 November 2018.  The difference is a result 
Results for the Year
of the application of an IFRS2: Share Based Payment audit adjustment relating to expensing shares  issued to directors and 
executives on 22 May 2018. 

The Company achieved audited earnings per share of 0.57 US cents (0.44 p) before once-off reorganization costs, an 
increase of 159%.

In accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, the closure of Payserv Zambia in early 2017 has been 
treated as discontinued operations.  Accordingly, Payserv Zambia’s loss of $153,000 has been excluded from continuing 
operations in the comparative FY 2017 results.

FY 2018 RESULTS HIGHLIGHTS:

Group:
12 MONTHS (US$’000) 
- Revenue 
- Consolidated EBITDA 
- Operating cash flows 
- Group Profit/(loss) after tax (“PAT”) 
- Central costs 
- EPS - cents 
Excluding non-recurring legal & reorganisation costs:
- EPS - cents 
- Consolidated EBITDA  
- Central costs 
- Group PAT 

Divisional:
- Payserv - profit after tax (“PAT”) 
- Payserv - EBITDA 
- Millchem - EBITDA 

1

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

2018  
 9,441   
 3,459   
 4,577   
 1,897   
185   
0.50   

0.57   
 3,721   
185   
2,159   

 2,336    
 3,320   
240   

2017   
 8,598   
 1,230   
 421   
( 349 ) 
1,268   
( 0.12 ) 

0.22   
 2,194   
311   
608   

1,776   
 2,648   
( 143 ) 

CHANGE
10%
181%
987%
$2,246
( 85% )
0.62c

159%
70%
( 41% )
255%

32%
25%
$382

Group:

• 

• 

Cambria achieved record Profit after Tax (“PAT”) of $1.90 million for FY 2018, a turnaround of $2.25 million from a loss 
of $349,000 in FY 2017 on a 10% increase in consolidated revenues to $9.44 million from $8.60 million in FY 2017.

Earnings Per Share (“EPS”) increased to 0.50 US cents, an increase of 0.62 cents from a loss of 0.12 cents per 
share in FY 2017. 

–  Excluding once-off legal and reorganisation costs, EPS increased 163% to 0.57 US cents from 0.22 cents in FY 2017. 

• 

Consolidated EBITDA increased 180% to $3.46 million from $1.24 million in FY 2017. 

–  Excluding once-off legal and reorganisation Costs, Cambria increased its consolidated EBITDA by 70% to $3.72
  million from $2.20 million in FY 2017.  

• 

Cambria’s central costs decreased by 85% to $185,000 from $1.27 million in FY 2017. Excluding legal costs, Cambria’s 
central costs decreased by a further 15% to $263,000 from $311,000 in FY 2017. Central costs for FY 2018 include an IFRS 
2: Share Based Payment expense of $68,000 relating to the issue of shares to Non-Executive Directors and management 
on 22 May 2018. Cambria’s CEO continued to render his services to Cambria without compensation during FY 2018.

•  Group interest costs fell 32% to $252,000 after the partial conversion and partial repayment of VAL loans. Consolidated 
debt decreased to $619,000 from $3.33 million at the end of FY 2017, of which $205,000 is domiciled in Zimbabwe.

Divisional:

• 

Payserv achieved record profit before tax (PBT) of $3.1 million with a:
–  19% increase in revenues to $7.57 million,
–  37% increase in consolidated EBITDA to $3.63 million, before reorganisation costs of $262,000,
–  28% increase in PBT to $3.1 million, 
–  32% increase in consolidated PAT to $2.34 million.

•  Millchem, at a PAT of $217,000 achieved profitability for the first time in four years with:

–  $1.88 million in revenues, a reduction of 16% still reflecting the strategy to focus on a more profitable product
  mix. Notably, sales volumes on a like-for-like product basis, have started to increase during FY 2018,
–  29% gross profit margin, a 58% improvement from 18% gross profit margin in FY 2017,
–  $383,000 turnaround in EBITDA to $240,000 from a loss of $143,000 in FY 2017,
–  $250,000 (45%) reduction in overheads,
–  $383,000 turnaround in PAT to $217,000 from a loss of $169,000 in FY 2017. 

Before the end of the Financial Year Paynet Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd (“Paynet”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Cambria, acquired 
a  beneficial  interest  of  7.83%  in  Radar  Holdings  Limited  (“Radar”),  an  unlisted  public  company  in  Zimbabwe  (“the  Radar 
Radar Acquisition and Subsequent Events:
Acquisition”). The effective date of the Radar Acquisition was 31 August 2018 and has accordingly been included in the Results. 

The Radar Acquisition was settled through the subscription by Paynet for 62.84% of the ordinary shares of AF Philip & 
Company (Pvt) Ltd (“AF Philip”). AF Philip holds a 15.65% interest in Hinshaw (Pvt) Ltd (“Hinshaw”) which, through its 
wholly owned subsidiaries, holds a 79.65% interest in Radar. The total consideration of $1.6 million translated into an 
effective price of 40 US cents per Radar share.

Subsequent to the end of the financial year, Paynet deployed $400,000 to acquire an additional 1.15% shareholding in 
Radar. The transaction was implemented through the same subscription mechanism described above at an effective 
price of 68 US cents per Radar share. 

2

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

Cambria is in discussions to further increase its shareholding in Radar. Should the opportunity arise, the Company will 
rely on the pre-emptive rights of AF Philip to increase its shareholding in Hinshaw which owns 79.65% of Radar shares. 
In the opinion of the Board, Radar will be a direct beneficiary of any uptick in the Zimbabwe economy through its regional 
monopoly in brick manufacturing and its significant development land holdings. In addition, the Radar investment provides 
an attractive hedge against the possible deterioration in the purchasing power of cash and cash-equivalents in Zimbabwe. 

The Company updated its shareholders on the impact of shifts in parallel exchange rates in its recent RNS announcements 
(6 October 2018 and 8 November 2018).  On 12 January, the government of Zimbabwe, recognizing these disparities 
Outlook:
in  the  parallel  rate,  increased  the  mandated  price  of  fuel  in  “local  dollars”  to  $3.31  and  $3.14  for  petrol  and  diesel 
respectively.    Tellingly,  they  maintained  a  price  of  $1.32  and  $1.24  when  payment  is  made  with  US  dollars  cash  or 
international credit card – implying the government sees the value of a “real” dollar to be 2.5x the value of local dollars.  

The outlook for Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) and balance of payment support for Zimbabwe significantly dimmed 
following violent protests and the ensuing clampdown by government forces.  Historically, companies that have survived 
such seismic shifts in the country’s fortunes have come back stronger and more profitable.  Cambria expects to survive 
the dislocations created by these events.  As some investors turn away, Cambria’s management feels that it will have 
an opportunity to capitalize on new opportunities at significantly lower investment costs than before.  It is our opinion 
that the recent events will push Zimbabwe into closer economic cooperation with South Africa and in turn this will be 
a strong basis for a turnaround in the economic and political stability of Zimbabwe – Cambria’s main economic focus.

Payserv Zimbabwe expects to continue to receive funding at 1:1 to the US Dollar to pay license fees and repay loans.  
Although  it  would  be  reasonable  to  expect  a  rise  in  overhead  costs  for  Payserv  and  Millchem,  the  reorganisation 
completed  by  Payserv  in  FY  2018  should  save  the  company  about  $400,000  annually  in  cost-to-company  salaries, 
allowing it to absorb a significant portion of such an increase.

Millchem expects the new Exchange Control Regulations, allowing it to charge in “real” US dollars, to facilitate the funding 
of increased levels of raw material imports, alleviating a significant constraint to its business model over the last two years.

The Company reduced its cash position in Zimbabwe to minimal levels before the start of the current turbulence through 
investing its available cash in beneficial ownership of Radar shares.  At the date of this announcement, cash resources 
outside  Zimbabwe  (in  “real”  US  dollars)  total  $1.1  million  and  the  Company  continues  to  be  actively  considering  a 
number of investment opportunities.

The impact of these shifts in exchange rates on the Company’s accounting profits are hard to gauge.  In some instances it 
will exaggerate the Company’s “real dollar” earnings and in some instances overstate its costs.  In the main, our earnings 
are from fees charged to banks.  These fees are fixed in “local” dollars however license fees to the parent company remain 
in “real dollars”. We anticipate that the country’s central bank will continue to honour these obligations, stabilizing “real” 
earnings, notwithstanding disparities between official and effective rates on accounting revenues and profits.  To put 
this in perspective, the license fee per transaction stands at 5 US cents payable to Payserv Africa in Mauritius.  In FY 2018 
Paynet generated license fees for 27.7 million transactions forecasting continued and significant “real” cash flows to our 
Mauritius subsidiary.   Accounting for 40% of the total value of financial transactions in Zimbabwe, Paynet is a key player 
in Zimbabwe’s economy.

3

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

I am pleased to report record earnings of 0.50 US cents per share for the year ended 31 August 2018.  After the end of our 
Chief Executive Officer’s Statement
fiscal year, the government of Zimbabwe introduced a number of economic measures which have created uncertainty 
Introduction
and dissipated hopes for increased direct foreign investment and balance of payment support in the near term.  Cambria 
is well-positioned to weather these uncertainties.  As a result of our proactive measures in advance of these events, we 
continue to see the glass as half-full.  

The  Results  reflect  the  first  full  year without  litigation  expenses  and  excludes  the  unprofitable  operations  in  Zambia 
which were discontinued at the end of FY 2017. 

• 

Cambria  achieved  record  after  tax  profits  of  $1.90  million  for  FY  2018,  a  turnaround  of  $2.24  million  from  a  loss  of 
$349,000 in FY 2017.

• 

EPS increased to 0.50 US cents, an increase of 0.62 cents from a loss of 0.12 cents per share in FY 2017. 

–  Excluding once-off legal and reorganisation costs, EPS increased 159% to 0.57 US cents.

Consolidated EBITDA increased 180% to $3.46 million from $1.24 million in FY 2017. 

Cash flow from operating activities increased more than ten-fold to $4.58 million from $421,000 in FY 2017.

Central costs decreased by 41% to a record low of $185,000 from $311,000 in FY 2017. 

• 

• 

• 

•  Debt levels, finance costs and shareholder equity improved significantly as a result of healthy cash generation and the 

successful Open Offer completed in July 2018.

Historical performance - An 8-year history of Consolidated EBITDA, Overheads and Earnings Per Share from FY 2010 to 
FY 2018, illustrate the remarkable turnaround in Cambria’s performance:

4

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

These charts demonstrate that despite an extraordinary turnaround in earnings to record levels, the share price has not 
recovered.  The Company has taken a number of steps to improve liquidity and reduce unnecessary uncertainty:

- 

Fear of delisting - During the Open Offer, I committed that VAL which holds a majority stake in Cambria, would
not support delisting.

-  Misclassification – As a result of the misclassification of Cambria as a “closed end fund” many potential and
current shareholders were precluded by their brokerage firms from trading in Cambria shares.  We have taken
active steps to correct this information and we believe the matter has been rectified.

- 

- 

Liquidity and spread – To help reduce the large bid/ask spread and volatility in the share price, in December
2018 we appointed SVS Securities as joint brokers.
Free float - We hope a recovery in the share price will allow VAL to be diluted, increasing the share’s free float
and liquidity.

Payserv Africa Group 
Divisional Review 
The Payserv Africa Group achieved record revenues and profits in FY 2018.  

PAYSERV AFRICA DIVISIONAL RESULTS (FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS)

Revenues 
(US$ ‘000) 

Gross profit 

Gross margin 

Overheads excluding reorganisation costs 

EBITDA before reorganisation costs 

Profit before interest and tax  

Interest 

Profit before tax  

Profit after tax  

PAT (excluding minority interests) 

7,565   
 2018   

6,900   

91%   

( 3,318 ) 

3,582   

3,132   

( 27 ) 

3,105   

2,336   

1,986   

6,370   
2017   

5,958   

94%   

( 3,310 ) 

2,648   

2,499   

( 71 ) 

2,428   

1,563   

1,311   

19%
CHANGE

16 %

( 2% )

( 0.5% )

35%

25%

( 62% )

28%

49%

51%

Payserv’s  consolidated  EBITDA  before  reorganisation  costs  ($262,000)  increased  by  35%  to  $3.58  million  from  $2.65 
million in FY 2017.  PBT increased by 30% to $3.1 million from $2.4 million and consolidated PAT increased by 49% to 
$2.34 million from $1.56 million in FY 2017.  This was achieved on the back of a 19% increase in revenues to $7.57 million 
from $6.37 million in FY 2017.  All these figures exclude the results of the discontinued operations of Payserv Zambia.  

Payserv has completed a reorganisation which resulted in once-off costs of $262,000. Resultant annual savings are estimated 
at $400,000 which will assist in absorbing expected inflationary pressures on the overhead cost base in Zimbabwe. Any 
residual savings will be allocated to developing new FinTech initiatives and improving Payserv’s existing technology.

5

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
 
Paynet  Zimbabwe  allows  government  and  corporate  clients  of  all  banks  and  Mobile  Network  Operators  (MNO’s)  to 
electronically  pay  employees  and  suppliers  throughout  Zimbabwe’s  financial  network.  Paynet  facilitated  27.7  million 
Paynet Zimbabwe
transactions  in  FY  2018  representing  40%  of  Zimbabwe’s  electronic  transactions  by  value.  Paynet  branded  software  is 
subscribed to by all government departments, all insurance entities, and 5,500 of the largest corporate entities in Zimbabwe, 
reaching over 2.5 million beneficiaries. 

Despite this dominant position in the corporate and government sector, Paynet controls only 2% of the total volumes of 
electronic transactions in a market which is now dominated by EcoCash, the leading mobile wallet. 

Paynet’s ubiquitous bank presence gives it the credibility and opportunity to introduce new products:

• 

• 

• 

Paynet is ideally positioned to create new front-end universal retail products such as mobile payments and P2P chat 
payments (through WhatsApp and Telegram etc.). 

Creation of net settlement systems and exposure monitoring for banks and central banks.

Sale of ICT products and services to the banking sector and major corporates.

•  Developing distributed ledger technologies to enhance transaction security and reduce transaction costs.

•  Developing integrated banking biometric KYC systems.

• 

• 

Creating settlement and payment systems for closed-loop marketing and purchasing groups such as the Tobacco 
Marketing and Grain Marketing Boards.

Establishing a foothold as a last-mile service provider to multiple international remittance operations by improving 
their distribution channels and value addition.

Autopay is a leading payroll management business offering 1) a full-service Payroll Bureau; 2) Software and licensing of 
payroll and HR Products to major corporates and; 3) Online SME payroll processing. 
Autopay Zimbabwe 

Autopay  traded  profitably  and  the  process  of  realigning  Autopay’s  strategy  to  increase  its  penetration  into  the  SME 
market resulted in a 19% increase in gross profit on the back of a 5% increase in the number of payslips being processed 
to 363,000 from 345,000 in FY 2017. Autopay’s payment bureau, launched in 2017, processed 400,000 transactions, up 
almost seven-fold from 59,000 in FY 2017. 

The Autopay management team aims to continue building on this success through leveraging its integral relations with 
Paynet’s payment services and Tradanet’s loan services.

6

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

Tradanet provides customised loan processing and management software for Zimbabwe’s largest Building Society CABS. 
It also provides hosted loan management solutions for emerging microfinance entities. 
Tradanet (51% owned)

Tradanet’s improvement in loan volumes continued in FY 2018 increasing 8% to $125 million from $116 million in FY 
2017. Tradanet’s loan book grew by 46% to $178 million from $122 million at the end of FY 2017. The improvement 
is mainly a result of the reinstatement of Credit Partners and the success achieved with Flexicredit, a card-based loan 
product, which replaced the CPS loan product (a straight line of credit).

Tradanet also expects to increase its revenues through other new products it has received or is seeking approval from CABS:

• 

Flexicredit Hybrid – a product directed at employees of larger publicly held corporates which can be evaluated by 
reliance on publicly disclosed information.

• 

Insurance Premium Financing.

•  Automobile ownership financing.

Payserv Zambia was discontinued in FY 2017. In line with International Financial Reporting Standards, Payserv Zambia’s 
performance for FY 2017 is reflected separately as a “discontinued operation” and excluded from the balance of Payserv’s 
Payserv Zambia operations discontinued 
and Cambria’s continuing operations.  Payserv Zambia did not have a material impact on the Results for FY 2018.

Payserv Zimbabwe Divisional Revenues

7

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

Millchem Zimbabwe 
Revenues 
(US$ ‘000) 

Gross profit 

Gross margin 

Overheads  

EBITDA 

Profit/(loss) after tax 

1,876   
2018   

540   

29%   

( 300 ) 

240   

217   

2,228   
2017   

407   

18%   

( 550 ) 

( 143 ) 

( 166 ) 

( 16% )
GROWTH

33%

58%

( 46% )

$383

$386

Millchem has recorded an after-tax profit of $217,000 for FY 2018, its first profit in more than four years. The turnaround 
from FY 2017 supports the case for a sustained recovery for Millchem:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

$1.88 million in revenues, a reduction of 16% caused by a focus on a more profitable product mix. Notably, sales 
volumes on a like-for-like product basis, have started to increase during FY 2018,

29% gross profit margin, a 58% improvement from 18% gross profit margin in FY 2017,

$383,000 turnaround in EBITDA to $240,000 from a loss of $143,000 in FY 2017,

$250,000 (46%) reduction in overheads,

$386,000 turnaround in PAT to $217,000 from a loss of $169,000 in FY 2017. 

Cambria  issued  5,000,000  shares  to  its  Non-Executive  Directors  and  management  in  May  2018.  This  resulted  in  an 
adjustment to our preliminary results of $68,000 (0.02 US cents per share) in accordance with the provisions of IFRS 2: 
Board of Directors and Compensation
Share Based Payments 

As the ultimate beneficiary of over 69% of Cambria shares, I continued to serve without compensation during FY 2018.

8

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

I  have  repeatedly  expressed  my  conviction  that  “Zimbabwe  provides  the  best  regional  opportunity  for  successful 
investment and growth in the short to medium term”. We are actively pursuing a number of investment opportunities 
Radar and FinTech Innovation
aligned with this strategy.  One such opportunity was investing in Radar shares.  Radar is literally a brick and mortar 
company.  Radar, a public unlisted company, has a dominant position in the brick market in the nation’s second largest 
city and significant real estate holdings.

By investing almost all available cash held in Zimbabwe in this attractive investment, we hedged against the deterioration 
of purchasing power of cash equivalents in Zimbabwe.  This advantage was borne out by the fact that the last acquisition 
cost of shares has risen from 40 US cents equivalent for our first investment of $1.6 million compared to 68 US cents 
equivalent for our second investment of $400,000.

In addition to the strategy of increasing our shareholding in Radar, I am focused on creating value through investing 
in, and developing a strategy of FinTech Innovation.  Our FinTech subsidiary Payserv already holds a leading position in 
the electronic payments market. It has a proven track record and ubiquitous presence in all financial institutions and 
MNO’s. We are ideally positioned to be in the frontline of the FinTech disruption in Zimbabwe which for all practical 
purposes has become a cashless and fully digitized society. I believe however that we have underperformed our true 
potential, especially in the consumer market. Our strategic focus in FY 2019 will be to unlock this potential by focusing 
on innovation through strategic partnerships.

SAMIR SHASHA
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
31 JANUARY 2019 

9

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

NON-EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
Directors
Paul Turner is a Chartered Accountant and past President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe. He 
Paul Turner, 72
is a highly respected and knowledgeable member of the Zimbabwean business community. He was a partner at Ernst 
& Young in Harare, Zimbabwe, for over thirty years and brings an unparalleled level of experience in the structure and 
operation of businesses in Zimbabwe. Initially appointed to the Cambria board on 1 July 2008, he was appointed as 
Chairman on 8 July 2015.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Samir  Shasha  started  his  involvement  in  Southern  Africa  with  supplying  and  leasing  trucks  for  the  operations  of  a 
Samir Shasha, 58
transport company focused on relief aid. In 1995 he established S. Shasha & Associates in Zimbabwe and introduced 
Freightliner Trucks in Southern Africa for the first time. In 2002, S. Shasha & Associates purchased Zimbabwe Online, an 
Internet Service Provider in Zimbabwe, and took on the role of CEO until 2006. The company was sold to Liquid Telecom 
in 2012. Mr. Shasha received his bachelor’s from Vassar College with Honours in Economics in 1981. Following Ventures 
Africa Limited’s investment in the Company in April 2015, Mr. Shasha was appointed to the Cambria board on 5 June 
2015 and as CEO on 3 August 2015.

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Josephine Watenphul is a qualified Chartered Accountant (South Africa). She joined the UCS Group Limited (“UCS”), a 
Josephine Petra Watenphul, 38
Johannesburg-based investment holding company in technology and associated businesses listed on the Johannesburg 
Stock Exchange, in April 2004. In April 2009, Josie was appointed Group CFO, a position which she held until May 2015. 
During her tenure at UCS, which was later renamed Capitaleye Investments upon delisting in October 2011, Josie assisted 
in various corporate actions and restructurings. She was appointed to the Cambria board on 17 June 2015.

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dipak  Pandya  is  a  Chartered  Accountant  and  has  since  March  2009  been  the  financial  controller  at  Strauss  Logistics 
Dipak Champaklal Pandya, 60
Limited,  a  fuel  trading  and  distribution  company  active  in  Central  and  Southern  Africa.  Prior  to  this,  Dipak  was  the 
financial controller at Playwize Plc, a computer software development company. Dipak was appointed to the Cambria 
board on 26 June 2015.

No change to the board of directors has occurred during the financial period under review and up to the date of this report.
Changes to the Board

10

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

Directors’ Responsibility Statement in Respect of the Directors’ Report 
The  Directors  are  responsible  for  preparing  the  Directors’  Report  and  the  financial  statements  in  accordance  with 
applicable  laws  and  regulations.  The  Directors  have  elected  to  prepare  the  Group  and  Parent  Company  financial 
and the Financial Statements.
statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union.

The Group and Parent Company financial statements are required to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the 
Group and Parent Company and of the profit or loss of the Group for that period.

In preparing these financial statements, the Directors are required to:

• 

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

•  make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• 

• 

state whether they have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted 
by the European Union; and

prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group 
and Parent Company will continue in business.

The Directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Group 
and Parent Company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time its financial position. They have 
general responsibility for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the Group and to 
prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on 
the Company’s website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from 
one jurisdiction to another.

11

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

For the Year Ended 31 August 2018

The Directors of Cambria Africa Plc (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries (together the “Group”) submit their report, together 
with the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2018.

Directors’ Report

During the year, the Group was an investment company holding investments in Zimbabwe over which it exercises management control.
Principal activities

The Company’s investment objective is to provide Shareholders with long term capital appreciation.
Investing policy
While the Company does not have a particular sectoral focus, utilising the investment skills of the Directors and their advisors, 
the Company seeks to identify individual companies in sectors best positioned to benefit should there be radical improvements 
in  Zimbabwe’s  economy.  The  Company  may  make  investments  in  the  tourism,  accommodation,  infrastructure,  transport, 
commercial and residential property, technology, communications, manufacturing, retail, services, leisure, agricultural and 
natural  resources  sectors.  The  Company  may  also  make  investments  in  businesses  outside  Zimbabwe  and  the  countries 
surrounding Zimbabwe as well as the remainder of Sub-Saharan Africa, that have a significant exposure to assets, businesses 
or operations within the defined region. The Company will only be able to achieve its investment objective in the event the 
Zimbabwean economy radically improves.

Whilst there will not be any limit on the number or size of investments the Company can make in any sector, the Directors 
seek to diversify the Company’s investments across various sectors in order to mitigate risk and to avoid concentrating the 
portfolio in any single sector.

The Company’s interest in a proposed investment or acquisition may range from a minority position to full ownership. The 
Company intends to actively manage the operations of the companies it has invested in. Wherever possible the Company will 
seek to achieve Board control or financial control of its portfolio companies. Indigenisation legislation within Zimbabwe may, 
however, prevent the Company from acquiring or maintaining a majority control in a Zimbabwean business.

The  Directors  believe  that  through  their  individual  and  collective  experience  of  investing  and  managing  acquisitions  and 
disposals in Africa, they have the necessary skills to manage the Company and to source deal flow. Prior to any investment 
decisions  being  taken  by  the  Board  of  the  Company,  a  due  diligence  process  is  undertaken  by  the  Company’s  appointed 
specialist financial and legal advisors.

The  Company’s  investment  strategy  is  dependent  upon  future  radical  improvement  in  the  economy  of  Zimbabwe  and 
expansion into the immediate region. It is therefore possible that a significant period of time may elapse before an investment 
by the Company will produce any returns and there is no guarantee that the economy in Zimbabwe will improve.

The Company Directors will comply as a matter of policy with the US Office of Foreign Assets Control and the European Union 
Council Regulation (EC) No. 314/2004 regulations.

The  Group  made  a  consolidated  profit  after  tax,  discontinued  operations  and  minorities  of  $1,897,000  (FY2017:  loss  of 
$349,000) during the year and this has been set against reserves.
Results

Details of changes to the Company’s share capital and share premium during the financial year are contained in note 21 to 
the financial statements.
Share capital

12

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

Between 1 September 2017 and 31 August 2018, the share price varied between a closing high of 1.30p and a low of 1.03p 
(2017: high of 1.75p and low of 0.60p). At 31 August 2018 the market price of the shares at close of business was 1.03p 
Share price performance
(2017:1.10p) whilst on 22 January 2019 the mid-price of the share was 1.00p.

The Directors have been advised of the following shareholdings at 22 January 2019 of holding 2.5 per cent or more of the 
Company’s issued share capital:
Substantial shareholdings

Ventures Africa Ltd* 
Hargreaves Lansdown (Nominees) LTD 
Consilium Investment Management LLC 
Russell Investments Group LTD 

NUMBER OF 
377,000,000 
SHARES 
24,558,515 
16,262,798 
14,252,663 

PERCENTAGE OF
69.2%
ISSUED CAPITAL
4.5%
3.0%
2.6%

*Ventures Africa Limited is beneficially owned by S Shasha, a director and the CEO of the Company

Biographical details of all Directors as well as the dates of appointment and resignation (if applicable) are set out on page 6.
Directors

The Directors’, who were in office at the beginning and end of the current financial year, had the following interests in the 
shares of the Company:
Directors’ share interests

Samir Shasha* 
DIRECTORS 
Josephine Watenphul 
Dipak Pandya 
Paul Turner 
Total 

*Held indirectly through Ventures Africa Limited

AT 31.08.18 
377,000,000 
NO. OF SHARES 
2,500,000 
1,000,000 
1,000,000 
381,500,000 

AT 31.08.17
232,000,000
NO. OF SHARES
-
-
-
232,000,000

All of the above interests are recorded in the Company’s Register of Directors’ Share and Debenture Interests. No Director has   
a beneficial interest in the shares or debentures of any of the Company’s subsidiary undertakings.

Baker Tilly Isle of Man LLC continues to be the appointed auditors.
Auditors
The Directors who held office at the date of approval of this Directors’ Report confirm that, so far as they are each aware, 
there is no relevant audit information of which the Company’s Auditors are unaware and each Director has taken all the steps 
that they ought to have taken as a Director to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that 
the Company’s Auditors are aware of that information.

Details of significant events since the reporting date are contained in note 35 to the financial statements.
Post statement of financial position events

13

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
As a listed company traded on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange (LSE) we recognise the importance of sound 
Corporate Governance throughout our Group. It is the Board’s responsibility to ensure that Cambria is managed for the long-
Statement of Compliance with the QCA Corporate Governance Code:
term benefit of all stakeholders, with effective and efficient decision-making. Corporate Governance is an important part of 
this, reducing risk and adding value to our investments, shareholders and other stakeholders alike.

In  my  capacity  as  Chairman,  I  have  ultimate  responsibility  for  ensuring  the  Board  adopts  and  implements  a  recognised 
Corporate Governance Code in compliance with the LSE’s recent changes to the AIM Rules requiring all AIM-listed companies 
to adopt such a Code. The Board has committed to the adoption of, and working to, the Quoted Companies Alliance (QCA) 
Corporate Governance Code 2018. 

The  Chief  Executive  Officer  (CEO)  has  responsibility  for  the  implementation  of  governance  throughout  our  organisation, 
commensurate with our size of business and scope of operations.

The QCA Corporate Governance Code 2018 has ten key principles and we set out below how we apply those principles 
to our business.

Principle 1:  Establish a strategy and business model which promotes 
Cambria  is  a  long  term  active  investment  company  holding  investments  in  Zimbabwe.  We  currently  own  two  core 
subsidiaries, Payserv and Millchem. The Company is one of only a few AIM listed companies which allows investors to 
long-term value for shareholders 
participate in Zimbabwe’s unique potential. 

Our Board is committed to the creation of long-term shareholder value through our investments and being actively involved in 
developing investee strategy, optimising their operations and growing their businesses. We adopt a prudent and conservative 
investment philosophy, balancing expected returns in the context of identifiable risks.

Our focus on Zimbabwe stems from our belief that the new political environment in Zimbabwe will provide a growing market 
for our current investments and opportunities which the management team is uniquely positioned to identify and act on. 

Principle 2: Seek to understand and meet shareholder needs and 
The Board is committed to maintaining good communications and having constructive dialogue with both its institutional and 
private shareholders. Shareholders are kept informed through our public announcements and corporate website. 
expectations 

The  Company  website  also  allows  shareholders  and  prospective  shareholders  to  register  for  automatic  news  alerts  for 
regulatory announcements.

In addition to the above, the Board encourages direct engagement from our shareholders with our most senior Executives, 
including our CEO, with his direct contact details provided on our website and all company announcements. This is in line with 
our strategy of shortening the communication distance between Executives and Shareholders. 

Principle 3: Take into account wider stakeholder and social 
The  Board  recognises  that  the  Company’s  continued  growth  and  long-term  success  are  reliant  on  its  relations  with  its 
stakeholders, both internal (employees and shareholders) and external (customers, service providers, suppliers and advisors).
responsibilities and their implications for long-term success. 

14

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

The Group’s employees are considered key in delivering successful growth and as such the Company fosters an open dialogue 
throughout its workforce. The Company endeavours to keep its workforce informed on the Company’s progress. 

The Company also maintains regular dialogue with its external stakeholders particularly its clients and customers which help 
drive business development. The Company works closely with its advisors to ensure it operates in conformity of its listing and 
other regulations in the UK, as well as the social and legal requirements of Zimbabwe. Our clients and customers are our most 
important stakeholders and understanding their needs is a crucial element to the growth and long-term success of the Company. 

Engaging with our stakeholders strengthens our relationships and helps us make better business decisions to deliver 
on our commitments. 

Principle 4: Embed effective risk management, considering both 
AUDIT, RISK AND INTERNAL CONTROLS
opportunities and threats, throughout the organisation 

FINANCIAL CONTROLS 
The Company has an established framework of internal financial controls, the effectiveness of which is regularly reviewed by 
the Audit Committee and the Board in light of an ongoing assessment of significant risks facing the Company. 

• 

• 

• 

The Board is responsible for reviewing and approving overall Company strategy, approving operating and capital 
budgets, and for determining the financial structure of the Company including treasury, tax and dividend policy. 

The  Audit  Committee  assists  the  Board  in  discharging  its  duties  regarding  the  financial  statements,  accounting 
policies and the maintenance of proper internal business, operational and financial controls. 

There  are  comprehensive  procedures  for  budgeting  and  planning,  for  monitoring  and  reporting  to  the  Board 
business  performance  against  those  budgets,  and  for  forecasting  expected  performance  over  the  remainder  of 
the financial period. These cover profits, cash flows, capital expenditure and balance sheets. Monthly results are 
reported against budget and compared with the prior year, and forecasts for the current financial year are regularly 
revised in light of actual performance. 

• 

The  Company  has  a  consistent  system  of  prior  appraisal  for  investments,  overseen  by  the  Board,  with  defined 
financial controls and procedures with which each business area is required to comply. 

NON-FINANCIAL CONTROLS 
The Board recognises that maintaining sound controls and discipline is critical to managing the downside risks to our strategy. 
The Board has ultimate responsibility for the Group’s system of internal control and for reviewing its effectiveness. However, 
any such system of internal control can provide only reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material misstatement 
or loss. The Board considers that the internal controls in place are appropriate for the size, complexity and risk profile of the 
Group. The principal elements of the Group’s internal control system include: 

• 

Close management of the day-to-day activities of the Group by Executive Management. 

•  An organisational structure with defined levels of responsibility, which promotes entrepreneurial decision-making 

and rapid implementation while minimising risks. 

•  A comprehensive annual budgeting process approved by the Board.

•  Detailed monthly reporting of performance against budget.

• 

Central control over key areas such as capital expenditure authorisation and banking facilities. 

15

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

The Group continuously reviews its system of internal control to ensure compliance with best practice, while also having regard to its 
size and the resources available. As part of the Group’s review a number of non-financial controls covering areas such as regulatory 
compliance, business integrity, health and safety, risk management, business continuity and corporate social responsibility 
(including ethical trading, supplier standards, environmental concerns and employment diversity) have been assessed. 

Principle 5: Maintaining the Board as a well-functioning, balanced 
The Board comprises the CEO and three Non-Executive Directors, including the Non-Executive Chairman. The Board will meet 
at least every quarter or at any other time deemed necessary for the good management of the business and at a location 
team led by the Chair 
agreed between the Board members. 
The  Non-Executive  Directors,  Paul  Turner,  Dipak  Pandya  and  Josie  Watenphul,  are  all  considered  independent  directors 
notwithstanding Paul Turner’s length of service and role as Chairman. 

The Board is satisfied that it has a suitable balance between independence on the one hand, and knowledge of the Company 
on the other, to enable it to discharge its duties and responsibilities effectively.  All Directors are encouraged to use their 
independent judgement and to challenge all matters, whether strategic or operational. 

DIRECTORS’ CONFLICT OF INTEREST 
The Company has effective procedures in place to monitor and deal with conflicts of interest. The Board is aware of the other 
commitments and interests of its Directors, and changes to these commitments and interests are reported to and, where 
appropriate, agreed with the rest of the Board. 

Principle 6: Ensure that between them the Directors have the 
The Board is satisfied that, between the Directors, it has an effective and appropriate balance of skills and experience, including 
in  the  areas  of  fin-tech,  information  technology,  distribution,  finance,  business  development,  trading  and  marketing.  All 
necessary up-to-date experience, skills and capabilities
Directors receive regular and timely information on the Group’s operational and financial performance. Relevant information 
is circulated to the Directors in advance of meetings. The business reports monthly on its subsidiaries’ performance against 
their agreed budgets and the Board reviews the monthly reports on performance and any significant variances are reviewed. 

The current composition of the Board may be found here: 
http://www.cambriaafrica.com/about-us/directors-and-senior-management

All  Directors  are  able  to  take  independent  professional  advice  in  the  furtherance  of  their  duties,  if  necessary,  at  the 
Company’s expense. 

Principle 7: Evaluate Board performance based on clear and relevant 
The Board considers evaluation of its performance and that of its committees and individual directors to be an integral part 
of Corporate Governance to ensure it has the necessary skills, experience and abilities to fulfil its responsibilities. The goal 
objectives, seeking continuous improvement
of the Board evaluation process is to identify and address opportunities for improving the performance of the board and to 
solicit honest, genuine and constructive feedback.

The Board considers the evaluation process is best carried out internally given the Company’s current size. 

16

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

The  internal  evaluation  process  includes  the  following  aspects  which  are  subject  to  review  annually  or  as  required  by 
circumstances:

a)  Board Evaluation
•  Board composition in terms of skills, experience and balance
•  Board cohesion
•  Board operational effectiveness and decision making
•  Board meetings conduct and content and quality of information
• 
• 

The Board’s engagement with shareholders and other stakeholders
The corporate vision and business plan

b)  Committee Evaluation
•  Board Committees’ composition in terms of skills, experience and balance
•  Board Committees’ Terms of Reference
•  Board Committees’ effectiveness

Individual Director Evaluation
c) 
Executive Director performance in executive role
• 
• 
Executive Director performance and contribution to the Board
•  Non-Executive Director performance and contribution to the Board
•  Non-Executive Director’s independence and time served
•  All Directors’ attendance at Board and Committee meetings
The Board will, as a whole or in part as appropriate, undertake the evaluation process aided by the Chairman, CEO and Non-
Executive Directors. The Chairman is responsible in ensuring the evaluation process is ‘fit for purpose’, as well as dealing 
with matters raised during the process. The Chairman will keep under review the frequency, scope and mechanisms for the 
evaluation process and amend the process as required.

Where deficiencies are identified these will be addressed in a constructive manner. The evaluation process will be focused 
on  the  improvement  of  Board  performance  through  open  and  constructive  dialogue  and  the  development  and 
implementation of action plans. 

Succession planning is a vital task for boards and the management of succession planning represents a key measure of the 
effectiveness of the Board and a key responsibility of both the Nominations Committee and wider Board.

Principle 8: Promote a culture that is based on ethical values and 
The Board recognises that a corporate culture based on sound ethical values and behaviours is an asset and a likely competitive 
advantage. The Board aims to lead by example and do what is in the best interests of the Company. 
behaviours 

Conducting its business in an ethical, professional and responsible manner, treating our employees, clients, suppliers and 
business partners with equal courtesy and respect at all times, are non-negotiables adopted by the Board and visible in the 
actions and decisions of the CEO and the rest of the management team. It is a key element in every aspect of the Group’s 
businesses,  including  recruitment,  nominations,  training  and  engagement.  The  Group’s  performance  and  reward  system 
endorses the desired ethical behaviours across the Company.

17

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

Principle 9: Maintain governance structures and processes that are fit 
ROLES OF THE BOARD, CHAIRMAN AND CEO. 
for purpose and support good decision-making by the Board 
The Board is responsible for the long-term success of the Company. The Board is intimately involved in all material decisions 
of the Company and its subsidiaries. It is responsible for overall Group and subsidiary strategy; approval of major investments; 
approval of the annual and interim results; annual budgets; dividend policy and Board structure. It monitors the exposure to 
key business risks and reviews the strategic direction of all subsidiaries, their annual budgets and their performance in relation 
to those budgets. There is a clear division of responsibility at the head of the Company. The Chairman is responsible for running 
the business of the Board and for ensuring appropriate strategic focus and direction. The CEO is responsible for proposing the 
strategic focus to the Board, implementing it once it has been approved and overseeing the management of the Company. 

The CEO is responsible for formulation of the proposed strategic focus for submission to the Board, the day-to-day management 
of the Group’s businesses and its overall trading, operational and financial performance in fulfilment of that strategy, as well 
as plans and budgets approved by the Board of Directors. He also manages and oversees key risks, management development 
and corporate responsibility programmes. The controls applied in respect of financial and non-financial matters are set out 
earlier in this document and the effectiveness of these controls is regularly reported to the Audit Committee and the Board.

BOARD COMMITTEES 
The  Board  is  supported  by  the  Audit,  Remuneration  and  Nomination  committees.  Each  committee  has  access  to  such 
resources, information and advice as it deems necessary, at the cost of the Company, to enable the committee to discharge 
its duties. The terms of references of each committee are available at 
http://www.cambriaafrica.com/about-us/directors-responsibilities-committees.

Principle 10: Communicate how the Company is governed and is 
performing by maintaining a dialogue with shareholders and other 
The Board is committed to maintaining good communication and having constructive dialogue with all of its stakeholders, including 
shareholders, providing them with access to information to enable them to come to informed decisions about the Company. 
relevant stakeholders 

The Investor Relations section of the Company’s website provides all required regulatory information as well as additional 
information shareholders may find helpful including information on Board Members, Advisors and Significant Shareholdings, 
a historical list of the Company’s Announcements, Corporate Governance information, the Company’s publications including 
historic Annual Reports and Notices of General Meetings, together with Share Price information and interactive Charting 
facilities to assist shareholders analyse performance.

Results of shareholder meetings and details of votes cast will be publicly announced through the regulatory system and displayed on 
the Company’s website with suitable explanations of any actions undertaken as a result of any significant votes against resolutions.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD. 
PAUL TURNER
CHAIRMAN
31 JANUARY 2019

18

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

For the year ended 31 August 2018

Report of the Independent Auditors
Report  of  the  Independent  Auditors,  Baker  Tilly  Isle  of  Man  LLC,  to  the 
members of Cambria Africa Plc
We have audited the financial statements of Cambria Africa  Plc (the ‘parent company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘group’) for the 
year ended 31 August 2018 which comprise the Consolidated and Company Income Statement, the Consolidated and Company 
Opinion
Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated and Company Statement of Changes in Equity, the Consolidated and 
Company Statements of Financial Position, the Consolidated and Company Statement of Cash Flows and notes to the financial 
statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in 
their preparation is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union.

In our opinion the financial statements:

• 

give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and of the parent company’s affairs as at 31 August 2018, and of 
the group’s and parent company’s results for the year then ended; and

• 

have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union.

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our 
responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial 
Basis for opinion
statements section of our report. We are independent of the group in accordance with the ethical requirements that are 
relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our 
other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is 
sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the ISAs (UK) require us to report to you were:
Conclusions relating to going concern
• 

the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is not 
appropriate; or

• 

the  directors  have  not  disclosed  in  the  financial  statements  any  identified  material  uncertainties  that  may  cast 
significant doubt about the group’s or the parent company’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of 
accounting for a period of at least twelve months from the date when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the 
annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements 
Other information
does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express 
any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, 
consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in 
the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material 
misstatements,  we  are  required  to  determine  whether  there  is  a  material  misstatement  in  the  financial  statements  or  a 
material  misstatement  of  the  other  information.  If,  based  on  the  work  we  have  performed,  we  conclude  that  there  is  a 
material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard

19

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent company and its environment obtained in the course 
of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Chief Executive Officer’s Statement and the directors’ report.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception

As explained more fully in the directors’ responsibilities statement [set out on page 7], the directors are responsible for the 
preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control 
Responsibilities of directors
as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material mis- 
statement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the group’s and the parent company’s ability 
to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis 
of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the group or the parent company or to cease operations, or have 
no realistic alternative but to do so.

Our  objectives  are  to  obtain  reasonable  assurance  about  whether  the  financial  statements  as  a  whole  are  free  from  material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is 
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material 
misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in aggregate, 
they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs (UK), we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism 
throughout the audit. We also:

• 

Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, 
design  and  perform  audit  procedures  responsive  to  those  risks,  and  obtain  audit  evidence  that  is  sufficient  and 
appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from 
fraud  is  higher  than  for  one  resulting  from  error,  as  fraud  may  involve  collusion,  forgery,  intentional  omissions, 
misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.

•  Obtain  an  understanding  of  internal  control  relevant  to  the  audit  in  order  to  design  audit  procedures  that  are 
appropriate  in  the  circumstances,  but  not  for  the  purpose  of  expressing  an  opinion  on  the  effectiveness  of  the 
group’s internal control.

• 

• 

Evaluate  the  appropriateness  of  accounting  policies  used  and  the  reasonableness  of  accounting  estimates  and 
related disclosures made by the directors.

Conclude on the appropriateness of the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based   on 
the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast 
significant doubt on the group’s or the parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that 
a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in 
the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on 
the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause 
the group or the parent company to cease to continue as a going concern. 

• 

Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether 
the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.

•  Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or business activities 
within  the  group  to  express  an  opinion  on  the  consolidated  financial  statements.  We  are  responsible  for  the 
direction, supervision and performance of the group audit. We remain solely responsible for our audit opinion.

20

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the 
audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

This report is made solely to the company’s members, as a body, in accordance with the terms of our engagement letter dated 
9 January 2018. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s members those matters we 
Use of Our Report
are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do 
not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company’s members as a body, for our audit 
work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

BAKER TILLY ISLE OF MAN LLC,
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS,
P O BOX 95
2A LORD STREET 
DOUGLAS
ISLE OF MAN IM99 1HP
31 JANUARY 2019

21

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

For the year ended 31 August 2018
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Consolidated Income Statement
Consolidated Income Statement

Revenue 

Cost of sales 

Gross profit 

Operating costs 

Other income 

Exceptionals 

Operating profit 

Finance income 

Finance costs 

Net finance costs 

Profit before tax 

Income tax 

Profit for the period from continuing operations 

Discontinued operations

Profit / (loss) for the year from discontinued operations, net of tax 
Profit / (loss) for the year 

Attributable to:

Owners of the company 

Non-controlling Interests 

Profit / (loss) for the year 

Earnings / (loss) per share - all operations

Basic and diluted earnings / (loss) per share (cents) 

Earnings / (loss) per share - continuing operations

Basic and diluted earnings / (loss) per share (cents) 

Earnings/ (loss) per share - discontinued operations

Basic and diluted earnings / (loss) per share (cents) 

5 
NOTE 
6 

6 

8 

8 

9 

5 

11 

11 

11 

GROUP 2018    GROUP 2017
TOTAL
8,598
US$’000
( 2,233 )

TOTAL   
9,441   
US$’000   
( 2,001 ) 

7,440   

( 3,997 ) 

6,365

( 5,307 )

70   

( 264 ) 

3,249   

23   

( 252 ) 

( 229 ) 

3,020   

( 776 ) 

2,244   

3   
2,247   

1,897   

350   

2,247   

23

( 9 )

1,072

15

( 371 )

( 356 )

716

( 660 )

56

( 153 )
( 97 )

( 349 )

252

( 97 )

0.50c   

( 0.12c )

0.50c   

( 0.07c )

0.00c   

( 0.05c )

The notes on pages 30 to 67 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

22

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Company Income Statement

Revenue 

Cost of sales 

Gross profit 

Operating costs 

Other income 

Exceptionals 

Operating loss 

Finance income 

Finance costs 

Net finance costs 

Loss before tax 

Income tax 

Loss for the period from continuing operations 

Discontinued operations

Profit /(loss) for the year from discontinued operations, net of tax 
Loss for the year 

Attributable to:

Owners of the company 

Non-controlling interests 

Loss for the year 

Loss per share - all operations

Basic and diluted loss per share (cents) 

Loss per share - continuing operations

Basic and diluted loss per share (cents) 

Loss per share - discontinued operations

Basic and diluted loss per share (cents) 

COMPANY 2018   COMPANY 2017
TOTAL
-
US$’000
-

TOTAL   
-   
US$’000   
-   

-   

( 184 ) 

19   

17   

( 148 ) 

-   

( 201 ) 

( 201 ) 

( 349 ) 

-   

( 349 ) 

-   
( 349 ) 

( 349 ) 

-   

( 349 ) 

-

( 1,155 )

-

( 70 )

( 1,225 )

34

( 286 )

( 252 )

( 1,477 )

-

( 1,477 )

-
( 1,477 )

( 1,477 )

-

( 1,477 )

( 0.04c ) 

( 0.45c )

( 0.04c ) 

( 0.45c )

0.00c   

0.00c

The notes on pages 30 to 67 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

23

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Consolidated & Company Statements of 
Comprehensive Income

Consolidated
Profit / (loss) for the year 

Other comprehensive income

Items that will not be reclassified to income statement:

Revaluation of property 

Related deferred tax adjustment 

Foreign currency translation differences for overseas operations 

Total comprehensive profit / (loss) for the year 

Attributable to:

Owners of the company 

Non-controlling interests 

Total comprehensive profit / (loss) for the year 

Company
Loss for the year 

Other comprehensive income

Items that will not be reclassified to income statement:

Foreign currency translation differences for overseas operations 

Total comprehensive loss for the year 

Attributable to:

Owners of the company 

Non-controlling interests 

Total comprehensive loss for the year 

GROUP 2018    GROUP 2017
( 97 )
US$’000

2,247   
US$’000   

200   

( 36 ) 

3   

2,414   

2,064   

350   

2,414   

-

-

1

( 96 )

( 348 )

252

( 96 )

COMPANY 2018   COMPANY 2017
( 1,477 )
US$’000

( 349 ) 
US$’000   

-   

( 349 ) 

-

( 1,477 )

( 349 ) 

-   

( 349 ) 

( 1,477 )

-

( 1,477 )

The notes on pages 30 to 67 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

24

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Consolidated Statement of Changes
in Equity

          ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE OWNERS OF THE COMPANY

Balance at 1 September 2017 

Profit for the year 

Revaluation of land & buildings 

Related deferred tax adjustment 

Foreign currency translation
differences for overseas
operations - continuing &
discontinued 

Total comprehensive profit
for the year 

Contributions by and
distributions to owners of the
Company recognised directly
in equity

Issue of ordinary shares (net
of share issue costs) 

NCI on new investment in
A F Philip & Company 

Deferred tax adjustment 

Transfers between reserves 

Dividends paid to minorities 

Total contributions by and
distributions to owners of
the Company 

Balance at 31 August 2018 

Balance at 1 September 2016 

(Loss)/profit for the year 

Foreign currency translation
differences for overseas operations 

Total comprehensive
(loss)/profit for the year 

Contributions by and
distributions to owners of the
Company recognised directly
in equity

Issue of ordinary shares (net
of share issue costs) 

Expiry of share options 

Dividends paid 

Total contributions by and
distributions to owners of
the Company 

Balance at 31 August 2017 

SHARE 
CAPITAL 

SHARE 
PREMIUM 

RE-VALUA-   

FOREIGN   
TION    EXCHANGE   
RESERVE   

RESERVE   

SHARE
BASED   
PAYMENT   
RESERVE   

RETAINED   
EARNINGS   

NDR   

TOTAL   

NON-CON
TROLLING   
INTERESTS   

TOTAL
EQUITY

51 

994
US$’000  US$’000  US$’000   US$’000   US$’000   US$’000   US$’000   US$’000   US$’000   US$’000
2,247

( 76,558 ) 

( 10,627 ) 

85,686 

1,905  

1,897  

1,897  

350  

438  

895  

99  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

200  

( 36 ) 

-  

164  

26 

2,773 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

26 

77 

2,773 

88,459 

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

602  

( 10,645 ) 

-  

-  

3  

3  

-  

-  

-  

( 21 ) 

-  

( 21 ) 

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

1,897  

-  

-  

( 3 ) 

( 445 ) 

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

200  

( 36 ) 

3  

-  

-  

-  

200

( 36 )

3

2,064  

350  

2,414

 - 

2,799  

-  

2,799

-  

-  

466  

-  

-  

( 3 ) 

-  

-  

947  

947

-  

-  

( 3 )

-

( 405 ) 

( 405 )

( 448 ) 

466  

( 75,109 ) 

2,371  

2,796  

5,755  

542  

991  

3,338

6,746

          ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE OWNERS OF THE COMPANY

SHARE 
CAPITAL 

SHARE 
PREMIUM 

RE-VALUA-   

FOREIGN   
TION    EXCHANGE   
RESERVE   

RESERVE   

SHARE
BASED   
PAYMENT   
RESERVE   

RETAINED   
EARNINGS   

NDR   

TOTAL   

NON-CON
TROLLING   
INTERESTS   

TOTAL
EQUITY

34 

( 514 )
US$’000  US$’000  US$’000   US$’000   US$’000   US$’000   US$’000   US$’000   US$’000   US$’000
( 97 )

( 10,628 ) 

( 76,247 ) 

83,950 

1,900  

( 510 ) 

( 349 ) 

( 349 ) 

252  

438  

( 4 ) 

43  

-  

-  

-  

-  

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

17 

1,736 

- 

- 

- 

- 

17 

51 

1,736 

85,686 

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

1  

1  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

( 349 ) 

-  

( 43 ) 

-  

( 5 ) 

43  

-  

-  

-  

5  

-  

-  

1  

-  

1

( 348 ) 

252  

( 96 )

1,753  

-  

-  

-  

-  

1,753

-

( 149 ) 

( 149 )

( 43 ) 

38  

5  

1,753  

( 149 ) 

1,604

438  

( 10,627 ) 

-  

( 76,558 ) 

1,905  

895  

99  

994

The notes on pages 30 to 67 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

25

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
   
   
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Company Statement of Changes
in Equity

                    ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE OWNERS OF THE COMPANY

Balance at 1 September 2017 

Loss for the year 

Total comprehensive loss
for the year 

Contributions by and
distributions to owners of the
Company recognised directly
in equity

Issue of ordinary shares (net
of share issue costs) 

Total contributions by and
distributions to owners of
the Company 

Balance at 31 August 2018 

Balance at 1 September 2016 

Loss for the year 

Total comprehensive loss
for the year 

Contributions by and
distributions to owners of the
Company recognised directly
in equity

Issue of ordinary shares (net
of share issue costs) 

Expiry of share options 

Total contributions by and
distributions to owners of
the Company 

Balance at 31 August 2017 

SHARE 
CAPITAL 

51 
US$’000 
- 

SHARE 
PREMIUM 

85,686 
US$’000 
- 

- 

- 

26 

26 

77 

2,773 

2,773 

88,459 

FOREIGN   
EXCHANGE   
RESERVE   

( 13,186 ) 
US$’000   
-   

SHARE
BASED
PAYMENT   
RESERVE   

-   
US$’000   
-   

RETAINED   
EARNINGS   

( 73,243 ) 
US$’000   
( 349 ) 

TOTAL
EQUITY

( 692 )
US$’000
( 349 )

-   

-   

-   

( 13,186 ) 

-   

( 349 ) 

( 349 )

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

( 73,592 ) 

2,799

2,799

1,758

                    ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE OWNERS OF THE COMPANY

SHARE 
CAPITAL 

34 
US$’000 
- 

SHARE 
PREMIUM 

83,950 
US$’000 
- 

- 

- 

17 

- 

17 

51 

1,736 

- 

1,736 

85,686 

FOREIGN   
EXCHANGE   
RESERVE   

( 13,186 ) 
US$’000   
-   

SHARE
BASED
PAYMENT   
RESERVE   

43   
US$’000   
-   

RETAINED   
EARNINGS   

( 71,766 ) 
US$’000   
( 1,477 ) 

TOTAL
EQUITY

( 925 )
US$’000
( 1,477 )

-   

-   

-   

-   

( 13,186 ) 

-   

( 1,477 ) 

( 1,477 )

-   

( 43 ) 

( 43 ) 

-   

-   

-   

-   

( 73,243 ) 

1,753

( 43 )

1,710

( 692 )

The notes on pages 30 to 67 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

26

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
As at 31 August 2018

Consolidated and Company Statement of 
Financial Position

GROUP 2018    COMPANY 2018   
US$’000   
-   

US$’000   
2,943   

GROUP 2017    COMPANY 2017
US$’000
-

US$’000   
2,727   

Assets

Property, plant and equipment 

Goodwill 

Intangible assets 

Investments at fair value 

Total non-current assets 

Inventories 

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss 

Trade and other receivables 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Discontinued operation 

Total current assets 

Total assets 

Equity

Issued share capital 

Share premium account 

Revaluation reserve 

Share based payment reserve 

Foreign exchange reserve 

Non-distributable reserves 

Retained losses 

Equity attributable to owners of company 

Non-controlling interests 

Total equity 

Liabilities

Loans and borrowings 

Trade and other payables 

Provisions 

Deferred tax liabilities 

Total non-current liabilities 

Current tax liabilities 

Loans and borrowings 

Trade and other payables 

Discontinued operation 

Total current liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Total equity and liabilities 

NOTES 
12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

5,10 

21 

21 

20 

20,22 

20 

20 

23 

23 

24 

25 

27 

26 

27 

5,10 

717   

16   

2,546   

6,222   

243   

131   

843   

3,259   

1   

4,477   

10,699   

77   

88,459   

602   

-   

( 10,645 ) 

2,371   

( 75,109 ) 

5,755   

991   

6,746   

-   

120   

188   

223   

531   

477   

619   

2,303   

23   

3,422   

3,953   

10,699   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

3,380   

758   

-   

4,138   

4,138   

77   

88,459   

-   

-   

( 13,186 ) 

-   

( 73,592 ) 

1,758   

-   

1,758   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

413   

1,967   

-   

2,380   

2,380   

4,138   

717   

27   

-   

3,471   

233   

86   

1,730   

1,045   

29   

3,123   

6,594   

51   

85,686   

438   

-   

( 10,627 ) 

1,905   

( 76,558 ) 

 895   

99   

994   

-

-

-

-

-

-

4,322

143

-

4,465

4,465

51

85,686

-

-

( 13,186 )

-

( 73,243 )

( 692 )

-

( 692 )

1,770   

1,565

79   

186   

184   

2,219   

397   

1,556   

1,374   

54   

3,381   

5,600   

6,594   

-

-

-

1,565

-

926

2,666

-

3,592

5,157

4,465

These financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 31 January 2019.

They were signed on their behalf by:

MR. S SHASHA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The notes on pages 30 to 67 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

27

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As at 31 August 2018

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Cash generated from operations 

Taxation paid 

Cash generated from operating activities 

Cash flows from investing activities

Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment 

Purchase of property, plant and equipment 

Other investing activities 

Interest received 

Net cash used in investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities

Dividends paid to non-controlling interests 

Interest paid 

Proceeds from issue of share capital 

Loans repaid 

Proceeds from drawdown of loans 

Net cash (utilised) / generated by financing activities 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents at 1 September 

Foreign exchange 

Net cash and cash equivalents at 31 August 

Cash and cash equivalents as above comprise the following:

Cash and cash equivalents attributable to continuing operations 

Cash and cash equivalents attributable to discontinued operations 

Net cash and cash equivalents at 31 August 

28 
NOTES 

GROUP 2018    GROUP 2017
960
US$’000
( 539 )

5,270   
US$’000   
( 693 ) 

4,577   

421

36   

( 213 ) 

( 1,600 ) 

23   

( 1,754 ) 

( 405 ) 

( 51 ) 

2,731   

( 2,945 ) 

37   

( 633 ) 

2,190   

1,069   

-   

3,259   

3,259   

-   

3,259   

21

( 291 )

( 2 )

15

( 257 )

( 149 )

( 85 )

1,753

( 2,660 )

1,344

203

367

701

1

1,069

1,045

24

1,069

23,26 

23,26 

19 

19 

The notes on pages 30 to 67 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

28

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Company Statement of Cash Flows

Cash generated from operations 

Taxation paid 

Cash generated from operating activities 

Cash flows from investing activities

Interest received 

Net cash used in investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities

Interest paid 

Proceeds from issue of share capital 

Loans repaid 

Net cash generated/ (utilised) by financing activities 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents at 1 September 
Net cash and cash equivalents at 31 August 

Cash and cash equivalents as above comprise the following:

Cash and cash equivalents attributable to continuing operations 

Net cash and cash equivalents at 31 August 

28 
NOTES 

23,26 

19 

19 

COMPANY 2018   COMPANY 2017
551
US$’000
-

163   
US$’000   
-   

163   

551

-   

-   

34

34

( 201 ) 

2,731   

( 2,078 ) 

452   

615   

143   
758   

758   

758   

( 286 )

1,753

( 1,909 )

( 442 )

143

-
143

143

143

The notes on pages 30 to 67 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

29

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

Cambria  Africa  Plc  (the  “Company”)  is  a  public  limited  company  listed  on  the  Alternative  Investment  Market  (AIM)  and 
incorporated in the Isle of Man under the Companies Act 2006. The consolidated financial statements of the Group for the 
1.  Reporting entity
year ended 31 August 2018 comprise the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the “Group” and individually 
as “Group entities”).

The majority shareholder is Ventures Africa Limited, the ultimate controlling entity is S Shasha and Associates and the ultimate 
beneficial owner Mr. S Shasha. 
The financial statements were authorised for issue by the Directors on 31 January 2019.

STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE
2.  Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards 
(IFRSs) as adopted by the E.U, and the Isle of Man Companies Act 2006.

ADOPTION OF NEW AND REVISED INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS (“IFRS”)

STANDARDS ADOPTED IN THE CURRENT PERIOD

In the current year, the Group has adopted revised Standards, Amendments and Interpretations issued by the International 
Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) of the IASB 
that were relevant to its operations. The accounting policies adopted are consistent with those of the previous year. 

New and revised Standards and Interpretations adopted in this period are summarised as follows:

STANDARD/  
IFRS 12 
INTERPRETATION

Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities - Amendments resulting from Annual Improvements 
2014–2016 Cycle (clarifying scope)

ISSUED 
Dec-16 

EFFECTIVE DATE
1-Jan-17

IFRS for SME’s 

Amendments as the result of the first comprehensive review 

Statement of Cash Flows - Amendments as a result of the Disclosure initiative 

Dec-15 

Jan-16 

Income Taxes - Amendments regarding the recognition of deferred tax assets for unrealised losses 

Jan-16 

IAS 7 

IAS 12 

1-Jan-17

1-Jan-17

1-Jan-17

30

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

NEW AND AMENDED STANDARDS EFFECTIVE FOR FUTURE PERIODS

Notes to the Financial Statements

The following standards and interpretations were in issue but not yet effective and were not applied in these financial statements.

STANDARD/  
IFRS 1 
INTERPRETATION

First-time Adoption of IFRS – Amendments resulting from Annual Improvements 2014-2016 Cycle
(removing short-term exemptions) 

ISSUED 

EFFECTIVE DATE

Share-based Payment - Amendments to clarify the classification and measurement of share-based
payment transactions 

Business Combinations - Amendments resulting from Annual Improvements 2015–2017 Cycle
(remeasurement of previously held interest) 

Business Combinations – Amendments to clarify the definition of a business  

Insurance Contracts - Amendments regarding the interaction of IFRS 4 and IFRS 9 

Financial Instruments – Finalised version, incorporating requirements for classification and
measurement, impairment, general hedge accounting and derecognition 

Financial Instruments – Amendments regarding the interaction of IFRS 4 and IFRS 9 

Financial Instruments - Amendments regarding prepayment features with negative
compensation and modifications of financial liabilities 

Joint Arrangements - Amendments resulting from Annual Improvements 2015–2017 Cycle
(remeasurement of previously held interest) 

Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Original issue 

Dec-16 

Jun-16 

Dec-17 

Oct-18 

Sep-16 

Jul-14 

Sep-16 

Oct-17 

Dec-17 

May-14 

Revenue from Contracts with Customers – Amendments to defer the effective date to 1 January 2018 

Sep-15 

Revenue from Contracts with Customers – Clarifications to IFRS 15 

Leases - Original issue 

Insurance Contracts - Original issue 

Presentation of Financial Statements – Amendments regarding the definition of material 

Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors – Amendments regarding the
definition of material 

Income Taxes - Amendments resulting from Annual Improvements 2015–2017 Cycle (income tax
consequences of dividends) 

Employee benefits – Amendments regarding plan amendments, curtailments or settlements 

Borrowing Costs - Amendments resulting from Annual Improvements 2015–2017 Cycle (borrowing
costs eligible for capitalisation) 

Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures - Amendments resulting from Annual Improvements
2014-2016 Cycle (clarifying certain fair value measurements) 

Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures - Amendments regarding long-term interests in
associates and joint ventures 

Apr-16 

Jan-16 

May-17 

Oct-18 

Oct-18 

Dec-17 

Feb-18 

Dec-17 

Dec-16 

Oct-17 

IFRS 2 

IFRS 3 

IFRS 3 

IFRS 4 

IFRS 9 

IFRS 9 

IFRS 9 

IFRS 11 

IFRS 15 

IFRS 15 

IFRS 15 

IFRS 16 

IFRS 17 

IAS 1 

IAS 8 

IAS 12 

IAS 19 

IAS 23 

IAS 28 

IAS 28 

IAS 39 

1-Jan-18

1-Jan-18

1-Jan-19

1-Jan-20

1-Jan-18

1-Jan-18

1-Jan-18

1-Jan-19

1-Jan-19

1-Jan-18

1-Jan-18

1-Jan-18

1-Jan-19

1-Jan-21

1-Jan-20

1-Jan-20

1-Jan-19

1-Jan-19

1-Jan-19

1-Jan-18

1-Jan-19

Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement - Amendments to permit an entity to elect to
continue to apply the hedge accounting requirements in IAS 39 for a fair value hedge of the interest
rate exposure of a portion of a portfolio of financial assets or financial liabilities when IFRS 9 is applied, 
and to extend the fair value option to certain contracts that meet the ‘own use’ scope exception 

Nov-13 

Applies when
IFRS 9 is applied

IAS 40 

Investment Property - Amendments to clarify transfers or property to, or from, investment property  Dec-16 

1-Jan-18

31

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

BASIS OF MEASUREMENT

Notes to the Financial Statements

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis except for the following:

• 
• 

land and buildings measured at revalued amounts.
share-based payments measured at fair value.

FUNCTIONAL AND PRESENTATION CURRENCY

The consolidated financial statements are presented in United States Dollars, which is the Group’s presentational currency 
and the Company’s functional currency and all amounts have been rounded to the nearest thousand dollars.

USE OF ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRSs requires management to make judgements, estimates and 
assumptions that affect the application of policies and reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expenses. The 
estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be 
reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis of making the judgements about carrying values of 
assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised 
in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period or in the period of the revision and future 
periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

Information about critical judgements in applying accounting policies and assumptions and estimation uncertainties that have 
the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the consolidated financial statements is included in the following notes:

•  Note 13 – Goodwill

•  Note 12 – Property, plant and equipment

•  Note 24 – Provisions

By their nature, these estimates and assumptions are subject to an inherent measurement of uncertainty and the effect on 
the Group’s financial statements of changes in estimates in future periods could be significant.

GOING CONCERN

The Group’s business activities and financial performance are set out in the Chief Executive’s Review on pages 4 to 9. In 
addition, note 29 to the financial statements includes the Group’s objectives, policies and processes  for  managing  its  capital; 
its financial risk management objectives; details of its financial instruments and its exposure to credit and liquidity risk.

The Board has considered the cash flow forecasts for the ensuing 12 months including the maturity profile of its contractual debt 
obligations. The financial position of the Group has improved significantly as a result of the Open Offer and VAL Loan Conversion 
and positive cashflows. External group debt has reduced to $619,000 from $3,41 million at the end of the previous financial year.

After  making  enquiries,  the  Directors  have  a  reasonable  expectation  that  the  Company  and  the  Group  have  adequate 
resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.

Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual report and financial statements.

32

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

The following accounting policies have been applied consistently by the Group.
3.  Significant accounting policies
(A)  BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company and Group entities controlled by 
the Company (its subsidiaries). Control is achieved where the Company is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its 
involvement with the investee and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. The financial 
statements of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date that control commenced until 
the date that control ceases.

The  interests  of  non-controlling  shareholders  is  stated  at  their  proportion  of  the  fair  values  of  the  assets  and  liabilities 
recognised. Subsequently, losses applicable to the non-controlling interests are allocated against their interests even if doing 
so causes the non-controlling interests to have a deficit balance.

The results of entities acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the consolidated income statement from the 
effective date of acquisition or up to the effective date of disposal as appropriate. Where necessary, the financial statements 
of the subsidiaries are adjusted to conform to the Group’s accounting policies. All intra-group transactions, balances, income 
and expenses are eliminated on consolidation.

The acquisition of subsidiaries is accounted for using the acquisition method. The cost of the acquisition is measured at the 
BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
aggregate of the fair values at the date of exchange of assets given, liabilities incurred or assumed, and equity instruments issued 
by the Group in exchange for control of the acquiree. Acquisition related costs are expensed as incurred unless they relate to 
the cost of issuing debt or equity securities. The acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities that meet the 
conditions for recognition under IFRS 3 are recognised at their fair values at the acquisition date, except for non-current assets 
that are classified as held for sale in accordance with IFRS 5, which are recognised and measured at fair value less costs to sell.

Goodwill arising on acquisition is recognised as an asset at the date that control is assumed (the acquisition date) and initially 
measured at cost, being the excess of the cost of the business combination over the Group’s interest in the fair value of the 
identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities recognised.

If, after reassessment, the Group’s interest in the net fair value of the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent 
liabilities exceeds the cost of the business combination, the excess is recognised immediately in the income statement.

The interest of non-controlling shareholders in the acquiree is initially measured at the non-controlling interests’ proportion 
of the net fair value of the assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities recognised.

(B)  INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill arising on consolidation is recognised as an asset.
GOODWILL

Following  initial  recognition,  goodwill  is  subject  to  impairment  reviews,  at  least  annually,  and  measured  at  cost  less 
accumulated impairment losses. The recoverable amount is estimated at each reporting date.

Any impairment loss is recognised immediately in the income statement and is not subsequently reversed when the carrying 
amount of the asset exceeds its recoverable amount.

33

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

Any impairment losses recognised in respect of cash generating units are allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any 
goodwill allocated to cash-generating units (groups of units) and then to reduce the carrying amount of other assets in the 
unit (groups of units) on a pro rata basis.

On disposal of a subsidiary the attributable amount of goodwill is included in the determination of the gain or loss on disposal.

Other intangible assets are measured initially at cost and are amortised on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful 
OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
lives. The carrying amount is reduced by any provision for impairment where necessary.

On a business combination, as well as recording separable intangible assets already recognised in the statement of financial 
position of the acquired entity at their fair value, identifiable intangible assets that are separable or arise from contractual or 
other legal rights are also included in the acquisition statement of financial position at fair value.

Amortisation of intangible assets, disclosed under operating costs in note 6, is charged over their useful economic lives, as follows: -

Software licenses 

3 years

(C)  FOREIGN CURRENCIES

The individual financial statements of each Group entity are presented in the currency of the primary economic environment 
in which it operates (its functional currency).

For the purpose of the consolidated financial statements, the results and financial position of each of the Group entities are 
expressed in United States Dollars, which is the functional currency of the Company and the presentational currency for the 
consolidated financial statements.

In preparing the financial statements of the individual Group entities, transactions denominated in foreign currencies are translated 
into the respective functional currency of the Group entities using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of transactions.

Non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated at the historic rate. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign 
currencies are translated into the functional currency at the rates of exchange ruling at the reporting date. Non-monetary 
assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies that are measured at fair value are retranslated to the functional 
currency at the exchange rate at the date that the fair value was determined.

Exchange differences arising on the settlement of monetary items, and on the retranslation of monetary items, are included 
in  the  income  statement  for  the  year,  as  either  finance  income  or  finance  costs  depending  on  whether  foreign  currency 
movements are in a net gain or net loss position.

Exchange differences arising on the retranslation of non-monetary items earned at fair value are included within the income 
statement for the period except for differences arising on the retranslation of non-monetary items in respect of which gains, 
and losses are recognised directly in equity. For such non-monetary items, any exchange component of that gain or loss is also 
recognised directly in other comprehensive income.

For the purpose of presenting consolidated financial statements, the assets and liabilities of the Group’s foreign operations 
are translated at exchange rates prevailing at the reporting date. Income and expenses are translated at the average exchange 
rates for the period, unless exchange rates fluctuate so as to have a material impact on the financial statements during that 
period, in which case the exchange rates at the date of transactions are used.

Exchange differences arising, if any, are recognised in other comprehensive income and are transferred to the Group’s foreign 
currency translation reserve within equity.

34

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

For the year ended 31 August 2018

(D)  TAXATION

Notes to the Financial Statements

The tax expense represents the sum of current and deferred tax.

Current tax is based on taxable profit for the period for the Group. Taxable profit differs from net profit in the income statement 
CURRENT TAXATION
because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items 
that are never taxable or deductible. The Group’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted 
or substantively enacted by the reporting date.

Deferred  tax  is  the  tax  expected  to  be  payable  or  recoverable  on  differences  between  the  carrying  amounts  of  assets 
DEFERRED TAXATION
and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit and 
is  accounted  for  using  the  balance  sheet  liability  method.  Deferred  tax  liabilities  are  generally  recognised  for  all  taxable 
temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be 
available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the 
temporary difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition (other than in a business combination) of other 
assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.

Deferred  tax  liabilities  are  recognised  for  taxable  temporary  differences  arising  on  the  investments  in  subsidiaries  and 
associates, except where the Group is able to control the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that the 
temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each reporting date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer 
probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered.

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled, or the asset is 
realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the income statement, except when it relates to items charged or credited to 
equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are off set when there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against 
current tax liabilities, when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Group intends to settle 
its current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis.

(E)  INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARIES

Investments in subsidiary undertakings are carried at cost with annual reviews undertaken for impairment.

(F)  OTHER INVESTMENTS

Other asset investments are stated at fair value, adjusted for impairment losses.

(G)  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Land and buildings are stated at their revalued amounts, being the fair value at the date of revaluation, less any impairment 
losses. Revaluations are performed with sufficient regularity such that the carrying amount does not differ materially from 
that which would be determined using fair values at the reporting date.

35

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

Any revaluation increase arising on the revaluation of such assets is credited to the revaluation reserve, except to the extent 
that it reverses a revaluation decrease for the same asset previously recognised as an expense, in which case the increase is 
credited to the income statement to the extent of the decrease previously charged. A decrease in carrying amount arising on 
the revaluation of such asset is charged as an expense to the extent that it exceeds the balance, if any, held in the revaluation 
reserve relating to a previous revaluation of that asset. Depreciation on revalued assets is charged to the income statement. 
On subsequent sale or retirement of a revalued asset, the attributable revaluation surplus remaining is transferred directly 
to retained earnings.

Depreciation is charged straight line so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets, other than land and buildings, over their 
estimated useful lives. The annual depreciation rates used for this purpose are:

Freehold buildings 

Plant and machinery 

Motor vehicles 

2%

10%

25%

Fixtures and fittings 

10% - 15%

The  gain  or  loss  arising  on  the  disposal  of  an  asset  is  determined  as  the  difference  between  the  sales  proceeds  and  the 
carrying amount of the asset and is recognised in the income statement for the year.

Assets held under finance leases are depreciated over their expected useful lives on the same basis as owned assets, or where 
shorter, over the relevant lease term. No depreciation is provided on land and buildings.

Property, plant and equipment identified for disposal are reclassified as assets held for resale.

(H)  IMPAIRMENT OF ASSETS EXCLUDING GOODWILL

At each reporting date, the Group reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether 
there  is  any  indication  that  those  assets  have  suffered  an  impairment  loss.  If  any  such  indication  exists,  the  recoverable 
amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of any impairment loss. Where the asset does not generate 
cash flows that are independent from other assets, the Group estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit 
to which the asset belongs. Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing 
value in use, 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 and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows 
have not been adjusted.

If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying 
amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised as an 
expense immediately, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount in which case the reversal of the impairment 
loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.

Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is increased 
to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying 
amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset (or cash-generating unit) 
in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised as income immediately, unless the relevant asset is carried at a 
revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.

36

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

For the year ended 31 August 2018

(I)  FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Notes to the Financial Statements

Non-derivative financial instruments comprise investments in equity, trade and other receivables, cash and cash equivalents, 
loans and borrowings and trade and other payables. Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised in the Group’s 
statement of financial position when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash in hand and demand deposits and other short term highly liquid investments that 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value. Bank overdrafts 
that are repayable on demand and form an integral part of the Group’s cash management are included as a component of 
cash and cash equivalents for the purpose of the statement of cash flows.

Trade receivables are initially measured at fair value and are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective 
TRADE RECEIVABLES
interest rate method. Appropriate allowances for estimated recoverable amounts are recognised in profit or loss when there 
is objective evidence the asset is impaired.

Trade  payables  are  initially  measured  at  fair  value  and  are  subsequently  measured  at  amortised  cost  using  the  effective 
TRADE PAYABLES
interest rate method.

Financial liabilities are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into.
FINANCIAL LIABILITIES

The Board’s objective is to continue to restore and rebuild the group’s capital base to maintain investor, creditor and market 
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
confidence and to sustain future development of the business.

Interest bearing bank loans and overdrafts are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs. Finance charges, 
BANK BORROWINGS
including premiums payable on settlement or redemption and direct issue costs, are accounted for on an amortised cost basis 
to the income statement using the effective interest method and are added to the carrying amount of the instrument to the 
extent that they are not settled in the period in which they arise.

Equity instruments issued by the Company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs.
EQUITY INSTRUMENTS

(J)  INVENTORIES

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realisable value. Cost comprises direct materials and where applicable direct 
expenditure and attributable overheads that have been incurred in bringing the inventories to their present location and 
condition. Net realisable value represents the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be 
incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.

37

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

For the year ended 31 August 2018

(K)  SHARE BASED PAYMENTS

Notes to the Financial Statements

The  Group  provides  benefits  to  certain  senior  executives  of  the  Group  in  the  form  of  share-based  payments,  whereby 
employees render services in exchange for shares or rights over shares (equity-settled transactions). The cost of these equity-
settled transactions with employees is measured by reference to the fair value of the equity instruments at the date at which 
they  are  granted.  The  fair  value  is  determined  by  using  a  Black-Scholes  model.  The  dilutive  effect,  if  any,  of  outstanding 
options is reflected as additional share dilution in the computation of earnings per share.

The  grant  date  fair  value  of  options  granted  to  employees  is  recognised  as  an  employee  expense  with  a  corresponding 
increase in equity over the period the employees become unconditionally entitled to the options.

(L)  INTEREST-BEARING BORROWINGS

Interest-bearing  borrowings  are  recognised  initially  at  fair  value  less  attributable  transaction  costs.  Subsequent  to  initial 
recognition, interest-bearing borrowings are stated at amortised cost with any difference between cost and redemption value 
being recognised in the income statement over the period of the borrowings on an effective interest basis.

(M) PROVISIONS

A provision is recognised in the statement of financial position when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation 
as a result of a past event and it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation. If 
the effect is material, provisions are determined by discounting the expected future cash flows at a pre-tax rate that reflects 
current market assessments of the time value of money and, where appropriate, the risks specific to the liability.

(N)  REVENUE RECOGNITION

Revenue is derived from the sale of goods and services and is measured at the fair value of consideration received or receivable 
after deducting discounts, volume rebates, value-added tax and other sales taxes. A sale of goods and services is recognised 
when recovery of the consideration is probable, there is no continuing management involvement with the goods and services 
and the amount of revenue can be measured reliably.

A sale of goods is recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership have passed to the buyer, the associated costs 
and possible return of goods can be estimated reliably. This is when title and insurance risk have passed to the customer and the 
goods have been delivered to a contractually agreed location. A sale of services is recognised when the service has been rendered.

(O)  LEASES

Leases are classified according to the substance of the transaction. A lease that transfers substantially all the risks and rewards 
of ownership to the lessee is classified as a finance lease. All other leases are classified as operating leases.

Finance leases are capitalised at their fair value or, if lower, at the present value of the minimum lease payments, each deter- 
FINANCE LEASES
mined at the inception of the lease. The corresponding liability is shown as a finance lease obligation to the lessor. Leasing 
repayments comprise both a capital and finance element. The finance element is written off to the income statement so as to 
produce an approximately constant periodic rate of charge on the outstanding obligations. Such assets are depreciated over 
the shorter of their estimated useful lives and the period of the lease.

Operating lease rentals are charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.
OPERATING LEASES

38

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

For the year ended 31 August 2018

(P)  EARNINGS / (LOSS) PER SHARE

Notes to the Financial Statements

Basic earnings / (loss) per share is calculated based on the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year. 
Diluted earnings / (loss) per share is based upon the weighted average number of shares in issue throughout the year, adjusted 
for the dilutive effect of potential ordinary shares. The only potential ordinary shares in issue are employee share options.

(Q)  SEGMENT REPORTING

A segment is a distinguishable component of the Group that is engaged either in providing products or services (business 
segment), or in providing products or services within a particular economic environment (geographical segment), which is 
subject to risks and rewards that are different from those of other segments.

(R)  ASSETS HELD FOR SALE AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

Non-current assets, or disposal groups comprising assets and liabilities, are classified as held-for-sale or held-for-distribution 
ASSETS HELD FOR SALE
if it is highly probable that they will be recovered primarily through sale or distribution rather than through continuing use.

Immediately before classification as held-for-sale or held-for-distribution, the assets, or components of a disposal group, are 
remeasured in accordance with the Group’s other accounting policies.

Thereafter, generally the assets, or disposal group, are measured at the lower of their carrying amount and fair value less 
costs to sell. Any impairment loss on a disposal group is allocated first to goodwill, and then to the remaining assets and 
liabilities on a pro rata basis, except that no loss is allocated to inventories, financial assets, deferred tax assets, employee 
benefit assets, investment property or biological assets, which continue to be measured in accordance with the Group’s other 
accounting policies. Impairment losses on initial classification as held-for-sale or held-for-distribution and subsequent gains and 
losses on re-measurement are recognised in profit or loss. Gains are not recognised in excess of any cumulative impairment loss.

Once classified as held-for-sale or held-for-distribution, intangible assets and property, plant and equipment are no longer 
amortised or depreciated, and any equity-accounted investee is no longer equity accounted.

A discontinued operation is a component of the Group’s business, the operations and cash flows of which can be clearly 
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
distinguished from the rest of the Group and which:

• 

• 

• 

represents a separate major line of business or geographical area of operations;

is part of a single coordinated plan to dispose of a separate major line of business or geographical area of operations; or

is a subsidiary acquired exclusively with a view to resale.

Classification as a discontinued operation occurs on disposal or when the operation meets the criteria to be classified as 
held- for-sale, if earlier.

When  an  operation  is  classified  as  a  discontinued  operation,  the  comparative  statement  of  comprehensive  income  is 
represented as if the operation had been discontinued from the start of the comparative year.

39

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

A number of the Group’s accounting policies and disclosures require the determination of fair value, for both financial and 
non-financial assets and liabilities. Fair values have been determined for measurement and/or disclosure purposes based 
4.  Determination of fair values
on the following methods. Where applicable, further information about the assumptions made in determining fair values is 
disclosed in the notes specific to that asset or liability.

INVENTORIES

The fair value of inventories acquired in a business combination is determined based on the estimated selling price in the 
ordinary course of business less the estimated costs of completion and sale, and a reasonable profit margin based on the 
effort required to complete and sell the inventories.

EQUITY AND DEBT SECURITIES

The fair values of investments for equity and debt securities are determined with reference to their quoted closing bid price 
at the measurement date. Subsequent to initial recognition, the fair values of held-to-maturity investments are determined 
for disclosure purposes only.

If the market for an equity investment debt instrument or other financial asset that is not active, for example an unlisted investment, 
the Group establishes fair value by using generally accepted valuation techniques. These include the use of recent arm’s length 
transactions, reference to other instruments that are substantially the same, discounted cash flow analysis and where applicable, 
option pricing models making the maximum use of market inputs and relying as little as possible on entity-specific inputs.

TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

The fair values of trade and other receivables are estimated at the present value of future cash flows, discounted at the 
market rate of interest at the measurement date. Short-term receivables with no stated interest rate are measured at the 
original  invoice  amount  if  the  effect  of  discounting  is  immaterial.  Fair  value  is  determined  at  initial  recognition  and,  for 
disclosure purposes, at each annual reporting date.

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

The fair value of property, plant and equipment recognised as a result of a business combination is the estimated amount 
for  which  property  could  be  exchanged  on  the  acquisition  date  between  a  willing  buyer  and  a  willing  seller  in  an  arm’s 
length  transaction  after  proper  marketing  wherein  the  parties  had  each  acted  knowledgeably.  The  fair  value  of  items  of 
plant, equipment, fixtures and fittings is based on the market approach and cost approaches using quoted market prices for 
similar items when available and depreciated replacement cost when appropriate. Depreciated replacement cost reflects 
adjustments for physical deterioration as well as functional and economic obsolescence.

INVESTMENT PROPERTY

An external independent valuation company having appropriate recognised professional qualifications and recent experience in 
the location and category of property being valued, values the Group’s property portfolio. The fair values are based on market 
values, being the estimated amount for which a property could be exchanged on the date of the valuation between a willing buyer 
and a willing seller in an arm’s length transaction after proper marketing wherein the parties had each acted knowledgeably.

In the absence of current prices in an active market, the valuations are prepared by considering the estimated rental value 
of the property. A market yield is applied to the estimated rental value to arrive at the gross property valuation. When actual 
rents differ materially from the estimated rental value, adjustments are made to reflect actual rents. Due to the unique nature 
of a number of properties within the Group’s portfolio, external valuations are obtained, however the Directors also review 
the valuations and may determine the need for impairment for the financial statements given their own knowledge of the 
properties and in particular where there has been interest from third parties in purchasing the properties, the Directors may 
refer to amounts offered for purchase.

40

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

Segment information is presented in respect of the Group’s business segments based on the Group’s management and internal 
reporting structure. The results of the business segments are reviewed regularly by the Group’s CEO to make decisions about 
5.  Segment reporting
resources to be allocated to the segment and to assess its performance, and for which discrete financial information is available.

Inter-segment pricing is determined on an arm’s length basis and inter-segment revenue is eliminated.

Segment results that are reported to the CEO include items directly attributable to a segment as well as those that can 
be allocated on a reasonable basis. Unallocated items are mainly interest-bearing loans, borrowings and expenses, and 
corporate assets and expenses primarily relating to Company’s head office.

Segment capital expenditure is the total cost incurred during the period to acquire segment assets that are expected to be 
used for more than one period.

GEOGRAPHICAL SEGMENTS

Fintech and industrial chemicals, now operate solely in Zimbabwe. Separate geographical analysis is therefore not presented.

BUSINESS SEGMENTS

For management purposes, continuing operations are organised into three main business segments:

• 

• 

Fintech - includes payments systems and business process outsourcing and payroll services;

Industrial chemicals - includes the manufacture and distribution of industrial solvents and mining chemicals;

•  Head office (or central).

In  addition,  the  following  segment  is  reported  separately  as  a  discontinued  operation  in  respect  of  the  2018  &  2017 
financial years: Payserv Zambia Limited, previously in the Fintech segment.

41

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

CONTINUING OPERATIONS – CURRENT PERIOD
5.  Segment reporting

Revenue 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2018 
Inter-segment revenue 

Revenue from external customers 

Cost of sales to external customers 

Gross profit 

Operating costs 

Other operating income 

Impairment of assets 

Depreciation 

Amortisation 

Operating profit / (loss) for the year 
Finance income 
Finance expense 

Income tax expense 

Profit / (loss) for the year 

EBITDA * 

CONTINUING OPERATIONS – PRIOR PERIOD

Revenue 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2017 
Inter-segment revenue 

Revenue from external customers 

Cost of sales to external customers 

Gross profit 

Operating costs 

Other operating income 

Impairment of assets 

Depreciation 

Amortisation 

Operating profit / (loss) for the year 

Finance income 

Finance expense 

Income tax expense 

Profit / (loss) for the year 

EBITDA * 

INDUSTRIAL   
CHEMICALS   
1,876   
US$’000   
-   

1,876   

( 1,336 ) 

540   

( 328 ) 

45   

( 25 ) 

( 14 ) 

-   

218   
-   
( 1 ) 

-   

217   

240   

INDUSTRIAL   
CHEMICALS   
2,228   
US$’000   
-   

2,228   

( 1,821 ) 

407   

( 618 ) 

-   

61   

( 17 ) 

-   

( 167 ) 

3   

( 2 ) 

-   

( 166 ) 

( 150 ) 

FINTECH   
7,565   
US$’000   
-   

7,565   

( 665 ) 

6,900   

( 3,539 ) 

6   

-   

( 174 ) 

( 14 ) 

3,179   
23   
( 50 ) 

( 769 ) 

2,383   

3,367   

FINTECH   
6,373   
US$’000   
( 3 ) 

6,370   

( 412 ) 

5,958   

( 3,333 ) 

23   

-   

( 128 ) 

( 13 ) 

2,507   

12   

( 83 ) 

( 660 ) 

1,776   

2,648   

HEAD
OFFICE   
-   
US$’000   
-   

-   

-   

-   

( 185 ) 

19   

18   

-   

 - 

( 148 ) 
-   
( 201 ) 

( 7 ) 

( 356 ) 

( 148 ) 

HEAD
OFFICE   
-   
US$’000   
-   

-   

-   

-   

( 1,198 ) 

-   

( 70 ) 

-   

-   

( 1,268 ) 

-   

( 286 ) 

-   

( 1,554 ) 

( 1,268 ) 

TOTAL
9,441
US$’000
-

9,441

( 2,001 )

7,440

( 4,052 )

70

( 7 )

( 188 )

( 14 )

3,249
23
( 252 )

( 776 )

2,244

3,459

TOTAL
8,601
US$’000
( 3 )

8,598

( 2,233 )

6,365

( 5,149 )

23

( 9 )

( 145 )

( 13 )

1,072

15

( 371 )

( 660 )

56

1,230

* Earnings before Interest, Taxation, Depreciation and Amortisation. Adjusted for depreciation that is included in cost of sales

42

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
   
 
 
   
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS – CURRENT PERIOD
5.  Segment reporting (continued)

Revenue 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2018 
Revenue from external customers 

Cost of sales to external customers 

Gross profit 

Operating costs 

Depreciation 

Amortisation 

Operating loss 

Finance income 

Finance expense 

Recycling of foreign exchange differences  

Profit for the year 
EBITDA* 

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS – PRIOR PERIOD

Revenue 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2017 
Revenue from external customers 

Cost of sales to external customers 

Gross profit 

Operating costs 

Depreciation 

Amortisation 

Operating loss 

Finance income 

Finance expense 

Loss for the year 

EBITDA* 

FINTECH   
-   
US$’000   
-   

TOTAL
-
US$’000
-

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

3   

3   
-   

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3

3
-

FINTECH   
47   
US$’000   
47   

TOTAL
47
US$’000
47

-   

47   

( 198 ) 

( 2 ) 

-   

( 153 ) 

-   

-   

( 153 ) 

( 151 ) 

-

47

( 198 )

( 2 )

-

( 153 )

-

-

( 153 )

( 151 )

43

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

CONTINUING OPERATIONS - SEGMENT ASSETS & LIABILITIES
5.  Segment reporting (continued)

Segment assets 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2018 
Segment liabilities 

Capital expenditure 

Segment assets 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2017 
Segment liabilities 
Capital expenditure 

INDUSTRIAL   
CHEMICALS   
545   
US$’000   
95   

8   

OUTSOURCE

AND IT   
SERVICES   
6,878   
US$’000   
3,168   

205   

INDUSTRIAL   
CHEMICALS   
776   
US$’000   
127   
1   

OUTSOURCE

AND IT   
SERVICES   
2,788   
US$’000   
2,050   
289   

HEAD
OFFICE   
3,275   
US$’000   
667   

-   

HEAD
OFFICE   
3,001   
US$’000   
3,369   
-   

TOTAL
10,698
US$’000
3,930

213

TOTAL
6,565
US$’000
5,546
290

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES HELD FOR SALE – CURRENT PERIOD

Property, plant and equipment 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2018 
Trade and other receivables 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total assets held for sale 

Trade and other payables 

Provisions 

Deferred tax liabilities 

Total liabilities held for sale 

OUTSOURCE

AND IT SERVICES   
1   
US$’000   
-   

TOTAL
1
US$’000
-

-   

1   

23   

-   

-   

23   

-

1

23

-

-

23

Net assets of disposal group held for sale 

( 22 ) 

( 22 )

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES HELD FOR SALE – PRIOR PERIOD

Property, plant and equipment 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2017 
Trade and other receivables 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total assets held for sale 

Trade and other payables 

Provisions 

Deferred tax liabilities 

Total liabilities held for sale 

OUTSOURCE

AND IT SERVICES   
2   
US$’000   
3   

TOTAL
2
US$’000
3

24   

29   

50   

4   

-   

54   

24

29

50

4

-

54

Net assets of disposal group held for sale 

( 25 ) 

( 25 )

44

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

6.  Group net operating costs
Cost of sales 

Administrative expenses 

Net operating costs 

2018   
2,001   
US$’000   
3,997   

5,998   

2017
2,233
US$’000
5,307

7,540

Administrative expenses include management related overheads for continuing operations and head office.

Operating costs include, inter alia:

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 

Depreciation of property plant and equipment in cost of sales 

Amortisation 

Operating lease rentals: 

Land and buildings 

Personnel expenses 

Auditors remuneration
Fees Payable to the Group Auditors for:

Current year audit of the Group’s financial statements  

NOTE 

2018   
US$’000   

2017
US$’000

187   

8   

14   

134   

2,509   

146

7

14

136

2,528

42   

32

7 

The aggregate remuneration comprised (including Executive Directors):
7.  Personnel expenses

Wages and salaries 

Compulsory social security contributions 

Total personnel expenses 

2018   
2,485   
US$’000   
24   

2,509   

2017
2,504
US$’000
24

2,528

A further $262,000 not included above was utilised to implement a staff restructuring exercise during July 2018 at Paynet 
Zimbabwe. This process entailed making certain administrative executives redundant resulting in minimum savings of 
$400,000 per annum.  These savings are being invested in recruiting technical staff and developers to improve Paynet’s 
response to its customers’ needs.

Of which: Remuneration of Group Executive Directors

Please see Directors’ emoluments note 33

PENSION FUNDS
The group provides for pensions on the retirement of employees by means of the compulsory Zimbabwean National 
Social Security Authority (NSSA) fund and the Cambria Staff Pension fund administered on our behalf by Old Mutual. 
Contributions for the year were as follows:

NSSA 
Cambria Staff Pension Fund 

COMPANY 
24 
US$’000 
98 

EMPLOYEES   
24   
US$’000   
98   

TOTAL
48
US$’000
196

45

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

The average number of employees (including Executive Directors) in continuing operations was:

Notes to the Financial Statements

Outsource and IT services 

Industrial chemicals 

Head Office 

Total 

8.  Net finance costs
Recognised in income statement:

Bank interest receivable 

Finance income 

Bank interest payable 

Loan interest payable 

Finance costs 

Net finance costs 

9.  Taxation
Income tax recognised in the income statement

Current tax expense

Current period 

Deferred tax expense

Origination and reversal of temporary differences 

Total income tax charge in income statement 

RECONCILIATION OF EFFECTIVE TAX RATE

Profit before tax 

Income tax using the Zimbabwean corporation tax rate of 25.75% (2017: 25.75%) 

Net losses where no group relief is available 

Total income tax charge in income statement 

DEFERRED TAX

Relating to temporary tax differences in subsidiaries 

Total 

2018   
73   
NUMBER   
10   

2017
74
NUMBER
16

2   

85   

3

93

2018   

US$’000   
23   

2017

US$’000
15

23   

( 1 ) 

( 251 ) 

( 252 ) 

( 229 ) 

15

-

( 371 )

( 371 )

( 356 )

2018   

2017

US$’000   

US$’000

773   

3   

776   

628

32

660

2018   
3,020   
US$’000   

2017
716
US$’000

778   

( 2 ) 

776   

184

476

660

2018   
3   
US$’000   
3   

2017
32
US$’000
32

Corporation tax for Zimbabwean entities is calculated at 25.75% (2017: 25.75%) of the estimated assessable profit for 
the year. Taxation for other jurisdictions is calculated at the rates prevailing in the respective jurisdictions.

Deferred tax assets are only recognised to the extent that there are available & offsetting deferred tax liabilities, unless 
the entity is reasonably assured of earning sufficient future profits to offset against any future tax liabilities.

46

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

The following entity was reclassified as held for disposal in the previous year financial year, as discussed in note 3 and note 5.
10.  Disposals and discontinued operations
Payserv Zambia Limited, a subsidiary of Payserv Africa Limited 
• 

CASH FLOWS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:

Net cash used in operating activities 

Net cash used in investing activities 

Net cash generated from financing activities 

Net cash flows for the year 

Cash and cash equivalents held for sale 

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:

Property, plant and equipment 

Trade and other receivables 

Total assets of discontinued subsidiary 

Trade and other payables 

Provisions 

Total liabilities of discontinued subsidiary 

Cash and cash equivalents 

OUTSOURCE   

OUTSOURCE
AND IT SERVICES    AND IT SERVICES
2017
( 55 )
US$’000
( 1 )

2018   
( 24 ) 
US$’000   
-   

-   

( 24 ) 

-   

77

21

24

OUTSOURCE   

OUTSOURCE
AND IT SERVICES    AND IT SERVICES
2017
2
US$’000
3

2018   
1   
US$’000   
-   

1   

23   

-   

23   

-   

5

50

4

54

24

The calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share at 31 August 2018 has been based on the earnings or (loss) attributable to 
ordinary shareholders for continuing and discontinued operations at the weighted average of ordinary shares outstanding during 
11.  Earnings / (loss) per share
the period as detailed in the table below:

EARNINGS / (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ORDINARY SHAREHOLDERS

Earnings / (loss) for the purposes of basic earnings / (loss) and dilutive per
share being net earnings / (loss) attributable to equity holders of the parent 

- continuing operations 

- discontinued operations 

2018   
EARNINGS   
PER SHARE   

US$’CENTS   
0.50   

0.50   

0.00   

2017
EARNINGS
PER SHARE   

US$’CENTS   
( 0.12 ) 

( 0.07 ) 

( 0.05 ) 

2018   

US$’000   
1,897   

1,894   

3   

2017

US$’000
( 349 )

( 196 )

( 153 )

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF ORDINARY SHARES

Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes of calculating
basic and dilutive earnings / (loss) per share 

Actual number of shares outstanding at the end of the period 

NOTE 

21 

2018   
000’S   
379,486   

544,576   

2017
000’S
281,275

348,839

47

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

2018 GROUP 
12.  Property, plant and equipment
FREEHOLD   
LAND &   
BUILDINGS   
US$’000   
2,317   

At 1 September 2017 

Cost or valuation

Additions in year 

Revaluations 

Disposals in year 

Balance at 31 August 2018 

Accumulated depreciation

At 1 September 2017 

Disposals in year 

Depreciation charge for the year 

Balance at 31 August 2018 

Carrying amounts
At 31 August 2018 
At 31 August 2017 

2017 GROUP 

Cost or valuation

At 1 September 2016 

Additions in year 

Disposals in year 

Balance at 31 August 2017 

Accumulated depreciation 

At 1 September 2016 

Disposals in year 

Depreciation charge for the year 

Balance at 31 August 2017 

Carrying amounts

At 31 August 2017 

At 31 August 2016 

PLANT &    
MACHINERY   
US$’000   
77   

MOTOR   
VEHICLES   
US$’000   
686   

FURNITURE   
FIXTURES &

FITTINGS   
US$’000   
1,075   

8   

-   

( 5 ) 

80   

( 61 ) 

2   

( 6 ) 

( 65 ) 

15   
16   

2   

-   

( 97 ) 

591   

( 392 ) 

98   

( 104 ) 

( 398 ) 

193   
294   

203   

-   

-   

1,278   

( 941 ) 

-   

( 85 ) 

( 1,026 ) 

252   
134   

-   

200   

-   

2,517   

( 34 ) 

-   

-   

( 34 ) 

2,483   
2,283   

FREEHOLD   
LAND &   
BUILDINGS   
US$’000   
2,317   

PLANT &    
MACHINERY   
US$’000   
76   

MOTOR   
VEHICLES   
US$’000   
526   

FURNITURE   
FIXTURES &

FITTINGS   
US$’000   
1,032   

-   

-   

2,317   

( 34 ) 

-   

-   

( 34 ) 

2,283   

2,283   

1   

-   

77   

( 55 ) 

-   

( 6 ) 

( 61 ) 

16   

21   

247   

( 87 ) 

686   

( 371 ) 

85   

( 106 ) 

( 392 ) 

294   

155   

43   

-   

1,075   

( 900 ) 

-   

( 41 ) 

( 941 ) 

134   

132   

TOTAL
US$’000
4,155

213

200

( 102 )

4,466

( 1,428 )

100

( 195 )

( 1,523 )

2,943
2,727

TOTAL
US$’000
3,951

291

( 87 )

4,155

( 1,360 )

85

( 153 )

( 1,428 )

2,727

2,591

48

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

   
   
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
   
   
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

2018 COMPANY 
12.  Property, plant and equipment (continued)

FREEHOLD   
LAND &   
BUILDINGS   
US$’000   
-   

PLANT &    
MACHINERY   
US$’000   
-   

MOTOR   
VEHICLES   
US$’000   
-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   
-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   
-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   
-   

FREEHOLD   
LAND &   
BUILDINGS   
US$’000   
-   

PLANT &    
MACHINERY   
US$’000   
-   

MOTOR   
VEHICLES   
US$’000   
-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

FURNITURE   
FIXTURES &

FITTINGS   
US$’000   
10   

-   

-   

10   

TOTAL
US$’000
10

-

-

10

( 10 ) 

( 10 )

-   

-   

-   

-

-

-

( 10 ) 

( 10 )

-   
-   

-
-

FURNITURE   
FIXTURES &

FITTINGS   
US$’000   
10   

-   

-   

10   

TOTAL
US$’000
10

-

-

10

( 10 ) 

( 10 )

-   

-   

-   

-

-

-

( 10 ) 

( 10 )

-   

-   

-

-

Cost or valuation

At 1 September 2017 

Additions in year 

Disposals in year 

Balance at 31 August 2018 

Accumulated depreciation

At 1 September 2017 

Additions in year 

Disposals in year 

Depreciation charge for the year 

Balance at 31 August 2018 

Carrying amounts
At 31 August 2018 
At 31 August 2017 

2017 COMPANY 

Cost or valuation

At 1 September 2016 

Additions in year 

Disposals in year 

Balance at 31 August 2017 

Accumulated depreciation

At 1 September 2016 

Additions in year 

Disposals in year 

Depreciation charge for the year 

Balance at 31 August 2017 

Carrying amounts

At 31 August 2017 

At 31 August 2016 

VALUATIONS

An external, professional and independent valuer with appropriate and recognised qualifications, Hollands Estate Agents 
LE HAR (PRIVATE) LIMITED – PROPERTY
Harare (‘Hollands’) carried out a valuation of the freehold land and buildings as at 31 August 2018 with reference to 
observed market evidence. The directors having considered the Hollands report consider this value to be an accurate 
reflection of the fair value at 31 August 2018 being US$2,50 million (2017: US$2,30 million). 

49

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

   
   
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

As  at  31  August  2018,  the  consolidated  statement  of  financial  position  included  goodwill  of  US$717,000  (2017: 
13.  Goodwill
US$717,000). Goodwill is allocated to the Group’s cash-generating units (“CGUs”), or groups of cash-generating units, 
that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the business combination that gave rise to the goodwill as follows:

Payserv Africa Limited 

Total 

COST AT   

CARRYING   
VALUE AT   

ORIGINAL    1 SEPTEMBER    1 SEPTEMBER    ACCELERATED   
WRITE-OFF   
-   
US$’000   
-   

2017   
717   
US$’000   
717   

2017   
717   
US$’000   
717   

COST   
717   
US$’000   
717   

CARRYING
VALUE AT
31 AUGUST
2018
717
US$’000
717

ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS

The following assumptions are held in the assessment on the impairment or otherwise of goodwill:

a.  Growth rates are based on a range of growth rates that reflect the products, industries and countries in which the 
relevant  CGU  or  group  of  CGUs  operate.  Growth  rates  have  been  calculated  based  on  management’s  expected 
forecast volumes and cash generation in place at the date of this report and taking factors existing at that date into 
consideration.

b.  The key assumptions on which the cash flow projections for the most recent forecast are based relate to discount 

rates, growth rates, expected changes in selling prices and direct costs.

c.  The cash flow projections have been discounted using rates based on the Group’s pre-tax weighted average cost of 

capital. The rate used was 15%.

d.  The growth rates applied in the value-in-use calculations for goodwill allocated to each of the CGUs or groups of 

CGUs that is significant to the total carrying amount of goodwill were in a range between 0% and 5%.

e.  Changes in selling price and direct costs are based on past results and expectations of future changes in the market.
In respect of the value-in-use calculations, cash flows have been considered for both the conservative and the full 
f. 
forecast potential of future cash-flows with no impact to the valuation of goodwill.

The Group tests goodwill annually for impairment or more frequently if there are indications that goodwill might be impaired.
IMPAIRMENT LOSS

The Directors believe that the value of the Group’s investments significantly exceeds the reported value thereof and that 
the respective book values do not adequately reflect the value of the Group’s investments and proprietary technologies. 
The Directors do not believe any impairment to goodwill is necessary in the current period.

50

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
   
   
   
 
   
   
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

14. 

Intangible assets

Payserv software licenses 

Total 

AMORTISATION

ORIGINAL   
COST   
1,538   
US$’000   
1,538   

NET BOOK   

VALUE AT   
1 SEPTEMBER   
2017   
27   
US$’000   
27   

ADDITIONS   
3   
US$’000   
3   

DISPOSALS    AMORTISATION   
( 14 ) 
US$’000   
( 14 ) 

-   
US$’000   
-   

CLOSING

BALANCE AT
31 AUGUST
2018
16
US$’000
16

The amortisation charge is recognised within operating expenses (note 6) in the income statement. The Group tests other 
intangible assets for impairment if there are indications that they might be impaired.

The amortisation periods for intangible assets are:

Software licenses 

3 years

The Company has investments in the following subsidiaries which principally affect the profits and/or net assets of the Company. 
15. 
The direct investments in subsidiaries held by the Company are stated at cost. These are subject to impairment testing.

Investments in subsidiaries and associates

COUNTRY OF INCORPORATION 
Zimbabwe 

Mauritius 

Zimbabwe 

Zimbabwe 

Zimbabwe 

United Kingdom 

Isle of Man 

Isle of Man 

Zimbabwe 

Zimbabwe 
Zimbabwe 

Mauritius 

Zimbabwe 
Zimbabwe 

Zimbabwe 

Zimbabwe 

OWNERSHIP INTEREST
0%
62.84% 
2017
2018 
100%
100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 
100% 

100% 

100% 
100% 

51.0% 

100% 

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%
100%

100%

100%
100%

51.0%

100%

CONTINUING OPERATIONS

A F Philip & Company (Pvt) Limited 

African Solutions Limited 

Autopay (Pvt) Limited 

Gardoserve (Pvt) Limited 

Le Har (Pvt) Limited 

LonZim Enterprises Limited 

LonZim Holdings Limited + 

Millchem Holdings Limited 

Para Meter Computers (Pvt) Limited 

Paynet Zimbabwe (Pvt) Limited 
Payserv (Pvt) Limited 

Payserv Africa Limited 

Payserv Zimbabwe (Pvt) Limited 
Quintech Investments (Pvt) Limited 

Tradanet (Pvt) Limited 

Yellowwood Projects (Pvt) Limited 

+ Held directly by Cambria Africa Plc.

51

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

Investments in subsidiaries and associates (continued)

15. 
Ottonby Trading (Pvt) Ltd (address: Northridge Park, Northend Close, Harare, Zimbabwe) holds a 49% interest in Tradanet 
NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS (“NCI”) - TRADANET
(Pvt) Ltd. Tradanet’s salient financial information is as follows:-

Profit attributable to NCI 

Dividends paid to NCI 

Accumulated NCI at year end 

Non-current assets 

Current assets 

Non-current liabilities 

Current liabilities 

Cash flow from operations 

Cash utilised in investing activities 

Cash utilised in financing activities (including dividends) 

Cash and cash equivalents 

2018   
351   
US$’000   
( 405 ) 

2017
252
US$’000
( 149 )

44   

80   

294   

2   

279   

812   

( 46 ) 

( 819 ) 

219   

99

74

390

2

261

462

( 51 )

( 316 )

273

On 31 August 2018, the Group finalised the purchase of a 62.837% shareholding in A F Philip and Company (Pvt) Limited, 
NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS (“NCI”) – A F PHILIP & COMPANY
a  Zimbabwean  registered  entity,  for  a  cash  consideration  of  $1,600,000.  This  was  advised  to  shareholders  in  a  RNS 
issued on 18 September 2018. Through a network of associated companies, this investment gave the Group an effective 
4,000,000 shares in Radar Holdings Limited, or 7.83% of their issued share capital. As a result, the Group also has the 
right to nominate a director onto the Radar Board.

Radar  is  a  public  but  unlisted  company  incorporated  in  Zimbabwe  and  has  interests  in  brick  manufacturing  through 
Macdonald  bricks,  are  the  owners  of  2,166  hectares  of  prime  development  land  as  well  as  8  residential  properties. 
Radars  most  recent  published  audited  consolidated  results  for  the  12  month  period  ended  30  June  2018  reported 
Revenues of $9,20 million, a Loss after Tax of $42,500 and Net Assets of $ 29,95 million. 

Constold (Pvt) Ltd (address: 4th floor, Tanganyika House, 3rd Street, Harare, Zimbabwe) holds a 37.163% interest in A F 
Philip & Company (Pvt) Ltd. A F Philip’s salient financial information is as follows:-

Profit attributable to NCI 

Dividends paid to NCI 

Accumulated NCI at year end 

Non-current assets 

Current assets 

Non-current liabilities 

Current liabilities 

Cash flow from operations 

Cash utilised in investing activities 

Cash utilised in financing activities (including dividends) 

Cash and cash equivalents 

2018 
- 
US$’000 
- 

947 

2,546 

1,600 

- 

( 1,600 )

- 

- 

- 

1,600 

52

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

16. 

Inventory

Raw materials and consumables 

Goods in transit 

Finished goods 

Total 

17. 

 Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

Quoted investments portfolio 

Total 

Balance at 1 September 
QUOTED INVESTMENTS PORTFOLIO: 
Acquired during the year 

Disposed during the year 

Gain on fair valuation during the year 

Balance at end of the year 

GROUP 2018    GROUP 2017
25
US$’000
37

28   
US$’000   
75   

140   

243   

171

233

GROUP 2018    GROUP 2017
86
US$’000
86

131   
US$’000   
131   

GROUP 2018    GROUP 2017
40
US$’000
-

86   
US$’000   
-   

-   

45   

131   

-

46

86

The portfolio is managed by an asset management company who makes all decisions regarding the sale and purchase of 
listed shares. This investment is held at fair value. The portfolio, which was purchased in ‘payment’ of a trade vendor liability 
which could not be settled due to Zimbabwe foreign currency constraints at the time, is callable at the option of the vendor. 
See note 23.

 Trade and other receivables

18. 
Amounts owed by Group undertakings 

Trade receivables 

Other receivables 
Prepayments and accrued income 

Total 

No interest is charged on receivables.

GROUP   
2018   
-   
US$’000   
801   

42   
-   

843   

COMPANY   
2018   
3,364   
US$’000   
-   

16   
-   

3,380   

GROUP   
2017   
-   
US$’000   
824   

674   
232   

1,730   

COMPANY
2017
3,763
US$’000
-

559
-

4,322

The Directors consider the carrying amount of trade and other receivables approximates their fair value. In determining 
the recoverability of the trade receivables, the Group considers any change in the credit quality of trade receivables from 
the date credit was initially granted up to the reporting date. The concentration of credit risk is limited due to the customer 
base  being  large  and  unrelated.  Accordingly,  the  Directors  believe  that  there  is  no  further  credit  provision  required  in 
excess of the allowance for doubtful debts.

CREDIT RISK
The Group’s credit risk is primarily attributable to its trade receivables. The amounts presented in the statement of financial 
position are net of allowances for doubtful receivables. An allowance for impairment is made where there is an identified loss 
event which, based on previous experience, is evidence of a reduction in the recoverability of the cashflows.

53

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

 Cash and cash equivalents

19. 
Bank balances 

Bank overdrafts 

Net cash and cash equivalents 

Net cash included in held for sale 

Total cash and cash equivalents in statement of financial position 

GROUP   
2018   
3,259   
US$’000   
-   

3,259   

-   

3,259   

COMPANY   
2018   
758   
US$’000   
-   

758   

758   

GROUP   
2017   
1,045   
US$’000   
-   

1,045   

24   

1,069   

COMPANY
2017
143
US$’000
-

143

-

143

 Capital and reserves

REVALUATION RESERVE
20. 
The  revaluation  reserve  relates  to  property,  plant  and  equipment  which  has  been  revalued  in  the  Zimbabwean 
subsidiaries Payserv Zimbabwe (Private) Limited (“Payserv”) and Le Har (Private) Limited, which holds the property from 
which Payserv operates.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVE

This reserve arises on translation of subsidiary entities where their functional currency is not United States Dollars, the 
presentational currency of the Group. The Company foreign exchange currency reserve relates to the translation of net 
assets due to a change in the functional currency of the Company from Pounds Sterling to United States Dollars as at 1 
September 2011.

SHARE BASED PAYMENT RESERVE

The share-based payment reserve comprised of the charges arising from the calculation of the share-based payment 
posted to the income statement in 2011 and 2012, and released on expiration of options never exercised in 2013, 2016 
and finally in 2017.

NON-DISTRIBUTABLE RESERVE

The non-distributable reserve arises on the restatement of the assets and liabilities on dollarisation in Zimbabwe. Amounts 
held within this reserve are ring fenced from retained earnings. Distributions can only be made from retained earnings 
and not from the non-distributable reserve. Amounts transferred to the non-distributable reserve are determined by the 
directors as necessary, unless specifically required to do so as part of any financing arrangements.

54

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
   
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

21. 

 Share capital & share premium

Issued and fully paid

At 1 September 

Issued in period 

At 31 August 

ORDINARY SHARES 2018 

ORDINARY SHARES 2017

SHARE   
CAPITAL   

US$’000   
51   

26   

77   

SHARE   
PREMIUM   

US$’000   
85,686   

2,773   

88,459   

NUMBER   
348,839,012   

195,736,593   

544,575,605   

SHARE   
CAPITAL   

US$’000   
34   

17   

51   

SHARE
PREMIUM

US$’000
83,950

1,736

85,686

NUMBER   
207,920,406   

140,918,606   

348,839,012   

All shares issued are classed as Ordinary Shares with a par value of 0.01 pence each and are all ranked equally. There are no 
other classes of shares in issue. No warrants were granted during the current financial year and no warrants are outstanding.

The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividends as declared from time to time and are entitled to one vote per 
share at meetings of the Company. All shares rank equally with regard to the Company’s residual assets.

The Directors are authorised in any period between consecutive annual general meetings, or consecutive 12-month periods, 
to  allot  any  number  of  ordinary  shares  on  such  terms  as  they  shall,  in  their  discretion,  determine  up  to  such  maximum 
number as represents 50 per cent of the issued share capital at the beginning of such period. Further ordinary shares may 
also be allotted on terms determined by the Directors but subject to the pre-emption rights prescribed by Section 36 of the 
Isle of Man Companies Act 2006.

SHARE PREMIUM

The share premium represents the value of the premium arising on shares issued as follows:

16 July 2018 

190,736,593 ordinary shares at a price of 1.10p per share (US$ 2,706,084) 

22 February 2017 

140,918,606 ordinary shares at a price of 1.0p per share (US$ 1,736,223).

17 April 2015 

107,000,000 ordinary shares at a price of 0.85p per share (US$1,337,000).

6 March 2014 

4,133,333 ordinary shares at a price of 7.5p per share (US$508,000).

4 March 2014 

28,272,806 ordinary shares at a price of 7.5p per share (US$3,475,000 of which US$ 719,000
related to settlement of expenses and liabilities).

1 October 2012 

8,615,115 ordinary shares at a price of 10p per share (US$1,400,000).

16 September 2011  3,988,439 ordinary shares at a price of 23p per share (US$1,448,000).

10 December 2010 

17,813,944 ordinary shares at a price of 28p per share net of issue costs of £143,000 (US$7,646,000).

9 December 2009 

4,255,525 ordinary shares at a price of 27.5p per share net of issue costs of £58,000 (US$1,820,000).

14 July 2009 

Cost of purchasing and cancelling 4,374,000 shares at 30.5p per share (US$2,174,000).

11 December 2007 

36,450,000 ordinary shares at a price of 100p per share net of issue costs of £2,753,000
(US$68,659,000).

55

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
   
   
 
   
   
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

All share options issued in prior years have now expired and were not exercised
22. 

 Share options

 Loans and borrowings - long term

23. 
VAL Loan 

CABS Loan - long term portion 

Other trade payables 

Total 

GROUP   
2018   
-   
US$’000   
-   

120   

120   

COMPANY   
2018   
-   
US$’000   
-   

-   

-   

GROUP   
2017   
1,565   
US$’000   
205   

79   

1,849   

COMPANY
2017
1,565
US$’000
-

-

1,565

The VAL Loan carried interest at 8% per annum. It was repayable after three years on 30 November 2019 with early 
repayment at the election of VAL from any proceeds realised from a Liquidity Event. A Liquidity Event shall comprise the 
sale, whether partly or in full, of Cambria’s investments. The VAL Loan was secured through a pledge and cession over 
the Company’s shares in its subsidiaries.

During the financial year ended 31 August 2018, the Company announced that VAL would participate in the Open Offer 
in terms of which VAL converted £1.595 million (approximately $2.12 million) of the VAL Loan into 145 million ordinary 
shares at 1.00p per share. The result of the VAL Loan Conversion is incorporated into the figures above.

Other non-current trade payables are in respect of historic Paywell software license fees within the Payserv Group, which 
could not be remitted due to Zimbabwean foreign currency constraints at the time. The amounts due were invested into 
a listed portfolio (see note 17).

 Provisions

24. 
Provisions 

Total 

GROUP   
2018   
188   
US$’000   
188   

COMPANY   
2018   
-   
US$’000   
-   

GROUP   
2017   
186   
US$’000   
186   

COMPANY
2017
-
US$’000
-

Provisions at 31 August 2018 are in respect of the maximum Leave Pay and Retirement Gratuities which may become 
payable by individual companies to employees on termination of their employment.

RECOGNISED DEFERRED LIABILITY
25. 
 Deferred tax liability
The following are the major deferred tax liabilities recognised by the Group and movements thereon during the current year.

GROUP 

2018 

2017

At 1 September 

Recognised directly in reserves 

Other movements 

At 31 August 

ACCELERATED TAX   
DEPRECIATION   
184   
US$’000   
36   

3   

223   

TOTAL   
184   
US$’000   
36   

3   

223   

ACCELERATED TAX

DEPRECIATION   
152   
US$’000   
-   

32   

184   

TOTAL
152
US$’000
-

32

184

Deferred tax assets off set against deferred tax liabilities in the period were US$ nil (2017: US$ nil).

56

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

26. 

 Loans and borrowings - short term

VAL Bridging Loan 

CABS Loan - short term portion 

Total 

GROUP   
2018   
413   
US$’000   
206   

619   

COMPANY   
2018   
413   
US$’000   
-   

413   

GROUP   
2017   
926   
US$’000   
630   

1,556   

COMPANY
2017
926
US$’000
-

926

The Company previously announced on 18 October 2016 that Payserv’s wholly owned subsidiary, Paynet Zimbabwe (Pvt) 
Limited (“Paynet”),  successfully  concluded  a $1.2 million  loan  facility  agreement with Central Africa Building  Society 
(“CABS Loan”). The CABS Loan currently bears interest at 9% per annum with an annual renewal fee of 1% and was 
subject to an establishment fee of 2%. The loan is repayable over 24 months, the last instalment being due in December 
2018. As security, a mortgage has been registered in favour of CABS over one of two properties owned by Le Har (Pvt) 
Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The remaining property owned by Le Har remains unencumbered.

The CABS Loan was used by Paynet to repay in part its license fees and loan obligations to Payserv Africa. Payserv Africa 
in turn used the funds to settle the remaining portion of the VAL Bridging Facility via Cambria.

27. 

 Trade and other payables

Trade payables 

Non-trade payables and accrued expenses 

Total 

Current tax liability 

Total 

GROUP   
2018   
54   
US$’000   
2,249   

2,303   

477   

2,780   

COMPANY   
2018   
15   
US$’000   
1,952   

1,967   

-   

1,967   

GROUP   
2017   
807   
US$’000   
567   

1,374   

397   

1,771   

COMPANY
2017
730
US$’000
1,936

2,666

-

2,666

Trade  payables  and  accruals  principally  comprise  amounts  outstanding  for  trade  purchases  and  on-going  costs.  The 
Directors consider that the carrying amount of trade payables approximates to their fair value.

57

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

28.  Notes to the statement of cash flows – Consolidated & Company

Profit / (loss) for the year 

Adjusted for *:

Amortisation of intangible assets 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 

Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment 

Valuation adjustments to inventories, receivables and other assets 

Finance income 

Finance costs 

Share based payment charge 

(Decrease)/increase in provisions 

Income tax charge 

Operating cash flows before movements in working capital 

(Increase) / decrease in inventories 

(Increase) / decrease in trade and other receivables 

Increase / (decrease) in trade and other payables 

Cash generated from operations 

* All amounts include both continuing and discontinued operations.

Loss for the year 

Adjusted for :

Finance income 

Finance costs 

Share based payment charge/ (credit) 

Income tax charge 

Operating cash flows before movements in working capital 

(Increase) / decrease in inventories 

(Increase) / decrease in trade and other receivables 

Increase / (decrease) in trade and other payables 

Cash generated from operations 

GROUP 2018    GROUP 2017
( 97 )
US$’000

2,247   
US$’000   

14   

195   

( 33 ) 

( 45 ) 

( 23 ) 

252   

68   

3   

776   

3,454   

( 10 ) 

887   

939   

5,270   

14

154

( 19 )

( 46 )

( 15 )

371

-

( 16 )

660

1,006

174

( 421 )

201

960

COMPANY   
2018   
( 349 ) 
US$’000   

COMPANY
2017
( 1,477 )
US$’000

-   

201   

68   

-   

( 80 ) 

-   

942   

( 699 ) 

163   

( 34 )

286

( 42 )

-

( 1,267 )

-

2,052

( 234 )

551

The Group has exposure to the following risks from its use of financial instruments:
29.  Financial instruments

credit risk

a. 

b. 

liquidity risk

c.  market risk (comprises: foreign currency risk and interest rate risk)

This note presents information about the Group’s exposure to each of the above risks, the Group’s objectives, policies and processes for measuring 

and managing risk, and the Group’s management of capital. Further quantitative disclosures are included throughout these consolidated financial 

statements. The Board of Directors has overall responsibility for the establishment and oversight of the Group’s risk management framework.

RISK MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

The Group’s risk management policies are established to identify and analyse the risks faced by the Group, to set appropriate risk limits and controls, 

and to monitor risks and adherence to limits. The Group’s risk management policies are established to identify and analyse the risks faced by the 

Group, to set appropriate risk limits and controls, and to monitor risks and adherence to limits.

58

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

CREDIT RISK MANAGEMENT
29. Financial instruments (continued)
Credit risk refers to the risk that a counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in financial loss to 
the Group. The Group has adopted a policy of only dealing with creditworthy counterparties and obtaining sufficient 
collateral where appropriate, as a means of mitigating the risk of financial loss from defaults. The Group’s exposure and 
the credit ratings of its counterparties are regularly monitored and the aggregate value of transactions concluded is 
spread amongst approved counterparties.

Trade receivables consist of a large number of customers, spread across diverse industries and geographical areas. Ongoing 
credit evaluation is performed on the financial condition of accounts receivable and, where appropriate, credit guarantee 
insurance cover is purchased. The Group does not have any significant credit risk exposure to any single counterparty or any 
group of counterparties having similar characteristics. The credit risk on liquid funds and derivative financial instruments 
is limited because the counterparties are banks with high credit ratings assigned by international credit rating agencies.

The carrying amount of financial assets recorded in the financial statements, net of any allowances for losses, represents 
the  Group’s  maximum  exposure  to  credit  risk  without  taking  account  of  the  value  of  any  collateral  obtained.  At  the 
reporting date, there were no significant credit risks.

EXPOSURE TO CREDIT RISK

The carrying amount of financial assets represents the maximum credit exposure. Therefore, the Group and Company’s 
maximum  exposure  to  credit  risk  at  the  reporting  date,  being  the  total  of  the  carrying  amount  of  financial  assets, 
excluding equity investments, is shown in the table below.

Cash and cash equivalents 

Trade and other receivables 

Amounts owed by group undertakings 

Other investments 

Total 

19 
NOTE 
18 

18 

17 

GROUP   
2018   
3,259   
US$’000   
843   

-   

131   

4,233   

COMPANY   
2018   
758   
US$’000   
16   

3,364   

-   

4,138   

GROUP   
2017   
1,069   
US$’000   
1,730   

-   

86   

2,885   

COMPANY
2017
143
US$’000
559

3,809

-

4,511

The maximum exposure to credit risk for financial assets at the reporting date by geographic region was:

United Kingdom 

Zimbabwe 

Mauritius 

Total 

GROUP   
2018   
774   
US$’000   
3,147   

312   

4,233   

COMPANY   
2018   
774   
US$’000   
3,364   

-   

4,138   

GROUP   
2017   
702   
US$’000   
2,160   

23   

2,885   

COMPANY
2017
702
US$’000
3,809

-

4,511

59

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

The maximum exposure to credit risk for trade and other receivables (excluding trade creditors which are linked to listed 
29. Financial instruments (continued)
investments per contract with the supplier - see note 17 US$131,000 (2017: US$86,000)) at the reporting date by type 
of counterparty was:

Trade customers and other receivables 

Amounts owed by Group undertakings 

Total 

GROUP   
2018   
843   
US$’000   
-   

843   

COMPANY   
2018   
16   
US$’000   
3,364   

3,380   

GROUP   
2017   
1,730   
US$’000   
-   

1,730   

COMPANY
2017
559
US$’000
3,763

4,322

The ageing of trade and other receivables at the reporting date was as follows:

Neither past nor impaired 

Past due 1-30 days 

Past due 31-60 days 

Past due 61-90 days 

Past due 91-days + 

Other receivables 

Total 

GROSS   
2018   
620   
US$’000   
36   

IMPAIRMENT   
2018   
-   
US$’000   
-   

16   

13   

122   

174   

981   

( 8 ) 

( 10 ) 

( 120 ) 

-   

( 138 ) 

TOTAL
2018
620
US$’000
36

8

3

2

174

843

Based on the Group’s monitoring of customer credit risk, the Group believes that no further impairment allowance is necessary in respect of trade 

receivables not past due.

LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will encounter difficulty in meeting the obligations associated with its financial liabilities that are settled by 

delivering cash and other financial assets.

Ultimate  responsibility  for  liquidity  risk  management  rests  with  the  Board  of  Directors,  which  has  built  an  appropriate  liquidity  risk  management 

framework for the management of the Group’s short, medium and long-term funding and liquidity management requirements.

The board manages liquidity risk by raising adequate reserves, banking facilities and reserve borrowing facilities and by regularly monitoring forecast 

and actual cash flows and matching the maturity profiles of financial assets and liabilities.

60

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED)
29. Financial instruments (continued)
The following are the contractual, undiscounted maturities of financial liabilities, including estimated interest payments and 
excluding the effect of netting arrangements:

GROUP 

CONTRACTUAL CASH FLOWS 2018 

CONTRACTUAL CASH FLOWS 2017

Trade and other payables 

Loans and borrowings 

Total 

CARRYING   
AMOUNT   
2,423   
US$’000   
619   

3,042   

1 YEAR   
OR LESS   
2,423   
US$’000   
674   

3,097   

2 TO <5   
YEARS   
-   
US$’000   
-   

-   

CARRYING   
AMOUNT   
1,374   
US$’000   
3,405   

4,779   

1 YEAR   
OR LESS   
1,374   
US$’000   
1,697   

3,071   

2 TO <5
YEARS
-
US$’000
1,930

1,930

COMPANY 

CONTRACTUAL CASH FLOWS 2018 

CONTRACTUAL CASH FLOWS 2017

Trade and other payables 

Loans and borrowings 

Total 

CARRYING   
AMOUNT   
1,967   
US$’000   
413   

2,380   

1 YEAR   
OR LESS   
1,967   
US$’000   
450   

2,417   

2 TO <5   
YEARS   
-   
US$’000   
-   

-   

CARRYING   
AMOUNT   
2,666   
US$’000   
2,491   

5,157   

1 YEAR   
OR LESS   
2,666   
US$’000   
1,009   

3,675   

2 TO <5
YEARS
-
US$’000
1,706

1,706

FOREIGN CURRENCY RISK MANAGEMENT

The Group is exposed to foreign currency risk on sales, purchases and borrowings that are denominated in a currency other 
than United States Dollars. The currencies giving rise to this risk are primarily the Pound Sterling and the South African Rand. 
In respect of other monetary assets and liabilities held in currencies other than United States Dollars, the Group ensures 
that the net exposure is kept to an acceptable level, by buying or selling foreign currencies at spot rates where necessary to 
address short-term imbalances. The following significant exchange rates applied during the year:

Pounds Sterling (GBP) 

Euro (EUR) 

Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) 

South African Rand ( ZAR) 

AVERAGE    REPORTING DATE   
SPOT RATE   
0.77   
2018   
0.86   

RATE   
0.74   
2018   
0.84   

AVERAGE   REPORTING DATE
SPOT RATE
0.77
2017
0.84

RATE   
0.79   
2017   
0.91   

9.89   

12.97   

10.23   

14.69   

9.48   

13.39   

9.05

13.01

61

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

The Group does not account for any fixed rate financial assets or liabilities at fair value through profit or loss. At the reporting 
29.  Financial instruments (continued)
date the interest rate profile of the Group’s interest-bearing financial instruments was as follows:

FIXED RATE INSTRUMENTS
CARRYING VALUE 
Financial assets 

Financial liabilities 

Total 

VARIABLE RATE INSTRUMENTS

Financial assets 

Financial liabilities 

Total 

SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

2018   
US$’000   
-   

( 619 ) 

( 619 ) 

3,259   

-   

3,259   

2017
US$’000
-

( 3,326 )

( 3,326 )

1,069

-

1,069

In  managing  foreign  currency  risks  the  Group  aims  to  reduce  the  impact  of  short  and  long-term fluctuations  on  the 
Group’s earnings. A 10 percent strengthening/weakening of the listed currencies against the USD at 31 August 2018 
would have increased / (decreased) equity and profit or loss by the amounts shown below. This analysis assumes that all 
other variables, in particular interest rates, remain constant and ignores any impact of forecast sales and purchases. This 
analysis is performed on the same basis as for 2017 and assumes that all other variables remain the same.

The  carrying  amount  of  the  Group’s  foreign  currency  denominated  monetary  assets  and  monetary  liabilities  at  the 
reporting date and their sensitivity is as follows:

31 AUGUST 2018

Pounds Sterling (GBP) 

Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) 

31 AUGUST 2017

Pounds Sterling (GBP) 

Euro (EUR) 

South African Rand (ZAR) 

Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) 

EXPOSURE IN 
FINANCIAL   
STATEMENT   
POSITION   
US$’000   
523   

( 23 ) 

( 382 ) 

( 23 ) 

( 1 ) 

( 27 ) 

STRENGTHENING   
PROFIT   
OR LOSS   
US$’000   
( 37 ) 

-   

27   

2   

-   

-   

WEAKENING
PROFIT
OR LOSS
US$’000
37

-

( 27 )

( 2 )

-

-

INTEREST RATE RISK MANAGEMENT

The Company does not believe it faces any risk from its interest rate exposure. The rates of interest it is exposed to are 
not expected to change over the tenure of its borrowings.

Currently the Company has only two lenders, Central African Building Society (CABS) Zimbabwe and Ventures Africa 
Limited (VAL) which holds 69.2% of the Company’s equity. As a percent of total borrowings, 67% is represented by VAL 
and 33% by CABS with a weighted average interest cost of 9.67% p.a.

62

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

As a related party, VAL has established interest rates at the same levels which its funding was used to displaced former 
29.  Financial instruments (continued)
lenders and maintained parity with rates which the Company has been able to obtain funding at in Zimbabwe. However, 
VAL does not charge the Company establishment fees or anniversary fees. VAL has actively converted debt to equity to assist 
the company in reducing its interest rate exposure and has announced its intention for further debt to equity conversions.

The rate of interest on the CABS loan is currently 9% which as a result of increased domestic liquidity has fallen from 11% 
in FY2017. The Company expects this loan to be fully repaid by December 2018.

CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

The Board’s policy is to maintain a strong capital base so as to maintain investor, creditor and market confidence and to 
sustain future development of the business. Capital consists of ordinary shares, retained earnings and non-controlling 
interests of the Group. The Board of Directors monitors the return on capital, which the Group defines as net operating 
income divided by total shareholders’ equity, excluding non-redeemable preference shares and non-controlling interests. 
The Board of Directors also monitors the level of dividends to ordinary shareholders.

The Board seeks to maintain a balance between higher returns that might be possible with high levels of borrowings and 
the advantages and security afforded by a sound capital position.

FAIR VALUES

The fair values of financial assets and liabilities, together with the carrying amounts shown in the statement of financial 
position, are as follows:

Level 3   
HIERARCHY   
Level 3   

Level 1   

Level 3   

Level 3   

Level 3   
HIERARCHY   
Level 3   

Level 1   

Level 3   

Level 3   

CARRYING 
AMOUNT   
2018   
3,259   
US$’000   
843   

131   

( 2,326 ) 

( 619 ) 

1,288   

CARRYING 
AMOUNT   
2017   
1,045   
US$’000   
1,730   

86   

( 1,374 ) 

( 3,405 ) 

( 1,918 ) 

FAIR VALUE
2018
3,259
US$’000
843

131

( 2,326 )

( 619 )

1,288

FAIR VALUE
2017
1,045
US$’000
1,730

86

( 1,374 )

( 3,405 )

( 1,918 )

Cash and cash equivalents 
GROUP 
Trade and other receivables 

Quoted investment portfolio 

Trade and other payables 

Loans and borrowings 

Total 

Cash and cash equivalents 
GROUP 
Trade and other receivables 

Quoted investment portfolio 

Trade and other payables 

Loans and borrowings 

Total 

63

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
   
 
   
 
   
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
   
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

29. 

 Financial instruments (continued)

Cash and cash equivalents 
COMPANY 
Trade and other receivables 

Trade and other payables 

Loans and borrowings 

Total 

Cash and cash equivalents 
COMPANY 
Trade and other receivables 

Trade and other payables 

Loans and borrowings 

Total 

Level 3   
HIERARCHY   
Level 3   

Level 3   

Level 3   

Level 3   
HIERARCHY   
Level 3   

Level 3   

Level 3   

CARRYING 
AMOUNT   
2018   
758   
US$’000   
3,380   

( 1,967 ) 

( 413 ) 

1,758   

CARRYING 
AMOUNT   
2017   
143   
US$’000   
4,322   

( 2,666 ) 

( 2,491 ) 

( 692 ) 

FAIR VALUE
2018
758
US$’000
3,380

( 1,967 )

( 413 )

1,758

FAIR VALUE
2017
143
US$’000
4,322

( 2,666 )

( 2,491 )

( 692 )

THE FAIR VALUE OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES CAN BE CLASSED IN THREE LEVELS.

Level 1  Fair values measured using quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2.  Fair values measured using inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the 

asset or liability, either directly (i.e. as prices) or indirectly (i.e. derived from prices).

Level 3.  Fair values measured using inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (i.e. 

unobservable inputs).

ESTIMATION OF FAIR VALUES

The following summarises the major methods and assumptions used in estimating the fair values of financial instruments 
reflected in the above table.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Fair value approximates its carrying amount largely due to the short-term maturities of this instrument.

LOANS AND BORROWINGS

Fair value has been derived from discounting future cash flows at the cost of debt.

TRADE RECEIVABLES AND PAYABLES

For receivables and payables with a remaining life of less than one year, the notional amount is deemed to reflect the fair value.

QUOTED INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO

Fair value has been derived from quoted prices.

64

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
   
 
   
 
   
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
   
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

LEASES AS LESSEE
30.  Operating leases
At the reporting date, the Group had the following outstanding annual commitments for future minimum lease pay-
ments under non-cancellable operating leases:

Operating lease commitments 

Payable in next 12 months 

Payable in 1 to 5 years 

Payable thereafter (> 5 years) 

Total 

US$’000

77

60

-

137

During the year ended 31 August 2018, US$134,000 (2017: US$136,000) was recognised as an expense in the income 
statement in respect of operating leases. Operating lease payments represents rentals payable by the Group for certain 
of its properties. Leases are negotiated for a minimum term of 1 year and rentals are fixed for the period.

The capital commitments at 31 August 2018 were US$ nil (2017: US$ nil).
31.  Capital commitments

The Group had no outstanding contingent liabilities at the end of the period.
32.  Contingent liabilities

IDENTITY OF RELATED PARTIES
33.  Related parties
The Group has a related party relationship with its subsidiaries (see note 15) and with its Directors and executive officers.

Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties, have been eliminated on consolida-
tion and there is no requirement for them to be disclosed in this note.

GROUP AND COMPANY

At 31 August 2018, no amounts were due to Directors in respect of Directors fees, nor had any been paid in the year under review.

VAL is the controlling shareholder of Cambria with a 69.2% interest as at 31 August 2018. Mr. Samir Shasha is the ulti-
mate beneficial owner of VAL and the CEO and Director of Cambria. VAL has provided loan funding to Cambria in the 
form of the VAL Loan and the VAL Bridging Facility as set out in notes 23 and 26 respectively. Interest accrued during the 
period amounted to US$111,000 in respect of the VAL Loan and $90,000 in respect of the VAL Bridging Facility.

TRANSACTIONS WITH SUBSIDIARY ENTITIES WITHIN THE GROUP

Paynet Zimbabwe (Private) Limited (“Paynet”), a 100% subsidiary of the Group, provides services including payroll pro-
cessing, software licensing and training to fellow subsidiaries which amounted to US$1,000 (2017: US$3,000). All charg-
es were at market value and arm’s length rates.

65

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

TRANSACTIONS WITH KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL
33.  Related parties (continued)
Key  management  personnel  are  the  holding  Company  Directors  and  executive  officers.  None  of  the  current  active 
directors received any remuneration during the financial year except for the issue of shares, as announced on 15 May 
2018, as follows:-

Cambria’s Directors have, since their appointment in 2015, provided services and management support without any 
compensation. While the Board was willing to continue serving without compensation through to the end of FY 2018, 
the Board accepted a proposal from the CEO Mr. S Shasha to issue 5,000,000 Cambria shares (“the Directors’ Shares”) to 
Directors and Consultants as compensation for their services as follows:  

P Turner 
D C Pandya 
J P Watenphul 
H J Louw 
Total 

Non-executive Chairman 
POSITION 
Non-executive director 
Non-executive director 
Consultant 

1,000,000 
NUMBER OF SHARES
1,000,000 
2,500,000 
 500,000 
5,000,000 

The Directors’ Shares were issued in terms of Section 38 of the Isle of Man Companies Act, 2006 (“Section 38”) and the 
Company’s Articles of Association (“the Directors Share Issue”). The Directors Shares Issue was implemented prior to 
the Open Offer.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 38, the Cambria Board has determined that, in their opinion, the present 
cash value of the non-money consideration for the Directors Share Issue is not less than the amount to be credited for 
the issue of the Cambria ordinary shares.
Mr. S Shasha, as the ultimate beneficiary of over 65.6% of Cambria’s shares, did not participate in the Directors Share 
Issue and will continue to serve without compensation in the current financial year.

Directors remuneration for the period (included in personnel expenses. See note 7, also see note 34) was as follows.

S Shasha 

P Turner 

JP Watenphul 
DC Pandya 

Total 

TOTAL   
2018   
-   
US$000   
14   

33   
14   

61   

TOTAL
2017
-
US$000
-

-
-

-

During the year the company issued 4,500,000 shares to Directors and 500,000 to a consultant.
34.  Share-Based Payment
The fair value at the grant date of the reward given, for the purposes of IFRS 2: Share-Based Payment, was determined 
with reference to the average closing share price of the company over the 12 months preceeding the issue date being 
22 May 2018.

The resultant charge had the effect of reducing the consolidated and company only profits by $68,000. This charge has 
been taken to Directors remuneration and operating costs respectively in the Income Statement.
See Notes 11, 21 & 33.

66

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

  
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 August 2018

Notes to the Financial Statements

Subsequent to the end of the financial year, Paynet paid $400,000 to acquire an additional 1.15% shareholding, or 588 
35.  Events after the reporting date
235 shares, in Radar Holdings Ltd. This brings Paynet’s Investment in Radar to 8.98%. The transaction was implemented 
through the same subscription mechanism as the earlier investment at an effective price of 68 cents per Radar share. 
Please also see Note 15.

Cambria is in discussions to further increase its shareholding in Radar. It will also seek to rely on its pre-emptive rights 
in  Hinshaw  (Pvt)  Ltd,  one  of  the  associated  companies  in  the  Radar  shareholding  structure,  should  the  opportunity 
arise to do so. In the opinion of the Board, Radar will be a direct beneficiary of any upturn in the Zimbabwe economy 
through its regional monopoly in brick manufacturing and its significant development land holdings. In addition, the 
Radar investment provides an attractive hedge against the possible deterioration in the purchasing power of cash and 
cash-equivalents in Zimbabwe.

67

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

For the year ended 31 August 2018

REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT

Corporate Information

Peregrine Corporate Services Limited
Burleigh Manor,
Peel Road , Douglas 
Isle of Man 
IM1 5EP
Tel: +44 (0) 1624 626586

NOMINATED ADVISOR AND JOINT BROKER

WH Ireland Limited 
24 Martin Lane , London
England
EC4R 0DR
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7220 1666

JOINT BROKER

SVS Securities Plc
2nd Floor,
20 Ropemaker Street, London
England
EC 2Y 9AR
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3700 0100

AUDITORS

Baker Tilly Isle of Man LLC
2a Lord Street, Douglas 
Isle of Man 
IM99 1HP
T: +44 (0) 1624 693900

REGISTRARS

Neville Registrars Limited 
Neville House,
Steelpark Road, Halesowen 
England
B62 8HD
Tel: +44 (0) 12 1585 1131

PRINCIPAL GROUP BANKERS

Barclays Corporate
Level 27, 
1 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf
London 
E14 5HP
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7116 1000

68

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

For the year ended 31 August 2018

ANALYSIS OF ORDINARY SHAREHOLDINGS AS AT 22 JANUARY 2019

Shareholder Information

Note: the shareholding analysis has been performed on 22 January 2019 incorporating changes since the year end of 
31 August 2018

Category of shareholder

Private shareholder 

Banks, nominees and other corporate bodies 

Total 

Shareholding range

1 – 5,000 

5,001 – 50,000 

50,001 – 500,000 

500,001 – 5,000,000 

5,000,001 – 50,000,000 

50,000,001 – 250,000,000 

Total 

REGISTRARS

NUMBER OF   
HOLDERS   
80   

% OF TOTAL   
HOLDERS   
41.2%   

NUMBER OF   
SHARES   
24,775,163   

% OF TOTAL
SHARES
4.5%

114   

194   

54   

44   

47   

41   

7   

1   

58.8%   

519,800,442   

100.0%   

544,575,605   

27.9%   

22.7%   

24.2%   

21.1%   

3.6%   

0.5%   

117,390   

942,910   

9,783,988   

77,928,749   

78,802,568   

377,000,000   

95.5%

100.0%

0.0%

0.2%

1.8%

14.3%

14.5%

69.2%

194   

100.0%   

544,575,605   

100.0%

All  administrative  enquiries  relating  to  shareholdings,  such  as  queries  concerning  dividend  payments,  notification  of 
change of address or the loss of a share certificate, should be addressed to the Company’s registrars.

UNSOLICITED MAIL

As the Company’s share register is, by law, open to public inspection, shareholders may receive unsolicited mail from 
organisations that use it as a mailing list. Shareholders wishing to limit the amount of such mail should write to the 
Mailing Preference Society, Freepost 29 Lon20771, London W1E 0ZT.

69

[ANNUAL REPORT 2018]

 
 
Cambria Africa Plc
Burleigh Manor,
Douglas,
Isle of Man
Im1 5EP

Tel: +44 (0) 207 669 0115
+44 (0) 1624 626 586
www.cambriaafrica.com
info@cambriaafrica.com