Unless otherwise stated, the growth rates discussed further in this report compare FY24 to FY23. The percentages in brackets represent local currency growth, excluding the impact of acquisitions and disposals (M&A), and provide a clearer view of our businesses' underlying operating performance. Financial results are presented on a continuing operations basis.
For the 12 months to 31 March 2024, the group intensified its focus on profitable growth in its core growth businesses, and driving improvements in underperforming investments. Consolidated revenue grew 11% (19%) to US$5.5bn, driven by strong performances at OLX and iFood. Ecommerce consolidated trading profit improved by a sizeable US$451m (US$429m) to US$38m in FY24 as growth, scale and cost reductions positively impacted results. Consolidated trading losses for the group have reduced by US$468m (US$446m) to US$118m, underlining our accelerating profitability path.
Core headline earnings, our measure of after-tax operating performance, were US$5.0bn – an increase of 84% (109%).
While we continue to seek long-term growth opportunities, external investment (M&A and minority investment) was limited to US$571m, meaningfully off the US$6.3bn peak in 2022 as we maintained discipline in a challenging investment landscape. Historically the group had achieved some investing success over a sustained period of time. But in the last two years, our internal rate of return (IRR) has been far below target. Steps have been taken to learn from our errors and address this underperformance, including by more actively engaging with our major operating companies and investments, flattening our overall organisation to get closer to our businesses and redesigning the investment team, investment process and incentives. Enhancing our knowledge, expertise and capability is the group's DNA, and when we have conviction in our ideas, we will increase our deployment of capital.
We have created additional value for our shareholders by continuing the open-ended share-repurchase programme. Since its inception in June 2022, this programme has reduced the free-float share count by 21% and generated US$30bn of value for shareholders. From the programme's launch to 31 March 2024, the combined holding company discount of Naspers and Prosus has reduced by some 21 percentage points. Over the same period, Prosus has repurchased 318 170 126 Prosus ordinary shares, with a total value of US$17.1bn, leading to 8.2% accretion in net asset value (NAV) per share. Naspers funds its open-ended share-repurchase programme with regular sales of Prosus shares. By 31 March 2024, Naspers had sold 113 092 796 Prosus ordinary shares N and bought back 34 793 336 Naspers N ordinary shares to the value of US$5.7bn.
In September 2023, we simplified our structure by removing the cross-holding structure, with overwhelming shareholder support. Stronger performance of our operating businesses, better investments, and our open-ended share-repurchase programme are important contributors to long-term value creation and shareholder returns. The group remains committed to these goals.
iFood continues to deliver strong performance which underlines its position as one of the best food delivery businesses globally. iFood's core restaurant food delivery businesses generated a strong increase in trading profit of US$166m (US$137m) year on year (YoY). Progress has been made in developing growth extensions further and the management team at iFood see significant potential in their lending, grocery and meal vouchers business. This strong ecosystem is central to iFood's long-term potential.
Our Classifieds businesses accelerated profitability markedly, driven by strong revenue growth and effective cost-control measures, particularly in OLX Europe. During the year, we concluded deals or closed most of OLX Autos, the automobile transaction business.
PayU continued to grow well in its core payment service provider (PSP) business. Strong revenue growth and improved profitability were driven by improved operating leverage and effective cost control, despite regulatory hurdles in India. The sale of GPO, announced in August 2023, is progressing and expected to close in the second half of calendar 2024.
In the Edtech segment the broad adoption of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools and challenging macroeconomic conditions have affected our businesses, particularly Stack Overflow. Revenue growth has been more modest than anticipated, and we have taken significant action to improve trading profit and free cash flow performance given this revenue base. Stack Overflow has leveraged the group's inhouse AI capabilities to improve its AI value proposition with positive early results. GoodHabitz is benefiting from its investments in product enhancements and a more measured international rollout programme.
The group's balance sheet is strong, with US$16.0bn cash on hand (including short-term investments). We remain committed to managing our balance sheet within its investment-grade rating; therefore, not all of the cash on the balance sheet is available to the group. At 31 March 2024, our estimate is that approximately US$8.0bn is available for new investment.
In September 2023, Bob van Dijk stepped down as chief executive after nearly 10 years at the helm. Ervin Tu, the group's chief investment officer (CIO), was appointed as interim chief executive. On 17 May 2024, we announced the appointment of iFood CEO, Fabricio Bloisi as group chief executive. Fabricio acquired iFood in 2013 when it was a 20-person start-up. He has since grown it rapidly and profitably to become Brazil's leading food delivery company and one of the best food delivery businesses globally. Fabricio is a proven entrepreneur and innovator with deep roots in operating, building and scaling world-class technology companies in growth markets. Ervin will continue to play an important role in shaping the group's future in a new position, president and CIO.
A reconciliation and relevance of alternative performance measures to the equivalent International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) metrics is provided in 'Other information – financial alternative performance measures' of this annual consolidated financial commentary. Economic interest represents results reported on an economic-interest basis, ie, equity-accounted investments are proportionally consolidated within reportable segments.