Business Context and Reporting Period
Company: James Hardie Industries N.V.
Filing Type: Form 6-K (Report of Foreign Private Issuer)
Reporting Period: Month of April 2008 (Filed April 2, 2008)
Principal Executive Offices: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
This filing serves as a conduit for documents filed with the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) regarding corporate actions and director disclosures. It does not contain a full financial report for the period.
Key Financial Metrics
The filing text does not provide specific values for revenue, profit, cash flow, margins, debt, or liquidity. The document focuses on regulatory disclosures and corporate governance notices rather than financial performance data.
Material Changes and Corporate Actions
- Share Buy-Back: Filed Appendix 3E (Daily Share Buy-Back Notice) with the ASX on April 1, 2008.
- Share Cancellation: Filed an Announcement of Cancellation of Shares with the ASX on April 1, 2008.
- Director Disclosures: Filed Appendix 3Z (Final Director's Interest Notice) with the ASX on April 1, 2008.
Guidance, Risks, and Contingencies
The filing includes a Safe Harbor Statement identifying significant forward-looking risks and uncertainties that could materially affect future results:
- Asbestos Liabilities: Expectations regarding payments to the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund (AICF) and foreign exchange impacts on recorded liabilities.
- Operational Costs: Costs associated with the suspension of operations at the Blandon, Pennsylvania plant.
- Legal Proceedings: Potential consequences of proceedings by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission against the company and former directors/officers.
- Tax and Regulatory: Tax liabilities, environmental laws, and health and safety compliance.
- Market Factors: Competition, product pricing, raw material costs, and general economic conditions.
Investor Verification Checklist
- Verify the volume and price of shares repurchased and cancelled as detailed in the attached ASX exhibits (99.1 and 99.2).
- Review the specific details of the Final Director's Interest Notice (Exhibit 99.3) for potential conflicts of interest.
- Consult the company's Form 20-F (filed July 6, 2007) for detailed "Risk Factors" referenced in this filing.
- Monitor updates on the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund (AICF) contribution requirements.
- Check for subsequent filings regarding the status of the Blandon, Pennsylvania plant suspension.