Business Context and Reporting Period
This Form 6-K is a report of a foreign private issuer filed by James Hardie Industries N.V. for the month of December 2006, with the filing date of December 12, 2006. The registrant is headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and files annual reports on Form 20-F. The filing serves primarily to distribute information previously released to the Australian Stock Exchange.
Financial Metrics
The provided filing text does not contain specific financial data regarding revenue, profit, cash flow, margins, debt, or liquidity for the reporting period. The document consists of cover pages, a safe harbor statement, an exhibit index, and signatures. It does not include a financial results summary or income statement.
Material Changes
No material changes to financial performance or operations are detailed in the text of this specific filing. The document references the filing of multiple "Appendix 3B" notices regarding the exercise of stock options between November 28, 2006, and December 11, 2006, as well as a notice regarding Extraordinary Meetings filed on December 7, 2006.
Guidance, Outlook, and Risks
The filing includes a comprehensive Safe Harbor Statement regarding forward-looking statements. Key areas of uncertainty and risk identified include:
- Asbestos Liabilities: Expectations regarding the Final Funding Agreement and payments to a special purpose fund for asbestos-related personal injury and death claims.
- Tax Matters: Expectations concerning an amended assessment by the Australian Tax Office.
- Financing: Expectations that credit facilities will be extended or renewed.
- Operational Risks: Competition, product pricing, raw material costs, environmental liabilities, and foreign exchange risks.
- Compliance: Implementation of internal controls under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
The text explicitly states that actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to these inherent risks.
Key Facts for Investor Verification
- Verify the specific details of the stock option exercises referenced in Exhibits 99.1 through 99.9, as the filing only lists the dates and exhibit types without numerical data.
- Review the Extraordinary Meetings notice (Exhibit 99.7) filed on December 7, 2006, for details on corporate governance actions.
- Consult the company's Form 20-F (filed September 29, 2006) for the detailed "Risk Factors" referenced in the Safe Harbor Statement.
- Seek separate financial reports for actual revenue, profit, and cash flow figures, as they are absent from this specific Form 6-K text.