James Hardie Industries N.V. Form 6-K Summary
Business Context and Reporting Period
This Form 6-K was filed by James Hardie Industries N.V. on October 1, 2004. The registrant is a foreign private issuer with principal executive offices in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The filing serves to notify the SEC of the submission of the Company's Form 20-F annual report.
Financial Metrics
The filing text does not provide specific financial values for revenue, profit, cash flow, margins, debt, or liquidity. This document acts as a cover sheet referencing an attached press release (Exhibit 99.1) regarding the Form 20-F filing, but the financial data itself is not contained within the provided text.
Material Changes
No material changes versus prior periods are detailed in this specific filing text. The document focuses on procedural compliance and the inclusion of forward-looking statement disclaimers.
Guidance, Outlook, and Risks
The filing includes a Safe Harbor Statement identifying forward-looking statements and associated risks. Key risk factors disclosed include:
- Competition and product pricing in operating markets.
- General economic and market conditions.
- Compliance with environmental and health and safety laws.
- Dependence on senior management and success of R&D efforts.
- Supply and cost of raw materials.
- Reliance on a small number of product distributors.
- Consequences of product failures or defects.
- Exposure to environmental, asbestos, or other legal proceedings.
- Risks of conducting business internationally, including tax law changes and foreign exchange risks.
Key Facts for Investor Verification
- Verify the full financial results in the referenced Form 20-F, as this 6-K does not contain numerical data.
- Review the attached Press Release (Exhibit 99.1) for management commentary on the Form 20-F filing.
- Assess the company's exposure to asbestos-related legal proceedings and environmental liabilities as highlighted in the risk factors.
- Confirm the company's reliance on a limited number of distributors and the potential impact of raw material cost fluctuations.