Business Context and Reporting Period
Company: James Hardie Industries N.V.
Filing Type: Form 6-K (Report of Foreign Private Issuer)
Date: June 24, 2009
Context: This filing serves as a cover document incorporating by reference several exhibits (99.1 through 99.5) containing a Company Statement, Management Presentation, Memorandum to Employees, Customer Letter, and Shareholder Information Line Script. The filing also includes a notification regarding a briefing for a proposed redomicile.
Key Financial Metrics
The provided text is a cover sheet and index for the Form 6-K. It does not contain specific financial data tables or narrative disclosures regarding revenue, profit, cash flow, margins, debt, or liquidity for the reporting period. The filing text does not provide a clear value for any financial metric.
Material Changes
No material changes to financial performance or operations are detailed in the provided text. The document references a "proposed redomicile" in Exhibit 99.6, indicating a potential structural change to the company's corporate domicile, but specific details on the impact of this change are not included in the cover text.
Guidance, Outlook, and Risks
Forward-Looking Statements: The filing includes a comprehensive Safe Harbor Statement. It warns that exhibits contain forward-looking statements regarding future performance, plant closures, credit facilities, dividends, tax liabilities, and asbestos-related obligations.
Key Risks Identified:
- Liabilities arising from the prior manufacture of asbestos-containing products.
- Required contributions to the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund.
- Currency exchange rate movements affecting asbestos liability valuations.
- Compliance with tax laws and environmental regulations.
- Market competition, product pricing, and raw material costs.
- Legal proceedings involving the Australian Securities & Investments Commission.
- Concentration of customer base on large format retail customers.
Investor Verification Checklist
- Review Exhibit 99.1 (Company Statement) and Exhibit 99.2 (Management Presentation) for specific financial results and operational updates not included in this cover sheet.
- Verify the details and timeline of the "proposed redomicile" mentioned in Exhibit 99.6.
- Assess the current status of asbestos-related litigation and the funding requirements for the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund.
- Monitor currency exchange rate impacts on the company's financial statements, particularly regarding asbestos liabilities.
- Check for updates on proceedings brought by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission against former directors and officers.