Business Context and Reporting Period
Company: James Hardie Industries N.V. (James Hardie Industries Plc)
Filing Type: Form 6-K (Report of Foreign Private Issuer)
Date: August 15, 2007
Context: This filing serves as a conduit to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a Notice of the 2007 Annual Information and General Meetings, originally filed with the Australian Stock Exchange on July 16, 2007. The registrant is a foreign private issuer headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Key Financial Metrics
The filing text does not provide specific financial data such as revenue, profit, cash flow, margins, debt, or liquidity figures. This document is a procedural filing referencing an external notice of meeting rather than a financial results report.
Material Changes
No material changes to financial performance or operations are detailed in this specific filing text. The document focuses on corporate governance procedures regarding the upcoming annual meetings.
Guidance, Outlook, and Risks
Forward-Looking Statements: The filing includes a comprehensive Safe Harbor Statement identifying various forward-looking statements made by the company. These include expectations regarding:
- Timing and amounts of payments to the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund (AICF).
- Financial statement impacts of AICF payments.
- Consequences of proceedings by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission.
- Extension or renewal of credit facilities.
- Projections of operating results and financial condition.
- Plans regarding competition, acquisitions, and product development.
Risk Factors: The company highlights significant risks that could cause actual results to differ from expectations, including:
- Liabilities arising from the prior manufacture of asbestos-containing products.
- Required contributions to the AICF and foreign exchange effects on asbestos provisions.
- Changes in tax laws and treatments.
- Competition, product pricing, and raw material costs.
- Product failures, environmental liabilities, and legal proceedings.
- General economic conditions and international business risks.
- Implementation of new software systems and natural disasters.
Investor Verification Checklist
- Verify the specific agenda and resolutions for the 2007 Annual Information and General Meetings referenced in Exhibit 99.1.
- Review the full Form 20-F filed on July 6, 2007, for detailed financial statements and the complete "Risk Factors" section.
- Monitor updates regarding the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund (AICF) payment schedules and funding requirements.
- Assess the status of proceedings brought by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission against the company and former directors.
- Confirm the status of credit facility renewals mentioned in the forward-looking statements.