Business Context and Reporting Period
This Form 6-K filing by James Hardie Industries N.V. (now James Hardie Industries Plc) covers the month of August 2006 and was filed with the SEC on September 5, 2006. The registrant is a foreign private issuer headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The filing primarily serves to distribute a UK Roadshow Presentation (Exhibit 99.1) that was previously filed with the Australian Stock Exchange on August 30, 2006.
Key Financial Metrics
The filing text provided does not contain specific financial data. It does not report revenue, profit, cash flow, margins, debt, or liquidity figures. The document is a cover sheet and index for an attached presentation rather than a financial statement itself.
Material Changes
No material changes in financial performance or operations are detailed in the text of this filing. The document references forward-looking statements regarding expectations for the Final Funding Agreement, payments to a special purpose fund for asbestos claims, and an amended assessment by the Australian Tax Office, but provides no comparative data to quantify changes.
Guidance, Outlook, and Risks
The filing includes a Safe Harbor Statement identifying several forward-looking topics and associated risks:
- Asbestos Liabilities: Expectations regarding the Final Funding Agreement and payments to a special purpose fund for proven 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: Risks include competition, product pricing, product failures, environmental and legal proceedings, raw material costs, foreign exchange risks, and compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 404.
Management cautions that actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to inherent uncertainties.
Investor Verification Checklist
- Verify the content of the attached "August 2006 UK Roadshow Presentation" (Exhibit 99.1) for specific financial projections and strategic updates not included in this cover filing.
- Confirm the status of the Final Funding Agreement and the special purpose fund for asbestos claims.
- Review the outcome of the Australian Tax Office amended assessment.
- Check for updates on the extension or renewal of the company's credit facilities.
- Assess the impact of foreign exchange risks and raw material costs on future margins.