Business Context and Reporting Period
This Form 6-K filing by James Hardie Industries N.V. (now James Hardie Industries Plc) was submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on October 6, 2004. The registrant is a foreign private issuer headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and files annual reports on Form 20-F. The filing serves to distribute information previously filed with the Australian Stock Exchange regarding the exercise of employee stock options.
Key Financial Metrics
The filing text does not provide specific values for revenue, profit, cash flow, margins, debt, or liquidity. This document is a procedural filing referencing external exhibits rather than a financial results report.
Material Changes
No material changes to financial performance or operations are detailed in the text of this filing. The document solely references the exercise of options as reported in Appendix 3B filings with the Australian Stock Exchange on September 3, 2004, and October 1, 2004.
Guidance, Outlook, and Risks
The filing includes a Safe Harbor Statement regarding forward-looking statements. Management cautions that actual results may differ materially from expectations due to several risk factors, including:
- Competition and product pricing in operating markets.
- General economic and market conditions.
- Compliance with environmental and health and safety laws.
- Dependence on cyclical construction markets.
- Supply and cost of raw materials.
- Reliance on a small number of product distributors.
- Consequences of product failures or defects.
- Exposure to environmental or other legal proceedings.
- Risks associated with international business operations.
Investor Verification Checklist
- Verify the specific number of options exercised and the associated financial impact by reviewing the referenced Appendix 3B filings with the Australian Stock Exchange (Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2).
- Confirm the company's current legal name and domicile status, noting the registrant name listed as James Hardie Industries N.V. in this 2004 filing.
- Review the most recent Form 20-F for comprehensive financial data, as this Form 6-K contains no standalone financial statements.