Business Context and Reporting Period
This Form 6-K is a report of a foreign private issuer filed by James Hardie Industries N.V. on October 24, 2003. The registrant is headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and files annual reports under Form 20-F. The filing serves to disclose specific corporate actions rather than a full financial reporting period.
Key Financial Metrics
The filing text does not provide a clear value for revenue, profit, cash flow, margins, debt, or liquidity. This document is a procedural filing referencing an exhibit regarding the exercise of options and does not contain a financial statement or performance summary.
Material Changes
The filing references Exhibit 99.1, titled "Appendix 3B — Exercise of options," which was lodged with the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) on October 9, 2003. No other material changes to financial position or operations are detailed in the provided text.
Guidance, Outlook, and Risks
The document includes a Safe Harbor Statement regarding forward-looking statements. Management cautions that actual results may differ materially from expectations due to various risks, including:
- Competition and product pricing.
- 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 of conducting business internationally.
Investor Verification Checklist
- Verify the specific details of the option exercises referenced in Exhibit 99.1 (Appendix 3B) lodged with the ASX on October 9, 2003.
- Review the company's most recent Form 20-F or Form 6-K for actual financial performance data, as this filing does not contain it.
- Assess the current status of the legal and environmental risks highlighted in the Safe Harbor Statement.