Business Context and Reporting Period
Company: James Hardie Industries plc
Filing Type: Form 6-K (Report of Foreign Private Issuer)
Reporting Period: September 2013 (Filed September 23, 2013)
Principal Executive Offices: Dublin 2, Ireland
This filing serves as a cover document for an announcement made to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) on September 20, 2013. The text provided contains the Safe Harbor statement, exhibit index, and signatures but does not include the full text of the ASX announcement (Exhibit 99.1).
Key Financial Metrics
The provided filing text does not contain specific financial data. Consequently, the following metrics are not available in this document:
- Revenue
- Profit
- Cash Flow
- Margins
- Debt
- Liquidity
Note: The filing text explicitly states that it contains forward-looking statements regarding financial projections but does not list historical or current period financial results.
Material Changes
The filing text does not provide specific data to compare against prior periods. It references the Form 20-F filed on June 27, 2013, for detailed risk factors and historical context but does not summarize material changes in this specific document.
Guidance, Outlook, and Risks
Forward-Looking Statements: The filing includes a comprehensive Safe Harbor statement identifying various forward-looking topics, including:
- Future performance and operational results.
- Plans regarding plant closures or suspensions.
- Credit facility renewals and terms.
- Dividend payments and share buy-backs.
- Corporate domicile transfer from The Netherlands to Ireland.
- Contributions to the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund (AICF).
Key Risks Identified:
- Asbestos Liabilities: Risks related to prior asbestos product manufacture, AICF funding shortfalls, and currency exchange impacts on asbestos liabilities.
- Legal Proceedings: Potential consequences of proceedings by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the New Zealand Ministry of Education.
- Market Conditions: Dependence on US and Australian housing markets, new home construction, and consumer confidence.
- Operational Risks: Raw material costs, competition, and environmental compliance.
Investor Verification Checklist
- Verify the content of Exhibit 99.1 (Appendix 3B ASX - 20 September 2013), as the specific news or financial update is contained within that exhibit rather than the cover text.
- Review the Form 20-F filed on June 27, 2013, for detailed risk factors and historical financial data referenced in this filing.
- Monitor updates regarding the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund (AICF) and any changes to contribution estimates.
- Track the status of legal proceedings involving the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the New Zealand Ministry of Education.
- Assess the impact of the corporate domicile transfer from The Netherlands to Ireland on tax structures and governance.