Exhibit 8.3
DRAFT FORM OF OPINION
[], 2009
The Managing, Supervisory and Joint
Board of Directors of James Hardie Industries N.V.
Atrium, 8th floor
Strawinskylaan 3077
1077 ZX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Re: James Hardie Industries N.V.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special United States tax counsel to James Hardie Industries N.V., a public
limited liability corporation registered in The Netherlands (the Company), in connection
with the registration of 102,000,000 ordinary shares, par value 0.59 per share (the
Securities), of James Hardie Industries SE (the Issuer) as a result of the
transformation of the Company from a public limited liability corporation organized in The
Netherlands (Naamloze Vennotschap (NV)) to a European Company (Societas Europaea (SE)) pursuant to
the merger of a newly-formed subsidiary of the Company incorporated in Ireland with and into the
Company. At your request, we are rendering our opinion set forth below concerning material United
States federal income tax consequences of the Proposal (as defined in the Registration Statement,
described below). All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning
ascribed to them in the Registration Statement.
In the above capacity, we have reviewed (i) the registration statement on Form F-4 (File No.
333-160177) relating to the Securities filed by the Company on [], 2009 with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 (the Registration Statement) and
(ii) such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate in order to enable us to
render the opinion below. We have relied upon statements and representations made by the Company
and have assumed that such statements and representations are true without regard to any
qualifications as to knowledge and belief.
For purposes of our opinion, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the
genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the
conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed,
photostatic or electronic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.
We have assumed that such documents, certificates, and records are duly authorized, valid, and
enforceable. Where documents have been provided to us in draft form, we have
The Managing, Supervisory and Joint
Board of Directors of James Hardie Industries N.V.
[], 2009
Page 2
assumed that the final executed versions of such documents will not differ materially from
such drafts.
In rendering our opinion, we have considered applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended, Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, pertinent
judicial authorities, published opinions and administrative pronouncements of the Internal Revenue
Service and other applicable authorities, and income tax treaties to which the United States is a
party, all as in effect and available on the date of the Registration Statement and all of which
are subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect. A change in
any of the authorities upon which our advice is based could affect our conclusions herein. There
can be no assurance, moreover, that our opinion will be accepted by the Internal Revenue Service
or, if challenged, by a court.
On the basis of the foregoing and subject to the limitations, qualifications, exceptions and
assumptions set forth in the Registration Statement and herein, we are of the opinion that,
although the description in the Registration Statement under the heading Material Tax
Considerations of the ProposalUS Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Proposal does not
purport to describe all possible U.S. federal income tax consequences to US Holders of the
Proposal, under present U.S. federal income tax law, such description fairly summarizes, in all
material respects, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Proposal applicable to US
Holders.
Except as set forth herein, we express no opinions or views regarding the U.S. federal income
tax consequences of the Proposal or any other transaction related to the Proposal. This opinion is
delivered in connection with the transactions referred to herein and may not be relied upon by any
person other than the addressee or any beneficial holder of the Securities.
This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof, and we are not under any obligation to
supplement or revise our opinion to reflect any legal developments or factual matters arising
subsequent to the date hereof or the impact of any information, document, certificate, record,
statement, representation, covenant, or assumption relied upon herein that hereafter becomes
incorrect or untrue. In addition, any changes to either the Registration Statement or the other
documents referred to above could affect our conclusions herein.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission as
an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the
caption Legal Matters in such registration statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby
admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
the Securities Act or 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
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