Exhibit 99.2

Exhibit 99.2
Appendix 3B
New issue announcement

2Rule 2.7, 3.10.3, 3.10.4, 3.10.5

Appendix 3B

New issue announcement,
application for quotation of additional securities
and agreement

Information or documents not available now must be given to ASX as soon as available. Information and documents given to ASX become ASX’s property and may be made public.

Introduced 1/7/96. Origin: Appendix 5. Amended 1/7/98, 1/9/99, 1/7/2000, 30/9/2001, 11/3/2002, 1/1/2003.

Name of entity
James Hardie Industries N.V.

ARBN
097 829 895

We (the entity) give ASX the following information.

Part 1 - All issues
You must complete the relevant sections (attach sheets if there is not enough space).


1	⁺ Class of ⁺ securities issued or to be issued	Ordinary shares/CUFS


2	Number of ⁺ securities issued or to be issued (if known) or maximum number which may be issued	5,675 ordinary shares/CUFS

3	Principal terms of the ⁺ securities (eg, if options, exercise price and expiry date; if partly paid ⁺ securities, the amount outstanding and due dates for payment; if ⁺ convertible securities, the conversion price and dates for conversion)	5,675 ordinary shares/CUFS issues on exercise of options.



+ See chapter 19 for defined terms.


		Appendix 3B		Page 1

Appendix 3B
New issue announcement


4	Do the ⁺ securities rank equally in all respects from the date of allotment with an existing ⁺ class of quoted ⁺ securities?		Yes, rank equally with issued ordinary shares/CUFS

	If the additional securities do not rank equally, please state:

	•	the date from which they do

	•	the extent to which they participate for the next dividend, (in the case of a trust, distribution) or interest payment

	•	the extent to which they do not rank equally, other than in relation to the next dividend, distribution or interest payment

5	Issue price or consideration		Allotment of shares/CUFS on exercise of 4,425 options at A$5.0586 each; and 1,250 options at A$6.449 each.


6	Purpose of the issue (If issued as consideration for the acquisition of assets, clearly identify those assets)		Exercise of options

7	Dates of entering ⁺ securities into uncertificated holdings or despatch of certificates		24 January 2005


		Number	⁺ Class
8	Number and ⁺ class of all ⁺ securities quoted on ASX (including the securities in clause 2 if applicable)	459,239,549	shares/CUFS



+ See chapter 19 for defined terms.


Appendix 3B		Page 2

Appendix 3B

New issue announcement


		Number	⁺Class
9	Number and ⁺ class of all ⁺ securities not quoted on ASX (including the securities in clause 2 if applicable)	20,661,454 The following options have been cancelled at each exercise price: 4,423 at A$5.0586 and 3,750 at A$6.449.	Options


10		Dividend policy (in the case of a trust, distribution policy) on the increased capital (interests)		Rank for dividends equally with issued ordinary shares/CUFS.

Part 2 - Bonus issue or pro rata issue


11	Is security holder approval required?	Not applicable

12	Is the issue renounceable or non-renounceable?	Not applicable

13	Ratio in which the ⁺ securities will be offered	Not applicable

14	⁺ Class of ⁺ securities to which the offer relates	Not applicable

15	⁺ Record date to determine entitlements	Not applicable

16	Will holdings on different registers (or subregisters) be aggregated for calculating entitlements?	Not applicable

17	Policy for deciding entitlements in relation to fractions	Not applicable

18	Names of countries in which the entity has ⁺ security holders who will not be sent new issue documents Note: Security holders must be told how their entitlements are to be dealt with. Cross reference: rule 7.7.	Not applicable

19	Closing date for receipt of acceptances or renunciations	Not applicable



+ See chapter 19 for defined terms.


		Appendix 3B		Page 3

Appendix 3B
New issue announcement


20	Names of any underwriters	Not applicable


21	Amount of any underwriting fee or commission	Not applicable

22	Names of any brokers to the issue	Not applicable


23	Fee or commission payable to the broker to the issue	Not applicable

24	Amount of any handling fee payable to brokers who lodge acceptances or renunciations on behalf of ⁺ security holders	Not applicable

25	If the issue is contingent on ⁺ security holders’ approval, the date of the meeting	Not applicable

26	Date entitlement and acceptance form and prospectus or Product Disclosure Statement will be sent to persons entitled	Not applicable

27	If the entity has issued options, and the terms entitle option holders to participate on exercise, the date on which notices will be sent to option holders	Not applicable

28	Date rights trading will begin (if applicable)	Not applicable


29	Date rights trading will end (if applicable)	Not applicable


30	How do ⁺ security holders sell their entitlements in full through a broker?	Not applicable

31	How do ⁺ security holders sell part of their entitlements through a broker and accept for the balance?	Not applicable



+ See chapter 19 for defined terms.


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New issue announcement


32	How do ⁺ security holders dispose of their entitlements (except by sale through a broker)?	Not applicable

33	⁺ Despatch date	Not applicable

Part 3 - Quotation of securities
You need only complete this section if you are applying for quotation of securities


34	Type of securities (tick one)

(a)	þ	Securities described in Part 1

(b)	o	All other securities
		Example: restricted securities at the end of the escrowed period, partly paid securities that become fully paid, employee incentive share securities when restriction ends, securities issued on expiry or conversion of convertible securities

Entities that have ticked box 34(a)

Additional securities forming a new class of securities Not applicable

Tick to indicate you are providing the information or documents


35	o	If the ⁺ securities are ⁺ equity securities, the names of the 20 largest holders of the additional ⁺ securities, and the number and percentage of additional ⁺ securities held by those holders

36	o	If the ⁺ securities are ⁺ equity securities, a distribution schedule of the additional ⁺ securities setting out the number of holders in the categories 1 - 1,000 1,001 - 5,000 5,001 - 10,000 10,001 - 100,000 100,001 and over

37	o	A copy of any trust deed for the additional ⁺ securities



+ See chapter 19 for defined terms.


		Appendix 3B		Page 5

Appendix 3B
New issue announcement

Entities that have ticked box 34(b) Not applicable


38	Number of securities for which ⁺ quotation is sought

39	Class of ⁺ securities for which quotation is sought

40	Do the ⁺ securities rank equally in all respects from the date of allotment with an existing ⁺ class of quoted ⁺ securities?

	If the additional securities do not rank equally, please state: · the date from which they do

	•	the extent to which they participate for the next dividend, (in the case of a trust, distribution) or interest payment

	•	the extent to which they do not rank equally, other than in relation to the next dividend, distribution or interest payment

41	Reason for request for quotation now

	Example: In the case of restricted securities, end of restriction period

	(if issued upon conversion of another security, clearly identify that other security)


		Number	⁺ Class
42	Number and ⁺ class of all ⁺ securities quoted on ASX (including the securities in clause 38)



+ See chapter 19 for defined terms.


Appendix 3B		Page 6

Appendix 3B
New issue announcement

Quotation agreement

1 ⁺ Quotation of our additional ⁺ securities is in ASX’s absolute discretion. ASX may quote the ⁺ securities on any conditions it decides.

2 We warrant the following to ASX.

•   The issue of the ⁺ securities to be quoted complies with the law and is not for an illegal purpose.

•   There is no reason why those ⁺ securities should not be granted ⁺ quotation.

•   An offer of the ⁺securities for sale within 12 months after their issue will not require disclosure under section 707(3) or section 1012C(6) of the Corporations Act.

    Note: An entity may need to obtain appropriate warranties from subscribers for the securities in order to be able to give this warranty

•   Section 724 or section 1016E of the Corporations Act does not apply to any applications received by us in relation to any ⁺ securities to be quoted and that no-one has any right to return any ⁺ securities to be quoted under sections 737, 738 or 1016F of the Corporations Act at the time that we request that the ⁺ securities be quoted.

•   We warrant that if confirmation is required under section 1017F of the Corporations Act in relation to the ⁺ securities to be quoted, it has been provided at the time that we request that the ⁺ securities be quoted.

•   If we are a trust, we warrant that no person has the right to return the ⁺ securities to be quoted under section 1019B of the Corporations Act at the time that we request that the ⁺ securities be quoted.

3 We will indemnify ASX to the fullest extent permitted by law in respect of any claim, action or expense arising from or connected with any breach of the warranties in this agreement.

4 We give ASX the information and documents required by this form. If any information or document not available now, will give it to ASX before ⁺ quotation of the ⁺ securities begins. We acknowledge that ASX is relying on the information and documents. We warrant that they are (will be) true and complete.


Sign here:	/s/ W. (Pim) Vlot	Date:.24 January 2005

	Company Secretary

Print name:	W. (Pim) Vlot



+ See chapter 19 for defined terms.


		Appendix 3B		Page 7

1	⁺ Quotation of our additional ⁺ securities is in ASX’s absolute discretion. ASX may quote the ⁺ securities on any conditions it decides.

2	We warrant the following to ASX.

	•	The issue of the ⁺ securities to be quoted complies with the law and is not for an illegal purpose.

	•	There is no reason why those ⁺ securities should not be granted ⁺ quotation.

	•	An offer of the ⁺securities for sale within 12 months after their issue will not require disclosure under section 707(3) or section 1012C(6) of the Corporations Act.

		Note: An entity may need to obtain appropriate warranties from subscribers for the securities in order to be able to give this warranty

	•	Section 724 or section 1016E of the Corporations Act does not apply to any applications received by us in relation to any ⁺ securities to be quoted and that no-one has any right to return any ⁺ securities to be quoted under sections 737, 738 or 1016F of the Corporations Act at the time that we request that the ⁺ securities be quoted.

	•	We warrant that if confirmation is required under section 1017F of the Corporations Act in relation to the ⁺ securities to be quoted, it has been provided at the time that we request that the ⁺ securities be quoted.

	•	If we are a trust, we warrant that no person has the right to return the ⁺ securities to be quoted under section 1019B of the Corporations Act at the time that we request that the ⁺ securities be quoted.

3	We will indemnify ASX to the fullest extent permitted by law in respect of any claim, action or expense arising from or connected with any breach of the warranties in this agreement.

4	We give ASX the information and documents required by this form. If any information or document not available now, will give it to ASX before ⁺ quotation of the ⁺ securities begins. We acknowledge that ASX is relying on the information and documents. We warrant that they are (will be) true and complete.