EXHIBIT 99.1
The Annual Information Meeting of James Hardie Industries NV (the Company) has been called to
enable CUFS holders to attend a meeting together in Australia to review items of business and other
matters that will be considered and voted on at the subsequent Annual General Meeting in The
Netherlands. CUFS (CHESS Units of Foreign Securities) are a form of security used to allow trading
on the Australian Stock Exchange in shares of companies that are incorporated outside Australia.
Questions
CUFS holders will be able to ask questions as they would
at an Annual General Meeting. We invite holders to use the
accompanying form to submit questions in advance of the meeting.
We believe this process will make it easier for more holders
to have questions answered, whether or not they can attend
the Information Meeting. CUFS holders will also be able to ask
questions from the floor during the Information Meeting.
Webcast
For the benefit of holders unable to attend, the Annual Information
Meeting will be broadcast live over the internet at
www.jameshardie.com (select Investor Relations, then Annual
Meetings). The webcast will then remain on the Companys website
so it can be replayed later if required.
Although no voting will take place at the Annual Information
Meeting in Sydney, CUFS holders will be able to lodge direction
(or proxy) forms specifying how their vote is to be recorded at the
Annual General Meeting.
Meeting details
The Annual General Meeting will be held at Ballroom A,
Hilton Amsterdam, Apollolaan 138, 1077 BG Amsterdam,
The Netherlands at 9.30 am Central Europe Time (CET)
on Monday, 25 September 2006.
The 2006 Annual Information Meeting of CUFS holders
of James Hardie Industries NV will be held in
Ballroom 4, The Westin Sydney Hotel,
1 Martin Place (entry from Pitt Street),
Sydney NSW Australia
at 10.00 am Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST)
on Tuesday, 19 September 2006.
James Hardie Industries NV ARBN 097 829 895
Incorporated in The Netherlands with corporate seat in Amsterdam.
The liability of members is limited.
Business of Annual General Meeting
1. Reports and accounts for the financial year ended 31 March 2006
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To receive and consider the Annual Report prepared by the Managing Board for the financial year
ended 31 March 2006. |
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(b) |
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To receive and consider the Annual Accounts prepared by the Managing Board for the financial
year ended 31 March 2006 and, if
thought fit, pass the following resolution as an ordinary resolution: |
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That the Annual Accounts of the Company for the financial year ended 31 March 2006 be received and
adopted and that the Annual
Accounts and the Annual Report for the financial year ended 31 March 2006 be published in the
English language. |
Details of where copies of the Annual Accounts for the financial year ended 31 March 2006 are
available for inspection and other
information relevant to these items of business are set out in the attached Explanatory Notes.
2. Adoption of the Remuneration Report for the financial year ended 31 March 2006
To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolution as a non-binding resolution:
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That the Remuneration Report of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2006 be adopted. |
The vote on this resolution is advisory only and does not bind the members of the Managing Board,
Supervisory Board or Joint Board of
the Company. An explanation of the background and reasons for the proposed resolution is set out in
the attached Explanatory Notes.
3. Election of members of the Supervisory and Joint Boards
To consider and, if thought fit, pass each of the following resolutions as an ordinary resolution:
(a) |
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That Ms M Hellicar, being a member of the Supervisory and Joint Boards of the Company, who
would otherwise retire immediately
following this Annual General Meeting, and having been nominated for election by the Supervisory
Board in accordance with Article
22.4 of the Companys Articles of Association, be re-appointed as a member of the Supervisory and
Joint Boards. |
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That Mr M J Gillfillan, being a member of the Supervisory and Joint Boards of the Company, who
would otherwise retire immediately
following this Annual General Meeting, and having been nominated for election by the Supervisory
Board in accordance with Article
22.4 of the Companys Articles of Association, be re-appointed as a member of the Supervisory and
Joint Boards. |
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That Mr D G McGauchie, being a member of the Supervisory and Joint Boards of the Company, who
would otherwise retire
immediately following this Annual General Meeting, and having been nominated for election by the
Supervisory Board in accordance
with Article 22.4 of the Companys Articles of Association, be re-appointed as a member of the
Supervisory and Joint Boards. |
Brief resumes of Ms Hellicar and Messrs Gillfillan and McGauchie and other information about their
future intentions as Directors are set
out in the attached Explanatory Notes.
4. Remuneration of members of the Supervisory Board
To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolution as an ordinary resolution:
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That the maximum aggregate remuneration payable to members of the Supervisory Board under Article
25 of the Companys Articles
of Association be increased by US$850,000 from the current aggregate maximum amount of US$650,000
per annum to a sum not
exceeding the aggregate maximum amount of US$1.5 million per annum, to be divided in accordance
with the Companys Articles of
Association. |
An explanation of the background and reasons for the proposed resolution is set out in the attached
Explanatory Notes.
5. Supervisory Board Share Plan
To consider and, if thought fit, pass each of the following resolutions as an ordinary resolution:
(a) |
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That approval is given for all purposes for: |
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the replacement of the current Supervisory Board Share Plan with a modified version, to be
called the Supervisory Board Share Plan 2006 (SBSP) on the basis set out in the attached Explanatory Notes; and |
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(ii) |
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the issue of ordinary fully-paid shares in the Company (Shares) to members of the Companys
Supervisory Board under the SBSP
in accordance with the SBSP initialed by the Chairman for the purposes of identification and
described in the attached Explanatory
Notes. |
(b) |
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That approval is given for all purposes for the participation in the SBSP by Ms M Hellicar in
accordance with the terms of the SBSP and on the basis set out in the attached Explanatory Notes. |
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That approval is given for all purposes for the participation in the SBSP by Mr J D Barr in
accordance with the terms of the SBSP and on the basis set out in the attached Explanatory Notes. |
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That approval is given for all purposes for the participation in the SBSP by Mr M R Brown in
accordance with the terms of the SBSP and on the basis set out in the attached Explanatory Notes. |
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(e) |
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That approval is given for all purposes for the participation in the SBSP by Mr M J Gillfillan
in accordance with the terms of the SBSP and on the basis set out in the attached Explanatory Notes. |
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That approval is given for all purposes for the participation in the SBSP by Mr J R H Loudon in
accordance with the terms of the SBSP and on the basis set out in the attached Explanatory Notes. |
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That approval is given for all purposes for the participation in the SBSP by Mr D G McGauchie
in accordance with the terms of the
SBSP and on the basis set out in the attached Explanatory Notes. |
An explanation of the background and reasons for the proposed resolutions is set out in the
attached Explanatory Notes.
6. Long Term Incentive Plan
To consider and, if thought fit, pass each of the following resolutions as ordinary resolutions:
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That approval is given for all purposes for: |
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the establishment of a plan, to be called the James Hardie Industries NV Long Term Incentive
Plan 2006 (LTIP) to provide
incentives to members of the Companys Managing Board and to management of the Company (Executives)
on the basis set out in the attached Explanatory Notes; |
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(ii) |
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the issue of options or other rights over, or interests in, ordinary fully-paid shares in the
Company (Shares), the issue and/or
transfer of Shares under them, and the grant of cash awards to members of the Companys Managing
Board and to Executives; |
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in accordance with the LTIP Rules initialed by the Chairman for the purposes of identification and
described in the attached
Explanatory Notes. |
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(b) |
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That the following be approved for all purposes: |
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(i) |
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participation in the LTIP to a maximum of 1,000,000 Options by Mr L Gries; and |
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(ii) |
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acquisition accordingly by Mr L Gries of Shares up to the stated maximum, |
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all in accordance with the terms of the LTIP and on the basis set out in the attached Explanatory
Notes. |
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That the following be approved for all purposes: |
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(i) |
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participation in the LTIP to a maximum of 155,000 Options by Mr R L Chenu; and |
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acquisition accordingly by Mr R L Chenu of Shares up to the stated maximum, |
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all in accordance with the terms of the LTIP and on the basis set out in the attached Explanatory
Notes. |
Business of Annual General Meeting
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That the following be approved for all purposes: |
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(i) |
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participation in the LTIP to a maximum of 263,000 Options by Mr B P Butterfield; and |
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acquisition accordingly by Mr B P Butterfield of Shares up to the stated maximum, |
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all in accordance with the terms of the LTIP and on the basis set out in the attached Explanatory
Notes. |
An explanation of the background and reasons for the proposed resolutions is set out in the
attached Explanatory Notes.
7. Renewal of authority for the Company to acquire its own shares
To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolution as an ordinary resolution:
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That the Managing Board be irrevocably authorised to cause the Company to acquire shares in the
capital of the Company for
valuable consideration within the price range as set out in the attached Explanatory Notes for an
18-month period, whether as an on
or off financial market purchase and up to the maximum number of shares permitted by Dutch law. |
An explanation of the background and reasons for the proposed resolution is set out in the attached
Explanatory Notes.
8. Renewal of rights relating to takeover provisions
To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolution as an ordinary resolution:
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That the application of Articles 49.9 and 49.10 is extended for a period of five years commencing
on the passing of this resolution,
subject to the confirmation of this extension by the Managing Board on the recommendation of the
Joint Board, in accordance with
Article 51 of the Companys Articles of Association. |
An explanation of the background and reasons for the proposed resolution is set out in the attached
Explanatory Notes.
Voting Exclusion Statement
In accordance with the ASX Listing Rules, the Company will disregard any votes cast on resolutions
4, 5 or 6 of this Notice of Meetings if
they are cast by any member of the Supervisory or Managing Boards or their associates.
People who fall into the categories listed above will not have their votes disregarded if:
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they are acting as a proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with the
directions on a proxy form; or |
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they are chairing the meeting as proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance
with a direction on a proxy form to vote
as the proxy decides. |
Notes on voting and Explanatory Notes are attached, and a Direction Form is enclosed.
By order of the Joint Board
Benjamin P Butterfield
Company Secretary
14 August 2006
Notes on voting
CUFS holders
CUFS holders who want to vote on the resolutions to be considered at the Annual General Meeting
have the following three options
available to them:
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Option A
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CUFS holders who want to vote on the resolutions to be considered at the Annual General
Meeting in Amsterdam, but who
do not want to attend that meeting, may instead attend the Annual Information Meeting in Sydney,
Australia. |
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Before, at or following the conclusion of the Annual Information Meeting, CUFS holders may lodge a
Direction Form directing
CHESS Depositary Nominees Pty Limited (CDN) to vote the shares in the Company held by it on their
behalf. CDN is the legal
holder of the shares in the Company for the purposes of the ASTC Settlement Rules and is the issuer
of CUFS. |
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To be eligible to direct CDN to vote the shares underlying their CUFS holding at the Annual General
Meeting, CUFS holders
must be registered at 5.00 pm (AEST) on Wednesday, 20 September 2006. |
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CUFS holders who select Option A should follow either (1) or (2) below: |
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Complete the Direction Form accompanying this Notice of Meetings and lodge it: |
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in person at the Annual Information Meeting; or |
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by post to GPO Box 242, Melbourne, VIC 8060, Australia; or |
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by delivery to Computershare Investor Services Pty Limited, Level 3, 60 Carrington Street,
Sydney NSW, Australia; or |
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by email to [email protected] or |
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by facsimile to 03 9473 2118 from inside Australia or +61 3 9473 2118 from outside Australia. |
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2. Complete a Direction Form using the internet |
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Go to www.computershare.com/au/proxy/jhx
Note: address requires .com/au, not the more usual .com.au |
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To complete the Direction Form using the internet, you will need your Security Holder Reference
Number (SRN) or Holder
Identification Number (HIN) from your current James Hardie Industries NV Holding Statement or your
last dividend statement
and your postcode as recorded in the Companys register. |
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You will be taken to have signed the Direction Form if you lodge it in accordance with the
instructions. |
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Completed Direction Forms must be received by Computershare Investor Services Pty Limited no later
than 10.00 am (AEST) on Friday, 22 September 2006. |
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Option B
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CUFS holders who want to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting in Amsterdam may
ask CHESS Depositary
Nominees Pty Limited (CDN) to appoint them as proxy to vote the shares underlying their holding of
CUFS on behalf of CDN.
CDN is the holder of the shares in the Company for the purposes of the ASTC Settlement Rules and
the issuer of CUFS. |
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If you are a CUFS holder and
select Option B, do not complete the enclosed Direction Form. Instead,
you will need
to write and ask for a Proxy Request Form to be sent to you. Complete the Proxy Request Form and
return it to
Computershare Investor Services Pty Limited using the address, email or fax details given below. |
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Written requests for a Proxy Request Form, and completed Proxy Request Forms, must be sent to
Computershare
Investor Services Pty Limited: |
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by post at GPO Box 242, Melbourne, VIC 8060, Australia; or |
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by delivery to Level 3, 60 Carrington Street, Sydney NSW, Australia; or |
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by email to [email protected] or |
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by facsimile to 03 9473 2118 from inside Australia or +61 3 9473 2118 from outside Australia. |
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To attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting in Amsterdam, your completed Proxy Request Forms
must be received by Computershare Investor Services Pty Limited no later than 5.00 pm (AEST) on Thursday,
14 September 2006. |
Business of Annual General Meeting
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Option C
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CUFS holders who want to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting may also do
so by converting their CUFS to
ordinary shares. Converted shares cannot be traded on the ASX but the owner of the shares will be
eligible to vote those
shares at the Annual General Meeting either in person or by proxy. Shareholders who have converted
their CUFS to shares will
also receive distributions in US dollars. Shares can be converted back into CUFS after the meeting. |
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Conversions to Company shares must be recorded in a transfer form signed by the transferor and the
transferee. The transfer
will have effect, if the Company is a party to the deed, when the transfer form is executed, or
when it is served upon the
Company, or when the Company otherwise acknowledges the transaction. |
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CUFS must be converted into shares before 5.00 pm (AEST) on Thursday, 14 September 2006. The
Company will not
acknowledge any requests to transfer shares received between Friday, 15 September 2006 (AEST) and
the close of the Annual General Meeting. |
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To convert your CUFS holding to a shareholding any time before 5.00 pm (AEST) on Thursday, 14
September 2006: |
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in the case of issuer-sponsored CUFS: obtain a transfer form from Computershare Investor
Services Pty Limited,
execute it and return it to Computershare Investor Services Pty Limited: |
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a. by post to GPO Box 242, Melbourne, VIC 8060, Australia; |
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b. by delivery to Level 3, 60 Carrington Street, Sydney NSW, Australia; or |
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c. by facsimile to 03 9473 2118 from inside Australia or +61 3 9473 2118 from outside Australia; or |
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in the case of CUFS sponsored on the CHESS sub-register: direct your CHESS participant to
convert your holding. |
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CUFS holders who select Option C should follow the voting instructions set out below under the
heading Shareholders. |
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To obtain a free copy of CDNs Financial Services Guide (FSG), or any Supplementary FSG, go to
www.asx.com.au/cdis or
phone 1 300 300 279 from within Australia or +61 1 300 300 279 from outside Australia to have one
sent to you. |
Shareholders
Shareholders registered at 5.00 pm (AEST) on Wednesday, 20 September 2006 are eligible to attend
and vote at the Annual General
Meeting.
A Shareholder who is entitled to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting, and who is unable
to attend the meeting, is entitled to
appoint one or more proxies. Where more than one proxy is appointed, the Shareholder must specify
on separate forms the proportion or
number of votes each proxy may exercise. Proxies do not need to be Shareholders of the Company.
To appoint a proxy, complete the Proxy Form provided to Shareholders and return it:
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by post to Computershare Investor Services Pty Limited, GPO Box 242, Melbourne, VIC 8060,
Australia; or |
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by delivery to Level 3, 60 Carrington Street, Sydney NSW, Australia; or |
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by facsimile to 03 9473 2118 inside Australia or +61 3 9473 2118 outside Australia. |
Proxy Forms must be received no later than 11.00 am (AEST) on Friday, 22 September 2006.
Explanatory Notes
Resolution 1 Reports and accounts for the financial year ended 31 March 2006
Resolution 1 asks Shareholders to receive and adopt the Annual Accounts prepared by the Managing
Board of the Company for the
financial year ended 31 March 2006.
The Articles of Association of the Company provide that the Annual Accounts of the Company must be
submitted to the General Meeting
within six months after the end of the financial year to which the Annual Accounts relate.
The Annual Accounts for the financial year ended 31 March 2006 and which are the subject of
Resolution 1 are those of the Company
as a stand-alone entity, as distinct from the consolidated financial statements of the James Hardie
group as set out in the 2006 Annual
Report distributed to Shareholders in July.
To comply with Dutch law, Shareholders are also being asked to confirm their approval for the
Companys Annual Accounts and Annual
Report for the financial year ended 31 March 2006 to be published in the English language (and not
the Dutch language).
A brief overview of the financial and operating performance of the James Hardie group during the
past financial year ended 31 March 2006
will be provided during the Annual Information Meeting and the Annual General Meeting.
Copies of the Annual Accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2006 are freely available
to Shareholders, CUFS holders and
other people entitled to attend the Annual Information Meeting and the Annual General Meeting
either:
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at the Annual Information Meeting or Annual General Meeting; or |
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at the Companys Australian registered office at Level 3, 22 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW, and
registered office at Atrium, 8th Floor,
Strawinskylaan 3077, 1077 ZX Amsterdam, The Netherlands; or |
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on the Companys website, in the Investor Relations area, at www.jameshardie.com |
Recommendation
The Supervisory Board believes it is in the interests of Shareholders that the Annual Accounts of
the Company for the financial year ended
31 March 2006 be adopted and that the Annual Accounts and the Annual Report be published in the
English language, and recommends
that you vote in favour of the resolution.
Resolution 2 Adoption of the Remuneration Report for the financial year ended 31 March 2006
Resolution 2 asks Shareholders to adopt the Remuneration Report for the financial year ended 31
March 2006.
Legislation in Australia now requires that Australian incorporated listed companies disclose
certain details relating to director and executive
remuneration in a section of the Directors Report called the Remuneration Report.
While these requirements do not apply to the Company because it is incorporated in The Netherlands,
the Companys 2006 Annual Report
does contain a Remuneration Report which meets these requirements by:
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setting out the remuneration policy for the James Hardie group; and |
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reporting the remuneration arrangements in place for Supervisory Board Directors (non-executive
directors), Managing Board Directors
(executive directors) and Specified Executives. |
The Companys Remuneration Report is set out on pages 58 to 73 of the 2006 Annual Report and can
also be found in the Investor
Relations area of the James Hardie website at www.jameshardie.com
The Corporations Act (Cwlth) 2001 now also requires Australian incorporated listed companies to put
the Remuneration Report for
the financial year to a resolution of Shareholders at the companys Annual General Meeting. Under
the Corporations Act, the vote is
advisory only, and does not bind the directors. Once again, while this requirement does not apply
to the Company because it is a Dutch
incorporated company, the Supervisory Board has decided to put the Remuneration Report to members
for a non-binding vote as a
matter of good corporate governance and in recognition of the fact that the Company has a
significant number of Australian Shareholders
who are familiar with the Corporations Act requirement. It will take the outcome of the vote into
consideration when considering the
Companys future remuneration policy.
Recommendation
The Supervisory Board believes it is in the interests of Shareholders that the Remuneration Report
of the Company for the financial year
ended 31 March 2006 be adopted and recommends that you vote in favour of the resolution.
Business of Annual General Meeting
Resolution 3 Election of members of the Supervisory and Joint Boards
Resolutions 3(a) to (d) ask Shareholders to consider the election of members of the Supervisory and
Joint Boards. The Companys Articles
of Association provide that the members of the Supervisory and Joint Boards are appointed for a
period of three years and can be
re-appointed after each term.
Each of Ms M Hellicar, Mr M J Gillfillan and Mr D G McGauchie will cease to be members of the
Supervisory and Joint Boards unless
re-elected at the Annual General Meeting and, each being eligible, offers herself or himself for
re-election. If re-elected, each person will be
appointed for a term of three years ending at the Annual General Meeting in 2009.
At the 2005 Australian Information Meeting and Annual General Meeting, the Chairman indicated that,
consistent with good corporate
governance, she planned to address the issue of Board renewal. With the December 2005 signing of
the Final Funding Agreement setting
out the companys voluntary asbestos funding proposal, the search has intensified for new directors
who have business experience in both
the United States and Europe and the personal qualities and values important for this demanding
Board.
The appointment of new Directors requires the Board to have available a sufficient aggregate amount
of funds to be able to attract and
retain directors and pay them at a reasonable, competitive rate. This is discussed further below,
in Resolution 4.
In the context of Board renewal, whilst Ms Hellicar and Mr Gillfillan are standing for re-election,
they have indicated that if re-elected, it is
their current intention to retire from the Supervisory and Joint Boards at an appropriate time
during their forthcoming terms, following the
appointment of additional directors and, in the case of Ms Hellicar, the development of an
appropriate successor to her as Chairman of
the Supervisory and Joint Boards. Messrs Brown and Loudon indicated a similar intention to retire
during the course of their terms prior to
their re-election at the 2005 Annual General Meeting.
Profiles of the candidates follow:
Meredith Hellicar BA, LLM (Hons), L. Mus.A,
Chairman of the Companys Supervisory & Joint Boards
Age 52
Meredith Hellicar was appointed as an independent Non-Executive Director of JHI NV1 in
October 2001 and was appointed Chairman
of the Joint and Supervisory Boards in August 2004. Ms Hellicar is a member of the Audit Committee,
the Nominating and Governance
Committee and the Remuneration Committee.
Experience: Ms Hellicar is an experienced company director and has held chief executive positions
in resources, transport and logistics,
law and financial services. She was Chief Executive Officer of the law firm, Corrs Chambers
Westgarth and Managing Director of TNT
Logistics Asia Pty Ltd and of InTech Pty Ltd.
Directorships of listed companies in past three years: Current Director of AMP Limited (since
March 2003); Amalgamated Holdings
Limited (since October 2003).
Other: Director of Southern Cross Airports Group, and Chairman of HLA Envirosciences Pty Limited
and of The Sydney Institute. Ms
Hellicar is also a member of the Australian Takeovers Panel and the Garvan Institute Foundation.
Her previous experience includes
directorships with the NSW Environment Protection Authority (1992-1996); the NSW Treasury
Corporation (2003-2004); and HCS Limited
(2001-2005). Ms Hellicar was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2003 for her contribution to society in
Business Leadership. She is a
resident of Australia.
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Ms Hellicar was appointed as a non-executive director of the predecessor company, James
Hardie Industries Limited, on 11 May 1992. |
Michael Gillfillan BA, MBA
Age 58
Michael
Gillfillan was appointed as an independent Non-Executive Director of
JHI NV1 in
September 2001. He is a member of the Joint Board and the Supervisory Board, and a member of the
Audit Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee.
Experience: Mr Gillfillan provides James Hardie with considerable knowledge of United States
capital markets and a depth of experience in commercial and corporate banking. He has held a number
of senior executive positions, including Vice Chairman of Wells Fargo Bank in the United States.
Directorships of listed companies in past three years: Current Director of UnionBanCal
Corporation and its primary subsidiary, Union Bank of California, NA since January 2003.
Other: Partner at Meriturn Partners, LLC. He is a resident of the USA.
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Mr Gillfillan was appointed as a non-executive director of the predecessor company,
James Hardie Industries Limited, on 20 August 1999. |
Donald McGauchie AO
Age 56
Donald McGauchie joined JHI NV as an independent Non-Executive Director in August 2003. He is a
member of the Joint Board and Supervisory Board and Chairman of the Nominating and Governance
Committee.
Experience: Mr McGauchie has wide commercial experience within the food processing, commodity
trading, finance and telecommunication sectors. He also has extensive public policy experience,
having previously held several high-level advisory positions to government.
Directorships of listed companies in past three years: Current Chairman of Telstra Corporation
Limited (since 2004); Director of Nufarm Limited (since 2003); Former Chairman of Woolstock
Australia Limited (1999-2002); Deputy Chairman of Ridley Corporation Limited (1998-2004); Director
of National Foods Limited (2000 - 2005); Director of Graincorp Limited (1999-2002).
Other: Director of The Reserve Bank of Australia; President of the National Farmers Federation
(1994-1998); Chairman of Rural Finance Corporation (2003-2004); awarded the Centenary Medal in 2003
for service to Australian society through agriculture and business. He is a resident of Australia.
Recommendation
The Supervisory Board, having conducted an assessment of the performance of each of Ms Hellicar, Mr
Gillfillan and Mr McGauchie, believes it is in the interests of Shareholders that each candidate be
re-elected as a member of the Supervisory and Joint Boards, and recommends (with Ms Hellicar, Mr
Gillfillan and Mr McGauchie abstaining from voting in respect of her or his own appointment) that
you vote in favour of each corresponding resolution.
James Hardie 9
Business of Annual General Meeting
Resolution
4 Remuneration of members of the Supervisory Board
Resolution 4 asks Shareholders to approve an increase in the maximum remuneration payable to
members of the Supervisory Board by US$850,000 per annum, from the current maximum aggregate amount
of US$650,000 per annum to a maximum aggregate amount of US$1.5 million per annum. Approval is
sought for the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 10.17 and Article 25 of the Companys Articles of
Association, under which the Company must not increase the total amount of fees payable by it to
members of the Supervisory Board without the approval of holders of its securities.
The maximum remuneration of the Supervisory Board has not been increased since the Annual General
Meeting held on 19 July 2002. Despite the level of fees paid to individual Directors having fallen
significantly below market standards for a Company of this size and complexity, the Board did not
believe it was appropriate to seek an increase in the aggregate remuneration for Directors until
the Company had resolved the issue of asbestos compensation. To enable implementation of the
planned Board renewal process and given the signing of the Final Funding Agreement and the
progress made in satisfying conditions precedent to the
implementation of that Agreement the
Supervisory Board considers that it is now necessary to seek Shareholder approval for such an
increase.
The proposed annual fees, including fees in the form of shares, to be paid to each Director, the
Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Committee Chairmen, commencing in FY2007 are set out in the table
below. Based on the Supervisory Board returning to its former total of nine members, and continuing
with three Committees, the aggregate amount of annual fees to be paid would total US$1.135 million.
The increased amount also allows for the fact that there may be more than nine directors at some
times, enabling an orderly transition from retiring Directors to new Directors.
The proposed fees take into consideration independent reviews from Frederic W. Cook & Co Inc in the
United States and from Egan Associates in Australia, on the competitiveness of current
non-executive directors remuneration paid by James Hardie. The reviews indicated that the current
fees paid to non-executive directors of the Company are significantly below comparable companies
and that to succeed in recruiting and retaining non-executive directors with appropriate experience
and expertise, fees should be increased to competitive levels.
The Supervisory Board requests the increase in view of:
|
|
the need to provide a market-competitive reward in order to attract additional members of the
Supervisory and Joint Boards from USA, Europe and Australia as part of the planned Board renewal; |
|
|
|
the nature and complexity of the Companys operations and the responsibilities of the Supervisory
Board; |
|
|
|
the demands placed on Directors by the geographically wide-spread operations of the Company which
require extensive travel and commitment of time; and |
|
|
|
the need to provide for a return to nine Board members and for greater flexibility to allow for
additional members of the Supervisory Board in the transition to new directors. |
The proposed remuneration of members of the Supervisory Board includes meeting attendance fees for
the Supervisory and Joint Boards, superannuation and Committee participation.
The Supervisory Board proposes the following allocation of the aggregate amount among individual
members of the Supervisory Board. This includes any amounts taken as shares (either before or after
the entitlement to fees vests in the individual member) to satisfy the new minimum shareholding
requirement for Directors referred to in the discussion of Resolution 5.
10 James Hardie
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PROPOSED FEE SCHEDULE |
|
US $ |
|
Cash1 |
|
|
Shares2 |
|
|
Total3 |
|
|
Chairman |
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
See note 2 |
|
|
300,000 |
|
Deputy Chairman |
|
|
115,000 |
|
|
See note 2 |
|
|
115,000 |
|
Director |
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
See note 2 |
|
|
100,000 |
|
Audit Committee Chairman 3 |
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
Other Committee Chairman 3 |
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
Notes:
|
|
|
1 |
|
In Australia, there is a compulsory 9% superannuation contribution. Prior to FY2007, the
Australian Directors received the superannuation contribution as an
additional amount, calculated based on their total cash fees. In the proposed fee schedule, the
cash fees will include the superannuation contribution. As a result,
the proposed fees will be more equitable between Australian and non-Australian based Directors. |
|
2 |
|
Prior to FY2007, each Director was required to apply a minimum of US$10,000 of their
total annual fees toward the acquisition of shares in the Company under
the current Supervisory Board Share Plan (SBSP). If Resolution 5 is passed, there will no longer be
a minimum amount to be applied to acquire shares under the
SBSP. However, the Supervisory Board has resolved to introduce a minimum shareholding requirement
for members of the Supervisory Board, as explained in the
context of Resolution 5 below. Directors may elect to use the SBSP (subject to any necessary
Shareholder approval for individual participation) to accumulate the
minimum shareholding required. For example, if Directors elect to accumulate the minimum
shareholding solely by using the SBSP, over the six year period they
would need to sacrifice at least US$25,000 in fees per annum and the Chairman would need to
sacrifice at least US$100,000 in fees per annum (based on current
share prices and current levels of annual director remuneration and ignoring tax). The minimum
shareholding requirement for Directors at the end of the six year
period will be shares with a value equal to or exceeding 1.5 times their then annual remuneration
(excluding additional fees for Committee or Deputy Chairmanship)
and for the Chairman, will be twice her or his then annual remuneration, (hence, if their annual
remuneration increases during the six year period, so will the dollar
value of the minimum shareholding requirement). |
|
3 |
|
Prior to FY2007, only the Chairman of the Audit Committee received additional
compensation in the form of cash fees for the additional responsibility. In the
proposed fee schedule, the Chairmen of the other Committees will also receive additional
compensation in the form of cash fees for the additional responsibilities. |
Shareholders should read Resolution 5 below for more detail about the remuneration and
minimum shareholding requirements for
members of the Supervisory Board.
Recommendation
As the Supervisory Board members have a personal interest in Resolution 4, they make no
recommendation on whether Shareholders
should vote in favour of the resolution. Shareholders should judge for themselves whether to
approve an increase to the maximum
remuneration payable to members of the Supervisory Board under Article 25 of the Companys Articles
of Association.
James Hardie 11
Business of Annual General Meeting
Resolution 5 Supervisory Board Share Plan
Resolution 5 asks Shareholders to approve a modified form of the Companys Supervisory Board Share
Plan (referred to as SBSP-2006
for the purposes of these Explanatory Notes) and the issue of ordinary shares in the Company to the
members of the Supervisory Board
under the SBSP-2006.
ASX Listing Rule 7.1 limits the number of securities that the Company may issue or agree to issue
in any 12-month period without
Shareholder approval. Under Listing Rule 7.2 (Exception 9) the restriction on share issues under
Listing Rule 7.1 does not apply to an
issue of shares under an employee incentive scheme (including for the benefit of non-executive
directors) within the three years preceding
the issue, where Shareholders have approved the issue of shares under the scheme as an exception to
Listing Rule 7.1. This exception
applies for three years from the date of the Shareholder approval.
Further, under ASX Listing Rule 10.14, the Company may only permit a Director of the Company to
acquire shares or rights to shares
under an employee incentive scheme where that Directors participation has been approved by an
ordinary resolution of Shareholders.
At the 2002 Annual General Meeting, Shareholders approved the current SBSP for members of the
Supervisory Board in accordance with
ASX Listing Rules 7.1 and 10.14. This approval was renewed at the 2005 Annual General Meeting for a
further period of three years.
The Company now proposes to adopt a modified form of the SBSP which, if approved by Shareholders,
will replace the current SBSP.
Accordingly, Shareholder approval is sought for all purposes to the terms and conditions of the
SBSP-2006 and to the participation in it of
certain Directors on the terms explained below.
Summary of the SBSP-2006
Basis of participation
Under the existing SBSP, members of the Supervisory Board, including the Chairman, are required to
accept at least US$10,000 of their
annual fees in ordinary shares. The Company introduced this requirement in 2002 to more closely
align the interests of the members of the
Supervisory Board with the interests of Shareholders. A two year holding lock applies to the
US$10,000 compulsory component.
Under the SBSP-2006, participation by members of the Supervisory Board would not be mandatory, and
no holding lock would apply to
any shares acquired under the SBSP. In place of these arrangements, and in order to further align
the interests of Directors with those of
Shareholders, the Supervisory Board has resolved to introduce a requirement that within the six
year period up to August 2012:
|
|
members of the Supervisory Board accumulate a minimum of 1.5 times their annual remuneration
(excluding additional fees for
Committee or Deputy Chairmanship) in share ownership; and |
|
|
|
the Chairman accumulate a minimum of twice her or his annual remuneration in share ownership; |
in each case either personally or through a personal superannuation or pension plan.
Newly-appointed Supervisory Board Directors will
have six years from joining the Board to satisfy the share ownership requirements.
However, to recognise the potential for share price fluctuations to have an impact on the funds
required to be committed and the different
taxation positions of individual Directors, no Director will be required to apply more than 50% of
their fees, on a post-tax basis, over a six
year period, toward satisfying this requirement.
While this requirement will not form part of the rules of the SBSP-2006 and is subject to change by
the Supervisory Board from time to
time, it is anticipated that Supervisory Board members will use the SBSP-2006 to acquire shares
over time. For example, if Directors elect
to accumulate the minimum shareholding solely through the SBSP over a six year period, they will
need to sacrifice at least US$25,000 in
fees per annum and the Chairman will need to sacrifice at least US$100,000 in fees per annum (based
on current share prices and current
levels of annual director remuneration and ignoring tax). The minimum shareholding for Directors at
the end of the six year period will be
shares with a value equal to or exceeding 1.5 times their then annual remuneration and for the
Chairman, will be twice her or his annual
remuneration (ie if their annual remuneration increases during the six year period, so will their
minimum shareholding requirement). The
SBSP-2006 will permit members of the Supervisory Board to participate personally, or through a
nominated personal superannuation or
pension plan.
Failure to comply with the minimum shareholding requirement as determined by the Supervisory Board
from time to time will not
automatically result in a Director being obliged to resign as a member of the Supervisory or Joint
Boards, but levels of Director
shareholding will be disclosed in the Companys annual reports and shareholders will be able to
monitor compliance with the requirement
in this way.
12 James Hardie
Company may issue or acquire shares
The existing SBSP only allows the Company to issue new shares to participants. The SBSP-2006 will
be more flexible, allowing the
Company to either issue new shares or acquire shares on market on behalf of the participant.
CUFS
All shares issued or transferred under the SBSP-2006 will be held in the form of CUFS. No loans
will be provided by the Company in
relation to the issue or purchase of shares under the SBSP-2006.
How the number of shares will be calculated
The number of shares issued or transferred to a member of the Supervisory Board will be determined
by dividing the amount which that
member elects to apply under the SBSP-2006 (net of any applicable taxes) by the Market Price (see
below).
Maximum number of shares issued under the SBSP-2006
The total remuneration of a Supervisory Board member will take into account any participation in
the SBSP-2006. Accordingly, the
maximum amount of their participation will be determined by the maximum remuneration payable to
them. The maximum number of
shares that may be issued under the SBSP-2006 to all participants in any one year is therefore
equal to the aggregate remuneration
payable to members of the Supervisory Board under Article 25 of the Companys Articles of
Association (see the explanatory notes for
Resolution 4 above), divided by the Market Price (see below).
Market Price
Where new shares are issued under the SBSP-2006, Market Price is the average of the closing prices
for CUFS on the ASX during the
period of five business days preceding the day of issue of the shares. Where shares are purchased
on market, the Market Price is the
price at which the relevant CUFS are acquired.
Administration of the SBSP-2006
The SBSP-2006 is administered by the Managing Board of the Company and is governed by the laws of
The Netherlands. The Managing
Board may at any time vary or terminate the SBSP-2006 by resolution (subject to any applicable ASX
Listing Rule requirements).
Supervisory Board members
All of the members of the Supervisory Board at the time of passing this resolution will, (subject
to the passing of the resolution), be eligible
to acquire shares under the SBSP-2006. Shares under the SBSP-2006 will be issued by no later than
three years after the passing of this
resolution.
New participants
Any new member of the Supervisory Board will not be issued new shares under the SBSP-2006 until
further Shareholder approval is
obtained under the relevant ASX Listing Rules. However, any new member of the Supervisory Board
appointed prior to the next Annual
General Meeting may participate in the SBSP-2006 by the Company acquiring shares on market (which
does not require Shareholder
approval under the ASX Listing Rules).
James Hardie 13
Business of Annual General Meeting
Previous allotments
Since the SBSP was last approved by Shareholders at the 2005 Annual General Meeting, the following
allotments have been made to
participants:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SHARES ALLOTTED UNDER SBSP SINCE THE 2005 AGM |
|
Name |
|
Number of Shares |
|
|
Issue price |
|
|
Current Directors |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M Hellicar |
|
|
1,515 |
|
|
|
A$8.64 |
|
J Barr |
|
|
758 |
|
|
|
A$8.64 |
|
MR Brown |
|
|
758 |
|
|
|
A$8.64 |
|
MJ Gillfillan |
|
|
758 |
|
|
|
A$8.64 |
|
JRH Loudon |
|
|
758 |
|
|
|
A$8.64 |
|
DG McGauchie |
|
|
758 |
|
|
|
A$8.64 |
|
Former Directors |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PS Cameron |
|
|
1,894 |
|
|
|
A$8.64 |
|
GJ Clark |
|
|
758 |
|
|
|
A$8.64 |
|
Notice of issues
Details of shares issued under the SBSP-2006 in any financial year will be published in the
Companys Annual Report along with
confirmation that the issue was approved by Shareholders in accordance with ASX Listing Rule 10.14.
SBSP-2006 rules
Copies of the rules of the SBSP-2006 may be inspected:
|
(a) |
|
at the Annual Information Meeting or Annual General Meeting; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
at the Companys Australian registered office at Level 3, 22 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW, and
registered office at Atrium, 8th Floor,
Strawinskylaan 3077, 1077 ZX Amsterdam, The Netherlands; or |
|
|
(c) |
|
on the Companys website, in the Investor Relations area, at www.jameshardie.com |
Recommendation
The Supervisory Board believes it is in the interests of Shareholders that the SBSP-2006 as set out
in the Explanatory Notes for Resolution
5 be adopted and that the issue of ordinary shares in the Company to the members of the Supervisory
Board on the terms and conditions
of the SBSP-2006 is approved. The Supervisory Board recommends that you vote in favour of each
corresponding resolution.
14 James Hardie
Resolution
6 James Hardie Industries NV Long Term Incentive Plan
Summary of the legal requirements for approval
Shareholder approval of the James Hardie Industries NV Long Term Incentive Plan 2006 (LTIP) is
sought for all purposes under the Listing
Rules of ASX.
Under ASX Listing Rule 7.1, the Company may not issue shares or options over unissued shares for
more than 15% of its issued share
capital in any 12-month period without Shareholder approval (subject to limited exceptions). Where
Shareholders have approved the issue
of shares or options over shares under an employee share plan within the three years preceding the
issue, as an exception to ASX Listing
Rule 7.1, those shares or options would not be counted towards the 15% limit. Accordingly,
Shareholder approval is sought for the issue
of shares and options over unissued shares under the LTIP.
ASX Listing Rule 10.14 provides that a listed company must not permit a Director to acquire shares
or rights to shares under an employee
incentive scheme without the approval of Shareholders by ordinary resolution. This Listing Rule
also applies to any person whose
relationship with the Company is, in the ASXs opinion, such that approval should be obtained. The
Company considers that ASX Listing
rule 10.14 will apply to the Managing Board members. Accordingly, Shareholder approval is sought
for the purpose of this Listing Rule.
Similarly, under recent changes to Dutch legislation, any proposals which concern the remuneration
of members of the Managing Board of
the Company in the form of either shares or options must be submitted to Shareholders for approval.
Under this law, approval is needed
for both the aggregate number of shares and options that can be granted under the LTIP as well as
the performance criteria that will apply
to a grant.
Resolution 6(a) approval of proposed LTIP
Resolution 6(a) asks Shareholders to approve the establishment of the James Hardie Industries NV
Long Term Incentive Plan 2006 (LTIP)
which provides for the issue of options or other rights over ordinary shares in the Company, the
issue or transfer of ordinary shares in the
Company, and the grant of other awards to the members of the Managing Board and management of the
Company (Executives).
The LTIP is a key component of the Companys compensation arrangements for Executives. The LTIP
will help retain and motivate
Executives and ensure they are making decisions that represent the best interests of Shareholders
as they drive the Companys business
forward. The proposed LTIP reflects the Companys aim to achieve the best balance between:
|
|
the approach to long term incentive arrangements (LTIs) for executives in the United States,
where the Company conducts most of its
business and sources the majority of its senior executives; and |
|
|
|
the Companys commitment to good corporate governance practices which, in the context of the
Australian market, requires
appropriate performance hurdles for executive LTI. |
Overview of Plan
At the Companys 2005 Annual General Meeting , Shareholders approved a Managing Board Transitional
Share Option Plan (MBTSOP)
while the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Supervisory Board considered further enhancing
the role of the Companys LTIs in
providing rewards based on materially improved Company performance in terms of medium to long-term
growth and resulting shareholder
value.
Following this review, the Supervisory Board (Board) decided to establish a new long-term incentive
plan (LTIP) for the members of the
Managing Board and management of the Company which seeks to effectively balance the interests of
our mainly US-based Executives
with our majority Australian Shareholder base. The LTIP also incorporates the Boards desire for
more flexibility in the type of entitlements
used to deliver long-term benefits.
The flexibility of the proposed LTIP will enable the Supervisory Board to determine that the
Companys shares (Shares), which may be
earned upon achieving performance hurdle, vesting and exercise conditions, may be purchased by the
Company on-market rather than by
diluting Shareholders equity by the issue of new shares.
Under the LTIP, the Company may offer eligible Executives any of the following:
|
|
options over ordinary fully-paid Shares (Options); |
|
|
|
rights to receive ordinary fully-paid Shares by way of issue or transfer for no cash payment
(Performance Rights); |
|
|
|
beneficial interests in ordinary fully-paid Shares (Performance Shares); or |
|
|
|
cash awards (Awards). |
Options granted to US Executives may also include Incentive Stock Options, a type of option
structured to comply with particular
requirements in the US Internal Revenue Code, that can provide a specific tax benefit to US-based
Executives.
James Hardie 15
Business of Annual General Meeting
The Supervisory Board believes that the flexibility to grant Options, Performance Rights,
Performance Shares or Awards (Entitlements) to
Executives under the LTIP will potentially be more cost-effective for the Company and will optimise
the incentive to Executives to maximise
returns to Shareholders over the long-term by:
|
|
aligning the interests of Executives and Shareholders; |
|
|
|
matching rewards under the LTIP with the long-term performance of the Company; and |
|
|
|
helping to attract and retain Executives. |
In determining the number of Entitlements which it may offer to Executives under the LTIP, the
Supervisory Board will consider the relative
values of the Entitlements, taking into account the market value of Shares at the date of the offer
and the cost (if any) to the Executive of
acquiring or exercising the Entitlements.
A summary of the LTIP Rules (Plan Rules) is set out below. The Plan Rules explain the general terms
of the LTIP, which includes separate
sub-plans for the offer of each type of Entitlement (Sub-plans) (including a separate Sub-plan that
applies to the offer of Entitlements to
US Executives), and general rules which apply to all of these Sub-plans. A grant of Entitlements
under the LTIP is subject both to the Plan
Rules and to the terms of the specific grant. The Supervisory Board will administer the LTIP in
accordance with the Plan Rules and the
terms and conditions of the specific grants to Executives.
The Supervisory Board will not:
|
|
issue an invitation to apply for Options; |
|
|
|
issue Shares on the exercise of Performance Rights; or |
|
|
|
issue or acquire Shares (in the case of US Executives) or cause the trustee of the proposed
Performance Share Sub-plan trust to
subscribe for Shares (in the case of other Executives), |
if the number of Shares involved in each of the above, when added to;
(a) |
|
the number of Shares which would be issued if all outstanding Options, and all Options which
may be granted pursuant to the
acceptance of any outstanding invitations to apply for Options, were exercised; and |
|
(b) |
|
the number of Shares issued to the trustee of the proposed Performance Share Sub-plan trust and
which remain held in that trust, |
would exceed 5% of the total number of issued Shares at the date on which the Supervisory Board
proposes to grant Options, issue
Shares on the exercise of Performance Rights, issue or acquire Shares or cause the trustee of the
proposed Performance Share Sub-plan
trust to subscribe for Shares (as applicable).
Information about the Supervisory Boards ability to amend or terminate the LTIP from time to time
is contained in the section
Amendments to the LTIP under the Explanatory Notes to Resolutions 6(b) to (d) below.
General application of performance hurdles
The Supervisory Board has determined that the vesting or exercise of Entitlements granted to all
participants under the LTIP may be
conditional on the achievement of performance hurdles set out in the terms of the specific grant.
Any grants made to Managing Board members which involve the issue of securities require Shareholder
approval under ASX Listing Rule
10.14. The Supervisory Board has determined that any Entitlements granted to members of the
Managing Board during this financial year
will be in the form of Options. The performance hurdles which will apply to those grants are set
out below under the heading Vesting
Criteria in the Explanatory Notes relating to Resolutions 6(b) to (d).
It is anticipated that performance hurdles for the vesting of Entitlements granted to other
participants under this LTIP will be similar to
those referred to above in relation to members of the Managing Board. The Company intends to
continue, for the time being, to make
unapproved grants of entitlements to Executives (other than members of the Managing Board) under
the 2001 Equity Incentive Plan.
Generally speaking, any unvested Options will expire and become unexercisable on:
|
|
the third anniversary of the grant date, for Options which vest by reference to a Return On
Capital Employed
(ROCE) performance
hurdle; and |
|
|
|
the fifth anniversary of the grant date, for Options which vest by reference to a Total
Shareholder Return (TSR) performance hurdle. |
The ROCE and TSR performance hurdles are described below in the Explanatory Notes relating to
Resolutions 6(b) to (d).
Further information on the expiry of Options if an Option holder ceases employment with the Company
is set out below in the Explanatory
Notes to Resolutions 6(b) to (d).
16 James Hardie
Brief summary of each Subplan
The following is a summary of each of the rules of the Sub-plans:
Option Sub-plan
A summary of the key features of the long-term incentive arrangements for the grants of Options to
eligible Executives (including Managing
Board members) under the LTIP is set out below. A grant of Options to a particular Executive is
subject to the LTIP and the terms of the
specific grant (see Resolutions 6(b) to (d) below).
Invitation to Participate selected Executives will be invited to apply for up to a specified
number of Options.
Options are Non-transferable an Option granted to an Executive is not transferable, except with
express approval or by force of law on
death or legal incapacity.
Exercise Price the exercise price will be the amount specified in the invitation to the
individual Executive, adjusted to take into account
any reconstructions or bonus issues (but, in accordance with the ASX Listing Rules, may not be less
than $0.20 per Share).
Performance Hurdles the Supervisory Board has determined that the vesting or exercise of Options
will be conditional on the
achievement of performance hurdles set out in the terms of the specific grant. Details of the
performance hurdles for grants to Managing
Board members this year are set out below under Vesting Criteria in the Explanatory Notes to
Resolutions 6(b) to (d).
Exercise of Options the Supervisory Board will prescribe a date or dates on which Options become
exercisable. On or after the
prescribed date, and provided any other vesting or exercise conditions prescribed by the
Supervisory Board and approved by
Shareholders in respect of Managing Board members have been achieved, the Executive may acquire
that number of the Shares by
exercising the same number of Options. An Option will expire if it is not exercised within the life
of the Option. Details regarding the expiry
of Options are set out in Overview of Plan above and in the Explanatory Notes to Resolutions 6(b)
to (d) below.
Early Exercise early exercise of the Options may be permitted at the discretion of the Board, if
the Executive ceases employment with
any participating group company (Participating Company) in circumstances such as death, retirement,
voluntary resignation (with the
consent of the Board for the purposes of this Plan), redundancy or where otherwise permitted by the
Board. Early exercise of Options may
also be permitted on a takeover, reorganisation, change of control or winding up of the Company
subject to Supervisory Board approval.
If an Executive dies or retires, is made redundant, is terminated (except for fraud or dishonesty)
or leaves employment, then with the
approval of the Supervisory Board, and at its sole discretion, given for the purpose of the Option
Sub-plan:
(a) |
|
vested Options may be exercised earlier than the prescribed exercise date, in accordance with
the Plan Rules of the Option Subplan
unless the Supervisory Board reasonably determines and provides notice to the Executive that the
Executives Options have
lapsed; and |
|
(b) |
|
unvested Options may be exercised only if permitted by the Supervisory Board at its absolute
discretion. |
Unexercised Options of Executives whose employment is terminated for cause (including for fraud or
dishonesty) will be declared to have
lapsed by the Supervisory Board.
For more detail on the expiry of options in particular circumstances, refer to the Explanatory
Notes relating to Resolutions 6(b) to (d) below.
Entitlement on Exercise on exercise of Options, the Company will issue the Executive with the
resulting Shares.
Reconstruction and Bonus Issues in accordance with ASX Listing Rules 6.16 and 6.22.3, an
Executives entitlement to Shares under
an Option will be adjusted to take account of capital reconstructions and bonus issues as if the
Option had been exercised before the
determination of entitlements in respect of those issues. For more information relating to
reconstruction, bonus and rights issues, refer to
the Explanatory Notes relating to Resolutions 6(b) to (d) below.
Restriction on Disposal of Shares the Supervisory Board may impose a restriction on disposal of
Shares issued on exercise of an
Option.
Performance Rights Sub-plan
The Sub-plan governing grants of Performance Rights to eligible Executives (including Managing
Board members) under the LTIP, is similar
to the Option Sub-plan summarised above. Performance Rights are similar to Options, except that
Shares may be issued or transferred
to Executives on the exercise of Performance Rights, and there is no exercise price payable by
Executives. A grant of Performance Rights
to a particular Executive is subject to the LTIP Rules and the terms of the specific grant. Key
differences between the Performance Rights
Sub-Plan and the Option Sub-Plan are outlined below:
Exercise Price the holder of a Performance Right will not be required to pay any amount to
exercise the Performance Right.
Entitlement on Exercise on exercise of Performance Rights, the Company may either issue or
procure the transfer of the Shares
resulting from the exercise of Performance Rights to the person exercising the Performance Rights.
James Hardie 17
Business of Annual General Meeting
Performance Shares Sub-plan
A summary of the key features of this long-term incentive arrangement for the grant of Shares to
Executives (including Managing Board
members but excluding any US Executives), to be held by the trustee of the Performance Share
Sub-plan (Plan Trustee) is set out below.
A grant of Shares to a particular Executive is subject to the Plan Rules and the terms of the
specific grant.
Invitations to Participate selected Executives will be invited to apply for a specified number of
Performance Shares. It is expected that
Executives will not be required to make any payment to acquire Performance Shares.
Plan Trustee will Acquire Shares the Company will give the Plan Trustee sufficient funds to
acquire the Shares on-market at the
prevailing market price on ASX or to subscribe for Shares to be issued by the Company, as
determined by the Supervisory Board.
Shares Held on Trust after acquiring all Shares during a particular acquisition period, the Plan
Trustee will hold the Shares on trust for
those Executives participating in the particular offers under which the Shares are acquired.
Conditions of Grant the ability of an Executive to withdraw Shares from the Performance Share
Sub-plan may (and for grants to
Managing Board members approved by Shareholders, will), in certain circumstances, be subject to
performance or other conditions which
must be met or the Shares may be forfeited. The Shares will also be subject to forfeiture at the
discretion of the Supervisory Board in a
number of circumstances including in the case of dishonesty, fraud or wilful breach of duty by the
Executive.
Withdrawal of Shares generally, the Shares may only be withdrawn from the Performance Share
Sub-plan by an Executive when all
vesting and performance conditions have been satisfied and any non-disposal period has expired.
Early Withdrawal of Shares requirements relating to the early withdrawal of Shares during any
non-disposal period or prior to the
satisfaction of any other performance or vesting conditions for withdrawal are similar to those
relating to the early exercise of Options (as
explained in the Option Sub-plan above). Early applications for withdrawal may also be permitted on
a takeover or reorganisation of the
Company, subject to Supervisory Board approval.
If an employee dies or retires, is made redundant, is terminated (except for cause (including for
fraud or dishonesty)) or leaves employment,
then with the approval of the Supervisory Board, and at its sole discretion, given for the purpose
of the Performance Share Sub-plan:
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applications for withdrawal of vested performance Shares may only be submitted earlier than the
prescribed withdrawal date, in
accordance with the Plan Rules of the Performance Share Sub-plan unless the Supervisory Board
reasonably determines and
provides notice to the Executive that the Executives Performance Shares have been forfeited; and |
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applications for withdrawal of unvested Performance Shares may be submitted only if permitted
by the Supervisory Board at its
absolute discretion. |
Where an Executives employment is terminated for cause (including for fraud or dishonesty) the
Supervisory Board will declare the
Executives Performance Shares are forfeited.
Compulsory acquisition the Supervisory Board has the discretion to determine that Shares are to
be compulsorily acquired.
Dividends, Voting and other Rights dividends, voting and other rights attaching to the Shares
that have been allocated to an Executive
under the Performance Share Sub-plan accrue to, or are exercisable by, the Executive.
Award Sub-plan
Unlike the other Sub-plans, the Award Sub-plan involves cash awards rather than the acquisition of
Shares by Executives. A grant of
Awards to a particular Executive (including Managing Board members) is subject to the Plan Rules
and the terms of the specific grant.
As the Awards Sub-plan does not involve any issue of securities by the Company, Shareholder
approval of this aspect of the plan is not
required. However, it is included here for the information of Shareholders.
Sub-plan relating to grants to US Executives
A summary of the key features of this long-term incentive arrangement for grants of Options,
Performance Rights, Performance Shares
and / or Awards to US Executives is set out below. A grant under this Sub-plan to a particular US
Executive is subject to the Plan Rules
and the terms of the specific grant.
Options the Sub-plan provides for the exercise price of Options granted to US Executives to be
not less than the Fair Market Value of a
Share on the grant date (and in some cases, 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the grant
date).
Incentive Stock Options the Sub-plan provides for the grant of Incentive Stock Options to US
Executives. There are restrictions on the
exercise of Incentive Stock Options, the transfer of Incentive Stock Options and the disposal of
Shares acquired upon the exercise of
Incentive Stock Options. An Incentive Stock Option may not be exercised more than three months
after the US Executive ceases to be
employed by a Participating Company, or 12 months after cessation of employment due to disability.
18 James Hardie
Performance Rights the Sub-plan provides for the grant of restricted stock to US
Executives. Such grants may be subject to restrictions
on transferability and risk of forfeiture during a specified period. During the restriction period,
the Performance Rights may not be sold or
transferred by the US Executive.
Performance Shares the Sub-plan provides for grants of Performance Shares to US Executives, which
may be payable in Shares, in a
lump sum or in instalments. The Performance Shares granted to US Executives under this Sub-plan do
not form part of the Trust (referred
to above) which holds Performance Shares granted to other Executives.
Awards the Sub-plan provides for the grants of Awards to US Executives.
Restrictions the Sub-plan sets out a number of restrictions in relation to grants to US
Executives, which impact on the term, time and
method of exercise and form and timing of payment of any such grant. There are also particular
restrictions relating to US specific revenue
and taxation law.
Terms The Sub-plan incorporates the other Sub-plans, subject to the extent of any inconsistency.
Recommendation
The Supervisory Board believes that the LTIP is an appropriately designed equity-based employee
incentive scheme, capable of attracting,
motivating and retaining key executives and driving the improved performance of the Company. The
Supervisory Board believes that the
LTIP, if approved, will be integral to the Companys future financial performance due to:
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the LTIP linking Executive reward to increases in shareholder value; |
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the performance hurdles; |
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full disclosure of the LTIP in the Companys Shareholder reports; |
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the retention of key Executives; and |
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the flexibility to determine the most appropriate type of reward structure, as set out in this
Notice of Meeting, to best meet the above
criteria. |
Accordingly, the Supervisory Board recommends that you vote in favour of the resolution.
Copies of the LTIP Rules are available on the Companys website at www.jameshardie.com, at
Computershare Investor Services Pty
Limited at Level 3, 60 Carrington Street, Sydney NSW 2000 or may be obtained by Shareholders at no
charge by writing to the Company
Secretary at that address.
James Hardie 19
Business of Annual General Meeting
Resolutions 6(b) to (d) inclusive approval of participation in the LTIP by members of the
Managing Board
Resolutions 6(b) to (d) relate to the specific grants of Options under the LTIP proposed to be made
to members of the Managing Board.
As explained in the Overview of Plan above (in the Explanatory Notes to Resolution 6(a)), each
grant is subject to specific terms. Options
granted to members of the Managing Board under the LTIP will be issued under the Option Sub-Plan.
Details of the vesting criteria and
other materials terms of those Options are set out below.
Vesting Criteria
The performance hurdles for the vesting of Options to be granted to members of the Managing Board
if Resolutions 6(b) to (d) are
approved will be as follows:
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for 50% of the Options granted to a participant, the performance hurdle will be calculated by
reference to a market comparative
Return On Capital Employed (ROCE). ROCE is calculated by dividing earnings before interest and
taxes by net capital employed (ie
fixed assets plus net working capital). This measures the efficiency with which capital is being
used to generate revenue and earnings
and provides a good basis for comparing with peers management performance in areas over which it
has control. For the purposes
of this calculation, all ROCE components will exclude any amounts paid or provided for by way of
contribution to the Special Purpose
Fund (relating to the companys voluntary compensation for proven asbestos-related personal injury
and death claims) or any
alternative arrangement, and any related foreign currency translation income or expense; |
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for the other 50% of the Options that are granted to a participant, the performance hurdle will
be calculated by reference to a market
comparative Total Shareholder Return (TSR). |
Together, these are the Vesting Criteria.
The percentage of Options in the total grant that vest will depend upon the Companys ROCE and TSR,
relative to the percentile
performance of various comparable companies as follows:
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the ROCE performance hurdle requires the Companys ROCE, at a minimum, to achieve the 60th
percentile of ROCE performance
of a global peer group of building materials companies measured over the period. At this point, 50%
of the Options which vest
by reference to the ROCE performance hurdle (being 25% of the total grant to the Executive) will
vest, and an additional 2% of
the Options which vest by reference to the ROCE performance hurdle (a further 1% of the total
grant) will vest for every additional
percentile (ie for each additional 1%) above the 60th percentile of ROCE performance of the peer
group companies. Maximum vesting
of Options under this calculation will occur at the 85th percentile; and |
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the TSR performance hurdle requires the Companys TSR, at a minimum, to equal the median TSR of a
peer group of comparable
companies in the S&P/ASX 100. 50% of the Options which vest by reference to the TSR performance
hurdle (being 25% of the total
grant) will vest when the median TSR of comparable companies in the S&P/ASX 100 is achieved over
the period, and an additional
2% of the Options which vest by reference to the TSR performance hurdle (1% of the total grant)
will vest for every additional
percentile (ie for each additional 1%) above the median TSR of comparable companies in the S&P/ASX
100. Maximum vesting of
Options under this calculation will occur at the 75th percentile. |
The global peer group of building materials companies to be used for the ROCE performance hurdle
will be determined by the
Supervisory Board but would generally include global peer companies in USA, Europe and Australia
specialising in building materials. It is
currently anticipated that the global peer group would include the following entities, although the
Supervisory Board will have discretion to
make adjustments to the list as it considers appropriate from time to time:
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Boral Limited
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Valspar Corporation
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Hanson plc |
Rinker Group Limited
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Weyerhaeuser Company
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Lafarge SA |
CSR Limited
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Cemex SA de CV
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Nichihia Corp |
Fletcher Building Limited
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Martin Marietta Materials Inc
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Saint Gorbain |
Eagle Materials Inc
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Texas Industries
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Wienerberger AG |
Lousiana-Pacific Corporation
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Florida Rock Industries Inc
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CRH plc |
USG Corporation
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Vulcan Materials Co
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The Siam Cement Plc |
20 James Hardie
The peer group of comparable companies in the S&P/ASX 100 to be used for the TSR
performance hurdle will be determined by the
Supervisory Board but would generally exclude financial institutions, insurance companies, property
trusts, oil and gas producers and
mining companies and be adjusted to take into account additions and deletions to S&P / ASX 100
during the relevant period.
Both performance hurdles will be tested after three years from the grant date. In addition, the TSR
performance hurdle will be retested at
the end of each six month period following the third anniversary until the fifth anniversary (with
each re-test extending the measurement
period by a further six months such that re-testing at the fifth anniversary will be measured over
a five year period).
This limited re-testing reflects the fact that the Companys share price can be subject to
short-term fluctuations relating to public comment
and disclosures on asbestos-related matters by other companies with asbestos exposures, members of
the media and others.
Any additional Options that are subject to the TSR hurdle when the TSR hurdle is met on these
retesting dates, will vest. For example, if
50% of an Option holders Options that are subject to a TSR hurdle vest on the third anniversary of
the grant date, and the Companys
TSR for the period from the grant date up to a retesting date is 10% above the median TSR, a
further 20% of the aggregate number of
Options granted will vest on that retesting date.
When Options expire
Generally speaking, unvested Options will expire and become unexercisable on:
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the third anniversary of the grant date, in the case of Options which vest by reference to a ROCE
performance hurdle; and |
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the fifth anniversary of the grant date, in the case of Options which vest by reference to a TSR
performance hurdle. |
When vested Options will otherwise expire and become unexercisable depends on the circumstances in
which a member of the Managing
Board ceases employment. Generally, it is expected that vested Options will expire as follows:
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Termination for cause the Supervisory Board will determine that any unexercised Options have
lapsed, and the Options will lapse
accordingly. |
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Death - all of the outstanding vested Options will expire and become unexercisable at the earlier
of 24 months after the death of an
Option holder or the date they would have expired had the Option holder remained employed by the
Company, unless the Supervisory
Board reasonably determines that the Options have lapsed (and provides notice to the Option holder
to that effect). |
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Retirement, redundancy or voluntary resignation all of the outstanding vested Options will
expire and become unexercisable
at the earlier of 24 months after cessation of employment or the date they would have expired had
the Option holder remained
employed by the Company, unless the Supervisory Board reasonably determines that the Options have
lapsed (and provides notice to
the Option holder to that effect). |
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Termination for other reasons all of the outstanding vested Options will expire and become
unexercisable at the earlier of three
months after the termination or the date they would have expired had the Option holder remained
employed by the Company.
However, the Option holder may only exercise the Options after termination if permitted by the
Supervisory Board in writing. |
An unvested Option may only be exercised after cessation of employment if a written determination
is provided by the Supervisory Board.
If a member of the Managing Board ceases employment with the Company, or gives notice of their
intention to cease employment with
the Company, the Supervisory Board may in its absolute discretion (on any conditions which it
thinks fit) decide that some or all of the
unvested Options held by the member do not lapse, but lapse at the time and subject to the
conditions it may specify by notice to the
participant, which may include one or more of the following:
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that the Performance Period of an Option (being the period from the grant date until the date the
Vesting Criteria are tested) is
reduced to a period shorter than that specified above under Vesting Criteria; |
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that the Vesting Criteria that apply to an Option be waived; and |
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that an Option which vests in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the notice,
may be exercised within the period
specified above for vested Options held by a member who ceases employment, or any shorter period
specified in the notice. |
The Supervisory Board may exercise this discretion, for example, where a member of the Managing
Board who holds unvested Options
permanently retires. The Supervisory Board will not exercise this discretion in circumstances where
the relevant participant is terminated for
cause (including for fraud or dishonesty).
A member of the Managing Board will be taken to continue as an employee of the Company for the
purposes of the LTIP if, on ceasing
employment with the Company, the Managing Board member automatically becomes a consultant to the
Company or a subsidiary in
accordance with their employment contract.
James Hardie 21
Business of Annual General Meeting
Exercise of Options
Once vested (and subject to the Option expiry provisions), the Options can be exercised during any
open trading window, if the executive
does not have insider information, up to 10 years after the date they are issued.
The exercise price for the Options will be the volume weighted average price of CUFS traded on ASX
over the five trading days
immediately prior to the date of grant.
Change in control
If, under a takeover bid or otherwise, any person together with their associates acquire Shares,
which when aggregated with Shares
already acquired by such person and their associates, comprise more than 30% of the issued Shares
of the Company, the Supervisory
Board may give written notice to each Participant permitting the Participant to exercise any or all
the Participants Options as determined
by the Supervisory Board within 60 days or such reasonable longer period as approved by the
Supervisory Board from the last date when
any of the Shares referred to were so acquired.
Reconstruction, bonus and rights issues
An entitlement to shares under an Option will be adjusted to take account of capital
reconstructions and bonus issues as if the Option
had been exercised before the determination of entitlements in respect of those issues. This is
consistent with ASX Listing Rules 6.16 and
6.22.3.
If there is a rights issue to all Shareholders before an Option is exercised, the Option exercise
price will be reduced in accordance with the
formula provided in ASX Listing Rule 6.22.2.
Amendments to the LTIP
As permitted by applicable laws, regulations and listing rules, the Supervisory Board may from time
to time amend or terminate the LTIP.
To the extent required by applicable laws, regulations and listing rules, any amendments to the
LTIP are subject to Shareholder approval.
Administration of the LTIP
The Supervisory Board has the authority to interpret the LTIP and any documents used to evidence
Options, to determine the terms and
conditions of Options, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the
administration of the LTIP.
Any power or discretion which is conferred on the Supervisory Board under the LTIP may be delegated
by the Supervisory Board to a
committee consisting of those Directors, other officers, or employees of the Company as the
Supervisory Board thinks fit.
Shareholder approval
If the ASX Listing Rules require Shareholder approval for the granting of Options, no Options will
be granted before that approval is
obtained.
General
The maximum number of ordinary shares and Options for which approval is sought assumes that all of
the Options offered to members of
the Managing Board are granted and subsequently exercised. No loans will be provided by the Company
in relation to the issue of shares
under the LTIP. The following members of the Managing Board are entitled to participate in the
LTIP: Mr L Gries, Mr R L Chenu and Mr
B P Butterfield. It is proposed to grant Mr Gries a maximum of 1,000,000 Options, Mr Chenu a
maximum of 155,000 Options, and Mr
Butterfield a maximum of 263,000 Options under the LTIP.
These Options will be issued by no later than 12 months after the passing of Resolutions 6(a) to
(d).
Recommendation
The Supervisory Board believes it is in the interests of Shareholders that the issue of Options
over ordinary shares in the Company to the
members of the Managing Board under the LTIP and subject to the above terms and conditions be
approved and recommends that you
vote in favour of each corresponding resolution.
James Hardie 22
Resolution 7 Renewal of authority for the Company to acquire its own shares
The Companys Articles of Association permit the Managing Board to cause the Company to acquire
shares in itself for valuable
consideration in various circumstances. The Managing Board reserves the right to cause the Company
to acquire shares in itself for a
consideration per share of not less than EUR 0.01 and for not more than 105% of the average closing
price of the Company as quoted
on the ASX in the five business days preceding the acquisition (subject to any additional
restrictions under Dutch law) on the condition
that the Managing Board has been authorised to do so by the Shareholders. This authorisation will
be valid for a maximum period of 18
months.
Additional restrictions under Dutch law are that:
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the shares must be fully paid up; |
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the Companys equity minus the purchase price of the buy-back shares must be not less than the
aggregate amount of the issued
and called up part of the share capital and the reserves which must be maintained under Dutch law;
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the aggregate par value of the buy-back shares to be acquired and the shares already held by
the Company and its subsidiary
companies must not exceed one-tenth of the issued share capital of the Company. |
At the 2005 Annual General Meeting, Shareholders renewed for a further 18 months the Shareholder
resolution that authorised the
Managing Board to cause the Company to enter into share buy-backs (whether as on or off-market
purchases):
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for an 18 month period; |
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for up to the maximum amount permitted by Dutch law; |
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for a consideration per share of not less than EUR 0.01; and |
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for not more than 105% of the average closing price in the Company as quoted on the ASX in the
five business days preceding the
acquisition. |
The maximum price of 105% of the average closing price is in keeping with ASX Listing Rule 7.33,
which imposes this limit on on-market
buy-backs.
Recommendation
The Supervisory Board believes it is in the interests of Shareholders that the buy-back power be
renewed on identical terms to the 2005
conditions and recommends that you vote in favour of the resolution.
James Hardie 23
Business of Annual General Meeting
Resolution 8 Ordinary Resolution to extend the application of Article 49.9 and Article
49.10 takeover provisions
The Company is not formally subject to the takeovers laws that apply to listed companies
incorporated in Australia or in The Netherlands.
Article 49 has been incorporated into the Articles of Association to provide Shareholders with
similar protections in the event of a potential
change of control to those provided to Shareholders in Australian listed companies under the
Australian Corporations Act. The purpose of
Article 49 is to ensure that:
(a) |
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the acquisition of control over CUFS or Shares takes place in an efficient, competitive and
informed market; and |
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each Shareholder and CUFS holder and as well as the Managing Board, Joint Board and Supervisory
Board: |
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know the identity of any person who proposes to acquire a substantial interest in the Company;
and |
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are given reasonable time to consider a proposal to acquire a substantial interest in the
Company; and |
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are given enough information to assess the merits of a proposal to acquire a substantial
interest in the Company; and |
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as far as practicable, the Shareholders and CUFS holders all have a reasonable and equal
opportunity to participate in any benefits
accruing through a proposal to acquire a substantial interest in the Company. |
Article 49.7 permits the Company to take actions against any Shareholder who is in breach of
Article 49, including ordering the
Shareholder to divest all or part of their shares held in breach of Article 49; to disregard the
exercise by a Shareholder of all or part of
the voting rights attached to their shares if the right to vote is held in breach of Article 49; or
suspend such Shareholder from the right to
receive all or part of the dividends or other distributions arising from the shares.
Article 49.9 permits the Company to take the actions specified in Article 49.7 after receiving
advice from a senior Australian legal
practitioner that a breach of the Articles of Association has occurred. Article 49.10 permits the
Company to take such action on a
temporary basis of up to 21 days prior to obtaining advice from a senior Australian legal
practitioner.
Article 49.9 and Article 49.10 were inserted into the Articles of Association in 2001. At that
time, the Australian Stock Exchange required
that they only apply for a period of five years unless their application was renewed (ie approval
must be obtained from Shareholders every
five years for these articles to continue to apply). If Article 49.9 and Article 49.10 lapse, the
Company will be required to obtain a court
order before exercising the remedies available to it in Article 49.7.
Recommendation
The Supervisory Board believes it is in the interests of Shareholders that the application of
Article 49.9 and Article 49.10 of the Companys
Articles of Association be extended, and recommends that you vote in favour of the resolution.
Notice availability
Additional copies of this Notice can be downloaded from the Investor Relations area of our website
at: www.jameshardie.com or they can
be obtained by contacting the Companys registrar:
Computershare Investor Services Pty Ltd
Level 3, 60 Carrington Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
or
GPO Box 242, Melbourne, VIC 8060, Australia
Telephone within Australia: 1300 855 080
Telephone outside Australia: +61 3 9415 4000
Facsimile: +61 3 94732118
James Hardie 24
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James Hardie Industries N.V. |
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ARBN 097 829 895 |
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Incorporated in The Netherlands with corporate seat
in Amsterdam. The liability of members is limited. |
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All correspondence to: |
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Computershare Investor Services Pty Limited |
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GPO Box 242 |
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Melbourne Victoria 8060, Australia |
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Level 3, 60 Carrington Street |
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Sydney NSW Australia |
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Telephone enquiries: |
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within Australia 1300 865 080 |
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outside Australia +613 9415 4000 |
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Facsimile: |
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within Australia (03) 9473 2118 |
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outside Australia +613 9473 2118 |
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Mark Box with an X if
you have made any changes to
your address. |
Direction Form
Please complete this form if you want your vote to count at the Annual General Meeting in
Amsterdam.
CUFS holders should complete this form as shareholders would ordinarily complete a proxy
form or complete electronic copy of Direction Form (please see page 5 Option A 2 of Notice of
Meetings).
I/We being a holder/holders of CUFS in James Hardie Industries N.V. (the Company), direct CHESS
Depository Nominees Pty Limited (CDN) to vote all the shares in the Company held by it on my/our
behalf in respect of each resolution to be considered at the Annual General Meeting to be held in
Amsterdam, The Netherlands on 25 September 2006 and at any adjournment of that meeting, as
indicated on this form and to vote or abstain in respect of any procedural resolution as CDN thinks
fit.
Notes on completing this Direction Form
In order to direct CDN how to vote the shares underlying your CUFS holding as at close of business
on 20 September 2006 (AEST) in a particular manner, CUFS holders need only place a mark in the
relevant box opposite each resolution. Your entire CUFS holding will then be voted in accordance
with your direction. If you mark the abstain box for a particular resolution, you are directing CDN
not to vote on that resolution.
If no direction is given for a particular resolution, I/we authorise CDN to abstain from voting
in respect of my/our entire holding on that resolution.
CUFS holders wishing to apportion their vote must clearly enter the portion to be voted in a
particular manner in the relevant box opposite each resolution. This may be done by specifying the
number of shares underlying your CUFS holding or percentages of that holding.
If you vote in excess of 100% of your holding for a particular resolution, your vote on that
particular resolution will be invalid.
If you mark more than one box for any particular resolution, except to show a portion in the
manner discussed above, the vote on that resolution will be invalid.
Notes on signing:
Each CUFS holder must sign this form.
Joint holdings: if a CUFS holding is held in more than one name, each CUFS holder must sign this
form.
Companies: only duly authorised officers can sign on behalf of a company. Please indicate the
office held by the signatory/ies (ie director and director, or director and secretary or sole
director) by signing in the appropriate place.
Power of Attorney: if signing under a power of attorney which has not yet been lodged with
Computershare Investor Services Pty Limited, you must attach a certified photocopy of the power of
attorney when returning this form.
Notes on lodgement:
In order to be effective, this form, together with the power of attorney or other authority (if
any) under which it is signed must be either:
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lodged at the Information Meeting to be held in Ballroom 4, The Westin Sydney Hotel, 1 Martin
Place (entry from Pitt
Street), Sydney NSW, Australia, commencing at 10.00am on Tuesday, 19 September 2006; or |
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sent by post in the envelope provided or be posted to Computershare Investor Services Pty
Limited, GPO Box 242,
Melbourne Victoria 8060, Australia or delivered to Level 3, 60 Carrington Street, Sydney NSW
Australia, or return it by
facsimile to (03) 9473 2118 inside Australia or +613 9473 2118 outside Australia. |
You may
also complete and lodge at www.computershare.com/au/proxy/jhx Please note address
requires .com/au rather than the usual .com.au. To use the online facility you will need your
Security Holder Number (SRN) or Holder Identification Number (HIN) and your postcode.
Completed Direction Forms must be received no later than 10am (AEST) on 22 September 2006.
Voting Direction see notes on completing this Direction Form
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Receive and adopt the annual report and accounts for the financial year ended 31 March 2006
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Adopt the Remuneration Report for financial year ended 31 March 2006
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3a)
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Re-elect Ms M Hellicar to the Supervisory and Joint Boards
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3b)
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Re-elect Mr M J Gillfillan to the Supervisory and Joint Boards
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o
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o
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o |
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3C)
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Re-elect Mr D G McGauchie to the Supervisory and Joint Boards
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o
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o
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o |
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4.
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To increase the aggregate maximum remuneration payable to members of the Supervisory Board
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o
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o
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o |
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5a)
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Approve the Supervisory Board Share Plan 2006 (SBSP) and the issue of shares under it
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o
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o
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o |
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5b)
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Approve participation in the SBSP by Ms M Hellicar
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o
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o
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o |
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5c)
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Approve participation in the SBSP by Mr J D Barr
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o
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o
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o |
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5d)
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Approve participation in the SBSP by Mr M R Brown
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o
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o
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o |
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5e)
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Approve participation in the SBSP by Mr M J Gillfillan
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o
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o
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o |
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5f)
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Approve participation in the SBSP by Mr J R H Loudon
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o
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o
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o |
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5g)
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Approve participation in the SBSP by Mr D G McGauchie
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o
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o
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o |
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6a)
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Approve establishment of the Long Term Incentive Plan 2006 (LTIP) and the issue of securities
and other entitlements under it
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o
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o
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o |
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6b)
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Approve participation in the LTIP and issue of options to Mr L Gries
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o
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o
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o |
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6c)
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Approve participation in the LTIP and issue of options to Mr R L Chenu
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o
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o
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o |
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6d)
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Approve participation in the LTIP and issue of options to Mr B P Butterfield
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o
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o
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o |
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7
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Renewal of authority for the Company to acquire its own shares
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o
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o
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o |
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8
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Renewal of rights relating to the takeover provisions
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o
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o
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o |
PLEASE SIGN in the box below. This must be signed in accordance with the notes on signing.
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Individual or Securityholder 1
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Securityholder 2
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Securityholder 3 |
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Sole Director and Sole Company Secretary |
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Director
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Director/Company Secretary |
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2006
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Contact name
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Contact Daytime Phone number
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Date |
Completed Direction Forms must be received by Computershare Investor Services Pty Limited in
Sydney or Melbourne, Australia no later than 10 am (AEST) on Friday, 22 September 2006.
We want to make it easy for as many James Hardie CUFS holders
as possible to ask questions of the companys Directors or Auditor.
Please use the other side of this form to send us any questions you
would like answered at the Annual Information Meeting to be held
on Tuesday, 19 September 2006 in Sydney.
We believe this process will make it easier for more holders to
have questions answered, whether or not they can attend the
Information Meeting. Holders will also be able to ask questions from
the floor at the meeting.
We will attempt to answer as many questions as possible in the
addresses by the Chairman and the CEO. If we receive a large
number of questions from holders, we may not be able to reply
individually.
You can use this form even if you will be attending the meeting.
If you are unable to attend, you can watch a live webcast of the
meeting via the internet on the Investor Relations website at www.
jameshardie.com
Fax this form by Monday, 11 September 2006 to:
(02) 8274 5218 or +61 2 8274 5218
Mail this form by Tuesday, 5 September 2006:
using the Business Reply Envelope enclosed
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Holders name: |
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Address: |
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Security Holder Reference Number
or Holder Identification Number: |
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Fax this form by Monday, 11 September 2006 to:
(02) 8274 5218 or +61 2 8274 5218
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Security Holder Reference Number
or Holder Identification Number: |
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Mail this form by Tuesday, 5 September: |
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using the Business Reply Envelope enclosed |
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