PRELIMINARY COPY — SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, JULY 10, 2009

 

IMPORTANT NOTICES

 

Terminology

 

In this Explanatory Memorandum, references to:

 

 

Certain other capitalised terms used in this Explanatory Memorandum have the meanings ascribed to them in the Glossary in Section 19.

 

This Explanatory Memorandum, which constitutes a prospectus under US federal securities laws, has been prepared in connection with the registration of 102,000,000 shares of Dutch SE, with the number of shares being registered based on (i) the estimated number of JHI NV shares beneficially held by securityholders resident in the US, and (ii) the one-to-one basis on which each JHI NV share will be transformed into a Dutch SE share.

 

This Explanatory Memorandum and the Notice of Meetings included herein have been prepared to assist shareholders in deciding how to vote on Stage 1 of the Proposal. You should read this Explanatory Memorandum and the Notice of Meetings in their entirety before making a decision about how to vote on the resolution to be considered at the extraordinary general meeting.

 

This Explanatory Memorandum contains important information relating to the Proposal. The Notice of Meetings contains important information relating to voting at the extraordinary general meeting, including the record date, the quorum and vote required for approval and how to vote your CUFS, ADSs and CUFS you have converted to shares and the resolution that shareholders are being asked to approve with respect to Stage 1 of the Proposal. A separate notice of meetings regarding the matters to be considered at our annual general meeting, which will be held immediately following the extraordinary general meeting, will be sent to you together with this Explanatory Memorandum. The notice of meetings for our annual general meeting sets forth, among other things, a description of the matters that will be considered at the annual general meeting and the resolutions that shareholders will be asked to approve at that meeting. If for any reason you do not receive the notice of meetings for the annual general meeting, you should contact us at the address, telephone numbers or e-mail address identified below.

 

Information Incorporated by Reference

 

This Explanatory Memorandum incorporates important business and financial information about us by reference and, as a result, this information is not included in or delivered with this Explanatory Memorandum. For a list of those documents that are incorporated by reference into this Explanatory Memorandum, see “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” in Section 14.

 

Documents incorporated by reference are available from us upon oral or written request without charge. As we file annual reports and furnish other information to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, you also may obtain documents incorporated by reference into this Explanatory Memorandum from the website of the US Securities and Exchange Commission at the URL (or uniform resource locator) http://www.sec.gov or by requesting

them from us by calling the Information Helpline in Australia at 1800 675 021 (between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (AEST)) or elsewhere in the world at +1-949-367-4900 (between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Central Time)) or in writing by regular and electronic mail at the following address:

 

James Hardie Industries N.V.
Atrium, 8th floor
Strawinskylaan 3077
1077 ZX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Attention: Company Secretary
E-Mail: infoline@jameshardie.com

 

In order to receive timely delivery of the documents in advance of the extraordinary general meeting for Stage 1 of the Proposal, you should make your request no later than August 14, 2009.

 

A number of documents related to the Proposal also may be found at the Investor Relations area of our website (www.jameshardie.com, select “James Hardie Investor Relations”).

 

forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and all such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the following cautionary statements.

 

Forward-looking statements are based on our estimates and assumptions and because forward-looking statements address future results, events and conditions, they, by their very nature, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Such known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause our actual results, performance or other achievements to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed, projected or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors, some of which are discussed under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 17, including those incorporated by reference from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, include but are not limited to: all matters relating to or arising out of the prior manufacture of products that contained asbestos by our current and former subsidiaries; required contributions to the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund and the effect of currency exchange rate movements on the amount recorded in our financial statements as an asbestos liability; compliance with and changes in tax laws and treatments; competition and product pricing in the markets in which we operate; the consequences of product failures or defects; exposure to environmental, asbestos or other legal proceedings; general economic and market conditions; the supply and cost of raw materials; the success of research and development efforts; reliance on a small number of customers; a customer’s inability to pay; compliance with and changes in environmental and health and safety laws; risks of conducting business internationally; compliance with and changes in laws and regulations; currency exchange risks; the concentration of our customer base on large format retail customers, distributors and dealers; the effect of natural disasters; changes in our key management personnel; inherent limitations on internal controls; use of accounting estimates; and all other risks identified in our reports filed with Australian, Dutch and US securities agencies and exchanges (as appropriate). We caution that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive and that other risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and are statements of our current expectations concerning future results, events and conditions.

 

You should carefully review all of the information included in this Explanatory Memorandum and the Notice of Meetings, before making a decision on how to vote on Stage 1 of the Proposal to be considered at the extraordinary general meeting.

 

Intellectual Property

 

“James Hardie” and any logos are trademarks of James Hardie International Finance B.V., which may be registered in certain jurisdictions. Names of other companies and any other trademarks are owned by their respective owners.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMEN

 

 

 

For some time, your directors have indicated that James Hardie has been considering the complex issue of the domicile of James Hardie Industries N.V. In our 2008 Annual Report, we indicated that resolving this issue was a very important priority for your directors. Three primary factors have been driving this:

 

 

With these factors in mind, your directors, together with key senior managers and professional advisers, have explored a range of alternatives, including remaining in The Netherlands or moving to the US, Australia or elsewhere in Europe. Your directors determined not to pursue a move to the US or Australia due to, among other reasons, potential tax consequences, additional complexity to James Hardie’s corporate structure and practical considerations due to the very high shareholder approval requirements, which are explained in greater detail in this Explanatory Memorandum. After considering potential options, your directors have concluded, for reasons explained in this Explanatory Memorandum, that it is in the best interests of James Hardie and its shareholders for James Hardie to implement a two-stage plan (which we refer to as the Proposal) to:

 

Stage 1: transform James Hardie to a European Company, which is a public limited company known as a Societas Europaea or SE; and

 

Stage 2: move the corporate domicile of James Hardie from The Netherlands to Ireland.

 

Importantly, the Proposal will not change the overall commitment of James Hardie to make contributions to the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund under the Amended and Restated Final Funding Agreement. However, if a contribution is due to the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund in the company’s 2011 financial year, which is not yet known, the costs associated with the Proposal will most likely reduce the amount of the company’s contribution in that year. The capacity of the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund to satisfy claims is linked to the long-term financial success of James Hardie, especially the company’s ability to generate net operating cash flow. Implementation of the Proposal is expected to have medium and long-term benefits for the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund, as the company’s Irish domicile is anticipated to result in reduced tax payments relative to taxes that would be payable if the company remained domiciled in The Netherlands and the intellectual property and treasury and finance operations remained in The Netherlands after December 31, 2010 following the expiry of the Financial Risk Reserve regime. Although a pending legislative proposal in The Netherlands regarding a compulsory group interest box regime was determined by the European Commission on July 8, 2009 not to violate EU law and such interest box regime may be adopted in The Netherlands, your directors believe that consummation of the Proposal is the best course of action for James Hardie and its shareholders at this time.

 

Each stage of the Proposal has to be undertaken separately and requires a separate shareholder vote. If shareholders approve Stage 1 and it is implemented, a Stage 2 explanatory memorandum seeking approval for Stage 2 will be distributed in late 2009. If shareholders approve both stages, your directors anticipate that implementation of the Proposal will be completed in early 2010. It is important to implement the Proposal as soon as practicable, as there are risks and costs associated with delay.

 

In connection with the issue of James Hardie’s domicile and in light of the expiry of the Financial Risk Reserve regime in The Netherlands on December 31, 2010, your directors also have considered the location of the company’s intellectual property and treasury and finance operations. After review, your directors do not believe James Hardie will receive the full benefits of the Proposal if its intellectual property and treasury and finance operations remain in The Netherlands after the move to Ireland and, on that basis, have determined to transfer these operations to Ireland in connection with the implementation of Stage 1 of the Proposal. The transfer of the company’s intellectual property in connection with the Proposal will result in tax in The Netherlands that would not be incurred if the intellectual property remained in The Netherlands. However, we believe that a transfer of the intellectual property following the expiry of the Financial Risk Reserve regime would result in greater tax in The Netherlands.

 

This Explanatory Memorandum sets out material information relevant to the Proposal. As there are certain risks and disadvantages involved in connection with the implementation of the Proposal, we urge all shareholders to read this document in full and consider both the benefits of the Proposal as well as the risks and disadvantages involved. For example, transaction and implementation costs of the Proposal, including taxes associated with the transfer of the company’s intellectual property, are estimated as of the date of this Explanatory Memorandum to range from approximately US$51-71 million. This amount includes approximately US$30-50 million of taxes due in The Netherlands as a result of the transfer of the intellectual property in connection with Stage 1 of the Proposal. The amount of taxes actually due at the time of the transfer of the intellectual property and the company’s exit from the Financial Risk Reserve regime in The Netherlands will depend on a number of factors, including the fair market value of the intellectual property at the time of its transfer and our tax bases in the intellectual property, income earned in the company’s Financial Risk Reserve account, changes in currency exchange rates and the availability of offsets to the amounts in this account to finance capital and other qualifying expenditures.

 

KEY BENEFITS

 

Following a multi-year review of various alternatives, your directors have concluded that the transformation to a European Company and the move to Ireland and a transfer of our intellectual property and treasury and finance operations in connection with the transformation to a European Company is the best course of action at this time and is in the best interests of James Hardie and its shareholders because it:

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY

 

While the costs associated with implementation of the Proposal and the related transfer of the company’s intellectual property and treasury and finance operations are not insignificant, your directors are of the view that the Proposal is the best course of action at this time for James Hardie and its shareholders and, accordingly, unanimously recommend that shareholders vote in favour of the Proposal.

 

This Explanatory Memorandum includes a Notice of Meetings for Stage 1 of the Proposal. Each director intends to vote his or her shareholding in James Hardie in favour of Stage 1.

 

If Stage 1 is approved and implemented, we will write to you again with the formal proposal to proceed with Stage 2. Each stage needs to be approved by shareholders if the expected benefits of the Proposal are to be realised.

 

INDICATIVE TIMETABLE

 

The key dates for consideration and implementation of the Proposal are shown below. All times referred to are Australian Eastern Standard Time (which we refer to as AEST) unless otherwise stated.

 

 

If Stage 1 of the Proposal is implemented we expect to seek approval of Stage 2. A further explanatory memorandum will be issued in relation to Stage 2 of the Proposal.

 

 

The final timetable will depend on a number of factors, some of which will be outside of our control, including various regulatory filings and approvals, as well as the completion of an employee consultation process with respect to each stage of the Proposal and other corporate restructuring steps (see “Key Steps in Connection with the Proposal” in Section 1.2).

 

Any material changes to the above timetable will be announced to the Australian Securities Exchange (which we refer to as the ASX), furnished to the US Securities and Exchange Commission on a Form 6-K and made available on the James Hardie Investor Relations website (www.jameshardie.com, select “James Hardie Investor Relations”).

 

The following are some of the questions that you, as a shareholder, may have regarding the Proposal and answers to those questions. This section highlights selected information from this Explanatory Memorandum and the Notice of Meetings, but does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. Section numbers in parentheses following certain of the questions in this part refer to some of the other places in this Explanatory Memorandum or the Notice of Meetings that contain more detailed information regarding the subject matter discussed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

James Hardie Industries N.V.
Atrium, 8th floor
Strawinskylaan 3077
1077 ZX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Attention: Company Secretary
E-mail: infoline@jameshardie.com

 

 

SUMMARY

	•	Stage 1:   We will transform to a European Company ( Societas Europaea (SE)) by merging with a newly-formed subsidiary. We will become Dutch SE, with our corporate domicile remaining in The Netherlands.

	•	Stage 2:   Following implementation of Stage 1, Dutch SE will move its corporate domicile to Ireland to become Irish SE.

	•	allows key senior managers with global responsibilities to spend more time with James Hardie’s operations and in its markets because the US/Ireland Treaty does not contain a substantial presence test that requires these managers to spend significant time in Ireland;
	•	provides greater certainty for James Hardie to obtain benefits under the US/Ireland Treaty than is the case under the US/Netherlands Treaty;
	•	increases our flexibility to undertake certain transactions under Irish company law, which your directors believe expands our future strategic options;
	•	simplifies our governance structure to a single board of directors;

	•	makes our intellectual property and treasury and finance operations eligible for a statutory tax rate that is currently lower than would be the case if these operations remained in The Netherlands after the expiry of the Financial Risk Reserve regime and, based on current Irish law and the company’s current capital structure, should result in lower tax payments in respect of the intellectual property, treasury and finance operations on a combined basis than would be the case if these operations remained in The Netherlands even if the currently proposed compulsory group interest box regime is adopted in The Netherlands; and

	•	permits most shareholders to be eligible to receive dividends not subject to withholding tax.

	•	a change from a two-tiered board to a single-tiered board;
	•	holders of 5% of Irish SE’s issued share capital, as compared to 1% of Dutch SE’s issued share capital or holders of Dutch SE shares representing at least EUR 50 million in value, having the right, subject to complying with specified time periods and providing specified information, to request that the board place a matter on the agenda of an annual general meeting;
	•	holders of 10% of Irish SE’s issued share capital, as compared to any shareholder of Dutch SE, having the right, subject to complying with specified time periods and providing specified information, to nominate candidates for election as directors at an extraordinary general meeting;
	•	holders of 5% of Irish SE’s issued share capital, as compared to either 5% of Dutch SE’s issued share capital or at least 100 shareholders of Dutch SE, having the right, subject to complying with specified time periods and providing specified information, to request the board to call an extraordinary general meeting and place items (other than the nomination of directors) on the agenda for such meeting;
	•	a takeover offer will, in general, be required of a person who acquires 30% or more of the voting rights of Irish SE, as compared to 20% of the voting rights of Dutch SE; and
	•	a person who acquires 80% or more of Irish SE’s issued share capital, as compared to 95% of Dutch SE’s issued share capital, can compel the acquisition of the remaining outstanding issued share capital.

	•	Transaction and implementation costs in connection with the Proposal, including the transfer of our intellectual property and treasury and finance operations, assuming our intellectual property was transferred as of September 30, 2009 (the currently estimated date for implementation of Stage 1 of the Proposal), are estimated to range from approximately US$51-71 million, US$14 million of which already has been incurred. The costs expected to be incurred in connection with Stage 1 of the Proposal include approximately US$30-50 million in Dutch tax as a result of a capital gain on the transfer of our intellectual property from The Netherlands. The starting point of this range was estimated using the fair market value of our intellectual property as of June 1, 2009 and our income forecasts for our Financial Risk Reserve account through September 30, 2009, but did not take into account any gains or losses as a result of changes in currency exchange rates. Due to the factors described below that affect the amount of Dutch tax actually due as a result of the transfer of our intellectual property, as well as the actual time of such transfer and our exit from the Financial Risk Reserve regime, the tax due could vary from our estimate and the amount of such variance could be material.

	•	Our annual accounts will continue to be prepared under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles applicable in the US (which we refer to as US GAAP). Commencing with the first financial year end after the Proposal (including Stage 2) is completed (i.e., year ended March 31, 2010 if, as anticipated, Stage 2 is implemented prior to April 1, 2010), the annual accounts of Irish SE also will be prepared under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles applicable in Ireland (which we refer to as Irish GAAP).
	•	In connection with the approval of Stage 2, we intend that Dutch SE will request shareholders to approve the reclassification of a merger revaluation reserve established in connection with our 2001 reorganisation to

		maintain the historical cost bases of our consolidated net assets from directly before the 2001 reorganisation. As a result of this reclassification, the amounts available to Irish SE for distribution as dividends and to repurchase shares will be substantially the same as for Dutch SE.

	•	After implementation of Stage 2, Irish SE’s ability to pay dividends and repurchase shares will be subject to Irish company law and will be determined based on profits calculated under Irish GAAP. However, as a result of this reclassification, we do not believe these changes will have a material impact on Irish SE’s ability to pay dividends or repurchase shares.

Material Tax Consequences for Shareholders (see Section 9)

 

For a detailed discussion of the material Australian, US federal, Dutch, Irish and UK tax consequences of the Proposal for our shareholders, see “Material Tax Considerations of the Proposal” in Section 9.

 

The tax consequences of the Proposal for you will depend upon the facts of your situation. You should consult your own tax advisors for a full understanding of the tax consequences of the Proposal for you.

 

Notice for CUFS holders entitled to an exemption

 

Please note that following implementation of Stage 2 of the Proposal, shareholders who reside in an EU member country other than Ireland or in a country with which Ireland has a double tax treaty and who do not reside in Ireland must complete and send to Irish SE a non-resident declaration form in order to avoid Irish

 

SUMMARY SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

JAMES HARDIE INDUSTRIES N.V.

 

		Fiscal Year Ended March 31,
		2009					2008					2007					2006					2005
		In million US$
		(except sales price per unit and per share data)
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:
Net Sales
USA and Europe Fibre Cement			929	.3				1,170	.5				1,291	.2				1,246	.7				974	.3
Asia Pacific Fibre Cement			273	.3				298	.3				251	.7				241	.8				236	.1
Total net sales			1,202	.6				1,468	.8				1,542	.9				1,488	.5				1,210	.4
Operating income (loss)			173	.6				(36	.6)				(86	.6)				(434	.9)				196	.2
Interest expense			(11	.2)				(11	.1)				(12	.0)				(7	.2)				(7	.3)
Interest income			8	.2				12	.2				5	.5				7	.0				2	.2
Other expense			(14	.8)				—					—					—					(1	.3)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes			155	.8				(35	.5)				(93	.1)				(435	.1)				189	.8
Income tax (expense) benefit			(19	.5)				(36	.1)				243	.9				(71	.6)				(61	.9)
Income (loss) from continuing operations			136	.3				(71	.6)				150	.8				(506	.7)				127	.9
Net income (loss)			136	.3				(71	.6)				151	.7				(506	.7)				126	.9
Income (loss) from continuing operations per common share — basic			0	.32				(0	.16)				0	.32				(1	.10)				0	.28
Net income (loss) per common share — basic			0	.32				(0	.16)				0	.33				(1	.10)				0	.28
Income (loss) from continuing operations per common share — diluted			0	.31				(0	.16)				0	.32				(1	.10)				0	.28
Net income (loss) per common share — diluted			0	.31				(0	.16)				0	.33				(1	.10)				0	.28
Dividends paid per share			0	.08				0	.27				0	.09				0	.10				0	.03
Book value per share			(0	.25)				(0	.47)				0	.55				0	.20				1	.36
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
Basic			432	.3				455	.0				464	.6				461	.7				458	.9
Diluted			434	.5				455	.0				466	.4				461	.7				461	.0
Consolidated Cash Flow Information:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			(45	.2)				319	.3				(67	.1)				238	.4				219	.4
Net cash used in investing activities			(26	.1)				(38	.5)				(92	.6)				(154	.0)				(149	.8)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			25	.0				(254	.4)				(136	.4)				118	.7				(27	.2)

		Fiscal Year Ended March 31,
		2009					2008					2007					2006					2005
		In million US$
		(except sales price per unit and per share data)
Other Data:
Depreciation and amortization			56	.4				56	.5				50	.7				45	.3				36	.3
EBITDA			230	.0				19	.9				(35	.9)				(389	.6)				232	.5
Capital expenditures			26	.1				38	.5				92	.1				162	.8				153	.0
Volume (million square feet)
USA and Europe Fiber Cement			1,526	.6				1,951	.2				2,216	.2				2,244	.4				1,952	.4
Asia Pacific Fiber Cement			390	.6				398	.2				390	.8				368	.3				376	.9
Average sales price per unit (per thousand square feet)
USA and Europe Fiber Cement			609					600					583					555					499
Asia Pacific Fiber Cement (A$)			879					862					842					872					846
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
Net current assets			149	.7				183	.7				259	.0				150	.8				180	.2
Total assets			1,898	.7				2,179	.9				2,128	.1				1,445	.4				1,088	.9
Total debt			324	.0				264	.5				188	.0				302	.7				159	.3
Common stock			219	.2				219	.7				251	.8				253	.2				245	.8
Shareholders’ (deficit) equity			(108	.7)				(202	.6)				258	.7				94	.9				624	.7

		Fiscal Year Ended March 31,
		2009					2008					2007					2006					2005
		In million US$
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			(45	.2)				319	.3				(67	.1)				238	.4				219	.4
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			(3	.5)				(318	.9)				4	.5				(789	.1)				(60	.8)
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net			185	.0				(72	.0)				214	.3				44	.0				(31	.7)
Net income (loss)			136	.3				(71	.6)				151	.7				(506	.7)				126	.9
Loss from discontinued operations			—					—					—					—					1	.0
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle			—					—					(0	.9)				—					—
Income tax expense (benefit)			19	.5				36	.1				(243	.9)				71	.6				61	.9
Interest expense			11	.2				11	.1				12	.0				7	.2				7	.3
Interest income			(8	.2)				(12	.2)				(5	.5)				(7	.0)				(2	.2)
Other expense			14	.8				—					—					—					1	.3
Depreciation and amortization			56	.4				56	.5				50	.7				45	.3				36	.3
EBITDA			230	.0				19	.9				(35	.9)				(389	.6)				232	.5

 

MARKET PRICE INFORMATION

	•	CUFS trade on the ASX; and
	•	ADSs trade on the NYSE,

	•	as reported on ASX for CUFS; and
	•	as reported on the NYSE for ADSs.

	•	the last full trading day on ASX and the NYSE prior to the public announcement of the Proposal; and
	•	the most recent practicable trading date prior to the date of this Explanatory Memorandum.

		James Hardie
		CUFS (A$)				ADSs (US$)
June 22, 2009		$	4.20			$	16.18
July 9, 2009		$	3.77			$	14.50

 

Our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference into this Explanatory Memorandum, describes a variety of risks relevant to our business and financial condition, which you are urged to read in full. The following discussion concerns key risk factors relating specifically to the Proposal.

 

Irish SE will be exposed to the risk of future adverse changes in Irish and US law, as well as changes in tax rates, which could materially adversely affect us, including by reducing or eliminating the anticipated benefits of the Proposal.

 

Upon implementation of Stage 2 of the Proposal, Irish SE will be subject to Irish law. As a result, Irish SE would be subject to the risk of future adverse changes in Irish law (including Irish company and tax law). In addition, the tax rates for which we expect Irish SE and its subsidiaries to be eligible on our transformation may be increased in the future.

 

Irish SE also will be subject to the risk of future adverse changes to US law, as well as changes of law in other countries in which Irish SE or its subsidiaries operate.

 

For example, the US Congress may take legislative action that could override tax treaties upon which we rely or could subject Irish SE or Dutch SE to US tax. A number of legislative proposals in recent years have sought to deny benefits or impose penalties on companies domiciled outside of the US that conduct substantial business in the US or whose executives with decision-making responsibility are located primarily in the US. We cannot predict the outcome of any specific legislative proposal.

 

Our effective tax rate may be higher in future years whether or not we implement the Proposal.

 

James Hardie’s effective tax rate for the year ended March 31, 2009 was the result of tax expense incurred in a number of jurisdictions, principally the US, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and The Netherlands. The primary drivers of James Hardie’s effective tax rate are the tax rates of the jurisdictions in which we operate, the level and geographic mix of pre-tax earnings, intra-group royalties, interest rates and the level of debt which give rise to interest expense on external debt and intra-group debt, the benefits derived from the Financial Risk Reserve regime in The Netherlands, extraordinary and non-core items, and the value of adjustments for timing differences and permanent differences, including the non-deductibility of certain expenses, all of which are subject to change and which could result in a material increase in our effective tax rate.

 

Other than the Financial Risk Reserve regime, which expires on December 31, 2010, and which may be partially replaced by the currently proposed compulsory group interest box regime, these factors will continue to drive James Hardie’s effective tax rate. Whether James Hardie implements the Proposal or remains in The Netherlands, we cannot provide any assurance as to what our effective tax rate will be in the future.

 

Revenue rulings received from Irish and Dutch Revenue authorities are based upon facts that may not be met in the future, in which case there is a risk that the conclusions reached in the rulings will not be applicable to us, including that Irish SE will not be treated as an Irish tax resident for purposes of the US/Ireland Treaty.

 

In connection with the Proposal, we requested and received certain revenue rulings from Irish and Dutch Revenue authorities, which are described in further detail in this Explanatory Memorandum (see “Revenue Rulings” in Section 6). Revenue rulings represent advice received from taxing authorities as to the tax consequences of particular circumstances or a transaction and are based upon the specific facts presented to the taxing authority in the ruling request. In the case of the Irish Revenue authorities’ ruling, the Irish Revenue authorities have the ability to review their advice when a transaction is complete and all the facts are known.

 

One of the rulings received from the Irish Revenue authorities confirms, among other things, that so long as Irish SE is centrally managed and controlled in Ireland, it will be a tax resident of Ireland once Stage 2 of the Proposal has been approved and implemented. The ruling received from the Dutch Revenue authorities confirms, among other things, that if the Proposal is implemented, Irish SE will be no longer subject to Dutch tax as a resident in The Netherlands (except on Dutch source income) as long as Irish SE remains an Irish tax resident. Two of the

other Irish Revenue authorities’ rulings relate to the tax status in Ireland of two of our newly-formed subsidiaries to which our intellectual property and our treasury and finance operations will be transferred in connection with the Proposal.

 

The issue as to whether a company is centrally managed and controlled in Ireland is a question of fact directed at the highest level of control of a company’s business, as distinct from day-to-day control to carry out normal business operations. Irish SE intends to establish that it is centrally managed and controlled in Ireland by, among other things, holding a majority of its board meetings in any one year in Ireland with participation of a majority of its directors in Ireland, the board deciding on corporate strategy, such as decisions relating to significant transactions and investments, capital expenditures, equity and debt raising and dividend payments in Ireland, and maintaining its head office function in Ireland. One of the rulings from the Irish Revenue authorities confirms that if Irish SE operates in this manner, Irish SE will be deemed a tax resident of Ireland.

 

If Irish SE fails to satisfy the requirement that it be centrally managed and controlled in Ireland because it fails to operate in the manner set out in the ruling from the Irish Revenue authorities or otherwise, it may not qualify as an Irish tax resident for the purposes of the US/Ireland Treaty. If this occurred, Irish SE would not receive some or all of the anticipated benefits under the Proposal. In such circumstances, Irish SE also could be subject to tax in another jurisdiction, including The Netherlands. Irish SE or its subsidiaries may also in the future fail to operate in a manner consistent with other facts upon which our rulings are based. In such event, the conclusions reached in the revenue rulings would no longer be applicable and we may not receive some or all of the anticipated benefits of the Proposal. See “Revenue Rulings” in Section 6.

 

The US/Ireland Treaty may be amended in the future and there is a risk that Irish SE would be unable or unwilling to make changes required to qualify for treaty benefits.

 

While the US/Ireland Treaty contains an article regarding limitations on benefits (which requires the relevant person claiming relief to be an Irish resident who meets one or more requirements set out in the treaty), the limitations of benefits article in the US/Ireland Treaty does not presently contain an equivalent to the substantial presence requirement included in the US/Netherlands Treaty. See “The US/Netherlands Treaty” and “The US IRS 30-Day Letter” in Sections 2.3 and 2.4, respectively, for a further description of “substantial presence”.

 

However, the US/Ireland Treaty may be amended in the future in a manner that would adversely affect Irish SE or its ability to qualify for benefits under the US/Ireland Treaty, including in a manner that would result in Irish SE and its subsidiaries not receiving some or all of the anticipated benefits of the Proposal. A risk of such an amendment to the US/Ireland Treaty arises from, among other things, the fact that the US Model Income Tax Convention of November 15, 2006, which generally serves as a basis for US tax treaty negotiations, contains an equivalent to the substantial presence requirement included in the US/Netherlands treaty.

 

In the event the US/Ireland Treaty were amended in a manner that would adversely affect Irish SE or its ability to qualify for benefits under the US/Ireland Treaty, including in a manner that would result in Irish SE and its subsidiaries not receiving some or all of the anticipated benefits of the Proposal, Irish SE would need to consider its available alternatives at that time.

 

There is a risk that the US IRS will react adversely as a result of our decision to pursue the Proposal.

 

Although we do not believe our decision to pursue the Proposal should increase the likelihood that the US IRS will seek to examine any tax years or portions thereof not examined prior to the move to Ireland, we cannot predict how the US IRS will react to our decision to pursue the Proposal. There can be no assurance that, as a result of the Proposal, the US IRS will not seek to examine other tax years or portions thereof. In addition, the US IRS could seek to challenge our move to Ireland and our ability to receive benefits under the US/Ireland Treaty. However, because we expect Irish SE will be able to satisfy the requirements of the US/Ireland Treaty, we believe Irish SE will be eligible to receive the benefits under the US/Ireland Treaty.

A final class ruling from the Australian Taxation Office seeking confirmation that no capital gain or capital loss will arise under the Australian capital gains tax provisions for Australian tax resident shareholders may not be received or a final ruling received from the Australian Taxation Office may reach a different conclusion from the draft ruling, which could result in Australian tax resident shareholders realising a capital gain or a capital loss under the Australian capital gains tax provisions as a result of the Proposal.

 

In connection with the Proposal, we have received advice that no capital gain or capital loss should arise under the Australian capital gains tax provisions from the Proposal for Australian tax resident shareholders that hold their shares or CUFS on capital account. However, this advice is not binding on the Australian Taxation Office, which may reach a different conclusion. In order to provide more certainty to such Australian tax resident shareholders, we have applied to the Australian Taxation Office for a class ruling confirming that no capital gain or capital loss will arise under the Australian capital gains tax provisions for these shareholders as a result of the Proposal.

 

A class ruling is a form of public ruling provided by the Australian Taxation Office. A public ruling is an expression of the Commissioner’s opinion about the way in which a relevant provision applies, or would apply, to entities generally or to a class of entities (e.g., our shareholders) in relation to a particular scheme or a class of schemes. If our Australian shareholders rely on a class ruling, the Commissioner must apply the law as set out in the ruling (unless the Commissioner is satisfied that the ruling is incorrect and disadvantages the shareholder, in which case the law may be applied to shareholders in a way that is more favourable to the shareholder, provided the Commissioner is not prevented from doing so by a time limit imposed by the law). We have received a draft ruling from the Australian Taxation Office that no capital gain or capital loss will arise under the Australian capital gains tax provisions from the Proposal for Australian tax resident shareholders that hold their shares or CUFS on capital account. We expect the Australian Taxation Office to issue a final ruling prior to implementation of Stage 1 of the Proposal. However, the draft ruling we have received is not legally binding on the Australian Taxation Office and the final ruling we receive from the Australian Taxation Office could be different, which could result in Australian tax resident shareholders realising a capital gain or capital loss under the Australian capital gains tax provisions as a result of the Proposal.

 

The rights of shareholders after our transformation to Irish SE will not be the same as at present.

 

We are a company subject to Dutch statutory rules on public limited companies. Following our transformation to Dutch SE, Dutch SE will continue to be subject to Dutch statutory rules with only minor changes to the rights of shareholders, except that our three-tiered board will change to a two-tiered board, the required shareholder approval threshold for Stage 2 of the Proposal will be reduced from 75% to 66 2 / 3 % and the chief executive officer will not be entitled to hold office as a director for a continuous period in excess of six years without standing for re-election.

 

More significant changes to the rights of shareholders will occur upon implementation of Stage 2 of the Proposal. Irish SE will be a company registered under the laws of Ireland and the rights of holders of Irish SE securities will be governed by Irish company law and the memorandum and articles of association of Irish SE. Due to the differences between Dutch and Irish laws and the differences between our constituent documents both before and after implementing Stage 2 of the Proposal, your rights as a shareholder will change.

 

By way of example, as a result of the Proposal, the present takeover regime under our articles of association will no longer apply and Irish SE instead will be subject to the Irish takeover rules and the regulation of the Irish Takeover Panel.

 

For more information regarding these differences and the changes in the rights for shareholders see “Summary of Key Differences between Dutch NV and Dutch SE” in Section 4.2 and “Summary of Key Corporate Law Differences Between Dutch SE and Irish SE” in Section 5.4.

In connection with the Proposal, we are required to negotiate the terms of future employee involvement in Dutch SE with a special negotiating body comprised of employees from EU member states in which James Hardie operates. These negotiations are expected to lead to the creation of an employee representative body that will have certain information and consultation rights in relation to future decisions of the boards of Dutch SE and Irish SE.

 

Under the SE Regulation and other relevant legislation, formation of an SE through merger requires the companies involved in the merger to enter into negotiations with a special negotiating body (which we refer to as the SNB), made up of a number of employee representatives in EU member states to come to an arrangement on future employee involvement in the SE. We commenced this process shortly before mailing this Explanatory Memorandum.

 

We cannot implement Stage 1 of the Proposal without coming to an arrangement on employee involvement. As a result, we may not be able to implement Stage 1 of the Proposal until approximately seven months from the date of this Explanatory Memorandum (or longer if we would agree with the SNB to extend this period), which will delay the implementation of Stage 2 of the Proposal. We expect that any such delay will result in increased costs.

 

Under the SE Regulation and other relevant legislation, in the event we and the SNB are unable to come to an arrangement regarding employee involvement within six months following the formation of the SNB, we and the SNB can agree to extend this period or we may accept the standard rules. In general, the standard rules require our Managing Board to inform and consult with an employee representative body (which we refer to as an ERB) on major issues affecting employees. At this time, we cannot determine the outcome of the SNB process.

 

In the event that the standard rules apply, Dutch SE would have to provide information to and consult with the employee representative body in connection with future decisions regarding major issues affecting employees, including the decision by the boards of Dutch SE to approve Stage 2 of the Proposal. However, the employee representative body would not have the power to block or prevent any Managing or Supervisory Board decisions or actions, including the decision to implement Stage 2 of the Proposal. While we do not anticipate any specific governance issues as a result of employee involvement in future board decisions, we have not previously been subject to these requirements and cannot determine how or whether employee involvement will affect our future governance or operations.

 

Changes in our board structure and the composition of our board of directors may lead to a loss of continuity of directors and adversely affect our decision-making and governance.

 

In connection with the implementation of Stage 2 of the Proposal, the Supervisory and Managing Boards of Dutch SE will be replaced with a single board, which we expect will consist of eight non-executive directors and one executive director of Irish SE. We expect that the majority of your directors currently serving on the Supervisory Board will continue as non-executive directors of Irish SE, with two new directors also being added to the board.

 

Only one of the existing six directors on our Supervisory Board whom we expect to continue as a director of Irish SE has served more than three years. The balance of the Irish SE board, other than our CEO, will be made up of directors with less than three years experience with James Hardie. We intend that any new directors nominated will have appropriate experience in business, corporate governance and the types of issues confronting James Hardie. However, the changes to our board structure and composition as a result of the implementation of the Proposal may result for a period of time in a reduction in the effectiveness of your directors and of board-level decision-making at Irish SE.

 

For more information about our board structure and the composition of our boards, see “Corporate Governance” in Section 5.3.

 

The actual benefits that we realise from the Proposal could be materially different from our current expectations.

 

The Proposal is designed to enable us to reorganise James Hardie in a manner that would, among other things, allow key senior managers with global responsibilities to be free to spend more time with management at our local operations and in our markets and provide more certainty to James Hardie regarding its future tax obligations. In

addition, the Proposal is partly driven by the desire to increase our future flexibility by becoming subject to Irish company law. However, there can be no assurance that the ability of our key senior managers with global responsibilities to spend more time with local operations and in our markets will result in an improvement to our results of operations, that the tax laws expected to apply to Irish SE’s operations will not adversely change in the future, that Irish company law will not become more restrictive or otherwise disadvantageous or that changes to our governance structure and board composition will not adversely affect us. A variety of other factors that are partially or entirely beyond our control could cause the actual benefits that we realise from the Proposal to be materially different from what we currently expect.

 

Our business may be adversely affected as a result of adverse action against us and negative publicity resulting from our announcement and implementation of the Proposal, including the reduction of amounts available for contributions under the AFFA resulting from the costs associated with the Proposal and the possibility of the AICF later not having sufficient funding to meet future obligations.

 

There is a possibility that, despite certain covenants agreed to by the New South Wales Government in the AFFA, adverse action could be directed against us by one or more of the New South Wales Government, the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia (which we refer to as the Australian Commonwealth Government), governments of the other states or territories of Australia or any other governments, unions or union representative groups, or asbestos disease groups in relation to the asbestos liabilities in respect of which the AICF has been established. Such action might arise as a result of the costs of the Proposal reducing the amounts available for contribution under the AFFA in the financial year following implementation of the Proposal, particularly if the AICF does not have sufficient funding in future years to meet obligations to claimants. This risk is compounded by other factors adversely affecting our net operating cash flow, such as the difficult trading conditions we currently face in our key markets and the payments we have made, and may make in the future, to taxation authorities in respect of prior taxation years.

 

The Proposal also could result in increased negative publicity related to James Hardie. There continues to be negative publicity regarding, and criticism of, companies that conduct substantial business in the US but are domiciled in countries like Bermuda. We cannot assure you that we will not be subject to similar criticism based on the Proposal. We previously have been the subject of significant negative publicity in connection with the events that were considered by the Special Commission of Inquiry and the Australian Securities & Investments Commission proceedings in Australia.

 

We believe that any such adverse action or negative publicity could materially adversely affect our financial position, liquidity, results of operations and cash flows, employee morale and the market prices of our publicly traded securities.

 

We may be unable to obtain the regulatory and other approvals required to implement the Proposal or the Proposal may be challenged by governmental entities or third parties.

 

Implementing Stage 1 of the Proposal requires a statement of no objection from the Dutch Ministry of Justice and confirmation from the High Court of Ireland that all legal requirements for Stage 1 of the Proposal have been satisfied. We expect we will be able to obtain both of these.

 

In addition, as of the date of this Explanatory Memorandum we have applied for a statement of no objection from the Treasurer of Australia under Australia’s Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act of 1975 in respect of the transfer of our intellectual property from The Netherlands to Ireland and the indirect transfer of our Australian subsidiaries resulting from the internal reorganisation that we are undertaking in connection with the Proposal. We expect to receive the statement of no objection by the time shareholders are asked to consider and approve Stage 1 of the Proposal.

 

While the Proposal does not require any notice, consent or approval under the terms of the AFFA, we have, as a matter of courtesy, advised the New South Wales Government and Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund Limited (in its capacity as trustee of the AICF). We and our subsidiary, James Hardie 117 Pty Limited, also have entered into a deed of confirmation with the New South Wales Government and Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund Limited (the “AFFA Deed of Confirmation”). Among other things, we have agreed in the AFFA Deed of Confirmation that

relevant James Hardie companies and the AICF will apply to the Australian Taxation Office for rulings to replace the tax rulings previously issued by the Australian Taxation Office in connection with the AFFA and for confirmation that the Accepted Tax Conditions (as defined in the AFFA) will remain unchanged in all material respects after implementation of the Proposal (the “ATO Rulings”). We have undertaken in the AFFA Deed of Confirmation that we will not complete the merger with Irish plc Subsidiary necessary to facilitate our transformation to Dutch SE before the Australian Taxation Office has determined these applications. We are released from this undertaking on the first to occur of the Australian Taxation Office determining the applications and 31 December 2009. If the ATO Rulings are unable to be obtained, while we would be released from our undertaking under the AFFA Deed of Confirmation we would need to reassess our ability to proceed to implement the Proposal having regard to the Australian Taxation Office’s position, our rights and obligations under the AFFA and the circumstances existing at the time. However we reserve our right to proceed in those circumstances if we determine to do so.

 

In addition, a relevant state or foreign governmental authority could revoke, fail to provide or challenge or seek to block the Proposal, as such authority deems necessary or desirable in the public interest. Moreover, in some jurisdictions, a third party could initiate a private action challenging or seeking to enjoin the Proposal, before or after it is implemented. We cannot be sure that a challenge to the Proposal will not be made or that, if a challenge is made, our position will prevail. For a full description of the regulatory approvals required for the Proposal, see “Key Steps in Connection with the Proposal” in Section 1.2

 

Any delay in the implementation of the Proposal may significantly reduce the benefits expected to be obtained from the Proposal.

 

In addition to the required regulatory and other approvals, the Proposal is subject to a number of other conditions, some of which may prevent, delay or otherwise materially adversely affect its implementation. Although we expect that these conditions will be satisfied in a timely fashion, we cannot predict whether and when these other conditions will be satisfied. Any delay in implementing the Proposal may significantly reduce some or all of the expected benefits from the Proposal and/or result in material increases to the estimated transaction and implementation costs.

 

Stage 1 of the Proposal may be approved and implemented but Stage 2 of the Proposal may not proceed, in which event Dutch SE will not receive the anticipated benefits from the Proposal.

 

If Stage 1 of the Proposal is approved and implemented, but Stage 2 of the Proposal does not proceed, Dutch SE will continue as a European Company with its corporate domicile in The Netherlands, with capacity to move its corporate domicile in the future to any other EU member state (that has implemented the SE Regulation) if shareholders approve such a move.

 

If Stage 2 is not implemented, none of the other favourable aspects of the Proposal will be obtained and the risks and adverse consequences for Dutch SE of staying in The Netherlands will continue to apply, including the requirement for our key senior managers with global responsibilities to spend a significant amount of their time in The Netherlands and the uncertainty regarding our tax obligations as a result of the US IRS interpretation of the application of the US/Netherlands Treaty to James Hardie. In the event Stage 1 is approved and implemented and Stage 2 of the Proposal does not proceed, we will be a Dutch SE and remain exposed to the risk of future adverse changes in Dutch law and Dutch SE will have incurred significant transaction and implementation costs, as well as the diversion of management resources. In the event we have transferred our intellectual property and our treasury and finance operations from The Netherlands in connection with the implementation of Stage 1, based on estimates as of the date of this Explanatory Memorandum, we will have incurred US$30-50 million of Dutch tax as a result of a capital gain on the transfer of our intellectual property from The Netherlands.

 

More information regarding the costs associated with the Proposal and the costs associated with the transfer of our intellectual property and treasury and finance operations is described under the heading “Financial and Accounting Impact” in Section 1.3.

Implementation of the Proposal and relocation of Dutch SE’s corporate headquarters from The Netherlands to Ireland might be disruptive.

 

Implementing the Proposal could divert our management resources from other transactions or activities that we may otherwise desire to undertake. Diversion of management attention from such activities could adversely affect our ongoing operations and business relationships. These diversions may prevent us from pursuing attractive business opportunities that may arise prior to implementing the Proposal.

 

In addition, relocating Dutch SE’s head office from The Netherlands to Ireland upon implementation of Stage 2 of the Proposal could result in the loss of personnel. Terminating or replacing such personnel could be costly and have a negative impact on the continuity and progress of our business, including our operating results.

 

We will be exposed to future regulatory risks relating to changes affecting European Companies.

 

We will be subject to regulatory initiatives of the EU regarding European Companies and the SE Regulation. Changes in the EU, the SE Regulation or the EU directives affecting SEs may affect the overall benefits anticipated as a result of implementing the Proposal. Any of these changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our results of operations.

 

Remuneration of Managing Board and Senior Executives

 

On June 22, 2009, the Supervisory Board approved a number of changes to remuneration arrangements for the Managing Board and senior executives for fiscal year 2010. JHI NV will seek shareholder approval for the changes at the 2009 annual general meeting on August 21, 2009, which will be held immediately following the Extraordinary General Meeting.

 

The key adjustments to the remuneration framework in fiscal year 2010 are:

 

 

 

The Proposal is to effect our transformation from a public limited liability corporation registered in The Netherlands ( Naamloze Vennootschap (NV)) to a European Company ( Societas Europaea (SE)), and ultimately the relocation of our corporate domicile from The Netherlands to Ireland.

 

The Proposal is to be undertaken in two stages, as follows:

 

 

In connection with the implementation of Stage 1 of the Proposal, we currently intend to transfer our intellectual property to a newly-formed subsidiary tax resident in Ireland and to transfer our treasury and finance operations to a newly-formed Irish subsidiary. We believe leaving the intellectual property in The Netherlands until the implementation of Stage 2 of the Proposal would result in the incurrence of additional Dutch tax on a future transfer of the intellectual property from The Netherlands. However, as the transfer of our intellectual property and our treasury and finance operations from The Netherlands does not require shareholder approval, we may determine, subject to any required consents from our lenders, to transfer our intellectual property and our treasury and finance operations from The Netherlands independent of either stage being approved by shareholders and implemented. The transfer of our treasury and finance operations from The Netherlands would result in the early termination of our participation in the Financial Risk Reserve regime in The Netherlands and would require the payment of all Dutch tax due on the balance remaining in our Financial Risk Reserve account at that time, including tax due from the transfer of our intellectual property from The Netherlands.

 

 

In connection with Stage 2, the registered office and head office of Dutch SE will move from The Netherlands to Ireland.

 

See “Financial and Accounting Impact” in Section 1.3 for further information regarding costs associated with the Proposal and the costs associated with the transfer of our intellectual property and our treasury and finance operations.

 

1.2.1.  Stage 1

 

The following key steps already have been undertaken with respect to the Proposal:

 

 

 

The key remaining steps that must be satisfied to implement Stage 1 of the Proposal are:

 

 

Dutch law requires the Managing Board to inform our shareholders prior to or at the extraordinary general meeting of any important changes in the circumstances that have had an impact on the terms of merger (including the explanatory notes). Once the steps above have been satisfied, Stage 1 will be effected upon execution of a deed of merger and the filing of such deed with the Dutch Trade Register, resulting in our transformation to Dutch SE with our corporate domicile continuing in The Netherlands.

 

The Dutch Civil Code also requires that the deed of merger be executed within six months after the announcement that the terms of merger have been filed with the Dutch Trade Register. We intend that the SNB process will be completed within that period (see “Employee Representative Body” in Section 4.4). If the SNB process is not completed within this six-month period, we may seek to agree on an extension of the period of negotiations with the SNB. Such agreed extension will trigger an extension of the six-month period within which the deed of merger must be executed. In the event of such an extension, the deed of merger must then be executed within three months from the end of the extended period as agreed with the SNB.

 

1.2.2.  Stage 2

 

The following steps must be satisfied before Stage 2 of the Proposal can be implemented:

 

 

 

Although we do not believe there are any regulatory approvals required to complete Stage 2 of the Proposal, Dutch law is unclear as to whether a statement of no objection of the Dutch Ministry of Justice is required. As a result, we also intend to seek a statement of no objection from the Dutch Ministry of Justice in connection with the implementation of Stage 2.

 

The significant financial and accounting impacts from the implementation of the Proposal and the transfer of our intellectual property and treasury and finance operations in connection with the Proposal are described below.

 

Transaction and implementation costs in connection with the Proposal and related transactions, consisting of the transfer of our intellectual property and treasury and finance operations, assuming our intellectual property was transferred as of September 30, 2009 (the currently estimated date for implementation of Stage 1 of the Proposal), are estimated to range from approximately US$51-71 million, US$14 million of which already has been incurred. The costs expected to be incurred in connection with Stage 1 of the Proposal include a one-time approximately US$30-50 million tax in The Netherlands as a result of a capital gain on the transfer of our intellectual property from The Netherlands. The starting point of this range was estimated using the fair market value of our intellectual property as of June 1, 2009 and our income forecasts for our Financial Risk Reserve account through September 30, 2009, but did not take into account any gains or losses as a result of changes in currency exchange rates. Due to the factors described below that affect the amount of Dutch tax actually due as a result of the transfer of our intellectual property, as well as the actual time of such transfer and our exit from the Financial Risk Reserve regime, the tax due could vary from our estimate and the amount of such variance could be material.

 

This estimated one-time Dutch tax cost of US$30-50 million arises from a capital gain on the transfer of our intellectual property out of The Netherlands to a newly-formed Bermuda company tax resident in Ireland in connection with Stage 1 of the Proposal. Under the Financial Risk Reserve regime rulings relating to our intellectual property, 28% of this gain would be subject to the statutory rate of Dutch corporate tax (currently 25.5%), which is estimated to result in Dutch tax of US$20-24 million. The remaining 72% of the gain will be included in our Financial Risk Reserve account. The Financial Risk Reserve account may be released tax-free if and to the extent that James Hardie makes qualifying capital contributions to group companies that use the cash received to finance capital and other qualifying expenditures (“exempt releases”).

 

Any balance remaining in our Financial Risk Reserve account at the time of the regime’s expiry or our earlier exit is subject to tax at the statutory rate of Dutch corporate tax. The transfer of our treasury and finance operations from The Netherlands would result in the early termination of our Financial Risk Reserve regime ruling. Based on an estimated ending balance in our Financial Risk Reserve account on September 30, 2009, the amount of exempt releases expected to be available immediately prior to our exit from the regime and the statutory rate of Dutch corporate tax (currently 25.5%), we estimate that approximately US$10-26 million in additional Dutch tax will be due on the transfer of these operations. However, the starting point of this range may be as low as zero if we prevail

on certain Dutch tax positions we have taken or plan to take in our Dutch tax returns for which we have not recorded a tax benefit in our consolidated financial statements.

 

The amount of Dutch tax actually due at the time of the transfer of our intellectual property and our subsequent exit from the Financial Risk Reserve regime will depend on a number of factors at that time, such as fair market value of our intellectual property and our tax bases in the intellectual property, other income earned and exempt releases up to that date in our Financial Risk Reserve account, changes in currency exchange rates and the amount of exempt releases available. The amount of tax due at the time of our exit from the Financial Risk Reserve regime would increase as a result of a weakening in the value of the Australian and New Zealand currencies as compared to the US dollar. The determination of the fair market value of our intellectual property is affected by, among other things, our results of operations and the state of the markets in which we sell our products. An improvement in our results of operations or an increase in the number of housing starts in the markets in which we sell our products could result in an increase in the fair market value of our intellectual property. The value of our intellectual property has fluctuated in the past and in the future may vary materially from the value we used to estimate the starting point of the range of the amount of taxes due on the transfer of our intellectual property. Additionally, the fair market value of our intellectual property could increase as a result of any strengthening in the value of the Australian and New Zealand currencies as compared to the US dollar. For example, assuming the other factors that affect the amount of Dutch tax due on the transfer of our intellectual property remained unchanged, a 10% increase in the fair market value of our intellectual property as of the date of its transfer would result in approximately US$14 million in additional Dutch tax.

 

This Dutch tax would not be incurred if our intellectual property remained in The Netherlands after the move of Dutch SE’s domicile to Ireland. While the one-time payments relating to the transfer of our intellectual property are not insignificant, we believe leaving the intellectual property in The Netherlands would result in the incurrence of additional Dutch tax in the event of a future transfer of this property from The Netherlands. In addition, leaving our intellectual property in The Netherlands would not permit us to obtain all of the expected benefits of the Proposal. The transfer of our treasury and finance operations will permit interest income from our finance operations to be eligible for a lower statutory rate of tax in Ireland than would be applicable in The Netherlands following expiry of the Financial Risk Reserve regime on December 31, 2010. For example, leaving the intellectual property in The Netherlands after the expiration of the Financial Risk Reserve regime, would result in a higher statutory rate of tax on royalty payments in respect of our intellectual property than would be the case in Ireland (assuming an equivalent replacement regime is not adopted in The Netherlands) and may provide less certainty as to our eligibility for a 0% withholding tax rate on royalty payments made from our subsidiaries in the US to our Dutch subsidiary which holds our intellectual property. In addition, the company believes that even if the currently proposed compulsory group interest box regime is adopted in The Netherlands, based on current Irish law and the company’s current capital structure, a move to Ireland should result in lower tax payments in respect of those intellectual property, treasury and finance operations on a combined basis than would be the case if the company remained in The Netherlands. (See “The Netherlands Financial Risk Reserve Regime” in Section 2.2.).

 

As previously described, the transfer of our intellectual property and treasury and finance operations does not require shareholder approval and we may determine, subject to any required consents from our lenders, to complete these transfers independent of either stage being approved by shareholders and implemented.

 

The remaining approximately US$21 million of costs, US$14 million of which already has been incurred, relate primarily to expenses associated with the Proposal, advisory fees and costs related to our establishment of a new head office in Ireland.

 

Our annual accounts will continue to be prepared under US GAAP. Commencing with the first financial year end after the Proposal (including Stage 2) is completed (i.e., year ended March 31, 2010 if Stage 2 is implemented prior to April 1, 2010), the annual accounts of Irish SE also will be prepared under Irish GAAP.

 

In connection with our 2001 reorganisation (See “The 2001 and 2003 Reorganisations” in Section 2.1), a negative merger revaluation reserve was recorded in the company’s financial statements in order to maintain the historical cost bases of our consolidated net assets from directly before the 2001 reorganisation. Under Dutch and Irish company law, the merger revaluation reserve is included in the calculation of amounts available for distribution to shareholders. In The Netherlands, the share premium reserve also is included in such calculation.

In Ireland, share premium reserve is not included in such calculation, which would result in a material reduction in the amount available for distribution to shareholders following Dutch SE’s transformation to Irish SE in Stage 2.

 

As part of shareholder approval for Stage 2, shareholders of Dutch SE will be asked to approve the reclassification of the merger revaluation reserve to share premium reserve and retained earnings, which will eliminate this merger revaluation reserve. After implementation of Stage 2, our ability to pay dividends and repurchase shares will be subject to Irish company law and will be determined based on our profits calculated under Irish GAAP. However, as a result of this reclassification, we do not believe these changes will have a material impact on our ability to pay dividends or repurchase shares.

 

To effect our transformation to Dutch SE, we have entered into the terms of merger with our newly-formed subsidiary, Irish plc Subsidiary. Under the SE Regulation, effecting a merger with a company in another EU member state is the only currently available option to the company to achieve the proposed transformation to Dutch SE. Other options available under the SE Regulation, such as a direct conversion of the company into Dutch SE or the formation of a new holding company, require that the company has had a subsidiary governed by the legislation of another EU member state for at least two years prior to the implementation of Stage 1 of the Proposal, which will not be the case for the company at the time of the anticipated implementation of Stage 1 of the Proposal.

 

As a result of the merger, we will continue as the surviving entity, assuming all of the assets and liabilities of Irish plc Subsidiary by operation of law. Upon completion of the merger, our articles of association will be amended to comply with the SE Regulation and we will become Dutch SE.

 

Our transformation to Dutch SE following the merger will involve a change of corporate form only, with Dutch SE having the same assets and liabilities both before and after the transformation. We will need to change details of our registration in The Netherlands to reflect our change of corporate form to Dutch SE.

 

On June 23, 2009, we and Irish plc Subsidiary entered into the terms of merger pursuant to which Irish plc Subsidiary will merge with and into us and we will become Dutch SE. We recommend that you read carefully the terms of merger including the explanatory notes for the complete terms of the merger and other important information. The terms of merger, including the explanatory notes (but without annexes), are attached to this Explanatory Memorandum as Annex A and are incorporated by reference.

 

The material provisions of the terms of merger are as follows:

 

 

There are no contractual conditions precedent to the merger. However, the merger will only become effective upon the execution of the deed of merger and the filing of such deed with the Dutch Trade Register following (a) the receipt by the parties of a statement of no objection from the Dutch Ministry of Justice, (b) a certificate of compliance from the High Court of Ireland and (c) the registration of the merger in the Dutch Trade Register, which is subject to the presentation of an arrangement on employee involvement. (See “Employee Representative Body” in Section 4.4.)

 

After Stage 1 is implemented, Dutch SE intends to seek shareholder approval for Stage 2, which provides for the corporate domicile of Dutch SE to change from The Netherlands to Ireland.

 

Shareholders will continue to hold the same number of CUFS, ADSs or CUFS they have converted to shares in Dutch SE (if Stage 1 is approved and implemented) and in Irish SE (if Stage 2 is approved and implemented) as they held beforehand. No action is required of shareholders in respect of their certificates or holding statements in connection with the Proposal. If the Proposal is approved and implemented, shareholders’ current certificates or holding statements for our securities will remain effective and continue to represent their holdings in Dutch SE and Irish SE (as applicable) until new holding statements are issued in the ordinary course as a result of future changes in security holdings.

 

Stage 1 of the Proposal will require the approval of 75% of shareholder votes cast at a properly held meeting at which at least 5% of our issued share capital is present or represented. Stage 2 of the Proposal will require the approval of 66 2 / 3 % of shareholder votes cast at a properly held meeting at which at least 5% of Dutch SE’s issued share capital is present or represented.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE PROPOSAL AND RELATED MATTERS

 

This section summarises the key background events leading to your directors’ recommendation of the Proposal and connected transactions.

 

In July 2001, we announced plans to establish a new corporate structure designed to place us and our shareholders in a position to maximise value from our existing operations and continuing international growth. The restructure resulted in the incorporation of our parent company in The Netherlands with a primary listing on the ASX in the form of CUFS and the listing of ADSs on the NYSE.

 

In 2003, we transferred ownership of certain intellectual property assets to The Netherlands to better manage our intellectual property assets by centralising the investment, holding and use of the intellectual property.

 

We currently have our finance and treasury activities centralised in a subsidiary located in The Netherlands. This subsidiary also owns, manages and develops the intellectual property that we license to our operating subsidiaries and third parties. Under Dutch law, we derive commercial and tax benefits from the group finance operations of our Netherlands based finance subsidiary. This subsidiary received a ruling from Dutch Revenue authorities that allows it to set aside 80% of the qualifying financing income received from these activities in a Financial Risk Reserve account subject to the Financial Risk Reserve regime. A similar ruling was also received that allows 72% of the gain from the disposal of intellectual property, to be included in the Financial Risk Reserve account. The other 20% of the income received from qualifying financing activities and the other 28% of the gain arising from the disposal of our intellectual property, are subject to the statutory rate of Dutch corporate tax (currently 25.5%). The Financial Risk Reserve regime also allows that 50% or 100% of qualifying equity contributions used to finance capital and certain other expenditures may be released from the Financial Risk Reserve account without being subject to any further Dutch tax. Amounts not released from the Financial Risk Reserve account prior to the expiry or early termination of the Financial Risk Reserve regime will be subject to the statutory rate of Dutch corporate tax (currently 25.5%).

 

The favourable tax benefits provided under the Financial Risk Reserve regime are due to expire on December 31, 2010. However, the transfer of our treasury and finance operations from The Netherlands would result in the early termination of our participation in this regime.

 

On June 15, 2009, the Dutch Ministry of Finance published several tax legislation proposals for comment, including the introduction of a compulsory group interest box regime. Under the currently proposed compulsory group interest box regime, interest received or paid in respect of intra-group financing would be taxable or deductible in The Netherlands at a reduced rate of 5%. On July 8, 2009, the European Commission, the executive branch of the EU, announced that the currently proposed compulsory group interest box regime does not constitute prohibited state aid under EU law. Although Dutch government officials have indicated their intent to seek adoption of such an interest box regime in The Netherlands, as of the date of this Explanatory Memorandum, no such legislation has been adopted.

 

We considered remaining domiciled in The Netherlands and moving only our intellectual property to another jurisdiction in the EU. While this strategy could have addressed the issue of the expiration of the Financial Risk Reserve regime in 2010 and, accordingly, the expiration of the favourable treatment of group royalty income, it would not have addressed other issues, including allowing key senior managers with global responsibility to spend more time with James Hardie’s operations and in its markets, providing greater certainty for us to obtain benefits under the US/Netherlands Treaty and increasing James Hardie’s flexibility in the future to undertake certain transactions which directors believe expands our strategic options.

 

As a tax resident of The Netherlands, we have received and we believe are entitled to receive substantial tax benefits under the US/Netherlands Treaty, which we believe provides for no US withholding tax on dividends,

interest and royalties paid by our US subsidiaries to us or our subsidiaries, subject to certain conditions being met, in The Netherlands.

 

These benefits were available to us under the terms of the US/Netherlands Treaty that existed when we moved our domicile to The Netherlands in 2002. In 2004, the US/Netherlands Treaty was amended to include an additional requirement commonly known as the “substantial presence” test, which requires us to demonstrate that the primary place of management and control of the company is in The Netherlands. Because the requirements regarding primary place of management and control are set forth in the US/Netherlands Treaty and are not specifically defined, these requirements are subject to interpretation by the US IRS. In the US/Ireland Treaty, the eligibility requirements are more objective and do not require the same level of interpretation as the US/Netherlands Treaty.

 

The amended US/Netherlands Treaty applied to us from February 1, 2006 onward. In response to these amendments, we increased the presence of our key senior executives and added additional corporate functions and other employees in The Netherlands. We believe that as a result of our response to the 2004 amendments we have had and continue to have a substantial presence in The Netherlands and that we and our Dutch subsidiaries qualify for benefits under the amended US/Netherlands Treaty.

 

In July 2008, the US IRS concluded an audit to determine whether we satisfy the requirements under the amended US/Netherlands Treaty. As part of this audit process, the US IRS issued a 30-Day Letter in which it asserted that we and our subsidiaries in The Netherlands did not qualify for benefits under the amended US/Netherlands Treaty during 2006 and 2007.

 

We strongly disagreed with the assertions made by the US IRS, and contested the US IRS’s findings by filing a formal protest to the 30-Day Letter through the administrative appeals process. Following a conference with the Appeals Division of the US IRS and further discussions, we announced on April 15, 2009 that the US IRS has signed a settlement agreement with the company’s subsidiaries in which the US IRS conceded the US government’s position in full. As a result, the US IRS has now concluded that we and our subsidiaries did qualify for prior benefits under the amended US/Netherlands Treaty during 2006 and 2007.

 

We believe that we and our Dutch subsidiaries have qualified and continue to qualify for treaty benefits under the amended US/Netherlands Treaty. While we ultimately prevailed in the dispute with the US IRS for the years 2006 and 2007, the US IRS could reassert its position in respect of subsequent tax periods and, accordingly, your directors consider it prudent to mitigate the risk of further disputes with the US IRS. If the US IRS were to reassert its position in respect of subsequent tax periods and the Proposal is not implemented, we may be unable to receive tax benefits under the US/Netherlands Treaty, in which case we could be liable for 30% withholding tax on dividend, interest and royalty payments in periods ending after 2007 and, again, interest charges and penalties could apply. While the Proposal will not impact the risk of withholding taxes being imposed on payments made to us or our subsidiaries in The Netherlands during 2008 and 2009, if we remain domiciled in The Netherlands, the amount of withholding tax that could be in dispute with the US IRS is estimated to be approximately US$30 million for 2010 and is expected to increase thereafter.

 

2.5.1.  Our Business

 

Through our network of subsidiaries, we manufacture building materials in the US, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines. In financial year 2008, we generated net sales in excess of US$1.4 billion. The majority of our building materials manufacturing capacity (86%) was located in the US and the US market also accounted for almost 80% of net sales to customers. As of March 16, 2009, we employed 2,329 people worldwide, the majority of whom (1,410) were located in the US.

 

Our business in the US has been adversely affected by the decline in the US housing market and the turmoil within financial and mortgage lending institutions. These challenges make it even more difficult to maintain significant management presence in The Netherlands, away from our major operations, while continuing to comply with the “substantial presence” test under the amended US/Netherlands Treaty.

2.5.2.  Our Residency Requirements

 

To satisfy the requirements of the amended US/Netherlands Treaty as discussed under “The US/Netherlands Treaty” in Section 2.3, we moved our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel to The Netherlands prior to February 1, 2006 and established our head office there. In addition:

 

 

Even if increasing our management presence in The Netherlands were a viable practical and commercial option, the continued uncertainty surrounding the annual application of the amended US/Netherlands Treaty presents an unacceptable risk for us as the US IRS could, notwithstanding its concession that we and our subsidiaries qualified for benefits during 2006 and 2007, take the position at any time that the primary place of management and control requirements under the “substantial presence” test are not met in subsequent tax years. Failure to meet the requirements in the amended US/Netherlands Treaty would have serious ramifications for our shareholders given the large amounts of withholding tax, plus interest and penalties, in respect of future payments of interest, royalties and dividends out of the US that would be incurred.

 

Resolution of any disputes through litigation could take several years, would involve distraction of our management and may not be resolved in our favour. Your directors consider that the on-going US IRS risk outweighs the potential risks and disadvantages associated with the Proposal.

 

In any event, given the current economic environment, your directors do not believe that continuing to base key senior management with global responsibilities in The Netherlands, away from most of our operations and markets, is in the best interests of James Hardie and its shareholders.

 

At present Dutch company law offers limited flexibility and requires a higher threshold for shareholder acceptance in order to complete a number of transactions that would require a lower threshold for shareholder acceptance in other jurisdictions. This makes reorganising James Hardie, and undertaking transactions that your directors might consider in the future, difficult to implement.

 

By way of example, Dutch company law:

 

 

The two stage implementation of the Proposal by which we are transformed to Dutch SE and then Irish SE is a way to achieve this reorganisation within the limits of Dutch company law. At the conclusion of Stage 2, we (as Dutch SE) will cease to be subject to Dutch company law and instead (as Irish SE) will become subject to Irish law

in addition to the SE Regulation. A summary of the key differences between Dutch and Irish law is described under the heading “Summary of Key Corporate Law Differences Between Dutch SE and Irish SE” in Section 5.4.

 

By way of contrast, Irish company law offers greater flexibility and provides for more achievable shareholder acceptance thresholds for certain key types of transactions. As a result, future reorganisations of Irish SE and other types of transactions that the Irish SE board may wish to undertake would be greatly simplified.

 

By way of example, Irish company law:

 

 

The Proposal and the contemplated transfer of our intellectual property and treasury and finance operations provide the following key benefits:

 

 

 

 

Firstly, the amended US/Netherlands Treaty currently requires the “substantial presence” test to be satisfied in The Netherlands. This test requires key senior management with global responsibilities to spend considerable time in The Netherlands beyond a level required to effectively manage James Hardie’s global operations as described under the heading “Our Business and Residency Requirements” in Section 2.5. The Proposal to move our corporate domicile to Ireland would permit our key senior management with global responsibilities to be free to spend more time with our operations and in our markets as we would no longer be restricted by the requirements of the “substantial presence” test.

 

Secondly, the Proposal addresses the concerns previously raised by the US IRS as to whether we qualify for treaty benefits under the amended US/Netherlands Treaty. The US/Ireland Treaty does not contain a “substantial presence” test, so the requirements for treaty benefits under the US/Ireland Treaty are clearer and more settled. Those requirements include that Irish SE be a tax resident of Ireland and that the principal class of its shares satisfies certain minimum trading requirements on one or more recognised stock exchanges (which include both the ASX and the NYSE). In light of the ruling we received from the Irish Revenue authorities relating to Irish SE qualifying as a tax resident of Ireland (see “Irish Ruling Requests” in Section 6.2) and our assessment that we believe we will be able to operate in the manner set out in the rulings to qualify as an Irish tax resident and that Irish SE securities will continue to be quoted for trading, and, we expect, will continue to meet the trading requirements on both the ASX and the NYSE, we believe that Irish SE will satisfy such requirements. We also believe that the objective nature of such requirements, as compared to the “substantial presence” test under the US/Netherlands Treaty, reduces the likelihood of successful challenge to Irish SE’s qualifications under the current US/Ireland Treaty.

 

Thirdly, Irish company law will permit Irish SE to pursue a range of possible future strategic options not available under existing Dutch company law. Among other things, Irish law requires the acquisition of 80% of the issued share capital of Irish SE in order to effect a compulsory acquisition where an offer has been made to acquire the entire issued share capital of Irish SE and provides for the concept of a court-approved scheme of arrangement. The ability under Irish law to effect a compulsory acquisition (at a lower threshold) and implement a court-approved scheme of arrangement could be used to complete a reorganisation or other transaction that the board of Irish SE may wish to consider in the future. Dutch law requires the acquisition of 95% of all of our issued share capital to effect a compulsory acquisition and does not provide for schemes of arrangement. The range of possible future

strategic options available as an Irish SE, as compared to those existing under Dutch company law, should allow James Hardie increased flexibility, even in the event the US/Ireland Treaty were to be changed in the future.

 

Fourthly, the Proposal will allow us to simplify our existing governance structure by permitting Irish SE to adopt a single board.

 

Fifthly, we believe that our intellectual property and treasury and finance operations will be eligible for a statutory rate of tax that currently is lower than would be the case if these operations remained in The Netherlands after the expiry of the Financial Risk Reserve regime on December 31, 2010 and, based on current Irish law and the company’s current capital structure, should result in lower tax payments in respect of the intellectual property, treasury and finance operations on a combined basis than would be the case for those operations in The Netherlands even if the currently proposed compulsory group interest box regime is adopted in The Netherlands. See “Taxation Impact on Irish SE” in Section 5.2.4. We have received rulings from the Irish Revenue authorities relating to the tax status in Ireland of two of our newly-formed subsidiaries, which will hold our intellectual property and treasury and finance operations. Based on these rulings and our assessment that these operations will satisfy the facts set forth in our ruling requests, we believe the subsidiaries which will conduct our intellectual property and treasury and finance operations in Ireland will qualify as “trading companies” and will be eligible for a corporation tax rate for “trading companies” (currently 12.5%) which is lower than the rate that currently would be applicable in The Netherlands to these operations following the expiry of the Financial Risk Reserve regime on December 31, 2010, although group interest income would be taxable at a lower rate (5%) if the currently proposed compulsory group interest box regime is adopted in The Netherlands.

 

Recently, the Dutch Ministry of Finance published several tax legislation proposals for comment, including a compulsory group interest box regime. Under the currently proposed compulsory group interest box regime, interest received or paid in respect of intra-group financing will be taxable or deductible in The Netherlands at a reduced rate of 5%. On July 8, 2009, the European Commission, the executive branch of the EU, announced that the proposed compulsory group interest box regime does not constitute prohibited state aid under EU law. Although Dutch government officials have indicated their intent to seek adoption of such an interest box regime in The Netherlands, as of the date of this Explanatory Memorandum, no such legislation has been adopted. In addition, the Proposal allows Irish SE to be eligible for a 0% withholding tax rate on royalty and interest payments made from its subsidiaries in the US to Irish SE and its subsidiaries in Ireland.

 

Finally, dividends paid by Irish SE to most shareholders (who are resident in Australia or the US) will be eligible to be free from dividend withholding tax if certain exemptions apply and the shareholder has provided the necessary documentation. (See “Irish Shareholders Taxation” in Section 9.4.3.) This compares favourably to the current situation under Dutch law where dividends paid to:

 

 

However, other shareholders who are not residents of a country that has concluded a tax treaty with Ireland or who are not corporate shareholders that meet certain ownership conditions will be subject to Irish dividend withholding tax at a rate of 20%. Depending on the laws of their place of residence, such shareholders might be able to obtain a tax credit for that tax.

 

With these key benefits in mind and the continued uncertainty regarding the application of the US/Netherlands Treaty, your directors have explored a range of alternative options (described under the heading “Other Options Considered by Your Directors” in Section 3.5), and have concluded that the best course of action at this time for James Hardie and its shareholders is to effect our transformation to a European Company and move our corporate domicile from The Netherlands to Ireland and, in connection with the Proposal, transfer our intellectual property and treasury and finance operations to Ireland.

 

3.2.1.  AFFA

 

The AFFA was entered into by us, the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund Limited (as trustee for the AICF), the New South Wales Government and James Hardie 117 Pty Limited on November 21, 2006 to provide long-term funding to the AICF. This is a special purpose fund established to provide compensation for Australian asbestos- related personal injury and death claims for which certain of our former companies, including Amaca Pty Ltd and Amaba Pty Ltd, are found liable. A copy of the AFFA is available on our website at www.jameshardie.com.

 

3.2.2.  AFFA Deed of Confirmation

 

While we do not consider that notice, consent or approval of the Proposal is required under the AFFA, we have advised the New South Wales Government and Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund Limited on a courtesy basis of the details of the Proposal. We and James Hardie 117 Pty Limited have also entered into the AFFA Deed of Confirmation confirming that the AFFA and the Related Agreements (as defined in the AFFA) to which we are a party continue in effect once we are an SE with certain agreed changes to those agreements to reflect the fact that, upon implementation of Stage 2, we will become subject to Irish law.

 

We have agreed in the AFFA Deed of Confirmation that relevant James Hardie companies and the AICF will apply to the Australian Taxation Office for rulings to replace the tax rulings previously issued by the Australian Taxation Office in connection with the AFFA and for confirmation that the Accepted Tax Conditions (as defined in the AFFA) will remain unchanged in all material respects, and we have undertaken in the AFFA Deed of Confirmation that we will not complete the merger with Irish plc Subsidiary necessary to facilitate our transformation to Dutch SE before the Australian Taxation Office has determined these applications. We are released from this undertaking on the first to occur of the Australian Taxation Office determining the applications and 31 December 2009. If the ATO Rulings are unable to be obtained, while we would be released from our undertaking under the AFFA Deed of Confirmation we would need to reassess our ability to proceed to implement the Proposal having regard to the Australian Taxation Office’s position, our rights and obligations under the AFFA and the circumstances existing at the time. However we reserve our right to proceed in those circumstances if we determine to do so.

 

3.2.3.  Funding Obligations

 

Implementation of the Proposal will not change the overall commitment of James Hardie to make contributions to the AICF under the AFFA.

 

Under the terms of the AFFA, James Hardie 117 Pty Limited has the primary obligation to make the funding contributions to Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund Limited (as trustee for the AICF) and we have provided the New South Wales Government and Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund Limited with an unconditional and irrevocable guarantee that the funding contributions will be made in accordance with the terms of the AFFA.

 

Under the AFFA, the AICF is required to be funded on an annual or quarterly basis subject to the application of various provisions under the AFFA, including a cap on annual contributions to 35% of our free cash flow in the financial year immediately preceding the payment (which we refer to as the annual free cash flow cap). Free cash flow is defined for this purpose as net cash provided by operating activities calculated in accordance with US GAAP as in force on December 21, 2004. The amount of the contribution required is dependent upon several factors, including actuarial estimations, actual claims paid by and operating expenses of the AICF, and the application of the annual free cash flow cap.

 

The initial funding contribution of A$184.3 million was made to the AICF in February 2007. No contribution was required to be made under the AFFA in financial year 2008. Further contributions were made on a quarterly basis in July and October 2008 and in January and March 2009, totaling A$118.0 million (inclusive of interest).

 

If a contribution is due to the AICF in our 2011 financial year, which is not yet known, the costs associated with the Proposal will most likely reduce the amount of the company’s contribution by an amount up to 35% of such costs associated with the Proposal. Whether, and to what extent, the costs actually reduce the payment due to the AICF in

our 2011 financial year ultimately will depend on the amount of the payment otherwise required to be made under the AFFA and the company’s free cash flow for financial year 2010 before taking account of the costs associated with the Proposal.

 

3.2.4.  Restrictions on Specified Dealing

 

The AFFA provides that we will refrain from undertaking certain transactions (known as Specified Dealings as defined in the AFFA) without obtaining the prior consent of the New South Wales Government. However, a broad range of transactions are exempt from this restriction. Capitalised terms used in this Section 3.2.4 and “Other Matters” in Section 3.2.4 have the same meaning given to them in the AFFA unless defined otherwise in this Explanatory Memorandum. A copy of the AFFA has been filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this Explanatory Memorandum forms a part. A copy of the AFFA is also available under the Investor Relations area of our website (www.jameshardie.com, select “James Hardie Investor Relations”) and copies may be obtained on request. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” in Section 13.

 

The restriction on Specified Dealings has been designed to prevent transactions that would result in us or James Hardie 117 Pty Limited ceasing to be likely to satisfy the funding obligations which would have arisen under the AFFA had the Specified Dealing not occurred.

 

In order for the restriction to apply, the Specified Dealing must:

 

 

such that, in each case, we and James Hardie 117 Pty Limited would, by reason of the relevant Specified Dealing, cease to be likely (assessed on a reasonable basis and having regard to all relevant circumstances) to be able to satisfy the funding and guarantee obligations which would have arisen under the AFFA had the Specified Dealing not occurred.

 

Those restrictions apply to certain dividends and other distributions, reorganisations of, or dealings in, share capital which create or vest rights in such capital in third parties, or non-arm’s length transactions. The AFFA contains certain exemptions from such restrictions and also requires that if we undertake a Specified Dealing that is not exempt, we must provide notice of that dealing to the New South Wales Government within 14 days of the earlier of announcing and undertaking the transaction.

 

We do not consider that the Proposal will constitute a Specified Dealing that is restricted by the AFFA and accordingly the AFFA does not have any impact on the company implementing the Proposal.

 

3.2.5.  Other Matters

 

Under the terms of the AFFA, the funding obligations of James Hardie 117 Pty Limited and our guarantee of James Hardie 117 Pty Limited’s obligations under that agreement are owed only to Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund Limited as trustee for the AICF, with the New South Wales Government having certain direct enforcement rights.

 

Provided that James Hardie 117 Pty Limited meets its payment obligations under the AFFA and there is no Insolvency Event, Wind-Up Event or Reconstruction Event, neither we nor our subsidiaries will have any additional liability under the AFFA to contribute funding. We have satisfied ourselves that nothing in the Proposal involves the occurrence of an Insolvency Event, Wind-Up Event or Reconstruction Event. The New South Wales Government and the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund Limited also have confirmed this in the AFFA Deed of Confirmation.

 

3.2.6.  Australian Taxation Office Rulings on Contributions under the AFFA

 

A number of rulings relating to the Australian tax treatment of contributions under the AFFA and other related matters previously were obtained from the Australian Taxation Office (the “Rulings”). While we do not anticipate

that the Proposal will have any impact on the operation and effect of the Rulings, we have agreed with the New South Wales Government and the AICF in the AFFA Deed of Confirmation that relevant James Hardie companies and the AICF will apply to the Australian Taxation Office for rulings to replace the Rulings and for confirmation that the Accepted Tax Conditions (as defined in the AFFA) will remain unchanged in all material respects after the Proposal is implemented.

 

We have undertaken in the AFFA Deed of Confirmation that we will not complete the merger with Irish plc Subsidiary necessary to facilitate our transformation to Dutch SE before the Australian Taxation Office has determined these applications. We are released from this undertaking on the first to occur of the Australian Taxation Office determining the applications and 31 December 2009. If the ATO Rulings are unable to be obtained, while we would be released from our undertaking under the AFFA Deed of Confirmation we would need to reassess our ability to proceed to implement the Proposal having regard to the Australian Taxation Office’s position, our rights and obligations under the AFFA and the circumstances existing at the time. However we reserve our right to proceed in those circumstances if we determine to do so.

 

The Proposal will not affect the on-going dispute with the Australian Taxation Office in respect of RCI Pty Ltd.

 

As announced on March 22, 2006, RCI Pty Ltd, one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, received an amended assessment from the Australian Taxation Office in respect of RCI Pty Ltd’s income tax return for the year ended March 31, 1999. The amended assessment relates to the amount of net capital gains arising from an internal corporate restructure carried out in 1998 and has been issued pursuant to the discretion granted to the Commissioner of Taxation under Australia’s general anti-avoidance laws (Part IVA of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936). The original amended assessment issued to RCI Pty Ltd was for a total of A$412.0 million. However, after subsequent remissions of general interest charges by the Australian Taxation Office, the total was changed to A$368.0 million, comprising A$172.0 million of primary tax after allowable credits, A$43.0 million of penalties (representing 25% of primary tax) and A$153.0 million of general interest charges.

 

RCI Pty Ltd is appealing the amended assessment. On July 5, 2006, pursuant to an agreement negotiated with the Australian Taxation Office, we made a payment of A$189.0 million. We also agreed to guarantee the payment of the remaining 50% of the amended assessment should this appeal not be successful and to pay general interest charges accruing on the unpaid balance of the amended assessment in arrears on a quarterly basis. We believe RCI Pty Ltd’s view of its tax position will be upheld on appeal, and as such no reserve or provision has been established in respect of this claim.

 

At the end of May 2007, the Australian Taxation Office disallowed our objection to RCI Pty Ltd’s notice of amended assessment for RCI Pty Ltd for the year ended March 31, 1999. We continue to pursue all avenues of appeal to contest the Australian Taxation Office’s position in this matter. The matter is expected to go before the Federal Court of Australia no later than September 2009.

 

If the Proposal does not proceed, or if Stage 1 is approved and implemented but Stage 2 does not proceed, we will remain registered and a tax resident in The Netherlands. In that event, we will have incurred the one time tax costs estimated to range from US$30-50 million and approximately US$20 million in advisory fees and expenses and other transaction costs without the expected benefits from the Proposal. However, the costs associated with the move of our head office functions would not be incurred and we would not have to pay to maintain an office in Ireland.

 

In addition, when the favourable tax treatment under the Financial Risk Reserve regime ends on December 31, 2010, assuming that a new tax regime is not put into effect, interest and royalty income derived in The Netherlands will be subject to taxation at the statutory corporate tax rate (currently 25.5%) while, based on current Irish law and the company’s current capital structure, the company should be eligible for lower tax payments in respect of the intellectual property, treasury and finance operations on a combined basis than would be the case for those operations in The Netherlands even if the currently proposed compulsory group interest box regime is adopted in

The Netherlands. While there are a number of strategies that in principle could be used to reduce the impact of the statutory rate applicable to James Hardie to a lower effective tax rate, after review, given our current circumstances, we do not believe that any of the strategies we considered will satisfy our needs. For example, we considered remaining domiciled in The Netherlands and moving our intellectual property to another jurisdiction in the EU. While this strategy could have addressed the issue of the expiration of the Financial Risk Reserve regime in 2010, it would not have addressed other issues, including allowing key senior managers with global responsibility to spend more time with James Hardie’s operations and in its markets, providing greater certainty for us to obtain benefits under the US/Netherlands Treaty and increasing James Hardie’s flexibility in the future to undertake certain transactions which directors believe expands our strategic options. Similarly, the rate of tax on the gain from any transfer of the intellectual property after December 31, 2010 will be at that statutory rate.

 

Generally, interest, royalty and future dividend payments from our subsidiaries in the US to us and our subsidiaries in The Netherlands will only qualify for no withholding tax if we meet the requirements of the amended US/Netherlands Treaty. To meet these requirements, our key senior managers with global responsibilities would have to continue to spend a significant amount of time in The Netherlands away from our markets and operations.

 

Further, notwithstanding the concession by the US IRS that we and our subsidiaries qualified for benefits during 2006 and 2007, the year-by-year assessment by the US IRS to determine whether the requirements for benefits under the amended US/Netherlands Treaty are satisfied exposes us to the continued risk that the US IRS determines we do not qualify for treaty benefits in subsequent years. This means that interest, royalty and dividend payments from our subsidiaries in the US to us and our subsidiaries in The Netherlands could be subject to 30% US withholding tax. In the event the Proposal does not proceed, we might consider other actions to mitigate this risk.

 

In addition, if we remain in The Netherlands, we will continue to be subject to Dutch company law and a less flexible legal regime. This could affect our ability to complete future transactions that we may wish to pursue for the benefit of James Hardie and its shareholders.

 

We may determine, subject to any required consents from our lenders, to transfer our intellectual property and treasury and finance operations from The Netherlands independent of either stage being approved by shareholders and implemented. These transfers do not require shareholder approval.

 

In recommending the Proposal, your directors considered a range of alternative options before concluding that the Proposal is the best course of action at this time and is in the best interests of James Hardie and its shareholders. Some of these options are not able to be undertaken because of the proposed location of key senior management with global responsibilities, legal, tax, accounting and other obstacles. The other options principally considered by your directors include:

 

 

We considered moving the parent company to Australia by having a new Australian parent company acquire all of our shares from shareholders in exchange for the shares issued by the new Australian parent company. Such a transaction would result in the new Australian parent company becoming our holding company. However, unless the new Australian parent company was able to acquire at least 95% of all of our issued share capital, the transaction could result in two James Hardie entities being publicly held and listed: an Australian parent company and a Dutch parent company. This is due to the requirement under Dutch law for 95% of all of our issued share capital to be acquired in order to effect a compulsory acquisition of the remaining shares. In addition, moving our corporate domicile to Australia by other means was not considered possible under Dutch company law without a potential tax cost to some Australian tax resident shareholders.

 

If only our tax residence was moved to Australia, dividends paid to shareholders would continue to be subject to a 15% Dutch dividend withholding tax with the potential for such tax to be offset by shareholders. The tax treaty between Australia and The Netherlands is currently being renegotiated. We are unaware whether the renegotiation will result in any changes to the rates of dividend withholding tax.

 

We considered moving the parent company to the US by having a new US parent company acquire all of our shares from shareholders in exchange for shares issued by the new US parent company. Such a transaction would result in the new US parent company becoming our holding company. However, unless the new US parent company was able to acquire at least 95% of all of our issued share capital, the transaction could result in two James Hardie entities being publicly held and listed: a US parent company and a Dutch parent company. This is due to the requirement under Dutch law that 95% of all of our issued share capital be acquired in order to effect a compulsory acquisition of the remaining shares.

 

In light of the 95% shareholder acceptance requirement to implement this structure, we also considered a move of the parent company to the US by way of a dual incorporation structure under Delaware corporate law and Dutch company law that would only require a 75% shareholder vote. However, the structure resulting from the dual incorporation was determined to be too complex and it is unclear whether this structure would be fully recognised under Dutch law. In addition, without a ruling from the Australian Taxation Office, it was uncertain whether this transaction would have resulted in income tax liability for some Australian tax resident shareholders.

 

 

If we were to remain resident in The Netherlands, key senior managers with global responsibilities would be required to continue to spend a large portion of their time in The Netherlands rather than being free to spend additional time with James Hardie’s operations and in its markets. Moreover, after the Financial Risk Reserve regime expires on December 31, 2010, assuming that a new tax regime is not put into effect, interest and net royalty income derived in The Netherlands will be subject to taxation at the statutory corporate tax rate (currently 25.5%). The company believes that even if the currently proposed compulsory group interest box regime is adopted in The Netherlands, based on current Irish law and the company’s current capital structure, a move to Ireland should result in lower tax payments in respect of those intellectual property, treasury and finance operations on a combined basis than would be the case if the company remained in The Netherlands. While there are a number of strategies that may possibly be used to reduce the impact of the statutory rate applicable to James Hardie to a lower effective tax rate, after review, given our current circumstances, we do not believe that any of the strategies we considered would satisfy our needs. Furthermore, we would be subject to the risk of the US IRS continuing to take the view that we fail to qualify for benefits under the US/Netherlands Treaty for tax years subsequent to the 2006 and 2007 calendar years.

 

 

If we were to remain resident in The Netherlands, key senior managers with global responsibilities would be required to continue to spend a large portion of their time in The Netherlands rather than being free to spend additional time with James Hardie’s operations and in its markets. In addition, transferring ownership of our intellectual property assets to the US would result in an estimated US$20-24 million Dutch tax cost as of the date of this Explanatory Memorandum. This cost could be mitigated to some extent by the amortisation of the value of the intellectual property (on a straight line basis) over 15 years for US tax purposes.

 

In addition, this option did not address the risk of the US IRS determining that we fail to qualify for benefits under the US/Netherlands Treaty for tax years subsequent to the 2006 and 2007 calendar years.

 

 

If we ceased holding board meetings in The Netherlands and conducted the majority of future board meetings in Ireland and otherwise satisfied the requirement that we are centrally managed and controlled in Ireland, we could become tax resident in Ireland. However, this would result in James Hardie becoming subject to Irish tax law while at the same time remaining subject to Dutch company law.

 

Under this alternative, we would be exposed to future adverse changes in Irish tax law and Dutch company law. Such a strategy would not enable us to benefit from the more flexible features of Irish company law, including schemes of arrangement and a single board.

 

We also considered moving our domicile to Ireland without using the SE form. However, we could not merge a Dutch N.V. into an Irish company in a transaction in which the Irish company would survive without a potential income tax liability arising for some of our Australian shareholders. We also considered moving our domicile to Ireland using an exchange offer. However, that transaction would require acceptance by the holders of at least 95% of the shares in order to be able to compel the acquisition of 100% of the outstanding shares so that the transaction would not result in two James Hardie entities being publicly held and listed.

 

 

Following the transformation of Dutch SE to Irish SE, James Hardie’s securities will continue to be quoted on the ASX in the form of CUFS (with CHESS Depositary Nominees Pty Ltd. being the registered holder of the underlying shares and each CUFS representing one underlying share) and the NYSE in the form of ADSs (with The Bank of New York Mellon as the registered owner of CUFS and each ADS representing 5 CUFS/underlying shares). We intend to continue to maintain listings under the symbol “JHX” on both stock exchanges.

 

Shareholders will continue to hold the same number of CUFS, ADSs or CUFS converted to shares in Dutch SE (if Stage 1 of the Proposal is approved and implemented) and in Irish SE (if Stage 2 of the Proposal is approved and implemented) as they held beforehand. The current certificates and holding statements evidencing CUFS, ADSs or CUFS converted to shares will continue to evidence the same number and kind of securities following implementation of each stage of the Proposal.

 

 

A ruling has been obtained from the Irish Revenue authorities confirming that on-market transactions in CUFS and ADSs through the CHESS and the NYSE trading systems, respectively, will be treated as exempt from stamp duty in Ireland. However, off-market transactions in CUFS or underlying shares, as well as conversions into and out of CUFS or ADSs may be subject to Irish stamp duty at a rate of 1% of market value or consideration paid (whichever is greater). Please refer to “Irish Income Tax Consequences of the Proposal — Irish Stamp Duty on Future Transfers of Irish SE Shares” in Section 9.4.3.5 for further details.

 

 

We have obtained confirmation from our current lending banks that the Proposal does not require any consent or approval, or result in any rights of termination, under our existing external finance facilities, and have reached agreement with our current lending banks for the rearrangement of those facilities to enable JHIF Limited to become a borrower and assume the obligations of JHIF BV under the external finance facilities at the time our financing and treasury operations are transferred from JHIF BV to JHIF Limited. This is recorded in deeds of confirmation entered into with individual lenders. Please refer to “Lender Deeds of Confirmation” in Section 5.2.3 for further details.

 

 

Under the Australian Government’s foreign investment policy and in accordance with the requirements of the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975, we have voluntarily notified the Foreign Investment Review Board of the Proposal and the proposed transfer of intellectual property from JHIF BV (a Dutch incorporated and domiciled company) to James Hardie Technology Limited (a Bermudan incorporated and Irish tax resident company) and the indirect transfer of James Hardie’s Australian subsidiaries which will occur as a result of our internal reorganisation of our existing group structure in connection with the Proposal.

 

While there is no compulsory notification required, as the Federal Treasurer of Australia is empowered to block proposals or unwind transactions that are deemed to be contrary to Australia’s national interests, we considered it to be in the best interests of James Hardie and its shareholders to voluntarily notify the Foreign Investment Review Board of the Proposal and obtain certainty that this power would not be exercised in the future.

 

This section provides further details about our transformation to Dutch SE, including a summary of the key legal differences that arise upon our transformation and additional information on the effect upon rights of shareholders.

 

Shareholders also should consider the other sections of this Explanatory Memorandum when deciding whether to approve the Proposal, including “Corporate Domicile of Dutch SE to Ireland (Stage 2)” in Section 5, which addresses the principal consequences of the subsequent change in corporate domicile to Ireland.

 

The Societas Europaea or SE is a legal form of a public limited company introduced in the EU member states by the SE Regulation. One of the benefits of the SE Regulation is that it facilitates cross border mergers and cross border transfers of registered offices of SEs within the EU, subject to a vote of shareholders, whereas greater limitations typically apply to similar cross border transactions for other legal entities.

 

Only a few details on the corporate structure of the SE are set forth in the SE Regulation itself. These details are as follows:

 

 

The more detailed rules affecting the corporate structure of an SE are the rules that apply to public limited companies in the jurisdiction of the SE’s corporate domicile. Upon our transformation to Dutch SE with our registered office remaining in The Netherlands, our constituent documents will be amended as described in Section 4.5. We are currently a Dutch public limited company and therefore Dutch statutory rules on public limited companies already apply. Any other changes will be mainly technical amendments to comply with the SE Regulation and Dutch statutory law.

 

We do not anticipate that there will be any changes to our head office and corporate office in connection with Stage 1.

 

4.3.1.  Intellectual Property Operations

 

We currently manage our intellectual property portfolio in The Netherlands through our subsidiary, JHIF BV. In connection with Stage 1 of the Proposal, we currently intend to transfer our intellectual property to James Hardie Technology Limited (which we refer to as JHT), a Bermudan incorporated company that will be resident in Ireland for tax purposes. As previously described, the transfer of our intellectual property from The Netherlands does not require shareholder approval and, subject to any required consents from our lenders, we may determine to transfer our intellectual property from The Netherlands independent of either stage being approved by shareholders and implemented. The Lender Deeds of Confirmation described in Section 5.2.3 require that the transfer of our treasury and finance operations contemplated in connection with the completion of Stage 1 and the assumption of the obligations under our external finance facilities by JHIF Limited occurs within thirty days of the date of the transfer

of our intellectual property or such other date as may be agreed. After completion of this transfer, JHIF BV would no longer have any responsibility for managing our intellectual property portfolio and would cease to exist as a result of our internal reorganisation in connection with the Proposal.

 

4.3.2.  Treasury and Finance Operations

 

We currently operate a central financing and treasury function in The Netherlands through our subsidiary, JHIF BV, which is supported by accountants and cash managers in our main operating subsidiaries. In connection with Stage 1 of the Proposal, we currently intend to transfer our treasury and finance operations to JHIF Limited. As previously described, the transfer of our treasury and finance operations from The Netherlands results in the termination of our participation in the Financial Risk Reserve regime and the payment of all Dutch tax due in respect of amounts in our Financial Risk Reserve account at the time of such transfer.

 

As a result of such transfer, JHIF Limited would acquire the entire internal and external loan portfolio from JHIF BV and would become the centralised finance and treasury holding company to implement and manage James Hardie’s treasury policy for liquidity management, currency risk, interest rate risk, other financial risks and cash management functions. The transfer of these operations does not require shareholder approval and, subject to any required consents from our lenders, we may determine to transfer our treasury and finance operations from The Netherlands independent of either stage being approved by shareholders and implemented. The Lender Deeds of Confirmation described in Section 5.2.3 require that the transfer of our treasury and finance operations contemplated in connection with the completion of Stage 1 and the assumption of the obligations under our external finance facilities by JHIF Limited occurs within thirty days of the date of the transfer of our intellectual property or such other date as may be agreed.

 

The SE Regulation specifies that employee involvement in an SE shall be governed by the provisions of Council Directive 2001/86/EC of October 8, 2001 (which we refer to as the SE Employee Directive), which is then implemented through legislation in each of the EU member states. Pursuant to the SE Regulation and the SE Employee Directive, Dutch SE can only be registered after negotiations with employees of JHI NV and its subsidiaries located in EU member states regarding the employees’ future involvement in Dutch SE. These negotiations are conducted on behalf of the employees through the SNB.

 

The SNB must reflect a proportional representation of all employees of the relevant companies in the EU member states. As of June 30, 2009, we had 59 employees in 4 EU member states. The size and representation from the various EU member states where we or our subsidiaries have employees are determined by reference to the number of employees employed in each EU member state. The laws of each EU member state where we have or our subsidiaries have employees provide how employees from that EU member state are appointed to the SNB.

 

After publishing the terms of merger, we began the process of establishing the SNB by providing the required information to all employees located in the relevant EU member states, including an overview of (1) us, our subsidiaries and our establishments located in EU member states, (2) the persons employed by us and by these subsidiaries and establishments, and (3) the distribution of our employees among the EU member states.

 

Once the SNB is established, we will seek to negotiate a written agreement with the SNB in order to provide for the future involvement in Dutch SE of our employees located in EU member states. Negotiations may continue for a period of up to six months from the establishment of the SNB, provided that we may agree with the SNB to extend such period for up to one year in total. We will bear the costs of the SNB during this process, including the costs of experts consulted by the SNB (if necessary) to the extent we have been informed of such costs beforehand.

 

The SNB has the power to either (1) approve a negotiated agreement with us, (2) refuse to enter into negotiations with us, or (3) break-off negotiations entirely. A negotiated agreement could involve the establishment

of an ERB. Under the SE Employee Directive, a negotiated agreement will need to cover at least the following issues in relation to our transformation to Dutch SE:

 

 

In the event the SNB refuses to enter into negotiations or breaks off negotiations, we will use a set of default rules, commonly known as the standard rules (as annexed to the SE Employee Directive). Similarly, if we and the SNB fail to reach a negotiated agreement prior to the end of a six-month negotiating period, or such extended period as we and the SNB may agree upon, these standard rules will apply. The standard rules require, among other things, the setting up of an ERB, which consists of employees located in EU member states. Such ERB will have information and consultation rights, including the right to meet with the Managing Board of Dutch SE at least once per year to discuss issues of concern to the employees. Additionally, Dutch SE would have to provide information to and consult with the ERB in connection with future decisions regarding major issues affecting employees, including the decision by Dutch SE to approve Stage 2 of the Proposal. However, the ERB will not have the power to block or prevent any Supervisory or Managing Board decisions or actions, including the decision to implement Stage 2 of the Proposal.

 

As neither we nor Irish plc Subsidiary currently is governed by employee participation rules (which, for the purposes of the SE Employee Directive, means employee election or nomination rights for the Managing and Supervisory Boards), Dutch SE will not be required to establish provisions for employee participation.

 

We cannot implement our transformation into Dutch SE until we come to an arrangement regarding employee involvement through negotiations or determine that the standard rules apply. As a result of the six month initial negotiation period under the SE Regulation and other relevant legislation, we may not be able to implement Stage 1 of the Proposal until approximately seven months from the date of this Explanatory Memorandum (or longer if we agree with the SNB to extend this period), which would delay the implementation of Stage 2 of the Proposal.

 

The principal changes to our constituent documents will result in the elimination of the Joint Board and the establishment of a two-tiered board structure, the reduction of the shareholder approval requirements for Stage 2 to 66 2 / 3 % from 75% and that the chief executive officer’s appointment as a director may be for up to six years prior to standing for re-election. Other minor changes will result from Dutch SE being subject to the SE Regulation, in addition to Dutch company law.

 

Following is a summary highlighting selected information from the articles of association of Dutch SE and does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. We recommend that you read carefully the articles of association of Dutch SE for the complete description of your rights as a shareholder under the articles of

association of Dutch SE and other important information. The articles of association of Dutch SE have been filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to our registration statement of which this Explanatory Memorandum forms a part and is incorporated herein by reference. These articles of association are also available under the Investor Relations area of our website (www.jameshardie.com, select “James Hardie Investor Relations”) and copies may be obtained on request. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” in Section 13.

 

4.5.1.  Purpose of the Company

 

Dutch SE’s purposes are:

 

 

4.5.2.  Provisions of Dutch SE’s Articles of Association or Charters related to Directors

 

4.5.2.1.  Power to vote when a director is materially interested

 

Pursuant to Dutch SE’s articles of association, and subject to limited exceptions, a member of the Managing or Supervisory Board who has a material personal interest in a matter that relates to the affairs of Dutch SE must give all other members of the Managing or Supervisory Boards, as applicable, notice of his or her interest. Furthermore, subject to limited exceptions, a member of the Managing or Supervisory Boards who has a material personal interest in a matter that is being considered at a meeting of the Managing or Supervisory Boards, as applicable, may neither be present while the matter is being considered at such meeting nor vote on the matter.

 

If a member of the Managing or Supervisory Board has a conflict of interest with Dutch SE (whether acting in his or her personal capacity by entering into an agreement with Dutch SE, conducting any litigation against Dutch SE or acting in any other capacity), he or she will still have the power to represent Dutch SE towards third parties when entering into transactions, unless a person is designated at the general meeting of shareholders for that purpose or the law provides the designation in a different manner.

 

Dutch SE’s articles of association do not include any provisions regarding the borrowing powers of members of the Managing Board or the Supervisory Board. However, the provisions regarding conflicts of interest generally govern this issue.

 

4.5.2.2.  Power to vote compensation

 

The company’s approach to approval of changes to the remuneration policy of the company from time to time with respect to members of the Managing and Supervisory Boards is described under the heading “Summary of Key Corporate Law Differences Between Dutch SE and Irish SE” in Section 5.4 under the subheading “Remuneration of Directors.”

 

4.5.2.3.  Age limit requirement for retirement or non-retirement

 

Dutch SE’s articles of association do not include any provisions regarding the mandatory retirement age of a member of the Managing Board or the Supervisory Board.

4.5.2.4.  Number of shares for director’s qualification

 

Dutch SE’s articles of association do not impose any obligation on the members of the Managing or Supervisory Boards to hold shares in Dutch SE.

 

4.5.3.  Annual Report

 

Dutch SE’s financial year runs from April 1 through March 31. Dutch law requires that within five months after the end of Dutch SE’s financial year, unless the general meeting of shareholders has extended this period for a maximum of six months, Dutch SE’s Managing Board must make available to Dutch SE’s shareholders a report with respect to that financial year. This report must include the financial statements and a report of an independent accountant. The annual report must be submitted to the shareholders for adoption. The annual report, including the management report, is prepared in English and, in the case of the consolidated accounts of Dutch SE and its wholly owned subsidiaries, according to US GAAP, and in the case of Dutch SE’s accounts, according to Dutch GAAP.

 

4.5.4.  Amendment of Articles of Association, Dissolution, Merger and Demerger

 

Dutch SE’s shareholders can amend Dutch SE’s articles of association, dissolve Dutch SE or merge or demerge Dutch SE, by a resolution approved by 75% of the votes cast at a general meeting of shareholders at which at least 5% of Dutch SE’s issued share capital is present or represented. Dutch SE’s articles of association also will provide that Stage 2 of the Proposal requires the approval of 66 2 / 3 % of shareholder votes cast at a properly held meeting at which at least 5% of Dutch SE’s issued share capital is present or represented.

 

4.5.5.  Limitations on Right to Hold Shares

 

Limitations on the right to hold Dutch SE’s shares are described under the heading “Principal Differences Between the Takeover Regime under the Articles of Association of Dutch NV and Dutch SE and the Irish Takeover Rules — Key Differences between Article 49 and the Irish Takeover Rules” under the subheading “Relevant Thresholds for Triggering a Mandatory Takeover Offer” in Section 5.6.3.

 

The exceptions to these limitations provided for in Dutch SE’s articles of association generally include:

 

 

These limitations will not apply to holdings by the CUFS depositary, CHESS Depositary Nominees Pty Ltd., of Dutch SE’s shares as custodian for the CUFS holders, but will apply to CHESS Depositary Nominees Pty Ltd. where another person acquires or holds a relevant interest in breach of those provisions.

 

Although these provisions of Dutch SE’s articles of association may help to ensure that no person may acquire voting control of Dutch SE without making an offer to all shareholders, such provisions also may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of Dutch SE.

 

4.5.6.  Disclosure of Holdings

 

Disclosure thresholds applicable to the acquisition of shares of Dutch SE are described under the heading “Principal Differences Between the Takeover Regime under the Articles of Association of Dutch NV and Dutch SE and the Irish Takeover Rules — Key Differences between Article 49 and the Irish Takeover Rules” under the subheading “Disclosure of Substantial Holdings” in Section 5.6.3.

 

In addition, shareholders are subject to beneficial ownership reporting disclosure requirements under US securities laws. The US Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules require all persons who beneficially own more

than 5% of a class of securities registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to file either a Schedule 13D or 13G. A copy of the rules and regulations relating to the reporting of beneficial ownership with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as Schedules 13D and 13G, are available on the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

All of the current members of our Managing and Supervisory Boards will continue as members of the Managing and Supervisory Boards of Dutch SE. Michael N. Hammes will continue as Chairman of the Supervisory Board and Donald McGauchie will continue as Deputy Chairman. Brian Anderson, David Harrison and Donald McGauchie will continue as chairmen of the audit, remuneration, and nominating and governance committees, respectively. The Joint Board will be eliminated following the merger with Irish plc Subsidiary and thereafter all of the powers and duties currently carried out by the Joint Board will be carried out by the Supervisory Board.

 

The current audit, remuneration, and nominating and governance committees of the Supervisory Board will remain in place. After we become Dutch SE, there will be some minor changes to the charters of the committees to take into account our transformation to Dutch SE. If Stage 1 is implemented, copies of the charters of the committees of Dutch SE’s Supervisory Board will be available in the Investor Relations area of our website (www.jameshardie.com, select “James Hardie Investor Relations”).

 

The terms of the current members of our Managing and Supervisory Boards will remain the same except that the chief executive officer shall not be entitled to hold office as a director for a continuous period in excess of six years without standing for re-election at the annual general meeting of shareholders.

 

A majority of Dutch SE’s Supervisory Board meetings will continue to be held in The Netherlands. The annual general meetings and extraordinary general meetings will continue to be held in The Netherlands and the annual information meeting and extraordinary information meetings will continue to be held in Australia.

 

Our articles of association provide that we will generally indemnify any person who is or was a director or one of our employees, officers or agents, or who at our request has become a director, officer or attorney of another entity or a trust, and suffers any loss as a result of any action in connection with their service to us, provided he or she acted in good faith in carrying out his or her duties and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in our interest. This indemnification generally will not be available if the person seeking indemnification acted with willful misconduct, intentional recklessness, was seriously imputable or did not act in good faith in the performance of such person’s duties to us. Please refer to our articles of association for further information, which are filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this Explanatory Memorandum forms a part and are incorporated by reference herein.

 

In addition, we have provided Deeds of Access, Insurance and Indemnity (which we refer to as an Indemnity Deed) governed by Dutch law to our directors and senior employees and our subsidiary, James Hardie Building Products Inc., has provided Indemnity Agreements governed by Nevada law (which we refer to as an Indemnity Agreement) to the company’s and James Hardie Building Products Inc.’s directors, officers and certain employees.

 

The Indemnity Deeds will require Dutch SE, to the maximum extent permitted by Dutch law, to unconditionally and irrevocably indemnify a director in relation to the director serving or having served as a director of Dutch SE or one of its subsidiaries or another entity at Dutch SE’s request, or the request of one of Dutch SE’s subsidiaries. In addition, the Indemnity Deeds provide for advances to allow indemnitees to fund their defense costs. However, the indemnitee will be required to repay the amounts advanced to them if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to indemnification for such amounts, if any such amounts exceed what is permitted to be paid under the Indemnity Deeds or Indemnity Agreements or if he or she receives payment under an insurance contract in respect of those liabilities. To the extent than an indemnitee also receives payments under an indemnity

from one of our subsidiaries, such indemnitee is not entitled to claim under the Indemnity Deeds or Indemnity Agreements.

 

The Indemnity Agreements provide that James Hardie Building Products Inc. shall hold harmless and indemnify a director, officer or employee of the company, James Hardie Building Products Inc., or their affiliates to the maximum extent permitted by Nevada law. In addition, the Indemnity Agreements require James Hardie Building Products Inc., upon request by the director, officer or employee, to make payment of amounts payable under the Indemnity Agreements as expended or incurred in advance of final determination of a proceeding, provided, however, that the director, officer or employee undertakes to repay the amounts if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified for such amounts.

 

Following Stage 1, Dutch SE will retain the same indemnity provisions in its articles of association, however these will not apply to the Joint Board, which will be eliminated after completion of Stage 1 of the Proposal, and the Indemnity Deeds and Indemnity Agreements will continue to be in effect. Dutch SE also intends to maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.

 

After our transformation to Dutch SE as described in “Our Transformation to Dutch SE (Stage 1)” in Section 4, we intend for Dutch SE to seek shareholder approval for Stage 2 and begin the process of relocating its corporate domicile to Ireland, thereby becoming Irish SE. In order to seek shareholder approval for Stage 2 of the Proposal, a Stage 2 explanatory memorandum will be distributed to shareholders following approval and implementation of Stage 1 and after Stage 2 is approved by the Dutch SE boards.

 

This section sets out the following:

 

 

5.2.1.  Tax Residence in Ireland

 

Irish SE will need to be tax resident in Ireland in order to qualify for benefits under the US/Ireland Treaty. We have, in connection with the Proposal, requested and received revenue rulings from Irish and Dutch Revenue authorities. The rulings confirm that so long as Irish SE is centrally managed and controlled in Ireland, Irish SE will not be a tax resident of The Netherlands and will be a tax resident of Ireland once Stage 2 of the Proposal is implemented.

 

The issue as to whether a company is centrally managed and controlled in Ireland is a question of fact and this concept is directed at the highest level of control of a company’s business, as distinct from day-to-day control, to carry out normal business operations. It is intended that Irish SE will satisfy the requirement to be centrally managed and controlled in Ireland by, among other things, holding a majority of its board meetings in any one year in Ireland at which a majority of the directors would be physically present in Ireland with the board making major strategic business decisions relating to James Hardie as a whole, such as decisions relating to significant investments, capital expenditures, equity and debt raising and dividend payments in Ireland, and having a head office function located in Ireland, and most business decisions relating to Irish SE as a distinct entity.

 

5.2.2.  Head Office

 

Dutch SE’s head office will move to Ireland if Stage 2 of the Proposal is approved and implemented. The head office will employ the requisite personnel to run Irish SE’s head office and corporate office.

 

5.2.3.  Lender Deeds of Confirmation

 

We have entered into a deed of confirmation with each of our current lending banks confirming that implementation of the Proposal does not require any consent or approval, or result in any rights of termination, under our existing external finance facilities. Amongst other matters, these deeds of confirmation also provide for JHIF Limited, our newly-formed finance subsidiary, to become a borrower and assume the obligations of JHIF BV under these facilities at the time our financing and treasury operations are transferred from JHIF BV to JHIF Limited. Our existing lenders also have confirmed that they do not object to the contemplated changes to the AFFA and related documents.

 

5.2.4.  Taxation Impact on Irish SE

 

As Irish SE’s head office, corporate office and treasury, finance and intellectual property functions will be located in Ireland, the income from those activities will be subject to tax in Ireland. The current company tax rate for trading companies, such as JHT and JHIF Limited, is 12.5%. We obtained rulings from the Irish Revenue authorities

confirming that JHT and JHIF Limited will be eligible for the corporation tax rate for trading companies for the treasury, finance and intellectual property functions carried out in Ireland.

 

We also obtained a ruling confirming that, assuming Irish SE is centrally managed and controlled in Ireland, Irish SE will become Irish tax resident after the implementation of Stage 2. As a result, so long as Irish SE is listed on one or more recognised stock exchanges (which include both the ASX and the NYSE) and continues to meet the trading tests under the US/Ireland Treaty, Irish SE will qualify for treaty benefits under the US/Ireland Treaty after Stage 2 is implemented. Under current law, interest and royalties paid from Irish SE’s subsidiaries in the US to Irish SE or its subsidiaries that are tax resident in Ireland are free of US withholding tax and dividends paid from those US subsidiaries to James Hardie entities in Ireland are subject to 5% US dividend withholding tax, which will be creditable in Ireland.

 

In addition, the Dutch Revenue authorities have confirmed that no Dutch corporate income tax will be imposed (except on Dutch-source income) as long as Irish SE continues to be tax resident in Ireland under the tax treaty between The Netherlands and Ireland.

 

Our corporate governance framework will change if Stage 2 of the Proposal is approved and implemented to reflect the change in our corporate domicile from The Netherlands to Ireland. This is discussed in more detail below.

 

5.3.1.  Corporate Governance Framework Following Transformation to Irish SE

 

We currently operate under the regulatory requirements on corporate governance of numerous jurisdictions and organisations, including the ASX, Australian Securities & Investments Commission, NYSE, the US Securities and Exchange Commission and various other rule-making bodies. The Investor Relations area of our website (www.jameshardie.com, select “James Hardie Investor Relations”) contains information about the ways in which we currently comply with the ASX Corporate Governance Council Principles and Recommendations, NYSE corporate governance standards for listed companies that are foreign private issuers and the Dutch Corporate Governance Code.

 

Upon transformation to Irish SE, the Dutch Corporate Governance Code will no longer apply. We will become subject to the regulatory requirements of the Irish Takeover Panel, which will generally only be relevant where a third party has made a takeover offer for Irish SE or an approach which may lead to a takeover offer. The Combined Code on Corporate Governance as published by the Financial Reporting Council in the UK will not apply to Irish SE unless its shares become quoted on the Irish Stock Exchange or the London Stock Exchange.

 

Irish SE will continue to comply with the ASX Corporate Governance Council Principles and Recommendations as its general policy and continue to explain any departures from those Principles and Recommendations in its annual report. Irish SE also will continue to follow the NYSE corporate governance standards for listed companies that are foreign private issuers (which will include Irish SE).

 

5.3.2.  Board Structure

 

If Stage 2 of the Proposal is approved by shareholders and implemented, the Supervisory and Managing Boards of Dutch SE will be replaced by a single unitary board of non-executive and executive directors, the composition of which we expect will be eight non-executive directors and one executive director. All the powers of the Managing Board and Supervisory Board of Dutch SE will be exercised by the single board of directors of Irish SE.

 

5.3.3.  Board and Shareholder Meetings

 

Irish SE’s board is expected to make most of the key strategic decisions at meetings convened in Ireland. There may be occasions where board meetings would be held outside Ireland or by telephone, but the majority of meetings in any one year are expected to be held in Ireland.

The annual general meeting of shareholders of Irish SE will no longer be held in The Netherlands. It is expected that Australian and US resident shareholders will be able to participate in the annual general meeting and ask questions through a webcast of proceedings on Irish SE’s website and at a location in Australia after Stage 2 of the Proposal is undertaken. While Irish SE will no longer hold annual information meetings, Irish SE may conduct shareholder briefings in Australia. No decision has been made at this time with respect to these meetings and there will not be any requirement in the articles of association of Irish SE to conduct these shareholder briefings.

 

5.3.4.  Board Composition and Structure; Board Committees

 

Michael N. Hammes, Brian Anderson, Donald McGauchie, David Harrison, James Osborne and Rudy van der Meer are expected to be directors of Irish SE on implementation of Stage 2 of the Proposal. Michael N. Hammes will continue as Chairman, Donald McGauchie will continue as Deputy Chairman and Brian Anderson, David Harrison and Donald McGauchie will continue as chairmen of the audit, remuneration, and nominating and governance committees, respectively.

 

We anticipate that two additional directors, one or more of whom are Irish residents, will be proposed for election as directors of Irish SE at the extraordinary general meeting to approve Stage 2. Brief biographical details of any new directors will be set out in the notice of meetings accompanying the Stage 2 explanatory memorandum.

 

The articles of association of Irish SE provide flexibility in relation to the 2010, 2011 and 2012 annual general meetings for the directors to determine among themselves who will retire or stand for re-election, or where the directors fail to make such determination, for the Chairman to so determine at each of such meetings. The directors have not yet made a determination of which directors will stand for re-election at each of these annual meetings. From the 2013 annual general meeting and thereafter, the identity of the directors to retire and offer themselves for re-election at each annual general meeting will be those directors, except for a director who holds the office of chief executive officer, who have been longest in office since their last appointment. A director who is the chief executive officer of Irish SE shall only have to retire and (if he or she so chooses) present himself or herself for re-election as a director once every six years following their initial appointment. See “Summary of Key Corporate Law Differences Between Dutch SE and Irish SE” in Section 5.4 under the subheading “Term of Directors’ Appointment.”

 

The audit, remuneration and nominating and governance committees of Dutch SE will become committees of Irish SE’s single tier board if Stage 2 of the Proposal is approved and implemented.

 

It is not envisaged that there will be any material changes to the board charters or method of operations of those committees except that any directors elected to the board of Irish SE at the extraordinary general meeting to approve Stage 2 are expected to be elected to the various board committees and we will disclose these changes in the ordinary course.

 

5.3.5.  Independence of Chairman and Non-Executive Directors

 

The chairman of the board and of each of the committees as well as a majority of directors of Irish SE and its board committees will be independent unless a greater number is required to be independent under the ASX Corporate Governance Council Principles and Recommendations, the rules and regulations of the ASX, the NYSE or any other regulatory body.

 

5.3.6.  Delegation of Powers

 

Irish SE’s board will be responsible for the management and operation of Irish SE, and will have the power to delegate any of their powers to the chief executive officer, any other person holding any other executive office or to any committee established by the board. The board will be free to exercise all of the powers of Irish SE in furtherance of Irish SE’s objects, except for any powers which are expressly reserved for shareholders by the constituent documents or Irish company law.

 

Irish SE’s board will also have the power to execute powers of attorney in order to appoint attorneys to act on Irish SE’s behalf from time to time.

In addition, Irish SE’s board may also establish (and appoint members to) any committees, local boards or agencies for managing any of the affairs of Irish SE, either in Ireland or elsewhere.

 

5.3.7.  Indemnification

 

Irish SE’s articles of association will provide for indemnification of any person who is or was a director, company secretary, employee or such other person who may be deemed by Irish SE’s board to be an agent of Irish SE, who suffers any cost, loss, or expense as a result of any action in connection with the entry into any contract or discharge of their duties to Irish SE, provided he or she acted in good faith in carrying out their duties and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in Irish SE’s interest. This indemnification will generally not be available if the person seeking indemnification acted in a manner that could be characterised as negligent, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in performing such person’s duties to Irish SE. In addition, under Irish company law, this indemnity only binds Irish SE to indemnify a current or former director or company secretary where judgment is given in any civil or criminal action in favour of such director or company secretary, or where a court grants relief because the director or company secretary acted honestly and reasonably and ought fairly to be excused. The articles of association of Irish SE apply the same limitations to other indemnitees referred to above who are not current or former directors or the company secretary of Irish SE.

 

In addition, we currently provide Indemnity Deeds governed by Dutch law to our directors and senior employees and James Hardie Building Products Inc. has provided Indemnity Agreements to the company’s and James Hardie Building Products Inc.’s directors, officers and employees, each of which will continue in effect following implementation of Stage 2 with the terms described in “Indemnification” in Section 4.8. In addition to these existing indemnities, upon implementation of Stage 2, Irish SE will provide an indemnity generally consistent with the existing Indemnity Deeds, but which will be governed by Irish law, to its directors and the company secretary and to certain senior employees. These Irish law-governed Indemnity Deeds will require Irish SE, to the maximum extent permitted by Irish law, to unconditionally and irrevocably indemnify a person in relation to the person serving or having so served as a director, company secretary or senior employee of Irish SE or one of its subsidiaries or another entity at Irish SE’s request, or the request of one of Irish SE’s subsidiaries. In addition, the Irish law-governed Indemnity Deeds will provide for advances to allow indemnitees to fund their defense costs. However, the indemnified party will be required to repay the amounts paid to them if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to indemnification for such amounts, if any such amounts exceed what Irish SE is permitted to pay under the Irish law-governed Indemnity Deeds or if he or she receives payment under an insurance contract in respect of those liabilities. To the extent that an indemnitee also receives payment under an indemnity from one of our subsidiaries, such indemnitee is not entitled to claim under the Irish law-governed Indemnity Deeds.

 

Irish law renders void any provision in an Irish company’s articles of association or other contract that would exempt from liability or provide any director or the company secretary with an indemnity for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust. This limitation is broader than is currently permitted under our Indemnity Deeds.

 

Irish SE also intends to maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.

 

5.3.8.  Share Plans

 

Following implementation of Stage 2, our 2001 Equity Incentive Plan, 2005 Managing Board Transitional Stock Option Plan, Long Term Incentive Plan 2006, and Supervisory Board Plan will cease to be governed by Dutch law and become governed by Irish law. The plans also will be amended to reflect the fact that Irish SE will have a single board of directors. Changes to the Long Term Incentive Plan will be voted on at our next annual general meeting, which also will be held immediately following the extraordinary general meeting at which shareholders will be asked to consider Stage 1 of the Proposal.

 

As part of the implementation of Stage 2 and the change of corporate domicile to Ireland, the constituent documents of Dutch SE will no longer apply and will instead be replaced with a memorandum and articles of association consistent with the company law regime applicable in Ireland as supplemented by the provisions of the SE Regulation.

The key differences between Dutch SE and Irish SE arise as a result of the fact that Dutch SE is subject to Dutch law while Irish SE is subject to Irish law.

 

The table below, together with Section 5.6, summarises the material differences between Dutch SE and Irish SE and the rights of shareholders in the event the Proposal is approved and implemented. The summary is not an exhaustive list of all the differences or a complete description of the differences described and reference is made to the articles of association of Dutch SE and Irish SE which are filed as exhibits with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to our registration statement of which this Explanatory Memorandum forms a part and are incorporated by reference. The articles of association are also available under the Investor Relations area of our website (www.jameshardie.com, select “James Hardie Investor Relations”) and copies may be obtained on request. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” in Section 13.

 

Where existing authorisations exist under our articles of association, Dutch SE’s articles of association will provide for the continuation of such authorisations with the same expiry date as is currently the case.

 

It should be noted that the authorised share capital of Irish SE will be identical to that of Dutch SE (€1,180,000,000 divided into 2,000,000,000 shares of €0.59 each).