| The
directors of Rinker Group Limited
(Rinker) present their report
on the consolidated entity consisting
of Rinker Group Limited and the
entities it controlled at the
end of, or during, the year ended
31 March 2004 (the Rinker group). |
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| REVIEW
OF OPERATIONS AND RESULTS |
| Unaudited
Pro Forma Financial Information
|
| Following
Rinker’s demerger from CSR
Limited (CSR) on 28 March 2003,
the year ended 31 March 2004 represents
Rinker’s first full year
as a separately listed company.
The results for the year ended
31 March 2004 represent the actual
results of the Rinker group for
the period. Prior to Rinker’s
demerger from CSR on 28 March
2003, a number of businesses were
transferred between the Rinker
group and CSR during the year
ended 31 March 2003. The results
of the Rinker group as a statutory
entity during the prior comparative
period, the year ended 31 March
2003, do not reflect the businesses
that comprised the Rinker group
on demerger. |
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| Although
the Consolidated Statement of
Financial Performance and Consolidated
Statement of Cash Flows shown
for the year ended 31 March 2003
reflect the entire year’s
results of Rinker’s principal
US subsidiary, Rinker Materials
Corporation (Rinker Materials),
they contain only partial results
of the Australian Readymix business
and, furthermore, contain partial
results of certain businesses
now owned by CSR. |
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| Accordingly,
unaudited pro forma financial
information has been prepared
for the prior comparative period.
The directors believe that it
is meaningful for readers of the
Directors’ Report to focus
on the actual financial statements
and notes thereto for year ended
31 March 2004 and, for comparison
purposes, on the unaudited pro
forma financial information for
the year ended 31 March 2003.
Comparisons in this Directors’
Report with the prior period are
based on unaudited pro forma financial
information for the year ended
31 March 2003. The unaudited pro
forma financial information has
been included at pages 50 to 59,
together with an explanation of
the basis of preparation of that
information. |
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| A
review of the Rinker group’s
operations and the results for
the financial year to 31 March
2004 is set out on pages 4 to
19. |
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| SIGNIFICANT
CHANGES |
| There were
no significant changes in Rinker’s
state of affairs during the year. |
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| PRINCIPAL
ACTIVITIES |
| The principal
activities of entities in the
Rinker group during the year were
the manufacture and supply of
heavy building materials, with
operations in the United States
(Rinker Materials) and Australia
and China (Readymix). There were
no significant changes in the
nature of those activities during
the year. |
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| EVENTS
AFTER BALANCE DATE |
| No
material matters or circumstances
have arisen since the end of the
financial year. |
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| LIKELY
DEVELOPMENTS |
| Likely
developments in the operations
of Rinker in the future and the
expected results are referred
to on pages 5, 7, 11, 15 and 17. |
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| This
report omits information about
likely developments and expected
future results that would unreasonably
prejudice the Rinker group. |
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| Developments
which have arisen by the time
of the annual general meeting
on 20 July 2004 will be reported
to the meeting. |
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| ENVIRONMENTAL
PERFORMANCE |
| Details
of Rinker’s performance
in relation to environmental regulation
are set out on page 21. |
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| DIVIDENDS |
| An
interim dividend for the year
ended 31 March 2004 of six cents
per ordinary share, (Australian
dollars), fully franked, was paid
on 15 December 2003. Rinker declared
a final dividend for the year
ended 31 March 2004 of eight cents
per ordinary share (Australian
dollars), fully franked, on 25
May 2004. The final dividend will
be paid on 2 July 2004. Dividends
paid and declared during the year
are recorded in note 4 to the
Concise Financial Statements on
page 48. |
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| DIRECTORS,
DIRECTORS’ MEETINGS AND
DIRECTORS’ SHAREHOLDINGS
|
| The
names of the directors who held
office between 1 April 2003 and
the date of this report and details
about current directors’
qualifications, age, experience
and special responsibilities are
on pages 22 and 23. Details about
meetings of the board of directors
and of board committees, including
attendance, and directors’
interests in Rinker Group Limited
shares, are on pages 27 and 28.
No company in the Rinker group
made available to any director
any interest in a registered scheme. |
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| OPTIONS
OVER SHARE CAPITAL |
| No
options exist over unissued shares
in Rinker and no Rinker shares
have been issued as a result of
the exercise of options (whether
to directors, executive officers
or otherwise). |
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| REMUNERATION
OF DIRECTORS AND SENIOR EXECUTIVES |
| A
remuneration report is set out
on pages 33 to 39. That report
includes a discussion of board
policy for determining the remuneration
of directors and senior executives,
the link between that policy and
the Rinker group’s performance,
and details of the remuneration
of each director and each member
of the senior executive management
team. |
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| INDEMNITIES
AND INSURANCE |
| No
indemnities were given or insurance
premiums paid for current or former
officers or auditors during the
year. |
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| To
the extent permitted by law, Rinker’s
constitution requires that Rinker
indemnify, on a full indemnity
basis, each current and former
director, secretary and executive
officer of Rinker against all
losses, liabilities, costs, charges
and expenses incurred by them
in their capacity as an officer
of Rinker or of a subsidiary.
Rinker’s directors have
each entered into a deed with
the company in similar terms.
The indemnity under Rinker’s
constitution also extends to such
other officers or former officers
of Rinker or its subsidiaries
as the directors in each case
determine. |
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| PROCEEDINGS
ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY |
| No
proceedings have been brought
on behalf of the company, nor
has any application been made
in respect of the company under
Section 237 of the Corporations
Act 2001. |
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| The
directors’ statutory report
is signed in accordance with a
resolution of directors of Rinker
Group Limited. |
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John Morschel
CHAIRMAN |
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David
Clarke
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
25 May 2004
|