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FY2007 Annual Report · TopBuild
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Boral

a resource-based manufacturing  
company with strong reserve and  
market positions

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Boral Limited
abn 13 008 421 761 
level 39, aMp Centre 
50 bridge street sydney nsw 2000 
Gpo box 910 sydney nsw 2001
telephone: (02) 9220 6300 
international: +61 2 9220 6300 
Facsimile: (02) 9233 6605 
international: +61 2 9233 6605
internet: www.boral.com.au 
email: info@boral.com.au
Stock Exchange Listing
australian securities exchange
Share Registry
c/- link Market services 
level 12 
680 George street sydney nsw 2000 
locked bag a14 sydney south  
nsw 1235
telephone: (02) 8280 7133 
international: +61 2 8280 7133 
Facsimile: (02) 9287 0303 
international: +61 2 9287 0303
internet: www.linkmarketservices.com.au 
email: registrars@linkmarketservices.com.au
CEO and Managing Director 
rod pearse
Chief Financial Officer
Ken barton
Company Secretary
Michael scobie
Auditors
KpMG

The Annual General Meeting of Boral Limited 
will be held at the City Recital Hall, Angel Place, 
Sydney on Monday 29 October at 10.30am.

Financial Calendar*
ex dividend share trading commences 23 August 2007
record date for final dividend 29 August 2007
Final dividend payable 18 September 2007
annual General Meeting 29 October 2007
Half year 31 december 2007
Half year profit announcement 13 February 2008
ex dividend share trading commences 25 February 2008*
record date for interim dividend 29 February 2008*
interim dividend payable 19 march 2008*
year end 30 June 2008

* timing of events is subject to change

the annual review includes a concise report containing 
abbreviated financial statements. Detailed financial statements 
are available in the separate 2007 Financial report, which 
shareholders may access on boral’s website  
www.boral.com.au or request free of charge by phoning 
boral’s share registry on (02) 8280 7133 or via email to 
registrars@linkmarketservices.com.au or by writing to link 
Market services, locked bag a14 sydney south nsw 1235.
boral limited is a company limited by shares, incorporated and 
domiciled in australia.

Front Cover: pictured at boral’s petrie Quarry in Queensland are Clayton 
Hill, Development Manager, australian Construction Materials, Queensland 
and andy stuart, Quarry Manager petrie

Contents for the 2007  
Annual Review

Financial Calendar, Website  
and Company information  
 inside Front Cover
Boral: From resource to market 1
Financial Highlights 2
Chairman’s Report 4
managing director’s Review 6
Summary of Reporting Groups 10
Review of Operating divisions  

australian Construction Materials 12 
Cement 14 
Clay & Concrete products 16 
timber 18 
plasterboard 20 
usa 22

management Committee 24
Financial Review 25
Board of directors 27
Corporate Governance 28
directors’ Report 33 

remuneration report 37
Concise Financial Report 44
Statutory Statements 56
Shareholder information 57
Financial History 59
Glossary and Abbreviations 60

Contents for the 2007 Sustainability Report 
(on the reverse of the Annual Review)

Key Statistics s1
message from the managing director s2
managing Sustainability s4
Our Stakeholders s7
Our People s8
Health and Safety s12 
Our environment s16
Our Supply Chain s22
Sustainable Products s23
Community investment s24
divisional Performance  

australian Construction Materials s26 
Cement s28  
Clay & Concrete products s30  
timber s32 
plasterboard s34 
usa s36

independent Assurance Statement s38
Sustainability Reporting and GRi index s39
Glossary and Abbreviations s40

BORAL LIMITED ANNUAL REVIEW 2007a resource-based manufacturing  company with strong reserve and  market positionsBoralBORAL LIMITED SUSTAINABILITYREPORT 2007Borala resourceful and responsible company valuing people, communities and the environmentOver Boral’s 60 year history, we have 
developed a valuable integrated position 
in the building products and construction 
materials industries.  

We leverage our strong operational 
management capability through industry 
value chains across Boral’s geographic 
footprint in Australia, the USA and Asia.

Boral’s reserves* 

as at 30 June 2007 

Hard rock, sand and gravel
australia 
usa 
thailand 
Indonesia 
limestone and shale
australia 
Clay 
australia 
usa 

years at  
current  
million  production  
tonnes 

rates

943 
 31 
 58 
 5 

141 

116 
112 

35
19
34
11

40

63
36

* comprises reserves which are licensed for extraction and 
economically recoverable, with geological certainty in the 
proven and probable category. excludes reserves held by 
joint venture operations.

Boral’s reserves are a long-term, fundamental 
source of value creation. Development and 
acquisitions are ongoing to ensure that over time 
reserves are replaced as they are extracted.

In august 2007 Boral 
acquired the concrete 
and sand assets of 
schwarz readymix 
and a limestone quarry 
from arbuckle materials 
for us$80 million to 
secure the #2 market 
position in construction 
materials in oklahoma.

Boral’s markets are generally 
cyclical in nature, requiring 
us to have capacity to supply 
the upturns and to manage 
well in the downturns.

Boral:
from resource 
to market

Boral’s manufacturing expertise is 
underpinned by the dedication and 
operational know-how of its people 
and its broad geographic spread 
across 707 operating sites.

Boral’s people and geographic 
footprint
Boral’s people
employees 
contractors 
JV employees 
Boral sites
operating sites 
total sites 
operating countries 

16.194
approx. 4,900
approx. 3,500

707
851
11

significant investments to lift capacity for market peaks and 
to strengthen Boral’s cost-competitive positions continued 
in 2006/07. for example, an $85 million upgrade of cement 
grinding capacity of Boral’s JV sunstate cement operation 
in Queensland was announced; a new state-of-the-art 
plasterboard plant in Queensland will be commissioned by the 
end of 2007; full commissioning of midland Brick’s $53 million 
kiln #11 continued; and a new us$55 million brick plant in 
Indiana will be completed by march 2008, positioning Boral  
well for a us market recovery.

Boral Limited annual review 2007

1

Boral’s capability to meet large-scale infrastructure 
projects is demonstrated by our successful 
execution of the eastLink motorway project in 
melbourne (the largest infrastructure project in 
australia to date), which continued in 2006/07.  
Locating new concrete and asphalt plants  
adjacent to the eastLink project is an example  
of Boral’s commitment.

Boral has strong downstream market 
positions, generally being number one 
or number two in the markets in which 
we operate. We strive to anticipate and 
satisfy the needs of our markets and to 
provide our customers with better value 
and service than our competitors.

We have cost-competitive 
positions close to market. Our 
logistics expertise strengthens 
our competitive advantage.

Boral has strong downstream market 
positions, generally being number one or 
number two in the markets in which we 
operate. We strive to anticipate and satisfy 
the needs of our markets and to provide our 
customers with better value and service than 
our competitors.

integration 
 
 
 
 
Boral is an integrated resource-based 
manufacturing company with strong 
upstream reserves and downstream market 
positions, around which we continue to 
perform and grow. 

Boral’s strategic intent is to be a value(s) and market-driven, focused building and 
construction materials supplier, operating in australia and increasingly offshore.

our core competencies are:

•  securing and extending our cost-competitive natural resource positions close 

to market, and 

•  utilising our manufacturing, logistics and marketing expertise to create cost 
and quality competitive materials and products which meet the needs of 
building and construction markets. 

In 2007, Boral’s performance reflects strength in Boral’s largest reporting group, 
construction materials australia, offset by the effects of a continued downturn 
in australian housing activity and a severe downturn in us housing markets. 
favourable pricing outcomes, operational cost savings and benefits from growth 
contributed to a solid underlying result. the company is well positioned to 
benefit from recovering market conditions. 

key financial results for 2007 

• Net profit after tax down 18% to $298 million

• Sales revenue up 3% to $4.9 billion

• EBITDA down 7% to $762 million

• EBITDA to sales margin of 15.5%

• EBIT down 14% to $531 million

• EBIT return on funds employed of 11.9%

• Earnings per share down 19% to 50.0 cents

• Full year fully franked dividend of 34 cents per share

Financial highlights

A$ million unless stated

Year eNDeD 30 JuNe 
revenue 
eBItDa 
eBIt 
Net interest 
Profit before tax 
tax 
Profit after tax 

cash flow from operating activities 
gross assets 
funds employed 
Liabilities 
Net debt 
growth and acquisition capital expenditure 
stay-in-business capital expenditure 
Depreciation 

employees 
sales per employee, $ million 
Net tangible asset backing, $ per share 
eBItDa margin on sales, % 
eBIt margin on sales, % 
eBIt return on funds employed, % 
return on equity, % 
gearing (net debt/equity), % 
Interest cover, times 
earnings per share, ¢ 
Dividend per share, ¢ 
safety: 
  Lost time injury frequency rate1 
  Hours lost, % 

2007 
4,909 
762 
531 
111 
420 
122 
298 

482 
5,817 
4,470 
2,829 
1,482 
226 
192 
231 

16,194 
0.303 
4.41 
15.5 
10.8 
11.9 
10.0 
50 
4.8 
50 
34.0 

2.8 
0.09 

2006  % cHaNge
3
(7)
(14)
13
(18)
(20)
(18)

4,767 
823 
614 
98 
516 
153 
362 

449 
5,587 
4,333 
2,832 
1,578 
307 
207 
209 

15,802 
0.302 
4.07 
17.3 
12.9 
14.2 
13.2 
57 
6.3
61.7 
34.0 

3.1
0.11

finanCial
HIgHLIgHts

Sales revenue $m

EBITDA2 $m

EBIT2 $m

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4

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2
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3
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1
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Profit after  
tax2 $m

Earnings per  
share2 c

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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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2
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3
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4
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Share of revenue3 by market

EBIT by segment

Australian dwellings

Australian non-dwellings

Australian engineering and construction

USA dwellings

USA non-dwellings

USA engineering and construction

Asia

Other

1. per million hours worked

2. fY05 results onwards restated to reflect transition to a-Ifrs accounting standards.

3. Includes Boral’s share of revenues from asia Plasterboard and monierLifetile joint ventures.

Boral Limited annual review 2007

2

Construction Materials, Australia

Building Products, Australia

USA

Asia

EBITDA variance analysis

       FY2006 EBITDA

$823m

-     VOLUME

+   PRICE

-   COST ESCALATION

+     PEP

+   QEU

+     GROWTH

-   PLANT ONE-OFFS

-     OTHER

       FY2007 EBITDA

$762m

Share price

$10.00

8.00

6.00

4.00

2.00

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Boral

ASX 100

10,000

8,000

6,000

4,000

2,000

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Volume
US brick and roofing volumes were down due to the severe 
downturn in housing construction activity. Australian brick, 
roofing and masonry volumes further declined due to the 
continued downturn in Australian housing, especially in 
New South Wales. Volumes in other business lifted due to 
market lifts and/or growth initiatives.

Price 
Pricing outcomes were strong despite housing downturns in 
two of Boral’s key markets. In Australia, cement, concrete 
and quarry prices lifted 4%, whilst bricks and roofing 
products were up 2-4%. US bricks and clay roofing  
gained 6%.

Costs and PEP
Despite cost savings of $142 million from the Performance 
Enhancement Program (PEP), equal to 3.4% of 
compressible costs, costs increased by around 6% due in 
part to increased US natural gas costs.

Growth and QEU
The benefits of recent growth activities together with  
a $9 million lift in Quarry End Use earnings contributed  
$62 million in total to the result. Benefits of growth will 
progressively enhance Boral’s profitability particularly as 
markets recover.

Plant one-offs 
One-off production costs at Berrima cement and Galong 
lime kilns ($7 million), together with Midland Brick Kiln 11 
commissioning costs, extended temporary plant shutdowns 
in bricks particularly in the US but also in Australia, impacted 
the result.

Other 
Other items include the effects of the previous year’s 
(FY2006) one-off compensation payment for land resumed 
in Shanghai and profit on sales of assets. Foreign exchange 
strength cost around $6 million during FY2007.

13 August 2007
Boral announces that it acquired 
the assets of two construction 
materials businesses in Oklahoma 
City: Schwarz Readymix, a ready-
mixed concrete and sand business and 
the quarry assets of Davis Arbuckle 
Materials. The total acquisition price of 
US$80 million represents a multiple of 
5.4 times annualised FY2008 projected 
EBITDA and the combined acquisitions 
will be earnings per share accretive in 
the first full year of ownership. 

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Company Announcements
18 August 2006
Boral announces the opening of its 
new $12 million production facility 
at Wacol, Queensland, in response 
to industry demand and the high 
number of landscaping projects being 
undertaken by Australian homeowners.

8 September 2006
Boral announces it would suspend 
manufacturing at its Gloucester 
plant in New South Wales from 29 
September 2006. 

27 October 2006
Boral announces that it was expecting 
its profit after tax for the year ending 30 
June 2007 to be around 15% below the 
previous year and its first half year profit 
after tax to be around 15% below the 
previous year’s corresponding period. 

7 February 2007
Boral announces an after tax profit of 
$147 million for the half year ended 
31 December 2006, a 15% decrease  
on the PAT for the half year ended  
31 December 2005

29 May 2007
Boral announces that Dr Brian Clark 
has been appointed as a non-executive 
Director of Boral Limited. 

26 June 2007
Leading cement supplier to 
Queensland’s construction industry, 
Sunstate Cement, has announced 
plans for an $85 million expansion 
to meet the growing building and 
infrastructure needs of the state’s 
strong economy. The company is a joint 
venture between Adelaide Brighton Ltd 
and Blue Circle Southern Cement.

26 July 2007
Boral welcomed the announcement by 
the New South Wales Premier, Morris 
Iemma, to approve development 
of the third and final stage of 
the redevelopment of Boral’s 
Greystanes site. The redevelopment 
of the Greystanes site, as a result of 
Boral phasing out its Prospect Quarry 
operations, commenced some seven 
years ago with the support of the  
NSW Government. 

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
prior year. We continue to offer 
shareholders the opportunity 
to participate in the Dividend 
Reinvestment Plan (DRP) and we 
are preparing for an on-market 
share buyback of up to 15 million 
shares to offset the anticipated 
dilutive effect of the issue of shares 
through the DRP during 2005/06 
and 2006/07. 

Boral retains its 19.9% strategic 
shareholding in Adelaide Brighton 
Limited (ABL) which was acquired 
in December 2003 at a cost of  
$167 million or $1.55 per share.  
This investment has been strongly 
value-creating; as at 30 June 
2007, there has been $229 million 
of capital growth from the ABL 
investment which has not been 
included in Boral’s earnings. 

Boral’s sustainability
To deliver the Company’s overarching 
objective of superior returns in 
a sustainable way, the Board is 
focused on reviewing and approving 
strategies and plans that will position 
the Company well for long-term, 
sustainable value creation. 

We continue to recognise the 
importance of comprehensive 
reporting of Boral’s non-financial 
impacts and achievements. Boral’s 
Sustainability Report, which 
forms part of this Annual Review, 
details the progress we have 
made in 2006/07 as well as our 
current sustainability priorities and 
goals. As in the past, I encourage 
shareholders to review Boral’s 
Sustainability Report and to provide 
feedback to Boral’s Management 
(using the contact details on the 
inside front cover of this report).

Safety remains the highest of 
priorities across Boral. In 2006/07, 
Boral’s safety performance as 
measured by lost time injury 
frequency rate (LTIFR) per million 
hours worked and percent hours 
lost, continued to improve. LTIFR 
was 2.8 for the year ended 30 
June 2007, which was a 10% 
improvement on the prior year, and 
percent hours lost reduced by 18% 
to 0.09. However, between August 
and December 2006, we had five 
tragic accidents that resulted in 
fatalities. We deeply regret that 
two contractors in the USA were 
fatally injured in accidents involving 
falls from height; in Indonesia, an 
employee was killed in a heavy 
vehicle accident; and electrocutions 
were the cause of death of an 
employee in Thailand and a 
contractor in Australia. There were 
no workplace-related fatalities in 
the second half of the year. The full 
year outcome has caused all of us 
at Boral great concern and resulted  
in extensive reviews of electrical 
and contractor safety management. 

Chairman’S
REVIEW

The Company’s 2007 financial performance
For the 2006/07 financial year, Boral’s sales revenue of $4.9 billion was 
3% higher than the prior year due to price strength, stronger Australian 
construction materials volumes and growth initiatives. Boral’s reported net 
profit after tax of $298 million however, was 18% below the net profit for the 
year ended 30 June 2006, due to housing volume-related weakness in the 
USA and in New South Wales. 

Boral’s Australian earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation 
(EBITDA) of $605 million were 6% higher than the prior year. Earnings from 
Australian construction materials businesses was 11% stronger on the back 
of major infrastructure project work and non-dwellings activity particularly in 
Queensland and Victoria. Price gains and growth initiatives also benefited the 
result. Despite this, ongoing weak Australian dwelling activity continued to 
adversely impact earnings, negatively affecting volumes and manufacturing costs. 

EBITDA from Boral’s offshore operations decreased by $98 million (or 40%) 
to $150 million. A severe downturn in housing construction across all major 
US markets negatively impacted sales and production volumes in Boral’s US 
brick and roof tile businesses. In Asia, conditions and results improved in a 
number of key plasterboard markets, whilst construction materials markets 
remained challenging. 

Earnings per share for the year decreased by 19% from 61.7 cents to 50.0 
cents. Boral’s return on funds employed (ROFE) of 11.9% was below last 
year’s ROFE of 14.2%. 

Shareholder returns
The Board declared a final dividend of 17.0 cents per share, fully franked, 
taking Boral’s full year 100% franked dividend to 34.0 cents per share. 
When grossed up for the impact of franking credits, the 34.0 cent dividend 
represents, for most shareholders, an annualised dividend yield of 6.1% per 
annum on Boral’s average share price for the year to 30 June 2007.  
A dividend payout ratio of 68% of after tax profits was up from 55% in the 

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

4

“Boral has demonstrated 

a solid underlying 
performance in 2006/07 
and is well positioned for 
long-term value creating 
growth as housing 
markets on the Australian 
east coast and in the  
USA recover from  
cyclical lows.”
Ken Moss  
Chairman

The Board reviews in detail all 
fatalities, including the corrective 
actions taken. The Board also 
reviews divisional Health and Safety 
Management Plans, we approve 
safety improvement targets and 
we regularly monitor performance 
against target for all divisions. 
Boral’s Directors and executives 
are determined to continue to 
improve workplace safety for both 
employees and contractors working 
in Boral’s operations. 

Boral’s board
The Board has been very stable  
for several years. However, after  
11 years of valued contribution,  
Mark Rayner, who joined the  
Board in 1996, will retire as a 
Director at this year’s Annual 
General Meeting. The Board and 
I acknowledge the significant 
contribution that Mark has made to 
the Board, including his contribution 
as a member of  
the Compensation Committee.

In May 2007, we announced that 
Dr Brian Clark had been appointed 
as a non-executive Director of the 
Board. Brian, who is 58, adds to the 
Board’s breadth of experience and 
expertise. He has particular interest 
and skills in the fields of technology, 
research and development, 
organisational change, international 
business, consumer markets and 
leadership development. 

Currently in his eighth year as 
Boral’s CEO and Managing Director, 
Rod Pearse continued to provide 
strong and effective leadership 
in 2006/07. The Board remains 
confident in Rod’s ability to 
effectively lead the Company and  
to deliver Boral’s strategy. 

Boral’s people  
The Board also has strong 
confidence in the ability of the 
Management Committee, which 
remains a stable team of senior 
executives. In March 2007, 
following the resignation of Peter 
Boyd, Bryan Tisher took up the 
role of Executive General Manager, 
Timber. Bryan, who is 44, joined 
Boral in 1998 and has been a 
member of Boral’s Management 
Committee since 2000 when he 
was appointed General Manager, 
Corporate Development. Andrew 
Warburton replaced Bryan 
Tisher as General Manager, 
Corporate Development, joining 
the Management Committee in 
March 2007. Andrew, who is aged 
43, joined Boral’s Construction 
Materials division in 2000 and 
became General Manager of Boral’s 
Quarry End Use business in 2004. 

Boral’s succession planning 
and performance management 
processes are well entrenched 
and continue to support internal 
promotion, cross-fertilisation, and 
executive development.

The contribution from the 
management team and all 
employees to Boral’s result in 
2006/07 is appreciated by the 
Board. I thank Boral’s employees 
for their persistence and hard work, 
particularly in times of challenging 
marketing conditions. 

Remuneration and governance
Boral’s Directors support 
appropriate and transparent 
corporate governance processes 
and controls. Boral’s corporate 
governance framework is kept 
under review and is responsive to 
changes in Boral’s businesses and 
to Boral’s external environment. On 
page 28 to 32, we report on our 
corporate governance activities in 
accordance with the Principles of 
Good Corporate Governance and 
Best Practice Recommendations of 
the ASX. A separate Remuneration 
Report for shareholders as part of 
the Directors’ Report (on pages 
37 to 43) provides extensive 
information on the Company’s 
remuneration structures. 

In order to oversee the 
implementation of Boral’s plans 
the Board undertakes regular site 
visits and takes opportunities to 
meet with Boral’s customers, 
shareholders, market analysts, 
managers and employees. During 
2006/07, the Board of Directors 
toured Boral’s joint venture 
plasterboard operations and Boral’s 
construction materials operations 
in Asia. We also spent time visiting 
clay and concrete products plants 
as well as our GoCrete panels 
business in Western Australia. 

Boral operates in cyclical industries 
and is currently experiencing 
challenging conditions in a number 
of its key markets. The Directors 
believe though that Boral has 
demonstrated a solid underlying 
performance in 2006/07 and is 
well positioned for long-term value 
creating growth as housing markets 
on the Australian east coast and in 
the USA recover from cyclical lows.

Ken Moss  
Chairman

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

5

Despite the challenging market 
conditions experienced by some of 
Boral’s businesses, the underlying 
performance of the Company was 
solid in 2006/07. Pricing was up in 
most businesses, with price gains 
contributing well over $100 million 
to earnings. Cost savings delivered 
through Boral’s Performance 
Enhancement Program (PEP) 
totalled $142 million, were 
equivalent to 3.4% of compressible 
costs. Together, price increases and 
cost reductions offset inflationary 
cost increases including wage 
growth and energy cost increases.

Weaker housing volumes reduced 
EBITDA by around $100 million 
but growth investments lifted 
EBITDA by around half that 
amount and Quarry End Use (QEU) 
earnings increased by $9 million. 
A stronger Australian dollar and 
the non-repetition of one-off gains 
experienced in 2005/06 reduced 
EBITDA in 2006/07 compared to 
the prior year. Depreciation and 
funding costs increased by  
$23 million.

Record results in Australian 
construction materials
Boral’s largest reporting group, 
Construction Materials in Australia, 
recorded an 11% lift in earnings 
on a 6% increase in sales. This 
result was based on strong levels 
of activity in commercial and 
infrastructure construction in most 
Australian states. The 6% lift in 
Construction Materials Australia 
revenues to $2.5 billion resulted 
from strong quarry volumes, price 
increases in cement, concrete 
and quarries, and higher asphalt 
volumes and margins. EBITDA for 
Construction Materials increased 
by $44 million or 11% on the prior 
year to a record $454 million. The 
second-half lift in earnings was 
particularly significant both in QEU 
and in other businesses. Improved 
earnings from Blue Circle Southern 
Cement, from Asphalt and from 
QEU were the key drivers of the 
improved result. Our QEU business 
delivered $56 million of earnings, 
which was $9 million higher than 
last year. 

Managing well through the 
US and Australian housing 
downturns
Throughout the Company’s 60-year 
history, Boral’s businesses have 
benefited from strong volumes 
during the cyclical upturns of the 
building and construction markets 
in which we operate and we have 
weathered the cyclical market lows. 

manaGinG 
DireCtOr’S
REVIEW

We are leveraging our core competencies
Boral is a resource-based, manufacturing company with strong upstream 
reserve and downstream market positions. Our core competencies  
are around: 

• natural resource management,

• manufacturing, logistics and marketing, and 

• strategy and execution. 

We have expertise in securing and extending cost-competitive natural 
resource positions which are close to market and in converting those 
positions into a leading market presence. We use our manufacturing, logistics 
and marketing competencies to transform our natural resources into cost-  
and quality-competitive construction materials and building products that 
meet the needs of the markets in which we operate. And our strategic 
understanding and operational management of the relevant industry value 
chains strengthens our ability to maximise the outcomes from our leading 
resource and market positions.

Boral’s Strategic Intent is to be a value(s) and market-driven, focused building 
and construction materials supplier, operating in Australia and increasingly 
offshore. We leverage our core competencies and our geographic footprint, to 
search for opportunities to grow for value through the integrated value chains 
of the building products and construction materials industries.

2006/07 financial results
Boral’s 2006/07 sales revenue of $4.9 billion was 3% higher than last year, 
and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) 
of $762 million was only 4% below 2003/04 earnings which were delivered 
at the peak of the Australian housing cycle and when US housing was 25% 
stronger than it was in 2006/07. 

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

6

Managing in a sustainable way
Our commitment to pursuing 
industry-specific best practice in the 
area of sustainability management 
and reporting remains firm. In our 
2007 Sustainability Report, which 
is published on the reverse side of 
this Annual Review, on pages s2-s3 
I provide a comprehensive message 
to shareholders, employees, 
customers and other interested 
parties on Boral’s sustainability 
performance and priority areas, 
including detailed commentary 
on Boral’s safety performance for 
2006/07.

“Our focus has been on 
managing well through 
the downturns of the 
market cycles in which 
we operate and ensuring 
that the Company 
is well positioned to 
benefit from the cyclical 
upturns.”
Rod Pearse  
CEO and Managing Director

on last year due to a one-off land 
resumption compensation benefit 
in last year’s result. In an underlying 
sense, earnings from Asia were 
steady year-on-year. A decline 
in earnings from construction 
materials in Asia due to volume 
(Indonesia) and margin pressures 
(Indonesia and Thailand) was offset 
by significantly improved underlying 
earnings in the LBGA plasterboard 
joint venture business.

Our balance sheet remains 
strong
With a gearing (net debt/equity) 
level of 50% at 30 June 2007, 
which compares with 57% a 
year earlier and Boral’s targeted 
gearing range of 40% to 70%, 
Boral’s financial position remains 
strong. Net debt at 30 June 2007 
was $1,482 million compared with 
$1,578 million at 30 June 2006.

Cash flows from operating activities 
of $482 million were 7% above 
the prior year. Capital expenditure 
for the year was $418 million, 
consisting of $226 million of growth 
and acquisition capital expenditure 
and $192 million of stay-in-
business capital (which was 83% of 
depreciation).

Delivering our financial 
objectives
Our three financial objectives 
remain unchanged: to exceed the 
weighted average cost of capital 
(WACC) through the cycle; to 
deliver better financial returns than 
the competition in comparable 
markets; and to deliver superior 
total shareholder returns. 

Whilst return on funds employed 
(ROFE) for 2006/07 of 11.9% 
was broadly in line with WACC, 
ROFE has averaged 15% since 
demerger, which is well ahead of 
Boral’s weighted average cost of 
capital through the cycle. Boral’s 
performance continues to compare 
well to competitors in like markets 
across most businesses. Boral’s 
total shareholder return (TSR) 
from share price appreciation and 
dividends over the twelve months 
to 30 June 2007 underperformed 
the ASX100 with a TSR of 12%, 
compared with the TSR of the 
ASX100 Index of 22%. Over the 
seven-and-a-half years since 
demerger to 30 June 2007, 
however, Boral’s TSR was 25% 
per annum which was at the 21st 
percentile of ASX100 companies 
over this period.

Whilst some Boral businesses 
enjoyed favourable market 
conditions in 2006/07, especially 
construction materials businesses in 
Australia, more generally it has been 
a challenging financial year. Our US 
building products businesses were 
significantly impacted (especially 
in the second half of the year) by a 
dramatic decline in housing activity; 
the weakness in the New South 
Wales housing market continued; 
and in Asia, our construction 
materials businesses faced ongoing 
difficult market conditions. 

Boral’s Australian Building Products 
businesses and some Construction 
Materials businesses continued to 
experience low volumes in east 
coast housing markets, especially 
in Boral’s key state of New South 
Wales where we derive around 
40% of our Australian revenues 
and where, in 2006/07, housing 
activity levels were the lowest in 
34 years. Boral’s Building Products 
reported a 7% decline in EBITDA 
to $151 million. Lower volumes 
and higher manufacturing costs 
associated with lower levels of 
plant utilisation and temporary plant 
shutdowns in East Coast markets 
together with weaker masonry 
earnings impacted the result. 
Despite this, our Australian Building 
Products businesses reported a 5% 
lift in revenues to $1.3 billion, driven 
by higher prices offsetting weaker 
volumes across bricks, roofing and 
masonry. Plasterboard revenues 
were underpinned by increased 
volumes and sales of re-sale 
products. Increased hardwood and 
engineered flooring product sales 
also contributed. 

Boral’s most challenging market 
in 2006/07 was the US housing 
market, which declined significantly 
during the year, falling by 29%1 
in the states in which Boral 
operates. Revenues from our US 
operations were down 2% on last 
year to US$699 million. However, 
if MonierLifetile revenues (which 
are equity accounted) are included 
on a pro-rata basis, Boral’s US 
revenues reduced by 8%. EBITDA 
from US operations declined by 
37% to US$102 million. The most 
significant decline in US earnings 
came from the MonierLifetile joint 
venture and from Boral’s US brick 
business (which was particularly 
impacted by the downturn in US 
housing activity in the second half 
of the year). 

Market conditions remained 
challenging for our businesses in 
Asia, particularly in Construction 
Materials. Boral’s Asian operations 
delivered a full year EBITDA of 
$21 million, which was down 31% 

1  In terms of the value of dwellings work 

commenced for the year ended 30 June 2007 
in “Boral’s US States”

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

7

Major growth activities

Growth project

Current status

 $95m upgrade of the Waurn Ponds 
(Victoria) cement works

Achieved target production levels and around cost of capital returns in FY07; 
further optimisation being pursued to meet higher levels of demand.

new US$35m, 100m SBe brick plant 
at Union City, Oklahoma (USa)

Commissioning commenced in Mar-06 quarter in line with plan. Benefits 
phased from Jun-06 quarter and returns ahead of cost of capital and 
business plan. Low-cost plant servicing a relatively resilient South West US 
market. 

midland Brick’s (Western australia) 
new $53m, 50m SBe Kiln #11

Running well with commissioning of full product range to be completed in 
Sep-07 quarter. Achieving above cost of capital returns.

$28m upgrade of the cement 
bagging plant at maldon nSW 

Completed on time/budget. Benefits increasing in line with plan since  
Jun-06. Relocation of operations to Maldon allowed closure of Seven Hills  
in Jun-06.

new $12m ‘wetcast’ paving plant at 
Wacol (Queensland)

Commissioning complete, securing Boral’s low cost position in relatively  
fast-growing segment. Currently delivering above cost of capital returns.

acquisition of a further 30% in 
Girotto Precast for $9m

Increased exposure to the fast-growing precast market on the East Coast 
through lift in Boral’s equity from 50% to 80%.

new 10m m2 plasterboard plant 
in Vietnam involving a total JV 
investment of US$13m

Completed on time and on budget. Plasterboard production commenced in 
the Sep-06 quarter and is achieving business case sales volumes.

new US$12m (132k squares) clay 
roof tile plant in trinidad in JV with 
anSa mcaL

Completion in FY06 but operating at lower volumes due to weak market 
conditions in South Florida. Production issues experienced during the first 
year have been resolved. 

$24m herons Creek timber mill 
upgrade (nSW)

Fully commissioned and achieved design throughputs. Weakness in NSW 
market requires reduced operating hours to limit inventory growth. 

$27m upgrade of Berrima’s cement 
mill #7 to 800k tpa 

Practical completion in Jan-07 with benefits to be progressively delivered in 
line with business plan. 

$7m investment in south east 
Queensland Concrete & Quarries 
capacity

$30m investment in asphalt plants 
at Geelong (Victoria), West Burleigh 
(Queensland) and Welshpool 
(Western australia) and two mobile 
plants.

Building capacity to meet ongoing infrastructure activity in SE Qld, including 
Lawnton concrete plant, Narangba, Purga and Stapleton quarries.

Construction completed on Geelong and West Burleigh by Jul-07. 
Welshpool is under construction and due for completion by Dec-07. Mobile 
plants are currently deployed on EastLink in Victoria and in Queensland. 

net $106m new 40m m2 
plasterboard plant in Queensland

Construction under way with commissioning anticipated during Dec-07 
quarter. Market demand remains solid and in line with expectations.

new US$55m, 120m SBe brick plant 
at terre haute, indiana

Construction under way, completion anticipated in Mar-08 quarter. Low-cost 
plant will operate at high utilisation rates reaching full production in FY09. 

new US$27.5m, 130k square, clay 
roof tile plant at ione, California

Construction progressing satisfactorily and completion expected by Dec-07.

US$69m monierLifetile JV concrete 
roof tile plants – Las Vegas, nevada 
and Lake Wales, Florida

Lake Wales plant successfully commissioned and well positioned to supply 
re-roofing market and future recovery in Florida’s new construction market. 
Construction of Las Vegas plant delayed due to market downturn.

US$42m upgrade (total) of LBGa’s 
Dangjin plant, Seoul, double 
capacity to 75m m2

Commissioning expected in early CY2008 with benefits flowing from 
anticipated Korean residential market recovery.

US$28m (total) in new LBGa plants 
rajasthan, india (8m m2)  
and Chengdu, China (10m m2)

Long-term natural gypsum supply to the plant in India and long-term FGD 
gypsum supply in Chengdu have been secured. Both plants are expected to 
be in operation in the first half of CY2008.

new $10m automated panels  
plant at GoCrete in Perth,  
Western australia

Due for completion in Dec-07 and will significantly lift our flooring and 
walling penetration in multi-unit construction in the buoyant Perth market.

$85m (total) to upgrade cement 
grinding capacity of Sunstate 
Cement in Queensland

Expansion of clinker storage (and grinding) from 1.0m to 1.5m tpa to meet 
growing demand in Qld. Completion of clinker storage expected in first half 
of CY2008.

US$80m acquisition of Schwarz  
and ami, Oklahoma

Acquired Schwarz concrete and sand assets and AMI limestone quarry to 
secure #2 market position in Oklahoma City. 

1 One square = 100 square feet.

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

8

In Asia, we anticipate growth 
in Boral’s businesses despite 
an expected continuation of 
competitive market conditions  
for the remainder of 2007/08.

In addition to the expected cost 
improvement benefits from PEP 
of around 3%, Boral’s growth 
initiatives will progressively deliver 
improved benefits to the Company, 
particularly as markets recover. 

It is difficult to comment further at 
this time on the expected financial 
outcomes for 2007/08 because 
of the volatile market conditions 
that currently exist in some of our 
key markets. We will provide an 
update for shareholders on trading 
conditions at the Annual General 
Meeting on 29 October 2007.

Rod Pearse  
CEO and Managing  
Director

Strengthening our resource-
based manufacturing positions
Acquisitions and organic growth 
projects that have been completed 
are proving to be value creating  
and have offset the reduction 
in Boral’s EBITDA which would 
otherwise have resulted from the 
significant Australian and USA 
housing downturns. 

Most organic growth projects take 
a few years of construction and 
commissioning before benefits are 
delivered. As current projects are 
completed, and as markets grow, 
Boral’s growth portfolio will be 
increasingly value-adding and will 
improve Boral’s overall returns. 
A status of recently completed 
and continuing growth projects is 
summarised in the accompanying 
table (page 8).

During 2006/07, we continued 
to invest in growth projects to 
strengthen Boral’s leading market 
positions. The $226 million of 
growth capital in 2006/07 was 
spent largely on previously 
announced organic growth projects 
including the upgrade of cement 
mill #7 at Berrima (which is now 
complete), new US brick and roof 
tile plants and the new Queensland 
plasterboard plant (which are 
still under construction), and the 
acquisition of a further 30% of 
Girotto Precast.

The performance of recently 
completed growth projects 
continued to improve during the 
year. Some growth initiatives, such 
as those in construction materials 
in Australia, have progressively 
delivered increased value whilst 
others, such as brick and roof 
tile investments in the USA, are 
positioning Boral well for growth 
with market recovery.

Our 50/50 Asian plasterboard joint 
venture with Lafarge, LBGA, has 
progressed construction of a new 
plasterboard plant in Chengdu, 
China, and a new plant in Rajasthan, 
India, for a total combined 
investment of US$28 million. 
Both plants are expected to be 
in operation in the March 2008 
quarter. Together with the new 
US$13 million plasterboard plant 
in Vietnam, which was completed 
in 2006/07, these investments 
are securing LBGA’s number one 
market position in the Asian region 
(excluding Japan), positioning the 
business well to benefit from high 
growth markets in the longer term. 

Following the end of the financial 
year, in August 2007 we announced 
that Boral had acquired the Schwarz 
concrete and sand business and 
the Arbuckle limestone quarry in 
Oklahoma, for an acquisition price 
of US$80 million. This acquisition 
is another step in our value-adding 

US construction materials growth 
strategy. The step out into the 
Oklahoma construction materials 
market follows Boral’s successful 
move into Denver construction 
materials in September 2004 and 
the continued incremental benefits 
delivered from this acquisition 
strategy. The Oklahoma acquisition 
is expected to be earnings per 
share accretive in 2007/08 and 
results will improve as synergies  
are realised.

Boral’s acquisition spend has 
continued to be an important 
contributor to current earnings and 
is providing substantial strategic 
benefits. Overall, acquisitions are 
delivering returns which exceed 
Boral’s hurdle rate. 

Organic growth has accounted for 
around half of Boral’s growth spend 
and portfolio returns are currently 
averaging around cost of capital for 
completed projects. These returns 
are improving as projects mature.

Outlook for 2007/08
In 2007/08 we expect Australian 
dwelling commencements to be 
around 145,000 to 150,000 starts 
compared to the estimated 149,000 
starts in 2006/07. This is well  
below underlying demand levels  
of around 170,000 starts per 
annum. Boral’s building products 
results are expected to soften as 
result of the weakness in dwelling 
construction volumes.

We expect that earnings from our 
construction materials businesses 
in Australia will continue to improve 
as a result of an anticipated increase 
in the levels of non-dwelling and 
infrastructure construction activity 
in 2007/08 and the continued 
flowthrough of concrete and 
quarry price increases that were 
implemented in April 2007. 

QEU earnings are expected to be 
around $50 million in 2007/08 and 
will again be weighted heavily to 
the second half of the year.

Forecasters in the USA are currently 
expecting housing starts to be 
around 1.4 million to 1.5 million 
starts in the 2007/08 financial year, 
which equates to around a 3% to 
10% decline year-on-year. This 
decline in housing construction 
activity will reduce brick and roof 
tile sales and production volumes 
and Boral’s US earnings will be 
lower compared to 2006/07 
levels. Our recently announced 
construction materials acquisitions 
in Oklahoma City will, however, 
positively impact US earnings with 
an expected EBITDA contribution of 
around US$12 million in 2007/08. 

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

9

SUMMARY OF REPORTING GROUPS

Construction Materials, Australia

Building Products, Australia

Share of External Revenue

Share of External Revenue

*  Cement division 

includes Blue Circle 
Southern Cement 
(external revenues), 
concrete placement 
and scaffolding.

Quarries

Concrete

Asphalt

Transport

QEU

Contracting

Cement*

Bricks

Roofing

Masonry

Windows

Timber

Australian Plasterboard

Revenue $m

EBITDA3 $m

EBITDA/Revenue %

Revenue $m

EBITDA3 $m

EBITDA/Revenue %

9
4
5
,
2

0
1
4
,
2

4
6
1
,
2

9
9
0
,
2

6
4
8
,
0 1
4
6
,
1

8
4
7
,
1

3
2
5
,
1

4
5
4

2
1
4

6
1
4

0
1
4

5
3
3

5
6
2

7
3
2

8
0
2

%
6
.
9
1

%
2
.
9
1

%
2
.
8
1

%
8
.
7
1

%
0
.
7
1

%
2
.
5
1

%
4
.
4
1

%
7
.
3
1

5
7
2
,
1

7
1
2
,
1

3
1
2
,
1

7
8
1
,
1

6
5
1
,
1

5
5
3
,
1

9
9
9

5
5
9

2
0
2

1
9
1

4
6
1

2
6
1

1
5
1

2
8
1

8
2
1

0
1
1

%
6
.
6
1

%
1
.
6
1

%
4
.
3
1

%
8
.
1
1

%
3
.
4
% 1
8
.
2
1

%
4
.
3
1

%
5
.
1
1

0
0
Y
F

1
0
Y
F

2
0
Y
F

3
0
Y
F

4
0
Y
F

5
0
Y
F

6
0
Y
F

7
0
Y
F

0
0
Y
F

1
0
Y
F

2
0
Y
F

3
0
Y
F

4
0
Y
F

5
0
Y
F

6
0
Y
F

7
0
Y
F

0
0
Y
F

1
0
Y
F

2
0
Y
F

3
0
Y
F

4
0
Y
F

5
0
Y
F

6
0
Y
F

7
0
Y
F

0
0
Y
F

1
0
Y
F

2
0
Y
F

3
0
Y
F

4
0
Y
F

5
0
Y
F

6
0
Y
F

7
0
Y
F

0
0
Y
F

1
0
Y
F

2
0
Y
F

3
0
Y
F

4
0
Y
F

5
0
Y
F

6
0
Y
F

7
0
Y
F

0
0
Y
F

1
0
Y
F

2
0
Y
F

3
0
Y
F

4
0
Y
F

5
0
Y
F

6
0
Y
F

7
0
Y
F

1.  Includes acquisitions.
2.   Boral’s share of revenues from LBGA Asian plasterboard joint venture do not appear  
in consolidated accounts. Boral’s profits from LBGA are equity accounted and are  
after financing and tax.

3.  FY05 result onward has been adjusted for adoption of A-IFRS.
4.  FY01 onwards includes Boral’s share of LBGA revenues.

year ended 30 June 

2007 

2006  change

year ended 30 June 

%  

2007 

2006  change

%  

A$ million unless stated

A$ million unless stated

454 
318 
169 

Sales revenue 
EBITDA 
EBIT 
Capital expenditure1 
Funds employed1 
17.8 
EBITDA return on sales, % 
EBIT return on sales, % 
12.5 
EBIT return on funds employed, %  14.0 
Employees, number 
Revenue per employee 

2,549  2,410 
410 
286 
273 
2,271  2,202 
17.0
11.9
13.0
5,838  5,754 
0.437  0.419 

6
11
11
(38)
3

Sales revenue 
EBITDA 
EBIT 
Capital expenditure1 
Funds employed1 
EBITDA return on sales, % 
EBIT return on sales, % 
EBIT return on funds employed, % 
Employees, number 
Revenue per employee 

151 
99 
127 

1,275  1,213 
162 
118 
119 
1,114  1,001 
13.4
11.8 
9.7
7.8 
11.8
8.9 
4,107  4,143 
0.311  0.293 

5
(7)
(16)
7
11

Performance
• 

Improved revenues due to strong quarry volumes; 
cement, concrete and quarry pricing gains; and 
higher asphalt volumes and margins. Boral ownership 
of Girotto Precast now 80% and revenues now 
consolidated. 
Improved earnings from Blue Circle Southern Cement 
(BCSC) and Asphalt. Quarry End Use (QEU) contributed 
$56m of EBIT.
Significantly improved results in Queensland and WA. 
Victoria benefited from Melbourne’s EastLink project. 
Markets weaker in NSW; Sydney ABS concrete volumes 
were down by 8%.
$17m operational improvement from BCSC Waurn Ponds 
kiln. Berrima kiln #6 operating at above rated capacity, 
Waurn Ponds and Galong now performing well. 
$70m of PEP cost reductions.

• 

• 

• 

• 

FY2008 Outlook
• 
• 

Increased non-dwelling and infrastructure activity.
Concrete and quarry price increases will continue to 
flow through.
QEU earnings of around $50m weighted to June half.

• 

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

10

Performance
• 

Higher prices offset weaker volumes across bricks, 
roofing and masonry. 
Plasterboard revenues underpinned by increased 
volumes and sales of re-sale products. 
Timber revenue lift driven by stronger conditions in 
Queensland, sales growth from the Davis & Herbert 
business and engineered flooring sales. 
Earnings decline due to weaker masonry earnings 
and lower volumes and higher manufacturing costs 
associated with low plant utilisation and temporary  
plant shutdowns.
$32m of PEP cost reductions.

• 

• 

• 

• 

FY2008 Outlook
• 
• 

Expect 145,000-150,000 dwelling starts.
Effective price and cost management should mitigate 
volume related impacts and temporary plant closures 
should contain inventory growth in bricks and roof tiles.

 
 
 
 
 
 
USA

Share of External Revenue

US Bricks

Concrete Roof Tiles**

Clay Roof Tiles

Construction Materials

Fly Ash

**  MonierLifetile joint 
venture is equity 
accounted – Boral’s 
share of revenue 
does not appear in 
consolidated accounts 
but is included in the 
revenue pie chart.

Revenue $m

EBITDA3 $m

EBITDA/Revenue %

7
5
9

3
8
8

3
9
7

6
5
7

1
6
7

5
5
7

0
1
8

2
6
6

9
1
2

7
7
1

5
5
1

7
5
1

1
5
1

4
4
2 1
3
1

9
2
1

%
8
.
2
2

%
8
.
1
% 2
0
.
0
2

%
6
.
0
2

%
9
.
9
1

%
6
.
9
1

%
0
.
9
1

%
6
.
4
1

Asia

*  Includes Boral’s Asian plasterboard joint venture with 

Lafarge and Boral’s Indonesian and Thailand construction 
materials businesses.

Revenue $m4

EBIT3 $m

EBIT/Revenue3 %

6
9
4 3
6
3

0
0
3

1
4
2

7
2
2

0
1
2

3
0
1

8
9

9
2

4
2

0
2

3
2 2
2

2
1

4

4
1
-

9
.
1
1

4
.
0
1

4
.
9

0
.
4

4
.
7

2
.
6

1
.
3

6
.
3
1
-

0
0
Y
F

1
0
Y
F

2
0
Y
F

3
0
Y
F

4
0
Y
F

5
0
Y
F

6
0
Y
F

7
0
Y
F

0
0
Y
F

1
0
Y
F

2
0
Y
F

3
0
Y
F

4
0
Y
F

5
0
Y
F

6
0
Y
F

7
0
Y
F

0
0
Y
F

1
0
Y
F

2
0
Y
F

3
0
Y
F

4
0
Y
F

5
0
Y
F

6
0
Y
F

7
0
Y
F

0
0
Y
F

1
0
Y
F

2
0
Y
F

3
0
Y
F

4
0
Y
F

5
0
Y
F

6
0
Y
F

7
0
Y
F

0
0
Y
F

1
0
Y
F

2
0
Y
F

3
0
Y
F

4
0
Y
F

5
0
Y
F

6
0
Y
F

7
0
Y
F

0
0
Y
F

1
0
Y
F

2
0
Y
F

3
0
Y
F

4
0
Y
F

5
0
Y
F

6
0
Y
F

7
0
Y
F

2007 

2006  change

year ended 30 June 

%  

2007 

2006 

change

%  

A$ million unless stated

Sales revenue2 
EBITDA 
EBIT 
Funds employed 
Return on funds employed, % 

3
(31)
(46)

183 
21 
12 
376 
3.2 

177 
30 
23 
377
6.0

Performance 
• 

Decline in earnings from construction materials due to 
volume (Indonesia) and margin pressures (Indonesia 
and Thailand) offset by improved market conditions and 
underlying earnings in Asia plasterboard JV.
Concrete and quarry business in Thailand recovered 
market share and expanded geographically and concrete 
volumes lifted significantly. 
Income of $16m from Asian plasterboard JV 18% 
below last year, but on an underlying basis earnings 
substantially stronger. South Korea trading was more 
stable and volumes were well up but there was 
continued pressure on prices.
Plasterboard prices up in East China and total China 
volumes were higher. Market conditions remained 
soft in Thailand and exports were lower, resulting in 
continued pressure on prices and volumes.
2 plasterboard plant 
New US$13m 10m m
commissioned in Vietnam in August 2006 but faced 
some early competitive pressures. 

• 

• 

• 

• 

FY2008 Outlook
• 

Expect continued growth and competitive market 
conditions in Asia. 

year ended 30 June 

US$m
Sales revenue 
EBITDA 
EBIT 

699 
102 
75 

714 
163 
139 

(2)
(37)
(46)

(8)
(41)
(49)
–
(4)

A$m
883 
Sales revenue 
129 
EBITDA 
95 
EBIT 
Capital expenditure1 
100 
Funds employed1 
813 
14.6 
EBITDA return on sales, % 
EBIT return on sales, % 
10.7 
EBIT return on funds employed, %  11.6 
Employees, number 
Revenue per employee 

957 
219 
186 
100 
848 
22.8
19.4
21.9
2,503  2,679 
0.353  0.357 

Performance 
• 

Severe downturn in US housing activity, with the most 
significant decline in earnings coming from the MLT 
concrete roof tile joint venture and from US bricks. 
Brick and clay roof tile prices up 6% but June 07 on 
June 06 brick prices flat and clay roof tiles up 1%. 
Concrete roof tiles up 4% year-on-year but June 07 on 
June 06 prices down 11%.
Revenue growth in Construction Materials. Concrete 
volumes down due to slowing residential market and 
adverse weather, but aggregate and block volumes up 
and overall price lifts.
US$26m of PEP cost reductions. 

• 

• 

• 

FY2008 Outlook
• 

Forecasters expect 1.4–1.5 million housing starts down 
around 3%–10% on FY2007. 
Natural gas costs should be lower than in FY2007. 
Schwarz/Arbuckle acquisitions should increase USA 
construction materials EBITDA by around US$12m. 

• 
• 

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

11

 
 
 
 
 
 
remained at 30-year low levels, with 
increased demand driven by strong 
infrastructure activity. Average price 
increases of 4% were not sufficient 
to fully offset cost increases. 

Asphalt performed very strongly 
during the year with higher volumes 
underpinning a 16% lift in revenues. 
Margins improved despite bitumen 
cost escalation.  

Quarry volumes were 7% higher 
than last year, due to concrete 
and asphalt pull-through and 
participation in a number of 
infrastructure projects. Our quarry 
businesses experienced cost 
pressures associated with the 
resources boom. Our Queensland 
and Western Australia plants were 
operating at near capacity which put 
further pressure on operating costs. 
Penrith Lakes (PLDC) costs in  
New South Wales increased as 
quarrying moved into the final  
years of extraction. These cost 
pressures were partially offset by 
price increases of 4% and cost 
reduction initiatives. 

Boral Transport’s EBITDA earnings 
were lower than last year following 
our exit from the Hunter Valley 
transport business. The transport 
business now largely supports 
internal transport needs.

We exited the mining contracting 
business in Western Australia 
but the asset value of all related 
equipment was recovered.

Boral’s Quarry End Use (QEU) 
business contributed $56 million 
of EBIT (up by around $9 million 
on last year). QEU earnings came 
from the George’s Fair (Moorebank) 
and Nelson’s Ridge (Greystanes) 
developments, the sale of land at 
Northgate and Richmond Lowlands, 
and the Deer Park Western  
Landfill operation.  

Outlook 
We anticipate that increased non-
dwelling and infrastructure activity 
will favourably impact ACM in 
Australia during FY2008. Concrete 
and quarry price increases that 
were announced effective 1 April 
2007 will continue to flow through 
in FY2008. QEU earnings of around 
$50m will again be weighted 
heavily to the second half of the 
FY2008 year. 

Widespread cost control programs 
exist within the division. Major 
performance enhancement 
programs are under way in New 
South Wales aimed at improving our 
cost structure and in Queensland 
aimed at further improving our 
cost structure and maximising our 
network capacity. 

REVIEW OF OPERATING DIVISIONS

JOhn DOuGLAS
EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER
aUStraLian
CONSTRUCTION
MATERIALS

The Australian Construction 
Materials (ACM) division employs 
around 4,600 employees and 1,600 
contractors in quarry, concrete, 
asphalt, transport, contracting 
and land development activities 
throughout Australia. With around 
400 operating sites, ACM has a 
regional focus to serve Boral’s 
local markets.

Performance
ACM’s FY2007 sales were around 
9% higher than the prior year. 
Market conditions in Queensland 
and Western Australia remained 
strong during the year. In Victoria, 
Boral benefited from participation 
in Melbourne’s EastLink project. 
Robust infrastructure spending 
in these states, together with 
effective price management, offset 
weaker market conditions in New 
South Wales where Boral has 
significant exposure. In Sydney 
where ABS concrete volumes were 
down by 8%.

Boral’s concrete volumes were 
2% higher during the year, despite 
difficult trading conditions in New 
South Wales where detached 
dwelling construction activity 

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

12

QUarrieS
Boral has leading quarry resource 
positions close to market and is 
australia’s leading quarry operator 
with around 100 quarries, sand pits 
and gravel operations producing 
products such as concrete 
aggregates, crushed rock, asphalt 
and sealing aggregates, road base 
materials, sands and gravels. 

COnCrete
the network of around 240 premix 
concrete plants produces a wide 
range of mixes in metropolitan and 
country areas. Boral’s acquisition of 
GoCrete in Western australia and 
80% of Girotto Precast on the east 
Coast gives it interests in precast 
concrete plants in key markets.

aSPhaLt
Boral is a national supplier of 
asphalt with around 50 plants 
producing asphalt and other 
materials for the surfacing and 
maintenance of road networks.

tranSPOrt
the company-owned fleet totals 
around 400 vehicles providing bulk 
transport and logistics solutions 
to the construction materials 
businesses, other Boral divisions 
and to selected external freight 
markets where it supports our 
internal business. Boral transport 
manages approximately a further 
300 contracted vehicles and drivers.

QUarry enD USe
QeU focuses on realising 
appropriate end uses for quarry 
properties and other Boral land 
assets that are nearing the end 
of their economic life. Current 
major QeU activities include 
development of the Greystanes 
estate and the moorebank brick 
plant redevelopment in Sydney and 
a 40% share in the Penrith Lakes 
Development Scheme.

DARWIN

a key growth driver for aCm, asphalt capacity 
has been increased via the construction of 
plants at Geelong in Victoria and West Burleigh 
in Queensland we have also purchased two 
new mobile plants currently located at ipswich 
in Queensland and eastlink in melbourne. a 
new plant is currently under construction at 
Welshpool in Perth and is due for completion by 
December 2007. these new plants complement 
our existing network which is performing 
strongly, as evidenced by the enfield plant in 
new South Wales.

PERTH

DARWIN

aCm has significant capacity 
and capability to meet the large 
scale infrastructure projects 
that are forecast to come on 
stream over the next few years. 
this is demonstrated by our 
involvement in the Boddington 
Gold mine project in Wa and 
the successful execution of 
the eastLink motorway project 
in melbourne (the largest 
infrastructure project in australia 
to date). Locating new concrete 
and asphalt plants adjacent 
to the eastLink project is an 
example of the commitment and 
capability that aCm can bring to 
its infrastructure partners.

ADELAIDE

CANBERRA

MELBOURNE

HOBART

BRISBANE

Queensland’s infrastructure spend 
is at unprecedented levels, and 
underpinned a solid increase in 
revenues from this region. this level of 
activity is expected to grow in coming 
years. aCm is well placed to meet the 
infrastructure demands due to targeted 
investment in our concrete, quarry and 
asphalt networks, particularly in South 
east Queensland.

SYDNEY

ASPHALT
CONCRETE
QUARRIES
TRANSPORT

BRISBANE

PERTH

ADELAIDE

CANBERRA

SYDNEY

aCm is continuing to review the composition of its businesses. 
expansion of our precast business is continuing with our investment 
in Girotto, which operates on the east Coast, increasing to 80% and 
the construction of an automated plant for our GoCrete precast 
operations in Perth. Business rationalisation includes exiting the 
Cooljarloo contract mining business and unprofitable transport 
contracts, both in Western australia, and the sale of our non-core 
hunter Valley new South Wales transport business.

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

13

MELBOURNE

HOBART

ASPHALT

CONCRETE

QUARRIES

TRANSPORT

been operating well. Berrima’s 
capability was further enhanced 
with the successful March 2007 
commissioning of the new 800k 
tpa cement mill. The Waurn Ponds 
kiln significantly improved its 
performance with the benefits of the 
upgrade becoming apparent in a $17 
million earnings uplift in FY2007. 

Lime volumes were up significantly 
from last year’s low base with 
demand from the steel sector 
improving but still short of 
expectations. Despite an early 
refractory change at Galong costing 
around $2 million during the year, the 
Galong kiln is now performing well.

The Formwork & Scaffolding 
business environment remains very 
competitive. During the period, 
several competitors sought to 
continue to expand market share 
using imported hire stock. The 
consequent pressure on hiring rates 
reduced earnings despite increased 
volumes and formwork capability. 

De Martin & Gasparini revenues 
were down significantly on last year. 
EBITDA was lower due to a less 
favourable business mix. 

Dowell Windows EBITDA earnings 
improved on last year due to stronger 
volumes and cost controls. Revenue 
increased despite difficult conditions 
in the housing market particularly 
in New South Wales. Sales in 
Queensland, Victoria and Western 
Australia were stronger. 

In Indonesia, concrete volumes 
were well down but market share 
was stable in an uncertain market 
environment driven by large 
economy-wide cost increases, 
particularly diesel, and major 
flooding in Jakarta earlier in 2007. 
Price increases did not offset cement 
and other cost increases. The quarry 
and pipe businesses progressed and 
the review of cement supply options 
advanced during the year.

In the Thailand Concrete & Quarries 
business, concrete volumes lifted 
significantly as we recovered market 
share and expanded geographically. 
There was ongoing political upheaval 
and severe monsoonal flooding 
during the year. Margin compression 
was experienced as a result of 
cement and diesel cost increases.

Outlook
Cement demand should remain well 
supported by continued strength 
in non-dwellings and infrastructure 
construction. An increasing 
Australian dollar exchange rate and 
reduced cement exports from Asia 
to the US may have a dampening 
effect on increases in domestic 
cement pricing in the short term. 
Asian operating environments are 
expected to remain challenging. 

BLUe CirCLe SOUthern 
Cement (BCSC)
this leading australian cement 
company has 13 operating and four 
distribution sites and around 700 
employees. the major operations 
are in the Southern highlands of 
nSW at Berrima where the dry 
process cement capacity is 1.4m 
tpa. at maldon, up to 300k tpa of 
off-white and grey cement can be 
produced and development of a 
larger scale and lower cost bagging 
and dry mix facility has been 
completed. BCSC markets fly ash 
acquired from power stations in 
nSW and has a 50% shareholding 
in Fly ash australia. in Victoria, at 
Waurn Ponds near Geelong, the 
upgraded dry process kiln has a 
capacity of 800k tpa. BCSC also has 
a 50% interest in Sunstate Cement 
which operates a cement milling 
facility in Brisbane.

BCSC is a large producer of 
limestone for both internal and 
external customers from our 
substantial reserves at marulan and 
at Galong in nSW. Lime is produced 
at marulan and at Galong.

BOraL FOrmWOrK & 
SCaFFOLDinG (BFS)
Boral is a leader in the hire and 
sale of formwork and scaffolding, 
providing engineering expertise 
to the australian construction 
industry. BFS has 30 depots around 
australia with an increasing focus 
on new formwork products.

De martin & GaSParini (DmG)
DmG is a specialist concrete placing 
business which has been servicing 
Sydney’s construction industry for 
over 50 years. DmG has built its 
expertise in large pours, detailed 
formwork design and high strength 
concrete.

DOWeLL WinDOWS
Dowell operates nationally 
through 15 window fabrication 
businesses employing around 800 
people, focusing on supplying the 
residential builder market.

inDOneSian COnStrUCtiOn 
materiaLS
Pt Jaya readymix is the largest 
producer of premixed concrete in 
indonesia, employing around 2,100 
people on 28 sites, predominantly 
located on the main island of Java. 
its hard rock quarries produce 
aggregates for the Jakarta market. 
the business is expanding its 
concrete pipe and precast panels 
business.

BOraL thaiLanD COnCrete  
& QUarrieS
this business is one of thailand’s 
leading concrete and quarry 
businesses and operates around 50 
concrete batch plants and quarries 
throughout the country.

REVIEW OF OPERATING DIVISIONS

PhIL JOBe 
EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER

Cement

The Cement division is a portfolio 
of businesses comprising Blue 
Circle Southern Cement (BCSC), 
Boral Formwork & Scaffolding, 
De Martin & Gasparini, Dowell 
Windows, PT Jaya Readymix 
(Indonesia) and Boral Thailand 
Concrete & Quarries. The division 
operates across 135 operating 
sites in Australia, Indonesia 
and Thailand and employs 
approximately 5,400 people  
(with around 3,400 in Asia).

Performance
BCSC drove the Cement division’s 
improved operating performance 
with the remaining businesses in the 
portfolio producing mixed results. 

Overall cement volumes were 
similar to last year. A decline in 
New South Wales volumes was 
offset by increases in both Victoria 
and Queensland where Sunstate 
Cement achieved double digit 
growth. Average cement prices 
were 4% higher than the prior year. 

Following a three-week shutdown 
in July 2006 to replace a trunnion 
bearing failure costing around 
$5 million, Berrima’s kiln #6 has 

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

14

 
 
SOUTH

KOREA

CHINA

DARWIN

PHILIPPINES

in June 2007, Sunstate 
Cement announced 
plans for an $85m 
expansion to meet 
growing infrastructure 
needs in Queensland.  
the expansion plans 
include an additional 
500,000 tpa of cement 
CONCRETE
QUARRIES
grinding capacity, 
METAL PRODUCTS
together with additional 
(PRODUCTION)
clinker, cement and fly 
ash storage capacity.

SOUTH

KOREA

THAILAND

CHINA

MALAYSIA

SINGAPORE

INDONESIA

CONCRETE
QUARRIES
METAL PRODUCTS
(PRODUCTION)

THAILAND

PHILIPPINES

MALAYSIA

SINGAPORE

INDONESIA

PERTH

BRISBANE

DARWIN

ADELAIDE

SYDNEY

the Galong lime operation has emerged 
from a difficult commissioning phase, 
CANBERRA
which culminated in an early kiln 
refractory replacement, to perform at 
high levels of availability and produce 
a high-quality calcined lime product. 
Galong is securing its position as a 
competitive and long life supplier of  
lime to south-east australian markets.

MELBOURNE

HOBART

CEMENT 
SCAFFOLDING
WINDOWS

BRISBANE

PERTH

ADELAIDE

SYDNEY

the upgraded Waurn Ponds cement plant 
operated at improved levels of availability 
throughout the year and consequently lower 
cost, which enabled BCSC to lift production 
to meet customer requirements in a strong 
Victorian market 

CANBERRA

MELBOURNE

CEMENT 

SCAFFOLDING

WINDOWS

Dowell Windows has improved 
its operating and earnings 
performance this year against the 
background of depressed new 
housing construction markets, 
particularly in nSW, by a focus 
on cost containment and product 
innovation. 

HOBART

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

15

In line with market conditions, 
overall demand for the division’s 
products was lower, which resulted 
in lower revenues and earnings on 
the prior year. 

Despite the pressure from lower 
volumes; bricks down 1–2%, 
roof tiles down 2% and masonry 
products down 7%, pricing 
outcomes were generally positive. 
Average brick prices improved 
by around 2–4% and roofing 
prices were up by around 3%. 
Masonry prices however were 
flat. Market shares were broadly 
stable throughout the year, except 
in Masonry where we lost market 
share following the entry of new 
manufacturing capacity. Clay brick 
competitors continued to target  
the concrete brick share of wall  
in Victoria.

Manufacturing performance was 
variable across the businesses.  
In Roofing, benefits from the Emu 
Plains (New South Wales) and 
Carole Park (Queensland) concrete 
tile plants which have both been 
upgraded in recent years, offset 
poorer performance at the Wyee 
clay tile plant in New South Wales 
and at the aging Springvale concrete 
tile plant in Victoria. 

To match production levels to the 
weak market conditions a series of 
plant slowdowns and/or extended 
temporary shutdowns occurred 
across the east coast. Most clay 
manufacturing plants had extended 
shuts and multiple concrete products 
plants operated on reduced shifts. 

We continued to operate ageing 
high-cost plants in Western Australia 
to service continuing strong 
demand. This adversely impacted 
manufacturing performance as did 
labour supply constraints.

Major business improvement 
programs continued to deliver in line 
with expectations in both the East 
Coast Bricks and Concrete Masonry 
businesses. A new structured 
program was commenced to 
improve the effectiveness of the 
contract installation business in 
Roofing with positive early results.

Outlook
We expect dwelling 
commencements in Australia in 
FY2008 of around 145,000–150,000 
starts compared to the estimated 
149,000 starts in FY2007. Effective 
price and cost management 
should mitigate some volume-
related impacts and an extended 
program of temporary plant 
closures should contain inventory 
growth, particularly in bricks and 
roof tiles, but will adversely impact 
manufacturing costs.

REVIEW OF OPERATING DIVISIONS

KeITh MITCheLhILL
EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER
CLay & 
COnCrete
PRODUCTS

Clay & Concrete Products (C&C) 
manufactures and markets clay 
and concrete bricks, blocks, roof 
tiles and landscaping products. 
These products are widely used 
in a range of domestic and 
commercial walling, roofing and 
landscaping applications.

Across 43 Australian locations 
including 22 operating sites, C&C 
employs around 1,800 people and 
over 800 contractors. The products 
are sold in Australia, new Zealand 
and Asia.

Performance
Australian dwelling construction, 
particularly detached housing, is the 
primary source of demand for the 
division’s products. FY2007 saw a 
1% increase in Australian dwelling 
approvals, following an 8% decline 
in the previous year. Dwelling starts 
were around 149,000 for the year, 
well below underlying demand 
levels of around 170,000 starts 
per annum. Again this year the 
conditions varied widely between 
different regions with near peak 
conditions in Western Australia and 
record 30-year lows in detached 
housing in New South Wales.

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

16

BriCKS
Boral is australia’s second  
largest producer of clay bricks and 
pavers. Boral is also an exporter 
of clay products to new Zealand, 
Japan and increasingly other  
asian countries.

Bricks east comprises seven brick 
manufacturing sites in Victoria, 
new South Wales and Queensland.

Bricks West includes midland Brick 
which is the largest clay brick 
manufacturer on one site in the 
world. midland was established in 
1945 and acquired by Boral in 1990.

rOOFinG
as australia’s second largest roof 
tile supplier, Boral competes in 
both the supply-only and supply-
and-fix market segments. We 
operate four concrete roof tile 
plants in the cities of Brisbane, 
Sydney, melbourne and adelaide 
and one clay roof tile plant at 
Wyee, on the new South Wales 
Central Coast.

maSOnry
Boral is the largest manufacturer 
of concrete masonry products in 
australia with manufacturing sites 
in five states. We are a recognised 
leader in the paving, landscaping 
and retaining wall segments and 
have an industry-leading range  
of products.

DARWIN

a $6 million upgrade to the ageing 
Springvale concrete tile plant in Victoria 
commenced in the June 2007 quarter. 
When fully commissioned, the upgraded 
plant will deliver improved quality and 
lower costs to the previously capacity-
constrained plant. 

PERTH

DARWIN

ADELAIDE

Commissioning of a 
new state-of-the-art 
brick plant at midland 
Brick in Perth, Western 
australia, continued 
throughout the year. 
the new Kiln 11 will 
manufacture a wide 
range of bricks, pavers 
and facing tiles. it will 
also deliver a wide 
range of improved 
environmental and 
safety outcomes. 

SYDNEY

CANBERRA

MELBOURNE

HOBART

BRISBANE

the new ‘wetcast’ paver plant in Wacol, 
Queensland, effectively completed 
commissioning in the June 2007 quarter, 
is the most highly automated plant of its 
type in australia and will secure Boral 
an industry-leading cost position in this 
relatively fast-growing segment. 

BRICKS
ROOF TILES
MASONRY
CLAY & CONCRETE
DISTRIBUTION

BRISBANE

PERTH

ADELAIDE

SYDNEY

CANBERRA

MELBOURNE

HOBART

BRICKS

ROOF TILES

MASONRY

CLAY & CONCRETE

DISTRIBUTION

Several new product releases and an overall lift 
in the fashionability of the division’s product 
range has assisted in improving the relative 
positioning of Boral’s product range against 
competitor offerings. 

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

17

harDWOOD
Boral’s hardwood business 
operates 14 manufacturing 
facilities in new South Wales and 
distributes product to domestic 
and export markets. the business 
has a strong position in both 
structural and flooring markets. 
Boral exports small quantities 
of woodchips processed from 
sawmill waste, forest residues 
and plantation stock from the 
hardwood operations in northern 
new South Wales.

SOFtWOOD
Softwood’s single manufacturing 
facility is located at Oberon in new 
South Wales and operates through 
a joint venture with Carter holt 
harvey. the mill has a capacity  
of around 725,000m3 following  
a recent capital upgrade. the mill 
has not produced to full capacity 
to date due to a weak detached 
housing market. Softwood 
products are primarily sold in east 
coast markets.

PLyWOOD
Boral is australia’s leading plywood 
producer and operates one large 
plywood operation at ipswich in 
Queensland. Products are sold in  
all major australian markets.

Hardwood volumes were up by 
10% due to improving demand 
from structural and flooring 
markets and strong demand from 
infrastructure projects. Average 
selling prices for hardwood 
products were steady.

EBITDA earnings were flat 
compared with the prior year but 
well up in the June half. Cost 
pressures from log supply and 
wages escalation compressed 
margins. EBIT declined in the 
period as additional depreciation 
from last year’s plant upgrade 
investments was incurred during 
the year. 

Manufacturing performance also 
improved in the second half of the 
year with increased throughput and 
recovery at the Herons Creek mill 
and the engineered flooring plant 
at Murwillumbah. During the year, 
Boral Timber closed the Bostobrick 
green mill and suspended 
operations at its Gloucester 
hardwood mill due to the weak 
market conditions experienced  
in New South Wales.

Hardwood inventory levels 
increased during the year due 
to the continued softness in the 
housing market. The $24 million 
upgrade at Herons Creek has 
been completed and productivity 
improved in the second half of 
the year. The engineered flooring 
operation showed significant 
improvement during the year 
with a substantial increase in 
sales volumes and improved plant 
efficiency. Performance from the 
newly acquired Davis & Herbert 
business further improved during 
the year with operating cashflow 
from the business ahead of the 
investment case.

Outlook
Demand for softwood and 
hardwood timber products is 
expected to strengthen in FY2008 
as domestic housing construction 
activity firms on the east coast 
of Australia, particularly in 
Queensland. Supply of Australian 
hardwood and softwood timber 
products is expected to remain 
constrained in the year providing a 
favourable pricing environment. PEP 
cost reduction initiatives will be a 
major area of focus for FY2008.

REVIEW OF OPERATING DIVISIONS

BRYAn TISheR
EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER

timBer

The Timber division employs 
around 800 people in its 
hardwood, softwood and 
plywood operations, located 
on the east coast of Australia. 
Timber operates 17 manufacturing 
sites and 6 distribution outlets. 
Products are sold into the 
structural, commercial and 
renovation markets and are 
distributed across domestic and 
export markets.

Performance
Timber’s revenues increased 12% 
to $247m during the year, driven 
primarily by stronger market 
conditions in Queensland, sales 
growth from the recently acquired 
South Coast hardwood business 
(Davis & Herbert) and increased 
engineered flooring product sales. 

Softwood volumes were up 
3% and prices recovered in the 
second half from the price declines 
experienced in the six months 
ending December 2006. Plywood 
prices strengthened during the year 
by around 4%.

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

18

 
 
DARWIN

DARWIN

Output from the 
engineered Flooring 
plant at murwillumbah 
increased in the year 
with external sales 
significantly above the 
prior year. resource 
recovery and plant 
efficiencies improved.

the upgrade of Boral’s 
softwood manufacturing 
facility at Oberon, a 
joint venture with Carter 
holt harvey, has been 
completed and the mill 
now has the capacity to 
process 725,000m3 of 
incoming log.

BRISBANE

BRISBANE

PERTH

PERTH

ADELAIDE

SYDNEY

CANBERRA

ADELAIDE

MELBOURNE

SYDNEY

CANBERRA

HOBART

MELBOURNE

HOBART

HARDWOOD SALES OFFICE
HARDWOOD MILLS
PLYWOOD
SOFTWOOD
TIMBER FLOORING 
RETAIL SHOWROOM

HARDWOOD SALES OFFICE

HARDWOOD MILLS

PLYWOOD

SOFTWOOD

TIMBER FLOORING 

RETAIL SHOWROOM

Productivity has improved at the upgraded 
herons Creek green mill, particularly in the 
second half of the year. the new plant has 
improved safety features and is designed 
to operate more efficiently with the smaller 
diameter regrowth log resource available 
from Forests nSW.

the Davis & herbert business, acquired in 
June 2005, achieved an improved result in 
Fy2007 with operating cashflow ahead of the 
investment case.

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

19

plasterboard demand from most 
non-residential markets, improved 
non-plasterboard sales through our 
own direct distribution channels 
and stronger performance from our 
residential installation business, 
Boral Interior Linings. Boral’s 
PartiWALL® and EurekaWALL™ 
partitioning systems continue to 
lead the market. Ongoing cost 
reduction initiatives offset lower 
prices enabling underlying margins 
to be maintained.

GRA, our gypsum supply joint 
venture with CSR, was restructured 
during July 2007 and Boral’s shipping 
needs have now been outsourced to 
CSL Australia Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of 
Canada Steamship Lines Inc. 

Construction of the new 40 million m2 
p.a. plasterboard plant in Brisbane is 
well advanced and close to schedule. 
This plant will be state-of-the-art in its 
automation and energy efficiency and 
is capable of using recycled water. 
Located next to the Brisbane River, 
it will allow gypsum feedstock to be 
taken directly from ship by conveyor 
to plant, further reducing expected 
operating costs and reducing 
trucks on local roads. It will service 
Queensland and other markets and 
allow our existing Northgate facility  
to be taken out of service. 

Our Asian Plasterboard JV with 
Lafarge, LBGA, recorded an 
equity accounted after tax profit of 
$16 million, 18% below the same 
period last year which included 
a one-off compensation benefit 
for land resumed in Shanghai. 
The underlying result was 
substantially stronger, reflecting 
market conditions that were 
more stable in South Korea and 
strong in China, and the impact of 
strong cost reduction and revenue 
enhancement outcomes. Energy-
related cost increases continue  
to put pressure on margins. 

Outlook
Whilst plasterboard demand lags 
other products in the construction 
process, a cyclical uplift in building 
construction will favourably 
impact on demand particularly 
in Queensland. Potential for 
plasterboard imports into Australia 
from Asia remains a threat to 
Australian prices and margins 
but our cost competitiveness, 
product range and segment tailored 
channels to market position us well 
to meet this threat. Plasterboard 
market conditions in Korea,  
Thailand and China are expected  
to remain competitive over the next 
year. However, strong underlying 
plasterboard demand is expected to 
underpin longer term Asian returns.

REVIEW OF OPERATING DIVISIONS

ROSS BATSTOne 
EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER

PLaSterBOarD

The Plasterboard division is 
an integrated plasterboard 
manufacturing, distribution and 
installation business with 54 
company-owned distribution and 
operating sites around Australia 
and employing around 700 people. 
Boral has 50% shares in gypsum 
supply and metal products 
manufacturing businesses in 
Australia with CSR and a 50% 
share of a gypsum products joint 
venture across Asia with the 
French company Lafarge SA.

Performance
Australian demand for plasterboard 
lifted by around 2% in the year, 
reflecting stronger new house 
construction activity in Queensland 
despite weakness in New South 
Wales. Imports, mainly from 
Thailand, supplied less than 1% of 
overall demand, down year-on-year. 

Boral’s Australian plasterboard 
sales revenues were up 7% to 
$351 million despite 1% lower 
average prices and EBITDA 
earnings were in line with the prior 
year. The result benefited from the 
buoyant new house construction 
market in Queensland, resilient 

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

20

aUStraLia
Boral specialises in the 
manufacture, distribution and 
installation of plasterboard-based 
wall and ceiling lining systems 
and aims to be australia’s leading 
supplier of wall and ceiling 
lining solutions. this is backed 
by design and training support 
services for a national customer 
base of resellers, interior linings 
contractors and builders. We have 
plasterboard manufacturing plants 
in Queensland, new South Wales, 
Victoria and South australia, a 
specialty plasters and jointing 
compounds plant in Victoria, 
cornice plants in new South Wales 
and Victoria, an integrated national 
network of over 50 specialist 
trade centres and australia’s 
largest residential wall and ceiling 
installation service. Boral is a 50% 
shareholder in Gypsum resources 
australia (Gra) and in rondo 
Building Systems, the leading metal 
products supplier for wall and 
ceiling lining systems.

aSia JOint VentUre
Boral has a 50% shareholding of 
the Lafarge Boral Gypsum asia 
(LBGa) JV, the leading plasterboard 
producer in asia (outside Japan). 
around one in every four square 
metres of plasterboard sold in this 
region comes from LBGa. the JV 
has 306 million m2 of plasterboard 
capacity, specialist ceiling tile 
plants, a metal roll forming mill and 
production capacity for jointing 
compounds and industrial plasters, 
all feeding established distribution 
networks. Boral and Lafarge intend 
that LBGa continues to profitably 
grow its leadership position across 
asia in a manner which substantially 
increases markets for plasterboard 
systems and associated products 
and delivers value.

 
 
SOUTH
KOREA

DARWIN

CHINA

SOUTH

KOREA

CHINA

MALAYSIA

SINGAPORE

THAILAND

INDONESIA

SOUTH

KOREA

THAILAND

PHILIPPINES

THAILAND

PHILIPPINES

CHINA

PLASTERBOARD (SALES OFFICE)

PLASTERBOARD (PRODUCTION)

PLASTERBOARD (SALES OFFICE)
PLASTERBOARD (PRODUCTION)

the construction of the new Queensland 
Plasterboard plant is progressing well. at a 
budgeted net investment of $106m, this 40m 
m2 p.a. plant is adjacent to the river in the 
suburb of Pinkenba and will be australia’s 
largest plasterboard plant when completed. 
Commissioning is anticipated during the 
December 2007 quarter.

MALAYSIA

SINGAPORE

INDONESIA

PHILIPPINES

PLASTERBOARD (SALES OFFICE)
PLASTERBOARD (PRODUCTION)

BRISBANE

MALAYSIA

SINGAPORE

INDONESIA

PERTH

DARWIN

ADELAIDE

SYDNEY

CANBERRA

MELBOURNE

HOBART

through LBGa, we are continuing to 
strengthen our leading plasterboard 
position in asia. Our asian 
Plasterboard JV has commissioned 
the first plasterboard plant in Vietnam, 
located in the ho Chi minh City area, 
for a total investment of around 
US$13m. Capacity is expected to 
be 10m m2 p.a. and the site allows 
flexibility to increase capacity in 
the future. a new US$42m total 
investment is being made at LBGa’s 
Dangjin plant near Seoul, South Korea, 
to double plant capacity to 75m m2 p.a. 
the new capacity is expected to be 
commissioned in early calendar year 
2008. new plants are also being built 
at rajasthan in india (US$17m, 8m 
m2) and Chengdu in China (US$11m, 
10m m2), strengthening LBGa’s supply 
position in these markets.

PLASTERBOARD 
(PRODUCTION)
PLASTERBOARD 
(DISTRIBUTION)
GYPSUM MINE

BRISBANE

PERTH

ADELAIDE

SYDNEY

Our plasterboard business continues 
to benefit from product research and 
development activities. While products such 
as eurekaWaLL™ and CinemaZone® enjoy 
great success, there are many more coming 
through the innovation pipeline.

CANBERRA

MELBOURNE

HOBART

PLASTERBOARD 

(PRODUCTION)

PLASTERBOARD 

(DISTRIBUTION)

GYPSUM MINE

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

21

Revenue from Bricks was down 
by 3% due to an 11% decline in 
sales volumes only partially offset 
by 6% higher average prices and 
an increased proportion of Boral 
manufactured bricks that were sold 
through direct distribution, which 
is now up to approximately 80%. 
Prices weakened by around 1% in 
the June half and June 2007 prices 
were flat with those achieved in June 
2006. Brick sales volumes reduced 
by 11% (5% down in the December 
half and 17% down in the June half) 
and production volumes were 12% 
lower (4% up in the December half 
and 26% lower in the June half). 
EBITDA earnings were significantly 
down as a result of lower volumes, 
related production network 
inefficiencies and because of an 
US$11 million increase in natural 
gas costs. Production and logistics 
efficiencies from Brick’s “step 
change” program, and improved 
fuel efficiencies partially offset 
inflationary impacts. 

MLT delivered a loss of US$4 million 
compared to last year’s record profit 
of US$28 million. Average prices 
increased by around 4% because of 
the flowthrough of price increases 
which occurred in FY2006 but 
prices deteriorated by 10% in the 
second half and were 11% lower in 
June 2007 than in June 2006. Sales 
volumes were down by 35% (down 
27% in the December half and 
down 44% in the June half). MLT 
operations are heavily concentrated 
on the West Coast in California, 
Nevada and Arizona and in Florida; 
the decline in single family housing 
starts in these key markets averaged 
around 40% in FY2007. Production 
costs were higher than last year 
due to raw material cost increases 
(cement and sand) and inefficiencies 
from decreased production rates 
necessary to control inventory levels, 
which reduced throughout the year.

US Clay Tile’s plant in Southern 
California experienced reduced 
volumes with the deterioration in the 
western housing market and required 
reductions in plant output during the 
year. Average prices increased by 
6% because of the flowthrough of 
price increases which occurred in 
FY2006 but prices weakened by 1% 
in the June half and June prices were 
1% above those achieved in June 
2006. Sales volumes were down by 
14% (down 9% in the December half 
and down 18% in the second half). 
EBITDA earnings were well below 
last year as volumes and production 
costs were directly impacted by 
the slowdown in West Coast 
markets resulting in lower rates of 
production to avoid inventory build. 
The new plant in Trinidad incurred a 
loss of US$1.7 million as a result of 
deteriorating market conditions in 
South Florida. The construction of 

a new tile plant at Ione in Northern 
California is well under way and is 
scheduled to begin production in late 
2007. This plant will replace an older, 
less efficient line at our Corona plant 
in Southern California which requires 
a kiln rebuild.

Profit from the Boral Material 
Technologies Inc. (BMTI) fly ash 
business was steady compared to 
last year’s record result as higher 
prices and new product initiatives 
offset lower volumes resulting 
from the loss of the Belews Creek 
power station contract mid-year and 
because of very weak demand for 
cementitious products in Florida.

EBITDA earnings from Denver 
Construction Materials increased 
significantly in FY2007. Price 
increases for aggregates, concrete 
and block were sufficient to recover 
increases in the costs of fuel, cement 
and other raw materials. Concrete 
volumes were below last year due to 
slowing residential construction, as 
well as adverse weather conditions, 
however aggregate and block 
volumes were above last year. Key 
PEP initiatives also contributed to the 
improved result.

In August 2007 we announced the 
US$80 million acquisition of the 
Schwarz concrete and sand business 
and the Arbuckle hardrock quarry 
in Oklahoma, which continues 
the Company’s value-adding US 
construction materials growth strategy. 

Outlook
Following a significant decline in 
activity during FY2007 with total 
housing starts (single and multi-
dwellings in Boral’s US states) 
declining by 27% compared to the 
previous year, unsold inventories are 
at high levels, foreclosure rates are 
up and credit markets are tightening. 
It is unclear when a turnaround  
may occur. 

Forecasters currently expect  
USA housing starts to be around  
1.4–1.5 million in FY2008, down 
around 3%–10% on FY2007 levels 
(1.55 million starts) which will reduce 
brick and roof tile sales / production 
volumes and earnings compared to 
FY2007 levels. Natural gas costs 
should be lower than in FY2007.  
The Schwarz / Arbuckle acquisitions 
announced in August 2007, should 
increase USA construction materials 
EBITDA in FY2008 by around  
US$12 million. 

We have long-term confidence  
in the US market. We believe that 
underlying demand for dwellings 
in the USA is around 1.8 million 
starts (excluding manufactured 
housing). Boral is well positioned 
in the markets it serves, and US 
growth initiatives are expected to 
strengthen those positions and 
deliver benefits as markets recover. 

REVIEW OF OPERATING DIVISIONS

eMeRY SeVeRIn
PRESIDENT, BORAL USA

USa

Boral employs around 2,500 
people across 162 operating 
and distribution sites across 
the uSA. The uS operations 
include the country’s largest brick 
manufacturer, the largest clay tile 
manufacturer and one of the largest 
fly ash suppliers. The group holds 
a strong position in the Denver 
construction materials market 
and more recently in Oklahoma 
construction materials. Through 
the 50%-owned MonierLifetile 
(MLT), Boral is the largest concrete 
roof tile manufacturer in the  
united States.

Performance
In the USA, EBITDA earnings 
decreased by 37% on the prior year 
of US$102 million. The result was 
driven by a severe downturn in single 
family home construction across 
all major markets which negatively 
impacted sales and production 
volumes in the brick and roof tile 
businesses. The Denver, Colorado, 
construction materials businesses 
offset soft residential demand with 
increased commercial business, 
improving on last year’s performance.

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

22

 
 
WASHINGTON

OREGON

CALIFORNIA

ARIZONA

WASHINGTON

WYOMING

US tile is constructing a new US$28m clay 
roof tile plant at ione, California, to produce 
130,000 squares1 per annum, with completion 
expected by December 2007. in addition, 
a 132,000 squares1 per annum 50% joint 
venture clay roof tile plant in trinidad was 
completed in Fy2006 to supply product for 
MICHIGAN
importation into the Florida market. this plant 
is currently operating at lower volumes due 
to weak market conditions in South Florida.

OHIO

NEVADA

OREGON

MICHIGAN

COLORADO

WYOMING

KENTUCKY

MISSOURI

NORTH CAROLINA

OHIO

NEVADA

ARKANSAS

OKLAHOMA

COLORADO
MISSISSIPPI

CALIFORNIA

TEXAS

ARIZONA

TENNESSEE

SOUTH CAROLINA

GEORGIA

MISSOURI

ALABAMA

KENTUCKY

TENNESSEE

NORTH CAROLINA

SOUTH CAROLINA

ARKANSAS

OKLAHOMA

MISSISSIPPI

FLORIDA

GEORGIA

ALABAMA

TEXAS

FLORIDA

BMTI (FLY ASH)
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
USA BRICK (PRODUCTION) 
USA BRICK (DISTRIBUTION)
MONIERLIFETILE 
CONCRETE ROOF TILES
US TILE CLAY ROOF TILES

the new US$30m Lake Wales, Florida, 
plant was commissioned during the 
year, increasing monierLifetile’s Florida 
capacity by around 500,000 squares1 per 
annum.

1 One square = 100 square feet.

BMTI (FLY ASH)

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

USA BRICK (PRODUCTION) 

USA BRICK (DISTRIBUTION)

MONIERLIFETILE 

CONCRETE ROOF TILES

US TILE CLAY ROOF TILES

in august 2007, Boral acquired the concrete and sand assets 
of Schwarz readymix and the quarry assets of Davis arbuckle 
materials for US$80m. the acquisitions will be ePS accretive 
in the first full year of ownership and positions Boral as the 
second largest concrete producer in Oklahoma city. the 
acquisitions demonstrate Boral’s ongoing commitment to 
growing in construction materials in the USa.

MEXICO

MEXICO

Boral Bricks’ new US$35m Union City, Oklahoma, brick 
plant was commissioned during the year and with an 
output of 100 million standard brick equivalents, the 
plant increases manufacturing capacity by around 6% 
and services the relatively resilient key South West US 
market. Boral Bricks is constructing a new US$55m,  
120 million standard brick equivalent plant at terre 
haute, indiana, with completion anticipated in the march 
2008 quarter.

BriCKS
Boral’s brick business operates 24 
plants across 15 locations in eight 
States, primarily in the south-
eastern and south-western areas  
of the country. Boral sells over 80% 
of its clay bricks and pavers through 
a network of 60 company-owned 
direct selling locations with the 
remainder via a strong network of 
independent distributors.

rOOF tiLeS
Boral owns 50% of monierLifetile. 
the joint venture has 14 concrete 
roof tile plants in the western and 
south-western states and also 
in Florida. US tile, the country’s 
largest clay roof tile producer, 
operates from a plant in Southern 
California. through a 50% interest 
in a joint venture, US tile recently 
commissioned a new plant in 
trinidad producing roof tiles for 
importation into the Florida market.

FLy aSh
Bmti is one of the largest  
marketers and distributors of coal 
combustion products in the USa.  
it has around 40 locations around 
the country including operations 
at electrical utility plants, fly ash 
terminals and sales offices. With 
cementitious properties, fly ash is 
used as a cement substitute.

COnStrUCtiOn materiaLS
Boral has a strong number three 
position in the growing Denver 
market with eight concrete 
batching plants, 109 trucks, three 
sand and gravel deposits and two 
masonry plants. in august 2007, 
Boral acquired Schwarz concrete 
and sand business and arbuckle 
limestone quarry in Oklahoma. the 
business has 18 concrete plants, five 
sand mines and a limestone quarry.

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

23

with the Boston Consulting group, 
Pioneer Concrete uK, John Mowlem 
international and douglas Partners.  
He holds a civil engineering degree  
with First Class Honours from the 
university of Adelaide and an MBA  
from london Business school.

Phil Jobe 3
ExECutivE gEnERAl MAnAgER, CEMEnt
Phil is 53 and has been Executive 
general Manager of the Cement 
division since late 1999. Prior to this 
he was Regional general Manager for 
Boral’s nsW Construction Materials 
business and general Manager of 
Boral’s Construction Related Businesses 
from 1995–1999. Before joining Boral, 
Phil was Managing director of  
the stegbar group of Companies from 
1987–1994. He holds a commerce 
degree from the university of nsW.

Keith Mitchelhill 4
ExECutivE gEnERAl MAnAgER,  
ClAy & COnCREtE PROduCts
Keith is 44 and rejoined Boral as 
Executive general Manager of Clay 
& Concrete Products in August 2002 
from sirius telecommunications 
where he was CEO of the Phoneware 
division. He was previously Executive 
general Manager of Boral timber from 
2000–2001, general Manager, Boral 
Masonry from 1997–1999 and general 
Manager Marketing, Boral Building 
Products group from 1996–1997. Prior 
to that he held positions with laminex 
BtR nylex and nEC Australia. He holds 
an economics degree (Honours) and an 
MBA from Monash university.

Bryan Tisher 5
ExECutivE gEnERAl MAnAgER, tiMBER
Bryan is 44 and was appointed Executive 
general Manager, timber in March 2007.  
Prior to this he was general Manager 
Corporate development, a role which 
he held from 2000–2007. He was 
previously general Manager, strategic 
Planning for Boral’s Construction 
Materials group from 1998–1999. 
Prior to joining Boral he held a variety 
of positions at Rio tinto (1985–1998) 
including roles in project finance, 
business development and engineering 
design and construction. He holds a 
civil engineering degree (First Class 
Honours) from Monash university and 
an MBA from Harvard Business school.

Ross Batstone 6
ExECutivE gEnERAl MAnAgER, 
PlAstERBOARd
Ross is 59 and was Boral’s divisional 
general Manager Plasterboard Australia 
from 1996–2000 before becoming 
Executive general Manager of the 
Plasterboard division. He was 
previously Boral’s divisional general 
Manager Roofing from 1991–1995, 
Chief Executive Montoro Resources 
ltd from 1988–1990 and held various 
roles at shell Company of Australia 
from 1970–1987. He holds chemical 
engineering and commerce degrees 
from Queensland university.

Emery Severin 7
PREsidEnt, BORAl usA
Emery is 51 and was previously 
Executive general Manager of the 
Australian Construction Materials 

division from 1999–2004 before being 
appointed as President of Boral usA 
in August 2004. He was previously 
national general Manager of Blue Circle 
southern Cement from 1998–1999. 
Prior to that he was Regional general 
Manager of Boral’s nsW Construction 
Materials group from 1996–1998. 
Prior to joining Boral he held various 
management roles at BHP steel from 
1986–1995. Emery has a doctorate 
of philosophy in physical chemistry 
from Oxford university and a science 
degree (First Class Honours) from the 
university of nsW.

Ken Barton 8
CHiEF FinAnCiAl OFFiCER
Ken is 41 and has been Boral’s Chief 
Financial Officer since december 2002. 
He was previously vice President 
and Chief Financial Officer of Boral 
industries inc in the usA from August 
2000. Prior to joining Boral, he was 
vice President Finance, Pioneer usA 
from 1997–2000 and prior to that 
he was a Partner in the Corporate 
Finance division of Arthur Andersen 
based in sydney. Ken has a Bachelor of 
Economics degree from the university 
of sydney and is an Associate of the 
institute of Chartered Accountants in 
Australia and a fellow of the Financial 
services institute of Australia.

Michael Scobie 9
gEnERAl MAnAgER, CORPORAtE 
sERviCEs And COMPAny sECREtARy
Michael is 61 and is general Manager, 
Corporate services and Company 
secretary of Boral. He joined the Boral 
group as a corporate lawyer and has 
over 30 years’ service. He became  
the Company secretary in 1983 and  
has also held general counsel and  
other corporate roles since then. 
Michael holds a law degree from  
the university of sydney.

Robin Town 10
gEnERAl MAnAgER,  
HuMAn REsOuRCEs
Robin is 55 and has been Boral’s 
general Manager Human Resources 
since June 2001. He was previously 
President of Boral Material technologies 
in the usA from 1999–2001 and 
Regional general Manager of Boral’s 
Construction Materials business in 
Queensland from 1996–1999. Prior  
to joining Boral, he worked in the 
cement industry with Queensland 
Cement for 23 years. He holds a 
chemical engineering degree from  
the university of Queensland.

Andrew Warburton 11
gEnERAl MAnAgER,  
CORPORAtE dEvElOPMEnt
Andrew is 43 and is general Manager, 
Corporate development. He was 
previously national general Manager, 
Quarry End use from 2004–2007.  
Prior to joining Boral, he held marketing, 
business development and financial 
positions in the plastics and electronics 
industries based in Europe and funds 
management in Australia. Andrew 
holds an economics degree from the 
university of sydney and an MBA  
from insEAd.

1

3

5

7

2

4

6

management
COMMittEE

8

9

10

11

Rod Pearse 1
CEO And MAnAging diRECtOR
Biography on p.27

John Douglas 2
ExECutivE gEnERAl MAnAgER, 
AustRAliAn COnstRuCtiOn MAtERiAls
John is 45 and has been in his current 
position for three years. He joined 
Boral in 1995 and has held roles as 
Regional general Manager of Boral’s 
nsW Construction Materials business, 
general Manager of nsW Metropolitan 
Quarries and general Manager strategic 
Planning for Boral’s Construction 
Materials group. Prior to joining 
Boral, John held various positions 

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

24

segment, contributed to the growth 
in revenue with around 4% price 
increases in concrete, quarry 
products and cement. strength 
in the infrastructure segment 
contributed to volume growth in 
concrete, quarry products and 
asphalt. despite continued weak 
housing markets across Australia’s 
east coast, revenue increased 
modestly in the Australian building 
products segment. the revenue 
growth was driven largely by 
price increases combined with 
the volume impacts of growth 
initiatives, particularly across the 
timber products. us revenues in 
local currency declined by 2% 
as housing starts across the us 
declined by around 27%. the 
revenue decline does not include 
the impact of lower revenues in the 
Monierlifetile business which is 
equity accounted. Monierlifetile’s 
markets experienced greater 
declines in housing starts than 
the brick markets and the us as a 
whole. the Australian dollar was 
stronger against the us dollar, 
which resulted in the reported 
Australian dollar revenue decreasing 
by around 8%. Revenues in Asia, 
which consists of the indonesian 
and thailand concrete and quarry 
businesses, rose around 3%. 
indonesian volumes were slightly 
weaker due to lower levels of 
construction activity. in thailand, 
while volumes were higher, costs, 
particularly energy and cement, 
grew at a greater rate than prices 
and margins declined. 

the group’s underlying operating 
profit before interest and tax for the 
year declined by 14% compared to 
the previous year to $530.9 million.

the Australian operations generated 
operating profits of $417.2 million 
during the year, up 3% compared 
to the prior year. the improvement 
in earnings was due to increased 
building activity in a number of 
key markets, particularly in non-

residential segments, as well as 
favourable pricing outcomes. 

the Construction Materials 
operations in Australia reported an 
operating profit of $318.0 million, 
which compares to $286.0 million 
in the prior year. strength in the 
non-residential building markets 
and in the infrastructure segments 
underpinned increased volumes 
across most construction materials 
businesses, with the notable 
exception of nsW. Price increases 
were achieved in cement, concrete, 
quarry products and asphalt. these 
price increases, together with 
cost savings and higher volumes, 
saw the Construction Materials 
profit margin increase during the 
year from 11.9% to 12.5%. the 
improvement over the prior year 
was also partly attributable to 
improved profitability from quarry 
end use property sales. 

Results from the Australian Building 
Products businesses were down 
by 16% compared to the prior year. 
this segment includes bricks, roof 
tiles, masonry, plasterboard, timber 
and windows which are all heavily 
reliant on the new residential 
construction market as a driver of 
demand. the Australian Building 
Products businesses in most cases 
achieved increased prices  
compared to the prior year, a 
notable achievement given the 
softer residential market conditions 
on the east coast. Profits were 
lower in bricks and in masonry.  
new entrants in the masonry 
markets in nsW and Queensland 
led to volume declines and some 
price weakness.

the strength observed in the us 
housing market in prior years turned 
around during 2006/07. substantial 
declines in activity, particularly in 
key rooftile markets in California, 
Arizona, nevada and Florida, led to 
substantial declines in profitability in 
a number of the us businesses. 

Income Statement 

For the year ended 30 June

sales revenue

EBitdA

depreciation and amortisation

EBIT

net interest

Operating profit before tax

income tax expense

Minority interests

Profit after tax

Earnings per share (cents)

2007 
$ millions

2006 
$ millions

4,909.0

4,767.4

762.3

822.6

(231.4)

(208.6)

530.9

(110.5)

420.4

614.0

(98.2)

515.8

(122.3)

(153.1)

–

298.1

50.0

(0.3)

362.4

61.7

financial
REviEW

Financial Performance
the results for the 2006/07 
financial year reflected the strength 
of the Construction Materials 
businesses in Australia, offset by 
weak Australian residential markets 
and a substantial decline in activity 
in the us residential market. 
largely as a result of the weaker 
us markets, Boral’s net profit for 
the year decreased by 18% to 
$298.1 million. this net profit is 
equivalent to 50.0 cents per share, 
a decrease of around 11.7 cents 
per share compared with the prior 
year. A final dividend of 17.0 cents 
per share has been declared which 
will be fully franked, bringing the 
full year dividends to 34.0 cents. 
the dividends remained unchanged 
from the 2006 dividends which 
were also fully franked.

the group’s revenue from 
operating activities increased by 
3% compared with the previous 
year to $4.9 billion. the increase in 
revenues can be largely attributed 
to increased prices across most 
Australian businesses and the 
impact of acquisitions. Price and 
volume increases, particularly 
in the construction materials 

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

25

Profits translated to Australian 
dollars were 49% lower than the 
prior year. in us dollar terms, 
profits decreased by 46%. despite 
increased prices across most 
products, the impact of lower 
volumes led to declines in profits 
in the bricks, concrete tile and 
clay tile businesses. the recently 
acquired denver construction 
materials business delivered 
improved results and the profits 
from the fly ash business were 
steady compared to the prior year. 
these two businesses benefit from 
more diversified end use than the 
brick and roof tile businesses. to 
further increase Boral’s exposure 
to the us construction materials 
market, a further acquisition was 
announced subsequent to year 
end. us$80 million was spent 
to acquire the concrete and sand 
operations of schwarz Readymix 
and the hard rock quarry assets of 
davis Arbuckle Materials. these 
businesses operate in and around 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 

in Asia volumes improved in 
plasterboard in most major markets. 
during the year, a new plant was 
successfully commissioned in 
vietnam. the reported result from 
the Asian plasterboard business 
was lower due to the prior year 
benefit of a compensation payment 
for land resumed from lBgA in 
shanghai. the group’s Construction 
materials businesses in Asia 
reported weaker results due to 
lower margins as cost increases 
were not recovered through higher 
prices. Concrete volumes were also 
lower in indonesia due to lower 
levels of construction activity.

net interest expense increased 
from $98.2 million to $110.5 million. 
this increase was predominantly 
due to an increase in average net 
debt although closing net debt was 
lower due to the translation effect 
of the appreciation of the Australian 
dollar. EBit interest cover declined 
from 6.3 times to 4.8 times as 
a result of the higher interest 
expense.

the average underlying tax rate for 
the year was slightly lower than 
the prior year at 29%, due partly 
to the decline in earnings from the 
us where those earnings attract a 
higher tax rate.

the interim and final dividends for 
the year totalled $203.4 million 
which, combined, represent a 
payout ratio of 68% of profit 
after tax, a higher payout ratio 
than the 55% ratio for the prior 
year. Boral continued its dividend 
Reinvestment Plan (dRP) during the 
fiscal year. this resulted in proceeds 
of $53.7 million being applied to the 
issue of 7.3 million new ordinary 
shares. Boral will continue to offer 

Balance Sheet

As at 30 June

Current assets

non current assets

Total assets

Current liabilities

non current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

Total equity

Debt and Gearing

As at 30 June

total debt

total cash and deposits

Net debt

total shareholder equity

Gearing ratios %

net debt: equity (%)

net debt: equity plus net debt (%)

interest cover (times)

a dRP and will again prepare for 
an on-market buy-back to reduce 
earnings per share dilution. 

Financial Position
the net financial position of the 
group strengthened during the year 
with total equity increasing by 8% 
to $2,987.3 million. net borrowings 
decreased by 6% from $1,578.2 
million to $1,482.3 million. the 
reduction in net borrowings was 
after approximately $226 million 
of growth capital and investments 
during the year and was partly due 
to a favourable currency adjustment 
of around $109 million from the 
appreciation of the Australian dollar 
and translation of our significant 
us dollar borrowings. the group’s 
gearing (measured as net debt to 
equity) reduced from 57% to 50%at 
the lower end of the stated target 
range of 40% to 70%.

Boral’s long-term and short-term 
credit ratings continued at BBB+/A2 
with standard and Poor’s and Baa1/
P2 with Moody’s investors service.

At 30 June 2007, the group had 
available undrawn committed and 
uncommitted debt facilities of 
$2,198 million. Boral’s average debt 
maturity profile at 30 June 2007 
was 4.9 years compared with 6.1 
years at 30 June 2006.

Boral has hedged its foreign 
exchange exposures (primarily us 
dollar denominated) arising from 
investments in overseas operations. 
Earnings from foreign operations 
are not hedged.

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

26

2007 
$ millions

2006 
$ millions

1,451.0

1,400.8

4,365.6

4,186.2

5,816.6

5,587.0

921.8

863.2

1,907.5

1,968.8

2,829.3

2,832.0

2,987.3

2,755.0

2,987.3

2,755.0

2007 
$ millions

2006 
$ millions

1,518.0

1,654.4

35.7

76.2

1,482.3

1,578.2

2,987.3

2,755.0

50

33

4.8

57

36

6.3

Boral is exposed to financial risk 
in its operations as a result of 
fluctuations occurring in interest/
foreign exchange rates and certain 
commodity prices. Boral uses 
financial instruments to manage 
such risks.

Boral’s return on shareholders 
funds declined from 13.2% 
to 10.0% during the period as 
shareholders funds increased with 
retained earnings and other equity 
movements while earnings declined 
by around 18%.

Cash Flow
the group generated operating 
cash flows of $481.9 million after 
payment of interest and income 
tax. this represents an increase 
of 7% or $32 million compared to 
the cash flow reported last year. 
the increase in operating cash flow 
reflects the lower earnings and 
higher working capital offset by 
lower tax payments. 

these cash flows were used to 
fund around $418.1 million of capital 
and acquisition expenditure. this 
largely related to major capital 
projects in the us and Australia, the 
largest being in the plasterboard 
operation in Queensland, the new 
brick plant in indiana, new rooftile 
operations in California and a 
number of new asphalt plants in 
Australia.

Chairman of Outward Bound Australia 
and serves as a Councillor for the 
Australian Business Arts Foundation. He 
has a commerce degree (Honours) from 
the university of new south Wales and 
a MBA (High distinction) from Harvard 
university.

Elizabeth A Alexander, AM 
nOn-ExECutivE diRECtOR, AgE 64
Ms Alexander joined the Boral Board 
in 1994. Ms Alexander is Chairman 
of Csl limited and a director of dB 
RREEF Funds Management limited (the 
responsible entity for the dB RREEF 
trust). A chartered accountant, she was 
a partner in PricewaterhouseCoopers in 
Melbourne until 2002. Ms Alexander is 
a member of the takeovers Panel and 
the Financial Reporting Council. she has 
a commerce degree from the university 
of Melbourne.
Ms Alexander is the chair of the Audit 
Committee.

Mr Cloney is the Chairman of the 
Compensation Committee.

Richard A Longes 
nOn-ExECutivE diRECtOR, AgE 62
Mr longes joined the Boral Board in 
2004. He is a director of Austbrokers 
Holdings limited and Metcash limited. 
Mr longes is a lawyer and a non-
executive director of investec Bank 
(Australia) limited. He was previously an 
executive of investec Bank, a principal 
of Wentworth Associates, the corporate 
advisory and private equity group, and a 
partner of Freehills, a leading law firm. 
He has arts and law degrees from the 
university of sydney and a MBA from 
the university of new south Wales.
Mr longes is a member of the Audit 
Committee.
Mark R Rayner 

nOn-ExECutivE diRECtOR, AgE 69
Mr Rayner joined the Boral Board 
in 1996. Mr Rayner is a director of 
Alumina limited. He was previously the 
Chief Executive of Comalco from 1979 

Board
OF diRECtORs

Kenneth J Moss 
nOn-ExECutivE CHAiRMAn, AgE 62
dr Moss joined the Boral Board in 1999 
and became the Chairman of directors 
in 2000. dr Moss is the Chairman of 
Centennial Coal Company limited 
and a director of gPt RE limited (the 
responsible entity for the general 
Property trust) and Macquarie Capital 
Alliance group (the responsible entity 
for the Macquarie Capital Alliance trust). 
dr Moss was previously the Managing 
director of Howard smith limited and 
is experienced in building materials 
businesses. He has an engineering 
degree (Honours) and a doctorate of 
philosophy in mechanical engineering 
from newcastle university.
dr Moss is a member of the 
Compensation Committee.

Rodney T Pearse
MAnAging diRECtOR, AgE 60
Mr Pearse became the Managing 
director and Chief Executive Officer 
of Boral in January 2000. He joined 
the Boral group as the Managing 
director, Construction Materials group 
in 1994. Mr Pearse had previously held 
senior management positions in shell 
international, shell Australia and CsR 
limited. He is a Board Member of the 
Business Council of Australia, a member 
of the Advisory Panel of the Australian 
graduate school of Management, the 

J Brian Clark 
nOn-ExECutivE diRECtOR, AgE 58
dr Clark joined the Boral Board in May 
2007. dr Clark has experience as a 
non-executive director on the Boards 
of a number of companies in Australia 
and overseas. in south Africa, he was 
President of the CsiR and CEO of telkom 
sA. in 1997 he joined the uK’s vodafone 
group and moved to Australia. He was 
CEO vodafone Australia, CEO vodafone 
Asia Pacific and group Human Resources 
director. dr Clark has a doctorate in 
physics from the university of Pretoria, 
south Africa and completed the Harvard 
AMP106. 
dr Clark is a member of the 
Compensation Committee.

E John Cloney 
nOn-ExECutivE diRECtOR, AgE 66
Mr Cloney joined the Boral Board in 
1998. Mr Cloney is the Chairman of 
QBE insurance group limited and a 
director of Maple-Brown Abbott limited 
and ABn AMRO Australia Holdings Pty 
limited. He is a member of the Advisory 
Council in Australia of ABn AMRO.  
His career was in international insurance 
and he was previously the Managing 
director of QBE insurance group 
limited. Mr Cloney is a fellow of the 
Australian institute of Management and 
the Australia and new Zealand institute 
of insurance and Finance.

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

27

to 1989 and an executive director of 
CRA limited. Mr Rayner has a chemical 
engineering degree (Honours) from the 
university of new south Wales.
Mr Rayner is a member of the 
Compensation Committee.

J Roland Williams, CBE 
nOn-ExECutivE diRECtOR, AgE 68
dr Williams joined the Boral Board in 
1999. He is a director of Origin Energy 
limited. dr Williams had an international 
career with the Royal dutch/shell group 
from which he retired as Chairman and 
Chief Executive of shell Australia. He 
has a chemical engineering degree 
(Honours) and a doctorate of philosophy 
from the university of Birmingham.
dr Williams is a member of the Audit 
Committee.

Pictured above, from left to right;  
top row: Mark Rayner, Rod Pearse,  
Roland Williams, Brian Clark, John Cloney; 
bottom row: Elizabeth Alexander,  
Ken Moss and Richard longes.

–  approving and monitoring financial 

reporting and reporting to 
shareholders on the Company’s 
direction and performance. 

–  meeting legal requirements and 
ensuring that the Company acts 
responsibly and ethically and 
prudently manages business risks 
and Boral’s assets. 

in fulfilling these functions, 
directors seek to enhance 
shareholder value.

Structure of the Board
the Board of directors comprises 
seven non-executive directors 
(including the Chairman) and one 
executive director, the Managing 
director and Chief Executive Officer 
(CEO). the roles of Chairman 
and CEO are separate. the skills, 
experience and expertise of each 
director are set out on page 27 of 
the Annual Review.

the Board has assessed the 
independence of non-executive 
directors in light of their interests 
and relationships and considers 
all of them to be independent. 
it is considered that none of the 
interests of directors with other 
firms or companies having a 
business relationship with Boral 
could materially interfere with 
the ability of those directors to 
act in Boral’s best interests. the 
criteria considered in assessing the 
independence of non-executive 
directors includes:

–  the director is not a member of 

of the Company’s affairs and 
implementation of its strategy and 
policy initiatives are delegated to 
the chief executive officer and 
senior executives.

the functions of the Board include:-

–  oversight of the Company 
including its conduct and 
accountability systems. 

–  reviewing and approving overall 
financial goals for the Company.

–  approving strategies and plans 

for Boral’s businesses to achieve 
these goals. 

–  approving financial plans and 

management. 

annual budgets. 

–  monitoring implementation of 

strategy, business performance 
and results and ensuring 
appropriate resources are 
available. 

–  approving key management 

recommendations (such as major 
capital expenditure, acquisitions, 
divestments, restructuring and 
funding). 

–  appointing, rewarding and 

determining the duration of 
the appointment of the chief 
executive officer and ratifying the 
appointments of senior executives 
including the chief financial officer 
and the company secretary. 

–  reviewing the performance of the 
chief executive officer and senior 
management. 

–  reviewing and verifying systems 
of risk management and internal 
compliance and control, codes of 
conduct and legal compliance. 

–  reviewing sustainability 

performance and overseeing 
occupational health and safety and 
environmental management and 
performance. 

–  the director is not a substantial 
shareholder of the Company 
or otherwise associated with a 
substantial shareholder. 

–  within the last 3 years, the 

director has not been employed 
in an executive capacity by a 
Boral company or been a director 
after ceasing to hold any such 
employment. 

–  within the last 3 years, the 

director has not been a principal 
of a professional adviser or 
consultant to a Boral company 
or an employee of an adviser or 
consultant materially associated 
with any service provided by it. 

–  the director is not a significant 
supplier or customer of Boral 
or otherwise associated with a 
significant supplier or customer. 

–  the director has no significant 

contractual relationship with Boral 
other than as a director. 

–  the director is free from any 
interest and any business or 
other relationship which could, 
or could reasonably be perceived 
to, materially interfere with the 

corporate
gOvERnAnCE

this section of the Annual Review 
discloses the key details of Boral’s 
governance framework. Boral 
is committed to ensuring its 
policies and practices reflect good 
governance and compliance with all 
requirements applying to Australian 
listed companies.

the directors consider that its 
governance framework and 
adherence to that framework are 
fundamental in demonstrating 
that they are accountable to 
shareholders and are appropriately 
overseeing the management of 
risk and the future direction of the 
Company.

Functions and Responsibilities 
of the Board
the Board of directors is 
responsible for setting the strategic 
direction of the Company and for 
overseeing and monitoring its 
businesses and affairs. directors are 
accountable to the shareholders for 
the Company’s performance.

the Board reviews and approves 
the Company’s strategic and 
business plans and guiding 
policies. day to day management 

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

28

director’s ability to act in the best 
interests of the Company. 

the Board periodically undertakes 
an evaluation of its own 
performance. the evaluation 
encompasses a review of the 
structure and operation of the 
Board, the skills and characteristics 
required by the Board to maximise 
its effectiveness and whether the 
blending of skills, experience and 
expertise and the Board’s practices 
and procedures are appropriate for 
the present and future needs of the 
Company.

the Board has considered 
establishing a nomination 
Committee and decided in view 
of the relatively small number of 
directors that such a Committee 
would not be a more efficient 
mechanism than the full Board for 
detailed selection and appointment 
practices.

the appointment of Brian Clark 
as a new non-executive director 
in May 2007 followed a process 
during which the full Board 
assessed the necessary and 
desirable competencies of potential 
candidates and considered a 
number of names before deciding 
on the most suitable candidate for 
appointment. the selection process 
included obtaining assistance from 
an external consultant to identify 
suitable candidates and in assessing 
them. Confirmation is sought from 
prospective directors that they 
would have sufficient time to fulfil 
their duties as a director.

the key terms and conditions 
relative to the appointment of 
directors and the Company’s 
expectations of them are set out in 
a letter when a new non-executive 
director is appointed.

the Company’s Constitution 
currently requires that one third of 
the directors must retire from office 
at the Annual general Meeting 
each year and that a director 
must retire no later than the third 
Annual general Meeting or three 
years following that director’s last 
election or appointment. Retiring 
directors are eligible for re-election. 
When a vacancy is filled by the 
Board during a year, the new 
director must stand for election at 
the next Annual general Meeting. 
the requirements relating to 
retirement from office do not apply 
to the managing director of the 
Company.

the directors believe that limits 
on tenure may cause loss of 
experience and expertise that 
are important contributors to the 
efficient working of the Board. As 
a consequence, the Board does 
not support arbitrary limits on 
tenure and regards nominations for 

re-election as not being automatic 
but based on the individual 
performance of directors and the 
needs of the Company. Before the 
business to be conducted at the 
Annual general Meeting is finalised, 
the Board discusses the tenure of 
directors standing for re-election in 
the absence of those directors.

directors are required to declare 
the nature of any interest they have 
in business to be dealt with by the 
Board. Except as permitted by the 
Corporations Act, directors leave 
Board Meetings and do not vote 
when business in which they are 
interested is considered.

After consultation with the 
Chairman, directors may seek 
independent professional advice in 
furtherance of their duties at the 
Company’s expense.

Pursuant to the Company’s 
Constitution and agreements 
with directors and to the extent 
permitted by law, the Company 
must indemnify directors and 
executive officers against liabilities 
to third parties incurred in their 
capacity as officers of the Company 
and against certain legal costs 
incurred in defending an action for 
such a liability.

Ethical Standards and 
Dealings in Boral Shares 
the Board’s policy is that Boral 
companies and employees must 
observe both the letter and spirit 
of the law, and adhere to high 
standards of business conduct and 
comply with best practice. Boral’s 
Management guidelines contain 
a Code of Corporate Conduct 
and other guidelines and policies 
which set out legal and ethical 
standards for employees. As part 
of performance management, 
employees are assessed against 
the Boral values of leadership, 
respect, focus, performance and 
persistence.

this policy and code guide the 
directors, the CEO, the chief 
financial executive, the company 
secretary and other key executives 
as to the practices necessary 
to maintain confidence in the 
Company’s integrity and as to the 
responsibility and accountability 
of individuals for reporting and 
investigating reports of unethical 
practices. the code also guides 
compliance with legal and 
other obligations to legitimate 
stakeholders.

Boral directors must hold 
a minimum shareholding of 
1,000 shares.

the Board has a policy that Boral 
limited group directors, officers 
and senior executives may not buy 
or sell Boral shares except within a 

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

29

period of one month after any major 
public announcement regarding 
the Company’s results and trading 
prospects (such as the yearly and 
half yearly profit announcements 
and the Chairman’s and Managing 
director’s Addresses to the Annual 
general Meeting). the policy 
precludes executives from entering 
into any hedge or derivative 
transactions relating to options or 
share rights granted to them as 
long term incentives, regardless 
of whether or not the options or 
share rights have vested. the policy 
supplements the Corporations Act 
provisions precluding directors and 
officers from trading in securities 
when they are in possession 
of price sensitive “insider” 
information.

share dealings by directors are 
promptly notified to Asx.

Work of Directors on Strategy 
and Other Matters
the Board reviews the strategic 
action plan, approves the 
annual budget and monitors the 
Company’s performance against 
them. initiatives have included 
disciplined growth strategies, capital 
management, cost efficiencies 
and other aspects of operational 
improvement programs.

directors and senior management 
meet annually for two days to 
discuss in detail the strategic 
direction of the Company’s 
businesses. the Board’s focus is on 
improving shareholder returns and 
pursuing disciplined growth.

Each month, directors receive a 
detailed operating review from the 
CEO regardless of whether or not a 
Board Meeting is being held.

non-executive directors would 
spend approximately 30 days 
each year on Board business and 

–  review from time to time 

remuneration framework and the 
structure of the arrangements for 
non-executive directors. 

the Committee reviews all of 
the above matters and makes 
recommendations to the full Board 
on remuneration arrangements for 
the CEO and senior executives and 
as appropriate, on other aspects 
arising from its functions.

AUDIT COMMITTEE
the Audit Committee is chaired by 
Elizabeth Alexander with Richard 
longes and Roland Williams being 
the other members. the members 
possess sufficient technical 
expertise to fulfil the functions of 
the Committee. the Committee 
meets at least four times each year.

the Audit Committee has a formal 
charter which sets out its role 
and responsibilities, composition, 
structure and membership 
requirements. the Committee has 
the necessary power and resources 
to meet the charter including rights 
of access to management and 
auditors (internal and external) and 
to seek explanations and additional 
information.

the Committee also reviews 
the Company’s compliance with 
applicable accounting standards 
and generally accepted accounting 
principles.

Accounting and financial control 
policies and procedures have been 
established and are monitored 
by the Committee to ensure the 
accounts and other records are 
accurate and reliable. Any new 
accounting policies are reviewed by 
the Committee. Compliance with 
these procedures and policies and 
limits of authority delegated by the 
Board to management are subject 
to review by the external and 
internal auditors.

When considering the yearly and 
half yearly financial reports, the 
Audit Committee reviews the 
carrying value of assets, provisions 
and other accounting issues.

Questionnaires completed by 
divisional management are 
reviewed by the Committee half 
yearly.

As required by the Corporations Act 
for year end financial reports, the 
CEO and the chief financial officer 
give a declaration to the directors 
that the Company’s financial records 
have been properly maintained 
and that the financial reports give 
a true and fair view before the 
Board resolves that the directors’ 
declarations accompanying the 
financial reports be signed.

At each scheduled meeting of 
the Committee, both external 

the company secretary is 
accountable to the CEO and to 
the Board, through the Chairman, 
on compliance and governance 
matters.

Boral is committed to effective 
communication with its investors 
so as to give them ready access 
to balanced and understandable 
information.

Board Committees
A Compensation Committee and 
an Audit Committee assist the 
effective operation of the Board. 
Both Committees are wholly 
comprised of independent non-
executive directors.

Copies of Minutes of Committee 
Meetings are provided to the full 
Board.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
the current members of the 
Committee are John Cloney 
(Chairman), Brian Clark, Ken Moss 
and Mark Rayner.

the functions of the Committee 
are:-

–  remuneration and incentive 

policies and practices (including 
performance appraisal 
methodology) for Boral generally. 

–  remuneration arrangements 
for the CEO and other senior 
executives (including incentives) 
and the annual review of those 
arrangements. 

–  recruitment, retention and 

termination policies and practices. 

–  any Company share plan or other 

incentive scheme. 

–  superannuation arrangements 
insofar as they are relevant 
to remuneration policies and 
practices. 

corporate
gOvERnAnCE

activities including Board and 
Committee meetings, the strategy 
meeting, visits to operations and 
meeting employees, customers, 
business associates and other 
stakeholders.

during the year, the Board visited 
a number of sites in Western 
Australia including Midland Brick. 
the Board also spent a week in 
May 2007 in Asia visiting Boral’s 
construction materials operations 
in indonesia and the plasterboard 
business of lafarge Boral gypsum 
in Asia limited, the 50% owned 
joint venture, in south Korea and 
China.

the Chairman regularly 
communicates with the CEO to 
review key issues and performance 
trends.

Disclosure and Communication
the Company complies with 
all relevant disclosure laws and 
listing Rules in Australia and has 
policies and procedures designed 
to ensure accountability at a 
senior management level for that 
compliance.

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

30

and internal auditors report to 
the Committee on the outcome 
of their audits and the quality of 
controls throughout Boral. As part 
of its agenda, the Audit Committee 
meets with the external and 
internal auditors in the absence of 
management twice during the year.

the scope of the external audit is 
reviewed by the Audit Committee 
each year.

the internal audit function 
is outsourced with 
PricewaterhouseCoopers being the 
Company’s internal audit service 
provider. the internal audit program 
is approved by the Audit Committee 
before the start of each year and 
the effectiveness of the function is 
kept under review.

the Chair of the Audit Committee 
ordinarily reports to the full Board 
after Committee Meetings.

Audit Independence
the Audit Committee has approved 
a process for the monitoring and 
reporting of non-audit work to be 
undertaken by the external auditor. 
services by the external auditor 
which are prohibited because they 
have the potential or appear to 
impair independence include the 
participation in activities normally 
undertaken by management, being 
remunerated on a “success fee” 
structure and where the external 
auditor would be required to review 
their work as part of the audit.

An independence declaration by 
the external auditor is now required 
to form part of the directors’ Report 
and is set out on page 36. 

Recognising and Managing 
Risk
the managers of Boral’s businesses 
are responsible for identifying 
and managing risks. the Board 
(in the case of financial risk as 
noted above, through the Audit 
Committee) is responsible for 
satisfying itself that a sound system 
of risk oversight and management 
exists and that internal controls are 
effective. in particular, the Board 
ensures that:

–  the principal strategic, operational, 
financial reporting and compliance 
risks are identified. 

–  systems are in place to assess, 
manage, monitor and report on 
these risks. 

these matters are analysed and 
discussed by the Board at least 
annually and more frequently if 
required.

in addition to maintaining 
appropriate insurance and other risk 
management measures, identified 
risks are managed through:

–  established policies and 

procedures for the managing 
of funding, foreign exchange 
and financial instruments 
(including derivatives) including 
the prohibition of speculative 
transactions. the Board has 
approved treasury policies 
regarding exposures to foreign 
currencies, interest rates, 
commodity price, liquidity and 
counterparty risks which include 
limits and authority levels. 
Compliance with these policies is 
reported to the Board monthly and 
certified by treasury management 
to the Audit Committee twice 
yearly. 

–  key business risks being identified 

on a divisional basis and on a 
corporate wide basis and reported 
to directors as part of the 
strategic planning process. 

–  policies, standards and procedures 
in relation to environmental and 
health and safety matters. 

–  training programs in relation to 
legal and compliance issues 
such as trade practices/antitrust, 
intellectual property protection, 
occupational health and safety and 
environmental. 

–  procedures requiring that 

significant capital and revenue 
expenditure and other contractual 
commitments are approved at an 
appropriate level of management 
or by the Board. 

–  comprehensive management 
guidelines setting out the 
standards of behaviour expected 
of employees in the conduct of 
the Company’s business. 

the internal audit function is 
involved in risk assessment and 
management and the measurement 
of effectiveness. the internal and 
external audit functions are separate 
and independent of each other.

in addition to an overall risk 
management policy, Boral has 
numerous risk management 
systems and policies that govern 
the management of risk.

the CEO and the chief financial 
officer provide written statements 
to the Audit Committee confirming 
that the Company’s yearly and half 
yearly financial reports present a 
true and fair view, in all material 
respects, of the Company’s financial 
condition and operational results 
and are in accordance with relevant 
accounting standards. the CEO 
and the chief financial officer also 
confirm that the above statement 
is founded on a sound system 
of risk management and internal 
compliance and control which 
implements the policies adopted by 
the Board and that the Company’s 
risk management and internal 

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

31

compliance and control system is 
operating efficiently and effectively 
in all material respects.

Compliance
the Company has adopted 
policies requiring compliance with 
occupational health and safety, 
environmental and trade practices 
laws.

there are also procedures 
providing employees with 
alternative means to usual 
management communication lines 
through which to raise concerns 
relating to suspected illegal or 
unethical conduct. the Company 
acknowledges that whistleblowing 
can be an appropriate means to 
protect Boral and individuals and 
to ensure that operations and 
businesses are conducted within 
the law.

there are ongoing programs for 
audit of the large number of Boral 
operating sites. Occupational health 
and safety, environmental and other 
risks are covered by these audits. 
Boral also has staff to monitor and 
advise on workplace health and 
safety and environmental issues 
and in addition, education programs 
provide training and information on 
regulatory issues.

despite the Company’s policies 
and actions to avoid occurrences 
which infringe regulations, there 
have been a small number of 
prosecutions against subsidiary 
companies for breach of 
occupational health and safety and 
environmental legislation.

a recommendation, this has been 
disclosed and explained.

the corporate governance 
framework of the Company will be 
kept under review to respond to 
changes in Boral’s businesses and 
applicable regulations.

Corporate governance information 
on Boral’s website at www.boral.
com.au contains more information 
on corporate governance within 
Boral and copies of relevant policies 
and charters.

–  executive rewards be competitive 

in the markets in which Boral 
operates. 

–  executive remuneration has an 

appropriate balance of fixed and 
variable reward. 

–  remuneration be linked to Boral’s 
performance and the creation of 
shareholder value. 

–  variable remuneration for 

executives has both short and 
long term components. 
–  a significant proportion of 

executive reward be dependent 
upon performance assessed 
against key business measures, 
both financial and non-financial. 

these principles ensure that 
the level and composition of 
remuneration is sufficient and 
reasonable and that its relationship 
to corporate and individual 
performance is defined.

A detailed Remuneration Report 
is set out in clause (19) of the 
directors’ Report on pages 37-43. 
As required by the Corporations 
Act, a resolution that the 
Remuneration Report be adopted 
will be put to the vote at the Annual 
general Meeting however the vote 
will be advisory only and will not 
bind the directors or the Company

ASX Corporate Governance 
Council Guidelines
Corporate governance has been 
reported on in this section of the 
Annual Review in accordance with 
the Principles of good Corporate 
governance and Best Practice 
Recommendations of the Australian 
stock Exchange (Asx) Corporate 
governance Council.

Boral complied with the guidelines 
in all substantial respects 
throughout the 2006/07 financial 
year. in the few instances where 
Boral has an alternative approach to 

corporate
gOvERnAnCE

Human Resources
the directors place emphasis 
on Boral’s people and its human 
resource practices. there are 
ongoing reviews of recruitment 
(including graduate recruitment), 
training, management development 
and succession planning for 
executives.

Boral has a performance 
management system in place 
for all managers and staff. the 
system includes processes for the 
setting of objectives and the annual 
assessment of performance against 
objectives and workplace style and 
effectiveness.

Remuneration
Part of the role of the 
Compensation Committee is 
to advise the Board on the 
remuneration policies and practices 
for Boral generally and the 
remuneration arrangements for 
senior executives.

Boral’s remuneration policy and 
practices are designed to attract, 
motivate and retain high quality 
people. the policy is built around 
principles that:

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

32

directorS’
REPORt

the directors of Boral limited 
(“the Company”) report on the 
consolidated entity, being the 
Company and its controlled entities 
(“Boral”), for the financial year 
ended 30 June 2007:

(1) Review of Operations
the directors review the operations 
during the year of Boral and the 
results of those operations as 
stated in the Chairman’s Review 
and Managing director’s Review on 
pages 4 to 9 of the Annual Review.

(2) State of Affairs
there were no significant changes 
in Boral’s state of affairs during the 
year.

(3) Principal Activities  
and Changes
Boral’s principal activities are the 
manufacture and supply of building 
and construction materials in 
Australia, the usA and Asia. there 
were no significant changes in the 
nature of those activities during the 
year.

(4) Events After End of 
Financial Year
there are no matters or 
circumstances that have arisen 
since the end of the year that 
have significantly affected, or may 
significantly affect:

(a)   Boral’s operations in future 

financial years; or

(b)  the results of those operations 
in future financial years; or

(c)   Boral’s state of affairs in future 

financial years

other than the acquisitions of the 
schwarz Readymix, a ready-mixed 
concrete and sand business, and 
the davis Arbuckle Materials 
quarry in Oklahoma, usA for prices 
totalling us$80m.

(5) Future Developments  
and Results
Other than matters referred to 
under the heading “Outlook 
for 2007/08” in the Managing 
director’s Review on page 9 of 
the Annual Review, the directors 
have no reference to make to 
likely developments in Boral’s 
operations in future financial years 
and the expected results of those 
operations.

(6) Environmental 
Performance
details of Boral’s performance 
in relation to environmental 
regulation are set out under Our 
Environment on pages s16 to s21 of 
the sustainability Report which is a 
supplement to the Annual Review.

(7) Other Information
Other than information in the Annual 
Review, there is no information that 
members of the Company would 
reasonably require to make an 
informed assessment of:-

(a)  the operations of Boral; and

(b)  the financial position of Boral; 

and

(c)   Boral’s business strategies and 
its prospects for future financial 
years.

(8) Dividends Paid or Declared
dividends paid to members during 
the year were:

total  
dividend 
$ million

 100.4 

101.5

the final dividend of 
17 cents per ordinary 
share (fully franked at the 
30% corporate tax rate) 
for the year ended 30 
June 2006 was paid on 
18 september 2006

the interim dividend of 
17 cents per ordinary 
share (fully franked at the 
30% corporate tax rate) 
for the year was paid on 
21 March 2007

the final dividend of 17 cents per 
ordinary share (fully franked at the 
30% corporate tax rate) for the year 
has been declared by the directors 
and will be paid on 18 september 
2007.

(9) Names of Directors
the names of persons who have been directors of the Company during or since the end of the year are:

Elizabeth A Alexander 
J Brian Clark 
E John Cloney 
Richard A longes 

Kenneth J Moss
Rodney t Pearse
Mark R Rayner
J Roland Williams

All of those persons, other than dr Clark, have been directors at all times during and since the end of the year.  
dr Clark was appointed a director on 29 May 2007 and has been a director at all times since that date.

(10) Options
details of options that are granted over unissued shares of the Company, options that lapsed during the year and shares 
of the Company that were issued during the year as a result of the exercise of options are:

tranche

grant date

Expiry date

Exercise 
price

Balance  
at beginning  
of year

Options issued 
during the year

Options lapsed 
during the year

shares issued 
during the year  
as a result of 
exercise of options

Options at end of year

number

number

number

number

issued

vested

(xi)

(xii)

(xiii)

(xiv)

(xv)

(xvi)

06/11/2001

06/11/2006

$3.35

156,100 

04/11/2002

04/11/2009

$4.12

680,900

29/10/2003

29/10/2010

$5.57

4,662,300

29/10/2004

29/10/2011

$6.60

2,099,500

31/10/2005

31/10/2012

06/11/2006

06/11/2013

$7.70

$7.32

3,353,100

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

156,100

–

–

465,100

215,800

215,800

130,260

1,655,232

2,876,808

978,954

46,400

47,600

–

4,717,900

–

–

2,053,100

– 3,305,500

–

4,717,900

–

–

–

10,951,900

4,717,900 224,260

2,276,432 13,169,108 1,194,754

the abovementioned options were held by 157 persons.

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

33

directorS’
REPORt

(10) Options (continued)
since the end of the year, a further 
42,400 shares of the Company have 
been issued at the price of $4.12 
each as a result of the exercise of 
options in tranche (xii) and 73,236 
such shares have been issued at 
the price of $5.57 each as a result 
of the exercise of options in tranche 
(xiii).

tranche (xvi) was issued during 
the year pursuant to the Boral 
senior Executive Option Plan. 
the number of options in that 
tranche granted to each of Mr R 
t Pearse, the Managing director 
and Chief Executive Officer, and 
the executives named in the 
Remuneration Report in clause (19) 
as part of their emoluments for 
the year and certain other details 
of the terms of the options are set 
out in the Remuneration Report on 
page 43 of the Annual Review. the 
grant of options to Mr Pearse was 
approved by shareholders at the 
Company’s Annual general Meeting 
held on 21 October 2004.

Each option granted over unissued 
shares of the Company entitles 
the holder to subscribe for one 
fully paid share in the capital of 
the Company. Optionholders have 
no rights under any options to 
participate in any share issue or 
interest issue of any body corporate 
other than the Company. no 
unissued shares and interests of the 
Company or any controlled entity 
are under option other than as set 
out in this clause.

(11) Indemnities and Insurance 
for Officers and Auditors
during or since the end of the year, 
Boral has not given any indemnity 
to a current or former officer or 
auditor against a liability or made 
any agreement under which an 
officer or auditor may be given any 
indemnity of the kind covered by 
sub-section 199A(2) or (3) of the 
Corporations Act 2001.

during the year, Boral paid 
premiums in respect of directors’ 
and Officers’ liability and legal 
Expenses insurance contracts for 
the year ended 30 June 2007 and 
since the end of the year, Boral has 
paid, or agreed to pay, premiums 
in respect of such contracts for 
the year ending 30 June 2008. 
the insurance contracts insure 
against certain liability (subject 
to exclusions) persons who are 
or have been directors or officers 
of the Company and controlled 
entities. A condition of the contracts 
is that the nature of the liability 
indemnified and the premium 
payable not be disclosed.

(12) Directors’ Qualifications, 
Experience and Special 
Responsibilities and 
Directorships of Other Listed 
Companies in the Last Three 
Financial Years
Each director’s qualifications, 
experience and special 
responsibilities are set out on page 
27 of the Annual Review.

details for each director of all 
directorships of other listed 
companies held at any time in the 
three years before the end of the 
year and the period for which such 
directorships has been held are:

E A Alexander
Amcor limited from 1994 to 
October 2005 
Csl limited from 1991 (current) 
dB RREEF Funds Management 
limited from January 2005 (current)

J B Clark
national Australia Bank limited 
from 2001 to August 2004

E J Cloney
Patrick Corporation limited from 
2003 to May 2006 
QBE insurance group limited from 
1981 (current)

R A Longes
Austbrokers Holdings limited from 
november 2005 (current) 
gPt Management limited from 
1984 to november 2004 
lend lease Corporation limited 
from 1986 to november 2005 
Metcash trading limited from 2000 
to January 2006 
Metcash limited from April 2005 
(current) 
viridis investment Management 
limited from september 2005 to 
August 2007

K J Moss
Adsteam Marine limited from 2001 
to March 2007 
Centennial Coal limited from 2000 
(current) 
gPt Management limited from 
2000 to June 2005 
gPt RE limited from June 2005 
(current) 
Macquarie Capital Alliance group 
(being Macquarie Capital Alliance 
limited, 
Macquarie Capital Alliance 
Management limited and 
Macquarie Capital 
Alliance Bermuda limited) from 
March 2005 (current) 
national Australia Bank limited 
from 2000 to August 2004

R T Pearse
nil

M R Rayner
Alumina limited from december 
2002 (current)

J R Williams
Origin Energy limited from 2000 
(current)

(13) Meetings of Directors
the number of Meetings of the Board of directors and each Board Committee held during the year and each director’s 
attendance at those Meetings was:

E A AlExAndER
J B ClARK
E J ClOnEy
R A lOngEs
K J MOss
R t PEARsE
M R RAynER
J R WilliAMs

Board of directors

Audit Committee

Compensation Committee

MEEtings HEld 
WHilE A diRECtOR

MEEtings 
AttEndEd

MEEtings HEld 
WHilE A MEMBER

MEEtings 
AttEndEd

MEEtings HEld 
WHilE A MEMBER

MEEtings 
AttEndEd

10
nil
10
10
10
10
10
10

10
nil
10
9
10
10
10
10

4
–
–
4
–
–
–
4

4
–
–
3
–
–
–
4

–
nil
2
–
2
–
2
–

–
nil
2
–
1
–
2
–

Mr Pearse, the Managing director, is not a member of the Audit and Compensation Committees but attended all of the 
Meetings held by those Committees.

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

34

(14) Company Secretary
the qualifications and experience of the Company secretary, Michael B scobie, are set out on page 24 of the  
Annual Review. 

(15) Directors’ Shareholdings
details of each director’s interests in the shares and other securities of the Company are:

E A AlExAndER
J B ClARK
E J ClOnEy
R A lOngEs
K J MOss
R t PEARsE
M R RAynER
J R WilliAMs

shares

15,583
15,000
14,456
12,985
21,000
3,903,301
20,000
45,275

non-Executive 
directors’ 
share Plan a

Options and share 
Acquisition Rights 
(sARs)

5,483
140
22,512
4,152
12,911
–
28,883
18,128

–
–
–
–
–
b

–
–

the shares are held in the name of the director except in the case of dr J B Clark, 14,000 shares are held by uBs 
Wealth Management Australia nominees Pty limited , in the case of Mr E J Cloney, 
534 shares are held by lizzey investments Pty limited and 12,500 shares are held by the Cloney superannuation 
Fund, in the case of Mr R A longes, 10,000 shares are held by Richard longes superannuation Fund, in the case 
of dr K J Moss, 21,000 shares are held by K J and g A Moss, in the case of Mr Pearse, 39,629 shares are held by 
Pearse nominees (nsW) Pty. limited and in the case of Mr M R Rayner, 19,000 shares are held by Mokanger Personal 
superannuation Fund.

shares or other securities with rights of conversion to equity in the Company or in a related body corporate are not 
otherwise held by any directors of the Company. there were no disposals of such securities by any directors or their 
director-related entities during the financial year.

a    shares in the Company allocated to the director’s account in the non-Executive directors’ share Plan. directors will only be entitled to a transfer of the 

shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan.

b  Options and sARs held by Mr Pearse are:-

number of Options

Expiry date

Exercise Price

number of sARs

308,000
350,000
939,800
2,083,300

29 October 2010
29 October 2011
31 October 2012
06 november 2013

120,000
247,036

$5.57
$6.60
$7.70
$7.32

Expiry date

29 October 2011
31 October 2012

the sARs are rights to acquire shares in the Company under the Boral senior Executive Performance share Plan and will only vest to the extent to which 
the performance hurdle, which is measured by comparing the tsR of the Company to the tsR of the companies comprising the Asx 100 during the 
vesting period, is satisfied.

(16) No Officers are Former Auditors
no officer of the Company has been a partner in an audit firm, or a director of an audit company, that is an auditor of 
the Company during the year or was such a partner or director at a time when the audit firm or the audit company 
undertook an audit of the Company.

(17) Non-Audit Services
Amounts paid or payable to Boral’s auditor, KPMg, for non-audit services provided, during the year, by KPMg totalled 
$570,000. these services consisted of:

taxation compliance/advisory services in Australia
taxation compliance/advisory services in jurisdictions other than Australia (predominantly the usA and Europe)
Assurance related services
Acquisition services

$133,000
$246,000
$77,000
$114,000

Fees for audit and audit related services during the year totalled $1,689,000. the audit related services component of 
that amount was $9,000 consisting of other regulatory audits and accounting advice in Australia and overseas.

in accordance with advice from the Company’s Audit Committee, directors are satisfied that the provision of the above 
non-audit services during the year by the auditor is compatible with the general standard of independence for auditors 
imposed by the Corporations Act 2001. Also in accordance with advice from the Audit Committee, directors are 
satisfied that the provision of those non-audit services, during the year, by the auditor did not compromise the auditor 
independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 because:

–  directors are not aware of any reason to question the auditor’s independence declaration under section 307C of the 

Corporations Act 2001;

– the total amounts paid or payable to the auditor for non-audit services are not material;

– the nature of the non-audit services provided is not inconsistent with those requirements; and

–  provision of the non-audit services is consistent with the processes in place for the Audit Committee to monitor the 

independence of the auditor.

(18) Auditor’s Independence Declaration
the auditor’s independence declaration made under section 307C of the Corporations Act 2001 is set out on page 36 of 
the Annual Review and forms part of this report.

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

35

directorS’
REPORt

(19) Remuneration Report
the Remuneration Report is set 
out on pages 37-43 of the Annual 
Review.

(20) Proceedings on behalf of 
the Company
no application under section 237 of 
the Corporations Act 2001 has been 
made in respect of the Company 
and there are no proceedings that 
a person has brought or intervened 
in on behalf of the Company under 
that section.

(21) Rounding of Amounts
the Company is of a kind referred 
to in AsiC Class Order 98/100 
and in accordance with that Class 
Order, amounts in the financial 
report and directors’ Report have 
been rounded off to the nearest one 
hundred thousand dollars unless 
otherwise indicated.

signed in accordance with a 
resolution of the directors.

Lead Auditor’s Independence Declaration under Section 307C  
of the Corporations Act 2001

to: the directors of Boral limited

i declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, in relation to the audit 
for the financial year ended 30 June 2007 there have been:

(i)   no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements as set out in 

the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to the audit;

  and

(ii) no contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation 

to the audit.

KPMG

David Rogers 
Partner

Kenneth J Moss 
director

sydney, 6 september 2007

Rodney T Pearse  
director 

sydney, 6 september 2007

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

36

remuneration
REPORt

this Remuneration Report is clause 
(19) of the directors’ Report.

the remuneration report:

–  explains the Board’s policies 
relating to remuneration of 
directors, secretaries and 
executives within Boral.

–  discusses the relationship 

between such policies and the 
Company’s performance.

–  provides details of Boral’s 
performance condition.

–  sets out remuneration details for 
the Company’s key management 
personnel including non-executive 
directors, the Executive director 
and other executives.

(i) Compensation Committee
the functions of the Compensation 
Committee, which oversees 
remuneration issues, are set out on 
page 30 of the Annual Review.

Management support for the 
Committee and advice from 
specialist remuneration advisers 
is provided primarily through 
Boral’s general Manager, Human 
Resources.

(ii) Remuneration Policy
Boral’s remuneration policy and 
practices are designed to attract, 
motivate and retain high quality 
people. the policy is built around 
principles that:

–  executive rewards be competitive 

in the markets in which Boral 
operates.

–  executive remuneration has an 

appropriate balance of fixed and 
variable reward.

–  remuneration be linked to Boral’s 
performance and the creation of 
shareholder value.

–  variable remuneration for 

executives has both short and 
long term components.

–  a significant proportion of 

executive reward be dependent 
upon performance assessed 
against key business measures, 
both financial and non-financial.

Current practice is to target 
fixed remuneration at market 
median levels paid by comparable 
companies for similar positions 
with scope of role, performance 
and competence determining level 
of remuneration relative to market. 

through variable remuneration, 
executives are rewarded at the 
market median level for “target” 
performance and at the upper 
quartile level for delivery of 
“stretch” performance. Boral makes 
extensive use of market data to 
benchmark remuneration levels.

(iii) Executive Remuneration 
Structure
Remuneration for Boral executives 
includes both fixed and variable 
(incentive) components. Fixed 
remuneration includes base 
salary, any non-cash benefits 
such as provision of a vehicle 
(including any FBt charges) and 
in most instances, superannuation 
contributions. Remuneration levels 
are reviewed annually by the 
Compensation Committee through 
a process that considers individual 
and company performance. External 
market advice is also considered to 
ensure remuneration levels remain 
competitive in the market place.

variable remuneration for executives 
includes both short-term and long-
term incentives and is designed 
to reward executives for meeting 
or exceeding their financial and 
personal objectives. the short term 
incentive (sti) is provided in the 
form of cash while the long term 
incentive (lti) is currently provided 
as options over ordinary Boral 
shares and/or share acquisition 
rights (sARs). Participation by 
executives in the sti and lti 
schemes is at the discretion of the 
Board.

stis are provided for employees 
who have significant influence over 
the annual outcomes of business 
units. Currently, about 5% of Boral 
employees participate in the sti 
scheme. 

salaried staff in Australia participate 
in an annual staff incentive scheme 
which is performance related. 
Currently, about 20% of Boral’s 
Australian employees participate 
in the staff incentive scheme. the 
average incentive represents 2.5% 
of base remuneration.

ltis are provided for senior 
executives who are determined 
by the Board as having significant 
influence over the long-term 
outcomes of Boral. About 1% of 
employees participate in ltis.

Short term incentive
the sti amount awarded to any 
executive is determined at the end 
of the financial year when results 
are available, as a proportion of a 
pre-determined maximum amount 
which varies with job size. the 
maximum amount is set by the 
Board based on market data. 
the actual incentive awarded is 
determined by assessment of the 

executive’s performance against 
specific objectives, both financial 
and non-financial. the executive’s 
performance is assessed relative 
to three measurement levels 
(minimum, target and stretch). 
A percentage of the maximum 
amount is awarded, depending on 
results, between 20% for minimum 
performance and 100% for stretch 
performance. target performance 
achieves 60% of maximum. 
no incentive is awarded where 
performance falls below minimum.

in the year to 30 June 2007, the 
maximum sti levels for members 
of the senior executive team were 
50% to 90% of fixed remuneration.

the financial performance objective 
is “Profit After Funding” which 
is a measure of profit related to 
assets employed. the non-financial 
objectives vary with position and 
responsibility and include measures 
such as achieving strategic 
outcomes, safety performance, 
workers’ compensation cost 
reduction, operational improvement 
and performance enhancement, 
customer satisfaction and 
staff development. these 
performance measures have 
been chosen to focus executives 
on adding shareholder value 
and demonstrating the Boral 
values. Financial and non-financial 
objectives each typically account 
for 50% of the maximum sti 
for the majority of executives. 
For divisional Executive general 
Managers, financial objectives 
account for 67% of the maximum 
sti.

stis in 2007 were lower than 
2006 for most senior executives 
reflecting performance against 
financial objectives.

long term incentive
the lti award relates to a 
maximum amount which is set by 
the Board based on market data and 
the executive’s position within the 
Company. the number of options or 
sARs to be awarded is calculated 
using the fair market value of those 
options or sARs determined in 
accordance with the applicable 
accounting standard and based on 
the average Boral share price for 
the five trading days following the 
Annual general Meeting. 

in the year to 30 June 2007, the 
maximum lti levels for members 
of the senior executive team were 
30% to 40% of fixed remuneration.

Options over ordinary Boral shares 
and sARs awarded to senior 
executives as ltis are issued 
under the Rules of the Boral senior 
Executive Option Plan and Boral 
senior Executive Performance 
share Plan respectively. 

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

37

remuneration
REPORt

the number of options and/or rights 
that may be offered to executives 
when aggregated, together with 
the number of shares held in the 
Company’s Employee share Plan 
and senior Executive Performance 
share Plan and the number of 
shares that would be issued on 
exercise or vesting of outstanding 
options and rights, shall not exceed 
5% of the total number of issued 
shares at the time of any such offer.

subject to an exercise hurdle being 
attained, the exercise period during 
which options may be exercised 
and sARs may vest commences 
after three years and ends after 
seven years. the options and 
vested shares lapse or forfeit if 
they are not exercised or released 
during such period. generally the 
options and sARs do not remain 
available to executives who resign 
unless the Board exercises a 
discretion. Options may only be 
exercised and sARs may only vest 
if the exercise hurdle, which is set 
by the Board and is dependent on 
Boral shares performing favourably 
with the overall return of shares in 
companies in the Asx 100, is met. 

Full details of the current hurdle 
which has applied since 2001 are as 
follows:

Exercise hurdle
the exercise hurdle for both 
options and sARs is measured by 
comparing the performance of the 
Company with the performance 
of other companies in which 
shareholders may potentially invest. 
this is in line with the approach of 
other major Australian companies.

Accordingly, the exercise of the 
options and vesting of sARs will 
depend on the maximum total 
shareholder Return (“tsR”) of the 
Company relative to the tsR of 
the companies from time to time 
comprising the Asx 100. 

determination of the tsR will be 
made on the basis of movements 
in the share price and dividends, 
calculated in a similar manner to the 
Accumulation index of Asx.

the period over which the tsR of 
the Company is compared with the 
tsR of the Asx 100 commences 
on the date of grant of the options 
and the sARs and is measured at 
any time during the exercise period. 
Measuring Boral’s tsR at any time 
during the exercise period affords 

executives the same opportunity 
as shareholders to review the 
performance of the Company 
progressively during the exercise 
period.

the percentage of options or sARs 
capable of exercise is based on a 
sliding scale as follows:

if at any time during the 
exercise period the tsR  
of the Company:

the percentage of 
options or sARs which 
become exercisable is:

does not reach 
the 50th percentile 
of the tsR of the 
Asx 100

Reaches the 50th 
percentile of the 
tsR of the Asx 100

Reaches or 
exceeds the 75th 
percentile of the 
tsR of the Asx 100

0%

50%

100%

the percentage of options or 
sARs which become exercisable 
increases from the 50th percentile 
up to the 75th percentile by 2% for 
each 1% increase in the percentile 
of the tsR of the Company, 
compared to the tsR of the 
Asx 100.

the measurement of Boral’s tsR 
from the 2004 grant onwards 
requires the exercise hurdle to 
be maintained for a minimum of 
10 consecutive business days. 
the percentile measurement of 
Boral’s tsR will be based on the 
lowest share price during the 10 day 
period.

the number of options to be 
granted to an executive under 
the Option Plan in respect of a 
financial year is determined by the 
Board after considering the level 
of responsibility and accountability 
of the executive. the award is 
based on a percentage of fixed 
remuneration (dependent upon 
position within the Company) and 
the fair market value of a market 
priced option as determined 
independently using a valuation 
method defined by the applicable 
Australian Accounting standard. 
the exercise price of the options is 
the average of the last sale price of 
Boral ordinary shares traded on Asx 
on each of the five trading days 
immediately after the date of the 
Annual general Meeting.

sARs were introduced in 2004 to 
provide an alternative lti vehicle 
to options. sARs are granted to 
executives under the Boral senior 
Executive Performance share Plan 
following similar principles to those 
of the Option Plan. sARs can be 
granted in lieu of options, with 
the number granted calculated 
in the same way i.e. based on a 
percentage of fixed remuneration 
and the fair market value of a sAR. 
no consideration is payable by 

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

38

the executive for the sARs or on 
transfer of shares after the sARs 
vest.

the ltis and the Option and 
Performance share Plans are 
designed to align participants’ 
interests with those of 
shareholders.

Boral’s earnings improved 
substantially in 2003 and 2004, the 
level of earnings was sustained in 
2005 and 2006, however earnings 
decreased by 18% in 2007. 
shareholder wealth has benefited in 
years since 2003 as follows:

year ended 
30 June

Full year’s 
dividend

Boral share 
Price at  
year End

Return on 
Equity

2003
2004
2005
2006
2007

23 cents
30 cents
34 cents
34 cents
34 cents

$5.06  13.2%
15.7%
$6.46
15.4%
$6.48
13.2%
$8.14
10.0%
$8.78

2005 figures restated to reflect adoption of Australian 
equivalents to international Financial Reporting 
standards 

Boral’s tsR performance was 
such that the exercise hurdle for 
options granted as ltis in 2003 has, 
since the exercise period for them 
commenced on 29 October 2006, 
been satisfied to the extent that 
58% of those options have become 
exercisable. A number of executives 
have benefited from exercising 
options granted as ltis in 2003 
which have become exercisable.

Boral’s tsR performance in recent 
years is detailed as follows:

lti grant in year  
ended 30 June

2002
2003
2004

Average annual 
tsR Performance 
over 3 years from 
date of grant

31%
39%
20%

Whether executives will benefit 
from vesting of ltis awarded in 
2004 and subsequent years will 
be determined by whether or not 
exercise hurdles are satisfied during 
applicable exercise periods which 
commence three years after an 
award.

Boral has a policy on share trading 
which applies to directors, officers 
and senior executives including key 
management personnel. this policy 
prohibits executives entering hedge 
and other derivative transactions 
regarding options or sARs granted 
to them as ltis. Refer to the sub-
heading “Ethical standards and 
dealings in Boral shares” on page 
29 of the Annual Review.

(iv) Non-Executive Directors’ 
Remuneration
the remuneration of non-executive 
directors is determined by the full 
Board upon the recommendation of 
its Compensation Committee within 
a maximum amount approved by 
shareholders in general meeting. 
the maximum amount was last 
increased to $1,250,000 per 
annum in total remuneration at the 
Company’s 2006 Annual general 
Meeting.

the remuneration of non-executive 
directors is structured on a total 
remuneration basis which may be 
in the form of cash, superannuation 
contributions or Boral shares 
acquired through the non-Executive 
directors’ share Plan. the Board 
has agreed that as a matter of 
guidance rather than by way 
of requirement, an appropriate 
proportion of non-executive 
directors’ remuneration to be taken 
in Boral shares through the non-
Executive directors’ share Plan 
would be 10%.

Retiring allowances which were 
accruing for non-executive directors 
were frozen at 31 december 2003.

in considering the level of 
remuneration for directors, the 
Board takes account of survey and 
other information on remuneration 
being paid by peer group 
companies.

For the year, base remuneration 
(fees) of $107,000 was payable to 
non-executive directors. the base 
remuneration for the Chairman was 
$294,250. in addition, remuneration 
of $11,750 was payable to members 
of Board Committees and $17,625 
to the chairs of Committees.

the Board has approved an increase 
in yearly base remuneration (fees) 
for non-executive directors to 
$115,000 and for the Chairman to 
$316,250 from 1 July 2007. the 
additional Committee remuneration 
will be $12,500 for members and 
$18,750 for the chairs.

the remuneration of the non-
executive directors is fixed and they 
do not receive any options, variable 
remuneration or other performance 
related incentives.

non-executive directors’ 
remuneration
the remuneration of the non-
executive directors is set out in 
the Key Management Personnel 
Remuneration table on page 41. 

(v) CEO’s Remuneration
Mr Pearse is the Managing director 
and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) 
of Boral limited. Mr Pearse was 
appointed to this position effective 
1 January 2000 for a five year 
term and agreed to a new five year 
contract which commenced on 
1 January 2005.

Mr Pearse’s base remuneration 
is set by the Board annually and 
may be taken as cash salary, 
company provided motor vehicle 
and superannuation contributions. 
His entitlement for 2007 was to 
an annual sti payment of up to 
100% of base remuneration. the 
amount of the sti in any year 
will be determined by the Board 
in consultation with Mr Pearse 
by assessment of Mr Pearse’s 
performance against financial 
and non-financial targets agreed 
by the Board in consultation with 
Mr Pearse at the start of each 
financial year.

Mr Pearse will also be entitled to 
ltis in the form of options granted 
under the Boral senior Executive 
Option Plan and/or sARs granted 
under the Boral senior Executive 
Performance share Plan with a fair 
market value intended to represent, 
so far as practicable, 75% of the 
aggregate base remuneration 
payable over the five year term of 
the contract.

this will be achieved by the 
Company granting to Mr Pearse in 
each of november 2005, november 
2006 and november 2007 options 
under the Boral senior Executive 
Option Plan and sARs under the 
Boral senior Executive Performance 
share Plan so that the aggregate 
fair market value of the options 
and sARs granted to him is equal 
to 125% of the base remuneration 
payable in respect of the period 
ending on 31 August immediately 
prior to the date of grant. in effect, 
Mr Pearse will therefore receive 
three long term incentive grants 
worth 125% of base remuneration 
in each of years one, two and 
three of the contract, instead of 
five long term incentive grants 
worth 75% of base remuneration 
in each of years one to five of the 
contract. For these purposes, fair 
market value means the fair market 
value of options or rights to shares 
measured in accordance with the 
accounting standards applicable to 
the Company at the time.

if the service contract is terminated 
before the expiry of the 5 year 
term other than for breach by the 
Company, fundamental change 
or termination by the Company 
without notice then part of the 
ltis granted to Mr Pearse will be 
cancelled so that the aggregate ltis 
which Mr Pearse retains following 
termination represent 75% of base 
remuneration received over the 
term for which Mr Pearse actually 
served.

shareholders at the Company’s 
Annual general Meeting held on 
21 October 2004 approved the 
above contemplated grants of 
options and sARs to Mr Pearse in 
respect of the five year period of 
his service contract from 1 January 
2005.

Mr Pearse’s aggregate annual 
remuneration, including base 
remuneration, sti and lti, will be 
reviewed by the Board annually 
taking into account the performance 
of Mr Pearse in the preceding 
year and a comparison against 
the remuneration payable to chief 
executives of an appropriate 
comparator group of companies 
determined by the Board and drawn 
from the top 50 Asx companies 
and international companies of 
appropriate size and industry.

termination events and 
calculation of payments
shareholders at the Company’s 
Annual general Meeting held 
on 21 October 2004 approved 
the payment of any termination 
payments which may become 
payable to Mr Pearse under his 
contract.

set out below are the 
circumstances in which Mr Pearse’s 
contract may be terminated and 
details of payments and other 
benefits that he may be entitled 
to receive as a result of such 
termination. For these purposes, 
the “total annual reward” in 
respect of any year is the base 
remuneration payable in that year 
plus the amount of any short term 
incentive payable in that year.

Payment on expiry of term – upon 
Mr Pearse entering a no compete 
condition for 15 months, the 
Company will pay him 1.25 times 
his total annual reward.

Payment on resignation – upon 
Mr Pearse resigning by giving 
6 months’ written notice and 
entering into a no compete 
condition for 15 months, the 
Company will pay him 1.25 times 
his total annual reward.

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

39

ceo’s remuneration
the remuneration of the CEO, 
Mr Pearse, is set out in the 
Key Management Personnel 
Remuneration table on page 41.

(vi) Executives’ remuneration
the remuneration of the most highly 
remunerated company executives 
and relevant group executives is 
determined in accordance with 
Boral’s remuneration structure 
detailed above.

termination
Periods of notice to be given by the 
executive upon resignation are from 
1 to 3 months.

there are no contractual pre-set 
termination benefits for these 
executives and in the event that an 
executive’s service is terminated by 
the employer whether for cause, 
poor performance, redundancy or 
otherwise, payments are made to 
satisfy Boral’s legal obligations.

general employment terms and 
conditions are set out for each 
executive in their respective letters 
of employment/appointment.

A limited number of us senior 
executives have entered Executive 
transition Agreements with Boral 
industries inc. pursuant to which 
benefits are payable in the event of 
termination in certain circumstances 
and within a specified period 
following a change of control of 
Boral limited or Boral industries 
inc. Any such benefit which 
becomes payable is two times 
annual salary plus sti.

executives’ remuneration
the remuneration of the most 
highly remunerated company 
executives and relevant group 
executives is set out in the 
Key Management Personnel 
Remuneration table on page 41.

remuneration
REPORt

Termination for illness or incapacity 
– Either Mr Pearse or the Company 
may, by giving 6 months’ written 
notice, terminate his employment 
by reason of illness or incapacity.

Termination for cause – no 
termination payment is payable to 
Mr Pearse if he is dismissed for 
misconduct, wilful neglect, serious 
or persistent breach of the service 
contract or other serious causes.

Termination for breach by the 
Company or fundamental change 
– if Mr Pearse terminates his 
employment because the Company 
is in breach of its obligations under 
the service contract or either party 
terminates the employment if there 
is a fundamental change which 
removes or diminishes his status, 
duties or authority, the Company 
will pay him an amount equal to 
twice the total annual reward in the 
year of termination.

Termination by Company for poor 
performance – if the Company 
terminates the employment of Mr 
Pearse because his performance 
is not at the level reasonably 
required, the Company will pay 
him an amount equal to his 
base remuneration in the year of 
termination.

Termination by Company without 
notice – if the Company terminates 
the employment of Mr Pearse 
without notice, the Company will 
pay him:

(a)  an amount equal to one half of 
his total annual reward in the 
year of termination (in lieu of 
6 months’ notice); and

(b)  an amount equal to total 

annual reward in the year of 
termination or where there is 
less than one year between 
the date of termination and the 
agreed expiry date, that amount 
multiplied by the number of days 
remaining until the expiry date 
divided by 365;

and, upon his entering into a no 
compete condition for 15 months, 
the Company will also pay him 
1.25 times his total annual reward.

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

40

Key management personnel remuneration – 2007

short-term

salary  
and fees

short term  
incentive (Cash Bonus)

Post-employment

super-
annuation  
Contri-
butions 

Retire-
ment 
Benefitsa

non  
Monetary 
Benefits

Other  
long term

share-based payments

long term  
incentivesb

share  
Plan

total  
Rem-
uneration

share 
Acquisition 
Rights  
(sARs)

vested 
Benefit

Options 

Proportion of 
remuneration 
performance- 
related

value of 
Options as 
proportion 
of rem-
uneration

A$

A$

%  
vested

% 
 Forfeited

A$

A$

A$

A$

A$

A$

A$

A$

% 

% 

DIRECTORS

non-executive

E A AlExAndER

J B ClARK

E J ClOnEy

R A lOngEs

K J MOss
Chairman

M R RAynER

J R WilliAMs

executive

2006
2007

2006
2007

2006
2007

2006
2007

2006
2007

2006
2007

2006
2007

99,185
102,901

 – 
8,323

99,185
102,901

94,335
98,050

242,442
262,600

99,287
98,050

94,335
98,050

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

8,927 12,484
 – 
9,261

 – 
749

8,927
9,261

8,490
8,825

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 –  21,820 13,540
 – 
 –  12,800

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

3,538
8,825

8,490
8,825

3,307
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 –  12,013
 –  12,463

132,609
124,625

 – 
 – 
 –  1,008

 – 
10,080

 –  12,013
 –  12,463

 –  11,425
 –  11,875

 –  29,363
 –  30,600

 –  11,425
 –  11,875

 –  11,425
 –  11,875

120,125
124,625

114,250
118,750

307,165
306,000

117,557
118,750

114,250
118,750

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

 –
 –

R t PEARsE
Managing director and CEO 2007 2,045,333

2006 2,208,333 1,337,175
576,000

59%
23%

41% 18,070
–
77% 18,070  413,000 

–   36,806  567,428 255,274
–  34,089  770,307 339,520

 –  4,423,086
–  4,196,319

49%
40%

13%
18%

2006 2,937,102 1,337,175
576,000
2007 2,816,208

18,070
18,070 471,546

60,192 29,331 36,806 567,428 255,274 87,664 5,329,042
 –  34,089 770,307 339,520 92,159 5,117,899

total
Total

ExECUTIvES

J M dOuglAs
Executive general Manager, 
ACM

P J JOBE
Executive general Manager, 
Cement

K A MitCHElHill
Executive general Manager,  
Clay & Concrete Products

W R BAtstOnE
Executive general Manager, 
Plasterboard

B M tisHER
Executive general Manager,  
timber

P J BOyd
Executive general Manager,  
timber c

E s sEvERin
President,  
Boral industries inc.

K M BARtOn
Chief Financial Officer

M B sCOBiE
general Manager,  
Corporate services  
& Company secretary

R J tOWn
general Manager,  
Human Resources

2006
2007

587,300
658,642

220,000
215,897

2006
2007

659,612
699,160

136,804
162,697

2006
2007

581,633
624,003

276,858
94,732

2006
2007

489,274
526,866

259,930
244,015

2006
2007

449,603
488,140

157,227
81,848

2006
2007

461,583
340,087

85,962
 – 

2006
2007

623,166
641,750

576,474
156,354

2006
2007

2006
2007

576,493
623,137

422,231
443,345

222,107
144,320

163,026
96,696

2006
2007

367,845
397,107

134,155
75,811

A i WARBuRtOn
general Manager,  
Corporate development d

2006
2007

–
107,823

–
24,000

60%
53%

34%
38%

77%
25%

75%
65%

67%
30%

30%
–

83%
22%

62%
37%

66%
37%

62%
32%

–
36%

40% 18,070
47% 18,070

12,200
12,800

 –  9,788
 –  10,977

43,273
44,598

17,823
38,123

 – 
 – 

908,454
999,107

66% 18,070
62% 18,070

12,200
12,800

 –  10,994
 –  11,653

95,522
66,501

25,848
48,735

855

959,905
 –  1,019,616

23% 18,070
75% 18,070

12,200
12,800

 –  9,694
 –  10,400

67,683
59,250

24,793
45,040

855
 – 

991,786
864,295

25% 18,070
35% 18,070

82,976
89,351

 –  8,155
 –  8,781

84,486
59,183

24,000
43,557

855
 – 

967,746
989,823

33% 18,070
70% 12,047

12,200
12,800

 –  7,493
 –  8,136

60,058
40,935

16,979
30,495

855
 – 

722,485
674,401

70%
100%

 –  12,200
8,500
 – 

 –  7,693
5,668
0

58,829
44,306

17,766
33,833

855
 – 

644,888
432,394

17% 243,191 102,783
78% 297,536 102,783

 –  10,386 116,177
86,782
 –  10,696

34,813
65,087

855 1,707,845
 –  1,360,988

38% 18,070
63% 18,070

34% 18,070
63% 18,070

12,200
12,800

71,607
75,187

 –  9,608
 –  10,386

 –  7,037
 –  7,389

68,166
53,739

67,256
45,067

21,703
41,774

18,268
32,757

855
 – 

855
 – 

929,202
904,226

768,350
718,511

38% 18,070
68% 18,070

62,383
67,226

 –  6,131
 –  6,618

50,612
36,756

15,081
27,674

855
 – 

655,132
629,262

–

–
64% 6,023

–
4,267

–
 – 
 –  1,832

–
5,765

–
4,252

–
 – 

–
153,962

31%
30%

27%
27%

37%
23%

38%
35%

32%
23%

25%
18%

43%
23%

34%
27%

32%
24%

31%
22%

–
22%

5%
4%

10%
7%

7%
7%

9%
6%

8%
6%

9%
10%

7%
6%

7%
6%

9%
6%

8%
6%

–
4%

total
Total

2006 5,218,740 2,232,543
2007 5,550,060 1,296,370

387,751 392,949
442,096 411,314

– 86,979 712,062 217,074
– 92,536 542,882 411,327

7,695 9,255,793
 –  8,746,585

a 

 the accrued retiring allowances of non-executive directors were frozen at 31 december 2003. All of the accrued retiring allowances have been paid as superannuation 
contributions or converted to Boral shares through the non-Executive directors’ share Plan. 
the retirement benefits which comprise remuneration in the 2006 financial year was interest on retiring allowances at bank rates.

b   the fair value of the options is calculated at the date of grant using a Monte Carlo simulation analysis in 2006, 2005 and 2004 and a Binomial model in 2003.  

For 2003, the value is allocated to each reporting period evenly over the period of three years from grant date. From 2004, the value is allocated to each reporting period 
evenly over the period of five years from grant date. the value disclosed above is the portion of the fair value of the options allocated to this reporting period.
 the fair value of the sARs is calculated at the date of grant using the Monte Carlo simulation analysis in 2006, 2005 and 2004. the value is allocated to each reporting 
period evenly over the period of five years from the grant date. the value disclosed above is the portion of the fair value of the sARs allocated to this reporting period.

c  Peter Boyd, Executive general Manager, timber, ceased employment on 5 March 2007.
d  Andrew Warburton was appointed general Manager, Corporate development on 1 March 2007.

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

41

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(vii) Details of Long Term Incentives granted as Remuneration
the vesting profile and other details of ltis being options and sARs granted as remuneration to the CEO and the above  
executives are:

Options granted

share Acquisition Rights granted 

value yet to vesta 

no.

date

no.

date

%  
vested  
in year

% forfeited 
in year

Financial year  
in which  
grant vests

Option  
Max  
A$

Min

sAR  
Max  
A$

 total  
Max  
A$

DIRECTORS

non-executive director

E A AlExAndER

J B ClARK

E J ClOnEy

R A lOngEs

K J MOss

M R RAynER

J R WilliAMs

executive director

R t PEARsE 
Managing director  
& Chief Executive Officer

ExECUTIvES

J M dOuglAs 
Executive general Manager 
– ACM

P J JOBE 
Executive general Manager 
– Cement

K A MitCHElHill  
Executive general Manager 
– Clay & Concrete Products

W R BAtstOnE  
Executive general Manager 
– Plasterboard

B M tisHER 
Executive general Manager 
– timber

P J BOyd  
Executive general Manager 
– timber b

E s sEvERin 
President Boral  
industries usA

K M BARtOn  
Chief Financial Officer

M B sCOBiE 
general Manager  
Corporate services  
& Company secretary

R J tOWn  
general Manager  
Human Resources

A i WARBuRtOn  
general Manager  
Corporate development

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

700,000

29 October 2003

350,000

29 October 2004

120,000

29 October 2004

939,800

31 October 2005

247,036

31 October 2005

2,083,500

6 november 2006

0 6 november 2006

58%

0% 30 June 2007

0%

0%

0%

0% 30 June 2008

0% 30 June 2009

0% 30 June 2010

53,300

29 October 2003

25,900

29 October 2004

6,938

29 October 2004

71,700

31 October 2005

18,849

31 October 2005

79,100

6 november 2006

21,623 6 november 2006

146,000

29 October 2003

56,200

29 October 2004

15,057

29 October 2004

82,900

31 October 2005

21,782

31 October 2005

88,200

6 november 2006

24,097 6 november 2006

117,000

29 October 2003

59,100

29 October 2004

15,849

29 October 2004

73,500

31 October 2005

19,330

31 October 2005

77,900

6 november 2006

21,284 6 november 2006

128,500

29 October 2003

56,800

29 October 2004

15,218

29 October 2004

71,700

31 October 2005

18,849

31 October 2005

74,900

6 november 2006

20,465 6 november 2006

86,000

29 October 2003

41,300

29 October 2004

11,080

29 October 2004

49,400

31 October 2005

12,986

31 October 2005

51,800

6 november 2006

14,166 6 november 2006

86,200

29 October 2003

38,500

29 October 2004

10,315

29 October 2004

57,100

31 October 2005

15,010

31 October 2005

62,400

6 november 2006

17,066 6 november 2006

178,600

29 October 2003

78,100

29 October 2004

20,940

29 October 2004

108,800

31 October 2005

28,603

31 October 2005

117,000

6 november 2006

31,985 6 november 2006

98,500

29 October 2003

44,200

29 October 2004

11,857

29 October 2004

72,900

31 October 2005

19,162

31 October 2005

77,200

6 november 2006

21,100 6 november 2006

101,200

29 October 2003

44,200

29 October 2004

11,847

29 October 2004

53,500

31 October 2005

14,054

31 October 2005

55,300

6 november 2006

15,115 6 november 2006

74,800

29 October 2003

34,800

29 October 2004

9,335

29 October 2004

46,000

31 October 2005

12,098

31 October 2005

48,300

6 november 2006

13,198 6 november 2006

37,300

29 October 2003

17,200

29 October 2004

4,617

29 October 2004

20,800

31 October 2005

5,459

31 October 2005

21,600

6 november 2006

5,904 6 november 2006

58%

0% 30 June 2007

0%

0%

0%

0% 30 June 2008

0% 30 June 2009

0% 30 June 2010

58%

0% 30 June 2007

0%

0%

0%

0% 30 June 2008

0% 30 June 2009

0% 30 June 2010

58%

0% 30 June 2007

0%

0%

0%

0% 30 June 2008

0% 30 June 2009

0% 30 June 2010

58%

0% 30 June 2007

0%

0%

0%

0% 30 June 2008

0% 30 June 2009

0% 30 June 2010

58%

0% 30 June 2007

0%

0%

0%

0% 30 June 2008

0% 30 June 2009

0% 30 June 2010

58%

0% 30 June 2007

0%

0%

0%

0% 30 June 2008

0% 30 June 2009

0% 30 June 2010

58%

0% 30 June 2007

0%

0%

0%

0% 30 June 2008

0% 30 June 2009

0% 30 June 2010

58%

0% 30 June 2007

0%

0%

0%

0% 30 June 2008

0% 30 June 2009

0% 30 June 2010

58%

0% 30 June 2007

0%

0%

0%

0% 30 June 2008

0% 30 June 2009

0% 30 June 2010

58%

0% 30 June 2007

0%

0%

0%

0% 30 June 2008

0% 30 June 2009

0% 30 June 2010

58%

0% 30 June 2007

0%

0%

0%

0% 30 June 2008

0% 30 June 2009

0% 30 June 2010

0

nil

nil

nil

0

nil

nil

nil

0

nil

nil

nil

0

nil

nil

nil

0

nil

nil

nil

0

nil

nil

nil

0

nil

nil

nil

0

nil

nil

nil

0

nil

nil

nil

0

nil

nil

nil

0

nil

nil

nil

0

nil

nil

nil

599,760

353,500

0

599,760

913,200

1,266,700

0

1,879,944

1,879,944

604,215

45,667

26,159

0

22,939

125,093

56,762

0

25,578

100,246

59,691

0

22,591

110,099

57,368

0

21,721

73,685

41,713

0

15,022

73,856

38,885

0

18,096

153,024

78,881

0

33,930

84,395

44,642

0

22,388

86,708

44,642

0

16,037

64,089

35,148

0

14,007

31,959

17,372

0

6,264

0

0

52,798

143,441

164,551

0

114,584

165,761

183,378

0

120,611

147,101

161,971

0

115,809

143,441

155,739

0

84,319

98,823

604,215

45,667

78,957

143,441

187,490

125,093

171,346

165,761

208,956

100,246

180,302

147,101

184,562

110,099

173,177

143,441

177,460

73,685

126,032

98,823

107,803

122,825

0

78,497

114,226

129,872

0

159,353

217,669

243,406

0

90,232

145,823

160,571

0

90,156

106,951

115,025

0

71,039

92,066

73,856

117,382

114,226

147,968

153,024

238,234

217,669

277,336

84,395

134,874

145,823

182,959

86,708

134,798

106,951

131,062

64,089

106,187

92,066

100,437

114,444

0

35,135

41,543

44,929

31,959

52,507

41,543

51,193

a  Maximum values yet to vest are based on the last sale price of Boral shares on 8 August 2007 of $7.61.
b  Peter Boyd, Executive general Manager, timber ceased employment on 5 March 2007.

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

42

 
 
 
 
Options
details of the movement during the year of options held by the CEO and the above executives are:

Balance at  
1 July 2006 
number

granted during  
the year as 
a
remuneration 
number

Exercised  
during 
the year 
number

value of  
options  
b 
exercised 
$

lapsed  
during  
the year 
number

Balance at  
30 June 2007 
number

total value of 
options granted, 
exercised and  
lapsed during  
the year 
$

 1,989,800 

 2,083,300 

(392,000) 

 1,093,680 

 – 

 3,681,100 

 3,906,135 

 150,900 
 435,600 
 249,600 
 257,000 
 176,700 
 292,300 
 365,500 
 215,600 
 198,900 
 155,600 
 75,300 

 79,100 
 88,200 
 77,900 
 74,900 
 51,800 
 62,400 
 117,000 
 77,200 
 55,300 
 48,300 
 21,600 

(29,848) 
(232,260) 
(65,520) 
 – 
 – 
(140,500) 
 – 
 – 
(52,624) 
 – 
(20,000) 

 92,827 
 648,005 
 210,319 
 – 
 – 
 451,338 
 – 
 – 
 170,502 
 – 
 55,800 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 200,152 
 291,540 
 261,980 
 331,900 
 228,500 
 214,200 
 482,500 
 292,800 
 201,576 
 203,900 
 76,900 

 199,612 
 767,075 
 315,484 
 101,115 
 69,930 
 535,578 
 157,950 
 104,220 
 245,157 
 65,205 
 84,960 

executive director
R t PEARsE

executives
J M dOuglAs
P J JOBE
K A MitCHElHill
W R BAtstOnE
B M tisHER
P J BOyd
E s sEvERin
K M BARtOn
M B sCOBiE
R J tOWn
A i WARBuRtOn

a 

 the fair value of options granted during the year calculated at the date of grant using a Monte Carlo simulation analysis is $1.35 per option. the 
options expire on 6 november 2013.

b  Calculated per option as the last sale price of Boral shares on the date of exercise less the exercise price.

Share Acquisition Rights
details of the movement during the year of sARs held by the CEO and the above executives are:

Balance at  
1 July 2006 
number

granted during  
the year as 
a
remuneration 
number

Exercised  
during 
the year 
number

value of  
rights  
exercised 
$

lapsed  
during  
the year 
number

Balance at  
30 June 2007 
number

total value of  
rights granted,  
exercised and  
lapsed during  
the year 
$

 367,036 

 – 

 25,787 
 36,839 
 35,179 
 34,067 
 24,066 
 25,325 
 49,543 
 31,019 
 25,901 
 21,433 
 10,076 

 21,623 
 24,097 
 21,284 
 20,465 
 14,166 
 17,066 
 31,985 
 21,100 
 15,115 
 13,198 
 5,904 

 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 367,036 

 – 

 47,410 
 60,936 
 56,463 
 54,532 
 38,232 
 42,391 
 81,528 
 52,119 
 41,016 
 34,631 
 15,980 

 106,818 
 119,039 
 105,143 
 101,097 
 69,980 
 84,306 
 158,006 
 104,234 
 74,668 
 65,198 
 29,166 

executive director
R t PEARsE

executives
J M dOuglAs
P J JOBE
K A MitCHElHill
W R BAtstOnE
B M tisHER
P J BOyd
E s sEvERin
K M BARtOn
M B sCOBiE
R J tOWn
A i WARBuRtOn

a 

 the fair value of sARs granted during the year calculated at the date of grant using a Monte Carlo simulation analysis is $4.94 per right. the sARs 
expire on 6 november 2013.

Boral Limited Annual Review 2007

43

 
 
 
 
 
INCOME
STATEMENT

BoRAl liMiTEd ANd coNTRollEd ENTiTiES 

for the year ended 30 June

Revenue

cost of sales

distribution expenses

Selling and marketing expenses

Administrative and general expenses

other income

other expenses

Note

 3

Share of net profit of associates and joint ventures

6

Profit before net financing costs and income tax expense

Financial income

Financial expenses

Net financing costs

Profit before income tax expense

income tax expense

Net profit

Attributable to:

Members of the parent entity

Minority interests

Net profit

coNSolidATEd

2007 
$ millions

2006 
$ millions

 4,909.0 

 4,767.4 

(3,056.5) 

(2,963.0) 

(804.0) 

(217.0) 

(342.5) 

(755.4) 

(209.5) 

(325.1) 

(4,420.0) 

(4,253.0) 

 9.6 

(2.8) 

 35.1 

 530.9 

 6.3 

(116.8) 

(110.5) 

 14.2 

(0.4) 

 85.8 

 614.0 

 4.2 

(102.4) 

(98.2) 

 420.4 

 515.8 

(122.3) 

 298.1 

(153.1) 

 362.7 

 298.1 

 – 

 298.1 

 362.4 

 0.3 

 362.7 

Basic earnings per share – ordinary shares

diluted earnings per share – ordinary shares

4

4

50.0c

49.9c

61.7c

61.5c

The income statement should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes which form an integral part of the financial report.

Boral Limited Financial Report 2007

44

as at 30 June

CurreNt Assets

cash and cash equivalents

Receivables

inventories

other

totAL CurreNt Assets

NoN-CurreNt Assets

Receivables

inventories

investments accounted for using the equity method

other financial assets

Property, plant and equipment

intangible assets

other

totAL NoN-CurreNt Assets

totAL Assets

CurreNt LiABiLities

Payables

interest bearing loans and borrowings

current tax liabilities

Provisions

totAL CurreNt LiABiLities

NoN-CurreNt LiABiLities

Payables

interest bearing loans and borrowings

deferred tax liabilities

Provisions

totAL NoN-CurreNt LiABiLities

totAL LiABiLities

Net Assets

equity

issued capital

Reserves

Retained earnings

total parent entity interest

Minority interests

totAL equity

BALANCE
SHEET

BoRAl liMiTEd ANd coNTRollEd ENTiTiES 

coNSolidATEd

Note

2007 
$ millions

2006 
$ millions

 35.7 

 799.9 

 584.0 

 31.4 

 76.2 

 759.7 

 528.5 

 36.4 

 1,451.0 

 1,400.8 

 37.5 

 126.4 

 388.8 

 399.3 

 28.2 

 120.7 

 418.4 

 289.1 

 2,989.6 

 2,908.1 

8

 340.3 

 83.7 

 4,365.6 

 5,816.6 

 619.3 

 25.6 

 81.3 

 195.6 

 921.8 

 352.9 

 68.8 

 4,186.2 

 5,587.0 

 608.8 

 1.0 

 63.5 

 189.9 

 863.2 

 67.8 

 39.0 

 1,492.4 

 1,653.4 

 299.3 

 48.0 

 1,907.5 

 2,829.3 

 2,987.3 

 1,688.1 

 148.1 

 1,148.2 

 2,984.4 

 2.9 

 227.6 

 48.8 

 1,968.8 

 2,832.0 

 2,755.0 

 1,622.7 

 81.9 

 1,048.5 

 2,753.1 

 1.9 

 2,987.3 

 2,755.0

9

10

The balance sheet should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes which form an integral part of the financial report.

Boral Limited Financial Report 2007

45

STATEMENT
oF REcoGNiSEd  
INCOME
iNcoME ANd EXPENSE
STATEMENT

BoRAl liMiTEd ANd coNTRollEd ENTiTiES 

for the year ended 30 June

Actuarial gain on defined benefit plans, net of tax

Net exchange differences from translation of foreign operations taken  
to equity, net of tax

Fair value adjustment on cash flow hedges, net of tax

Fair value adjustment on available for sale financial assets, net of tax

Net income recognised directly in equity

Net profit

total recognised income and expense for the year

total recognised income and expense for the year is attributable to:

Members of the parent entity

Minority interests

total recognised income and expense for the year

coNSolidATEd

2007 
$ millions

2006 
$ millions

 3.5 

 3.6 

(22.4) 

(0.1) 

 83.8 

 64.8 

 298.1 

 362.9 

 362.9 

 – 

 362.9 

 37.5 

 1.2 

 52.1 

 94.4 

 362.7 

 457.1 

 456.8 

 0.3 

 457.1 

impact of change in accounting policy

Adjustment on adoption of AASB 132 and AASB 139, net of tax

 – 

 20.5 

The statement of recognised income and expense should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes which form an integral part of the 
financial report.

Boral Limited Financial Report 2007

46

for the year ended 30 June

CAsh fLows from oPerAtiNg ACtivities

Receipts from customers

Payments to suppliers and employees

dividends received

interest received

Borrowing costs paid

income taxes paid

Net cash provided by operating activities

CAsh fLows from iNvestiNg ACtivities

Payments for purchase of property, plant and equipment

Payments for intangibles

Payments for purchase of controlled entities and businesses (net of cash 
acquired)

Payments for purchase of other investments

loans to associates

Proceeds on disposal of businesses and non-current assets

Net cash used in investing activities

CAsh fLows from fiNANCiNg ACtivities

Proceeds from issue of shares

Share buy-back (on market)

dividends paid (net of dividends reinvested under the dividend reinvestment plan  
of $53.7 million (2006: $61.9 million))

Proceeds from borrowings

Repayment of borrowings

Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities

Net ChANge iN CAsh ANd CAsh equivALeNts

cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year

Effects of exchange rate fluctuations on the balances of cash and cash 
equivalents held in foreign currencies 

cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

13

CASH FLOW
BALANCE
STATEMENT
SHEET

BoRAl liMiTEd ANd coNTRollEd ENTiTiES 

coNSolidATEd

Note

2007 
$ millions

2006 
$ millions

 5,277.4 

(4,642.5) 

 5,084.4 

(4,409.1) 

 49.3 

 6.3 

(114.9) 

(93.7) 

 481.9 

(403.0) 

(0.6) 

(11.2) 

(3.3) 

(13.8) 

 19.5 

(412.4) 

 11.7 

 – 

(148.2) 

 149.5 

(139.6) 

(126.6) 

(57.1) 

 76.2 

(7.7) 

 11.4 

 64.9 

 4.1 

(95.5) 

(199.3) 

 449.5 

(479.0) 

(4.7) 

(26.6) 

(3.6) 

(0.4) 

 32.5 

(481.8) 

 18.9 

(16.3) 

(136.9) 

 289.1 

(68.3) 

 86.5 

 54.2 

 18.6 

 3.4 

 76.2 

The cash flow statement should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes which form an integral part of the financial report.

Boral Limited Financial Report 2007

47

NOTES TO  
NOTES TO  
THE coNciSE  
THE coNciSE  
FiNANciAl REPoRT
FiNANciAl REPoRT

BoRAl liMiTEd ANd coNTRollEd ENTiTiES 

1.  BAsis of PrePArAtioN of 

CoNCise fiNANCiAL rePort

The concise financial report has 
been prepared in accordance with 
the corporations Act 2001 and 
Accounting Standard AASB 1039 
concise Financial Reports. The 
financial statements and specified 
disclosures required by AASB 
1039 have been derived from the 
consolidated entity’s full financial 
report for the financial year. other 
information included in the concise 
financial report is consistent 
with the consolidated entity’s 
full financial report. The concise 
financial report does not, and 
cannot be expected to, provide as 
full an understanding of the financial 
performance, financial position and 
financing and investing activities of 
the consolidated entity as the full 
financial report.

The accounting policies adopted 
have been applied consistently 
to all periods presented in the 
consolidated financial report.

The financial report has been 
prepared on the basis of historical 
cost, except for derivative 
financial instruments and financial 
instruments classified as available 
for sale which have been measured 
at fair value. The carrying value of 
recognised assets and liabilities that 
are hedged with fair value hedges 
are adjusted to record changes in 
the fair value attributable to the 
risks that are being hedged.

The report is presented in  
Australian dollars.

A full description of the accounting 
policies adopted by the Group may 
be found in the consolidated entity’s 
full financial report.

ComPArAtive iNformAtioN
To ensure comparability with the 
current reporting period, certain 
comparative items may have 
been reclassified in the financial 
statements to conform with 
changes in presentation in the 
current financial year.

Boral Limited Financial Report 2007

48

NOTES TO  
NOTES TO  
THE coNciSE  
THE coNciSE  
FiNANciAl REPoRT
FiNANciAl REPoRT

BoRAl liMiTEd ANd coNTRollEd ENTiTiES 

2007 
$ millions

2006 
$ millions

2007 
$ millions

2006 
$ millions

2007 
$ millions

2006 
$ millions

REvENUE*

 1,275.3 
 2,548.8 
 882.5 
 182.5 
 19.9 
 4,909.0 

 1,212.6 
 2,410.4 
 956.5 
 176.6 
 11.3 
 4,767.4 

oPERATiNG PRoFiT  
(EXclUdiNG ASSociATES)

EqUiTy AccoUNTEd  
RESUlTS oF ASSociATES

oPERATiNG PRoFiT 
BEFoRE TAX

 90.1 
 301.1 
 101.5 
(4.0) 
 19.4 
 508.1 
(12.3) 
 495.8 
(110.5) 
 385.3 

 107.4 
 267.8 
 148.0 
 2.9 
 10.5 
 536.6 
(8.4) 
 528.2 
(98.2) 
 430.0 

SEGMENT ASSETS (EXclUdiNG 
iNvESTMENTS iN ASSociATES)
 1,211.1 
 1,335.0 
 2,588.5 
 2,680.3 
 841.9 
 807.4 
 151.5 
 154.2 
 279.7 
 398.4 
 5,072.7 
 5,375.3 
 19.7 
16.8 
 5,092.4 
 5,392.1 
 76.2 
 35.7 
 5,168.6 
 5,427.8 

liABiliTiES

 231.3 
 426.8 
 105.4 
 28.6 
 1.0 
 793.1 
 137.6 
 930.7 
 1,518.0 
 380.6 
 2,829.3 

 222.4 
 410.5 
 124.7 
 26.5 
 1.4 
 785.5 
 101.0 
 886.5 
 1,654.4 
 291.1 
 2,832.0 

 9.1 
 16.9 
(7.0) 
 16.1 
 – 
 35.1 
 – 
 35.1 
 – 
 35.1 

 10.2 
 18.2 
 37.7 
 19.7 
 – 
 85.8 
 – 
 85.8 
 – 
 85.8 

EqUiTy AccoUNTEd  
iNvESTMENTS iN ASSociATES
 12.1 
 23.8 
 130.7 
 251.8 
 – 
 418.4 
 – 
 418.4 
 – 
 418.4 

 10.1 
 17.4 
 110.9 
 250.4 
 – 
 388.8 
 – 
 388.8 
 – 
 388.8 

AcqUiSiTioN oF 
SEGMENT ASSETS**
 124.1 
 160.5 
 96.2 
 22.1 
 – 
 402.9 
 0.7 
 403.6 
 – 
 – 
 403.6 

 117.0 
 248.1 
 96.7 
 20.0 
 – 
 481.8 
 1.9 
 483.7 
 – 
 – 
 483.7 

 99.2 
 318.0 
 94.5 
 12.1 
 19.4 
 543.2 
(12.3) 
 530.9 
(110.5) 
 420.4 

 117.6 
 286.0 
 185.7 
 22.6 
 10.5 
 622.4 
(8.4) 
 614.0 
(98.2) 
 515.8 

ToTAl ASSETS

 1,345.1 
 2,697.7 
 918.3 
 404.6 
 398.4 
 5,764.1 
 16.8 
 5,780.9 
 35.7 
 5,816.6 

 1,223.2 
 2,612.3 
 972.6 
 403.3 
 279.7 
 5,491.1 
 19.7 
 5,510.8 
 76.2 
 5,587.0 

dEPREciATioN ANd  
AMoRTiSATioN
 51.9 
 135.9 
 34.7 
 8.4 
 – 
 230.9 
 0.5 
 231.4 
 – 
 – 
 231.4 

 44.5 
 123.8 
 32.8 
 7.0 
 – 
 208.1 
 0.5 
 208.6 
 – 
 – 
 208.6 

2.   segmeNts

BUSiNESS SEGMENTS

Building products – Australia
construction materials – Australia
United States of America
Asia
other

Building products – Australia
construction materials – Australia
United States of America
Asia
other

corporate

Net financing costs

Building products – Australia
construction materials – Australia
United States of America
Asia
other

corporate

cash and cash equivalents

Building products – Australia
construction materials – Australia
United States of America
Asia
other

corporate

interest bearing loans and borrowings
Tax liabilities

*  Revenue represents external sales from operating activities. it excludes intersegment sales as they are considered not material.
**    Acquisition of segment assets excludes purchases of controlled entities, businesses and other investments.

No significant non-cash expenses other than depreciation and amortisation.

Primary segments
Building products – Australia 
construction materials – Australia   quarries, road surfacing, premix concrete, precast concrete, fly ash, cement,  

Bricks, plasterboard, timber products, roof tiles, aluminium products and concrete products.

United States of America 
Asia 
other  

Boral Limited Financial Report 2007

quarry end use, transport, concrete placing and scaffolding.
Bricks, roof tiles, fly ash, premix concrete, quarries and masonry.
Plasterboard, premix concrete and quarries.
investments in listed shares and non-trading operations.

49

NOTES TO  
THE coNciSE  
FiNANciAl REPoRT

BoRAl liMiTEd ANd coNTRollEd ENTiTiES 

2.   segmeNts (CoNtiNued)

GEoGRAPHicAl SEGMENTS

2007 
$ millions

2006 
$ millions

2007 
$ millions

2006 
$ millions

2007 
$ millions

2006 
$ millions

Australia 
United States of America
Asia
other

corporate

Australia 
United States of America
Asia
other

corporate

Net financing costs

Australia 
United States of America
Asia
other

corporate

cash and cash equivalents

REvENUE*

AcqUiSiTioN oF  
SEGMENT ASSETS **

 3,824.1 
 882.5 
 182.5 
 19.9 
 4,909.0 
 – 
 4,909.0 

 3,623.0 
 956.5 
 176.6 
 11.3 
 4,767.4 
 – 
 4,767.4 

 284.6 
 96.2 
 22.1 
 – 
 402.9 
 0.7 
 403.6 

 365.1 
 96.7 
 20.0 
 – 
 481.8 
 1.9 
 483.7 

oPERATiNG PRoFiT  
(EXclUdiNG ASSociATES)

EqUiTy AccoUNTEd  
RESUlTS oF ASSociATES

oPERATiNG PRoFiT 
BEFoRE TAX

 391.2 
 101.5 
(4.0) 
 19.4 
 508.1 
(12.3) 
 495.8 
(110.5) 
 385.3 

 375.2 
 148.0 
 2.9 
 10.5 
 536.6 
(8.4) 
 528.2 
(98.2) 
 430.0 

 26.0 
(7.0) 
 16.1 
 – 
 35.1 
 – 
 35.1 
 – 
 35.1 

 28.4 
 37.7 
 19.7 
 – 
 85.8 
 – 
 85.8 
 – 
 85.8 

SEGMENT ASSETS (EXclUdiNG 
iNvESTMENTS iN ASSociATES)
 3,799.6 
 4,015.3 
 841.9 
 807.4 
 151.5 
 154.2 
 279.7 
 398.4 
 5,072.7 
 5,375.3 
 19.7 
 16.8 
 5,092.4 
 5,392.1 
 76.2 
 35.7 
 5,168.6 
 5,427.8 

EqUiTy AccoUNTEd  
iNvESTMENTS iN ASSociATES
 35.9 
 130.7 
 251.8 
 – 
 418.4 
 – 
 418.4 
 – 
 418.4 

 27.5 
 110.9 
 250.4 
 – 
 388.8 
 – 
 388.8 
 – 
 388.8 

 417.2 
 94.5 
 12.1 
 19.4 
 543.2 
(12.3) 
 530.9 
(110.5) 
 420.4 

 403.6 
 185.7 
 22.6 
 10.5 
 622.4 
(8.4) 
 614.0 
(98.2) 
 515.8 

ToTAl ASSETS

 4,042.8 
 918.3 
 404.6 
 398.4 
 5,764.1 
 16.8 
 5,780.9 
 35.7 
 5,816.6 

 3,835.5 
 972.6 
 403.3 
 279.7 
 5,491.1 
 19.7 
 5,510.8 
 76.2 
 5,587.0 

*   Revenue represents external sales from operating activities. it excludes intersegment sales as they are considered not material.
**  Acquisition of segment assets excludes purchases of controlled entities, businesses and other investments.

geographic segments
Australia 

United States of America 
Asia 
other  

 Bricks, plasterboard, timber products, roof tiles, aluminium products, concrete 
products, quarries, road surfacing, premix concrete, precast concrete, fly ash, 
cement, quarry end use, transport, concrete placing and scaffolding.
Bricks, roof tiles, fly ash, premix concrete, quarries and masonry. 
Plasterboard, premix concrete and quarries. 
investments in listed shares and non-trading operations. 

Boral Limited Financial Report 2007

50

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
for the year ended 30 June

3. oPerAtiNg Profit

reveNue

Sale of goods 

Rendering of services

other revenue

dividends from other parties

dePreCiAtioN ANd AmortisAtioN exPeNses

land and buildings

Plant and equipment

Timber licences, plantation costs and mineral reserves

leased assets capitalised

other intangibles

NOTES TO  
THE coNciSE  
FiNANciAl REPoRT

BoRAl liMiTEd ANd coNTRollEd ENTiTiES 

coNSolidATEd

2007 
$ millions

2006 
$ millions

 4,808.8 

 80.3 

 4,889.1 

 4,647.6 

 108.5 

 4,756.1 

 19.9 

 11.3 

 4,909.0 

 4,767.4 

 9.2 

 211.9 

 1.2 

 0.3 

 8.8 

 8.4 

 197.8 

 1.4 

 0.4 

 0.6 

 231.4 

 208.6 

4. eArNiNgs Per shAre

CLAssifiCAtioN of seCurities As ordiNAry shAres
only ordinary shares have been included in basic earnings per share (EPS).

CLAssifiCAtioN of seCurities As PoteNtiAL ordiNAry shAres
options outstanding under the Executive Share option Plan and Share Performance Rights have been classified as 
potential ordinary shares and are included in diluted earnings per share only.

earnings reconciliation

Net profit attributable to members of the parent entity

weighted average number of ordinary shares used as the denominator

Number for basic earnings per share

Effect of potential ordinary shares

Number for diluted earnings per share

Basic earnings per share – ordinary shares

diluted earnings per share – ordinary shares

coNSolidATEd

2007 
$ millions

2006 
$ millions

 298.1 

 362.4 

coNSolidATEd

2007

2006

595,749,107

587,114,891

1,961,823

1,995,183

597,710,930

589,110,074

50.0c

49.9c

61.7c

61.5c

The average market value of the company’s shares for the purpose of calculating the dilutive effect of the share options 
was based on quoted market prices for the period that the options were outstanding.

Boral Limited Financial Report 2007

51

NOTES TO  
THE coNciSE  
FiNANciAl REPoRT

BoRAl liMiTEd ANd coNTRollEd ENTiTiES 

5. divideNds 

dividends recognised by Boral limited and the consolidated entity are: 

 Amount per share 

 Total amount  
$ millions 

 Franked amount  
per share 

date of payment

2007

2006 final – ordinary

2007 interim – ordinary

Total

2006

2005 final – ordinary

2006 interim – ordinary

Total

 17.0 cents 

 17.0 cents 

 17.0 cents 

 17.0 cents 

100.4

101.5

201.9

98.6

100.2

198.8

 17.0 cents  18 september 2006

 17.0 cents 

21 march 2007

 17.0 cents 

 16 September 2005 

 17.0 cents 

 20 March 2006 

 Amount per share 

 Total amount  
$ millions 

 Franked amount  
per share 

date of payment

suBsequeNt eveNt

Since the end of the financial year, the 
directors declared the following dividend:

2007 final – ordinary

 17.0 cents 

101.9

 17.0 cents  18 september 2007

The financial effect of the final dividend for the year ended 30 June 2007 has not been brought to account in the 
financial report for the year but will be recognised in subsequent financial reports.

divideNd frANkiNg ACCouNt
The balance of the franking account of Boral limited as at 30 June 2007 is $67.5 million (2006: $108.2 million) after 
adjusting for franking credits/(debits) that will arise from:

–  the payment/refund of the amount of the current tax liability;

–  the receipt of dividends recognised as receivables at year end;

and before taking into account the franking credits associated with payment of the final dividend declared subsequent  
to year end. 

The impact on the franking account of the dividend recommended by the directors since year end, but not recognised 
as a liability at year end, will be a reduction in the franking account of $43.7 million (2006: $43.0 million).

divideNd reiNvestmeNt PLAN
The company’s dividend reinvestment plan will operate in respect of the payment of the final dividend and the last date 
for the receipt of an election notice for participation in the plan is 29 August 2007.

Boral Limited Financial Report 2007

52

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6. iNvestmeNts ACCouNted for usiNg the equity method

NOTES TO  
THE coNciSE  
FiNANciAl REPoRT

BoRAl liMiTEd ANd coNTRollEd ENTiTiES 

oWNERSHiP iNTEREST 
coNSolidATEd

Name

Principal Activity

country of 
incorporation

Balance date

2007 
% 

2006 
%

detAiLs of iNvestmeNts iN AssoCiAtes Are As foLLows:

caribbean Roof Tile company limited

Roof tiles

Trinidad

31-dec

Flyash Australia Pty ltd

Girotto Precast Pty ltd*

Fly ash collection Australia

Precast concrete Australia

Gypsum Resources Australia Pty ltd

Gypsum mining

Australia

Highland Pine Products Pty ltd

lafarge Boral Gypsum in Asia ltd

Monierlifetile llc

Monierlifetile S.R.l. de c.v. 

Timber

Plasterboard

Roof tiles

Roof tiles

Penrith lakes development corporation Pty ltd quarrying

Australia

Malaysia

USA

Mexico

Australia

Rondo Building Services Pty ltd

South East Asphalt Pty ltd

Sunstate cement ltd

Tile Service company llc

US Tile llc

Rollform system Australia

Asphalt

Australia

cement 
manufacturer

Roof tiles

Roof tiles

Australia

USA

USA

30-Jun

30-Jun

30-Jun

30-Jun

31-dec

31-dec

31-dec

30-Jun

30-Jun

30-Jun

30-Jun

31-dec

31-dec

*  Girotto Precast Pty ltd became a controlled entity during the year.

resuLts of AssoCiAtes:

Share of associates’ profit before income tax expense

Share of associates’ income tax expense

Share of associates’ net profit – equity accounted

results of associates include the following:

Share of associates’ net profit/(loss) – equity accounted:

lafarge Boral Gypsum in Asia ltd

Monierlifetile llc* and Monierlifetile S.R.l. de c.v.

*   Taxed as a partnership in the USA

50

50

–

50

50

50

50

50

40

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

40

50

50

50

50

50

coNSolidATEd

2007 
$ millions

2006 
$ millions

 50.2 

(15.1) 

 35.1 

 99.7 

(13.9) 

 85.8 

 16.1 

(4.8) 

 19.7 

 38.1 

coNSolidATEd

2007

2006

7. NtA BACkiNg

Net tangible asset backing per ordinary security

$4.41

$4.07

Boral Limited Financial Report 2007

53

NOTES TO  
THE coNciSE  
FiNANciAl REPoRT

BoRAl liMiTEd ANd coNTRollEd ENTiTiES 

8. other fiNANCiAL Assets

NoN-CurreNt

listed shares – at fair value

Financial instruments

9. issued CAPitAL

issued ANd PAid-uP CAPitAL

coNSolidATEd

2007 
$ millions

2006 
$ millions

 395.7 

 3.6 

 399.3 

 276.0 

 13.1 

 289.1 

599,407,033 (2006: 589,814,236) ordinary shares, fully paid

 1,688.1 

 1,622.7 

movemeNts iN ordiNAry shAre CAPitAL

Balance at the beginning of the year

  Nil (2006: 658,600) shares issued under the employee share plan

7,316,365 (2006: 8,233,548) shares issued under the dividend reinvestment plan

2,276,432 (2006: 4,045,500) shares issued upon the exercise of executive options 

  Nil (2006: 1,892,364) shares bought back

Balance at the end of the year

 1,622.7 

 1,556.0 

 – 

 53.7 

 11.7 

 – 

 5.3 

 61.9 

 15.8 

(16.3) 

 1,688.1 

 1,622.7 

Holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividends as declared from time to time  
and are entitled to one vote per share at shareholders’ meetings. 

in the event of a winding up of Boral limited, ordinary shareholders rank after creditors  
and are fully entitled to any proceeds of liquidation. 

10. retAiNed eArNiNgs

Retained earnings at the beginning of the year

Net profit attributable to members of the parent entity

dividends recognised during the year

Actuarial gain on defined benefit plans, net of tax

Retained earnings at the end of the year

11. CoNtiNgeNt LiABiLities

details of contingent liabilities and contingent assets where the probability of future 
payments/receipts is not considered remote are set out below.

Unsecured contingent liabilities:

Bank guarantees

other items

 1,048.5 

 298.1 

(201.9) 

 3.5 

 881.3 

 362.4 

(198.8) 

 3.6 

 1,148.2 

 1,048.5 

 16.6 

 1.2 

 17.8 

 8.3 

 1.2 

 9.5 

Boral limited has given to its bankers letters of responsibility in respect of accommodation provided from time to time 
by the banks to controlled entities.

A number of sites within the Boral Group have been identified as contaminated, generally as a result of prior activities 
conducted at the sites, and review and appropriate implementation of clean-up requirements for these is ongoing. For 
sites where the requirements can be assessed, estimated clean-up costs have been expensed or provided for. For 
some sites, the requirements cannot be reliably assessed at this stage.

Boral Limited Financial Report 2007

54

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO  
THE coNciSE  
FiNANciAl REPoRT

BoRAl liMiTEd ANd coNTRollEd ENTiTiES 

11. CoNtiNgeNt LiABiLities (CoNtiNued)

certain entities within the consolidated entity are subject to various lawsuits and claims in the ordinary course of business. 

consistent with other companies of the size and diversity of Boral, the Group is the subject of periodic information 
requests, investigations and audit activity by the Australian Taxation office (ATo) and tax authorities in other 
jurisdictions in which Boral operates. 

in the period February to March 2006 Australian subsidiaries of the Group received assessments and amended 
assessments from the ATo relating to the utilisation of tax losses and capital gains arising from the demerger in 2000. 
The amounts assessed include primary tax of $56.5 million, general interest charge of $37.4 million and penalties of $6.9 
million. All assessments have been objected to and, to date, there has been no response from the ATo to those objections. 

during the year, further enquiries were made by the ATo relating to a number of transactions occurring at the time of the 
demerger. in the US, the internal Revenue Service is reviewing two transactions which occurred prior to the demerger 
which it believes may result in additional assessable income to the Group. No assessments have been issued in relation 
to these matters and in both jurisdictions the Group is in continuing dialogue with the appropriate revenue authority.

A deed was entered into at the time of the demerger which contained certain indemnities and other agreements 
between the Group and origin Energy limited and their respective controlled entities covering the transfer of the 
businesses, investments, tax, other liabilities, debt and assets of the Group and some temporary shared arrangements. 
A wholly owned subsidiary of origin has received an amended assessment from the ATo for the year ended 30 June 
1999. The amounts assessed consist of $27.5 million of primary tax and a general interest charge of $15.8 million. This 
assessment has been objected to by origin. if the ATo’s claims against origin are ultimately successful it is likely to rely 
on indemnities contained in the demerger deed. Similarly, should claims against the Group be successful, this is likely to 
give rise to a claim by the Group against origin.

The Group has considered these claims and, where appropriate, sought independent advice, and believes it holds 
appropriate provisions.

12. ACquisitioN/disPosAL of CoNtroLLed eNtities  

The following controlled entity was acquired during the year ended 30 June 2007:

entity acquired:

Girotto Precast Pty ltd

date acquired

consideration paid 
$ millions

interest acquired 
%

Jul 2006

8.8

30%

coNSolidATEd

2007 
$ millions

2006 
$ millions

13. Notes to CAsh fLow stAtemeNt

(i)  Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents   
  cash includes cash on hand, at bank and short term deposits at call, net of outstanding 
bank overdrafts. cash as at the end of the financial period as shown in the cash flow 
statement is reconciled to the related items in the balance sheet as follows: 

  cash and cash equivalents

  Bank overdrafts

 35.7 

(24.3) 

 11.4 

 76.2 

 – 

 76.2 

(ii) The following non-cash financing and investing activities have not been included  

in the cash flow statement: 

  dividends reinvested under the dividend reinvestment plan

53.7

61.9

14. suBsequeNt eveNt

during August 2007, the Group announced that it has acquired the assets of two construction materials businesses in 
oklahoma city, Schwarz Readymix, a ready-mixed concrete and sand business and the davis Arbuckle Materials quarry. 
The total acquisition price was US$80 million (around $95 million).

Boral Limited Financial Report 2007

55

 
 
STATuTOry
INCOME
STATEMENTS
STATEMENT

BoRAl liMiTEd ANd coNTRollEd ENTiTiES 

direCtors’ deCLArAtioN

in the opinion of the directors of 
Boral limited, the accompanying 
concise financial report of the 
consolidated entity, comprising 
Boral limited and its controlled 
entities, for the year ended 30 June 
2007 set out on pages 44 to 55:

(a)  has been derived from or is 

consistent with the full financial 
report for the financial year; and

(b)   complies with Accounting 

Standard AASB 1039 concise 
Financial Reports.

Signed in accordance with a 
resolution of the directors:

kenneth J moss  
director

rodney t Pearse  
director

Sydney, 6 September 2007

iNdePeNdeNt Auditor’s rePort to the memBers  
of BorAL Limited

The accompanying concise financial 
report of Boral limited and its 
controlled entities comprises the 
balance sheet as at 30 June 2007, 
the income statement, statement 
of recognised income and expense 
and cash flow statement for the 
year then ended and related notes 
1 to 14, derived from the audited 
financial report of Boral limited for 
the year ended 30 June 2007. The 
concise financial report does not 
contain all the disclosures required 
by Australian Accounting Standards. 

directors’ responsibility for the 
concise financial report
The directors of Boral limited are 
responsible for the preparation and 
presentation of the concise financial 
report in accordance with Australian 
Accounting Standard AASB 1039 
concise Financial Reports and 
the corporations Act 2001. This 
responsibility includes establishing 
and maintaining internal control 
relevant to the preparation of the 
concise financial report; selecting 
and applying appropriate accounting 
policies; and making accounting 
estimates that are reasonable in  
the circumstances.

Auditor’s responsibility
our responsibility is to express 
an opinion on the concise 
financial report based on our audit 
procedures. We have conducted an 
independent audit in accordance 
with Australian Auditing Standards, 
of the financial report of Boral 
limited for the year ended 30 June 
2007. our audit report on the 
financial report for the year was 
signed on 6 September 2007 and 
was not subject to any modification. 
The Australian Auditing Standards 
require that we comply with 
relevant ethical requirements 
relating to audit engagements and 
plan and perform the audit to obtain 
reasonable assurance whether the 
financial report for the year is free 
of material misstatement.

our procedures in respect of the 
concise financial report include 
testing that the information in the 
concise financial report is derived 
from, and is consistent with, the 
financial report for the year, and 
examination on a test basis, of 
evidence supporting the amounts 
and other disclosures which were 
not directly derived from the 
financial report for the year. These 
procedures have been undertaken 
to form an opinion whether, in 
all material respects, the concise 
financial report complies with 
Australian Accounting Standard 
AASB 1039 concise  
Financial Reports. 

We believe that the audit evidence 
we have obtained is sufficient and 
appropriate to provide a basis for 
our audit opinion.

Auditor’s opinion
in our opinion the concise financial 
report of Boral limited and its 
controlled entities for the year 
ended 30 June 2007 complies  
with Australian Accounting  
Standard AASB 1039 concise 
Financial Reports.

kPmg 

david rogers 
Partner

Sydney, 6 September 2007

Boral Limited Financial Report 2007

56

shArehoLder iNformAtioN

shArehoLder 
CommuNiCAtioNs
Enquiries or notifications by 
shareholders regarding their 
shareholdings or dividends should be 
directed to Boral’s share registry:

link Market Services limited 
locked Bag A14 
Sydney South NSW 1235 Australia

Hand deliveries to: level 12,  
680 George Street, Sydney NSW 
2000

Telephone (02) 8280 7133 
international +61 2 8280 7133 
Facsimile (02) 9287 0303 international 
+61 2 9287 0303

Shareholders can also send queries  
to the share registry via email.
internet  
www.linkmarketservices.com.au
email  
registrars@linkmarketservices.com.au

oNLiNe serviCes
you can access information and 
update information about your 
holdings in Boral limited via  
the internet by visiting link Market 
Services’ website:  
www.linkmarketservices.com.au or 
Boral’s website www.boral.com.au

Some of the services available 
online include: check current and 
previous holding balances, choose 
your preferred Annual Report option, 
update address details, update bank 
details, confirm whether you have 
lodged your TFN, ABN or exemption, 
check the share prices and graphs or 
download a variety of forms.

divideNds
The final dividend for the 2006/07 
year of 17 cents per share will be  
paid by Boral on 18 September 2007. 
The dividend will be fully franked.

dividend reinvestment Plan (drP)
As an alternative to receiving cash 
dividends, shareholders may elect 
to participate in the dRP. The dRP 
enables shareholders to use cash 
dividends to purchase additional fully 
paid Boral shares. if a shareholder 
wishes to participate in the dRP or 
alter their participation, they must 
notify the share registry in writing. 
dRP election forms can be obtained 
from link Market Services’ website. 
Features of the dRP can be found on 
Boral’s website.

Boral Limited Financial Report 2007

tax file Number, Australian 
Business Number (ABN) or 
exemption
you are strongly advised to lodge 
your TFN, ABN or exemption. if you 
choose not to lodge these details with 
the share registry, then Boral limited 
is obliged to deduct tax at the highest 
marginal rate (plus the Medicare 
levy) from the unfranked portion of 
any distribution payment. certain 
pensioners are exempt from supplying 
their TFNs. you can confirm whether 
you have lodged your TFN, ABN or 
exemption via the internet at  
www.linkmarketservices.com.au 

Shareholders are reminded to bank 
dividend cheques as soon as possible. 
dividend cheques that are not banked 
are required to be handed over to the 
State Trustee under the Unclaimed 
Monies Act. 

if you wish your dividends to be paid 
directly to a bank, building society 
or credit union accounts in Australia 
contact the share registry or visit their 
website at www.linkmarketservices.
com.au for an application form. The 
payments are electronically credited 
on the dividend payment date and 
confirmed by payment advices 
mailed to the shareholder’s registered 
address. All instructions received 
remain in force until amended or 
cancelled in writing.

uNCertifiCAted forms of 
shArehoLdiNg
Two forms of uncertificated holdings 
are available to Boral shareholders:

issuer sponsored holdings:  
This type of holding is sponsored 
by Boral and provides shareholders 
with the advantages of uncertificated 
holdings without the need to 
be sponsored by any particular 
stockbroker.

Broker sponsored holdings 
(Chess): Shareholders may arrange 
to be sponsored by a stockbroker (or 
certain other financial institutions) and 
are required to sign a sponsorship 
agreement appointing the sponsor 
as their “controlling participant” for 
the purposes of cHESS. This type of 
holding is likely to attract regular stock 
market traders or those shareholders 
who have their share portfolio 
managed by a stockbroker.

Holding statements are issued to 
shareholders not later than five 
business days after the end of any 
month in which transactions alter the 
balance of a holding. Shareholders 
57

SHArEHOLDEr
iNFoRMATioN

BoRAl liMiTEd ANd coNTRollEd ENTiTiES 

requiring replacement holding 
statements should be directed to their 
controlling participant.

Shareholders communicating with 
the share registry should have handy 
their Security Holder Reference 
Number (SRN) or Holder identification 
Number (HiN) as it appears on the 
issuer Sponsored/cHESS holding 
statements or dividend advices. For 
security reasons, shareholders should 
keep their Security Holder Reference 
Numbers confidential.

ANNuAL rePort mAiLiNg List
Shareholders (whether issuer or 
Broker Sponsored) not wishing to 
receive the Annual Report should 
advise the share registry in writing 
so that their names can be removed 
from the mailing list. Shareholders are 
also able to update their preference 
via the link Market Services or Boral 
websites. Unless shareholders have 
advised the share registry that they 
require no Annual Report or the full 
Annual Report, they will be sent the 
concise (short form) Annual Review.

Alternatively, shareholders can 
nominate to receive email notification 
of the release of the Annual Report 
and then access it via a link. The share 
registry can provide forms for making 
annual report delivery elections.

ChANge of Address
Shareholders who are issuer 
Sponsored should notify any change 
of address to the share registry 
promptly in writing quoting their 
Security Holder Reference Number, 
previous address and new address. 
Application forms for change 
of Address are also available for 
download via the link Market Services 
or Boral websites. Broker Sponsored 
(cHESS) holders must advise their 
sponsoring broker of the change.

iNformAtioN oN BorAL
Boral has a comprehensive 
internet site featuring news items, 
announcements, corporate information 
and a wide range of product and 
service information. Boral’s internet 
address is www.boral.com.au

The Annual Review is the main source 
of information for shareholders. other 
sources of information include:

February – the interim results 
announcement for the december half 
year. This announcement is sent to 
shareholders in mid-March at the time 
of payment of the interim dividend.

SHArEHOLDEr
iNFoRMATioN

BoRAl liMiTEd ANd coNTRollEd ENTiTiES 

August – the annual results 
announcement for the year ended  
30 June.

Balanced Equity Management Pty limited, by a notice of change of interests of 
substantial holder dated 6 August 2007, advised that it and its associates were 
entitled to 66,908,130 ordinary shares.

October – the Annual General 
Meeting. The chairman’s and 
Managing director’s Addresses to 
the Meeting are sent to shareholders 
shortly after the Meeting.

Requests for publications and other 
enquiries about Boral’s affairs should 
be addressed to:

The Manager, Corporate Affairs
Boral Limited
GPO Box 910
SyDNEy NSW 2001

Enquiries can also be made via email: 
info@boral.com.au or visit Boral’s 
website at www.boral.com.au

shAre trAdiNg ANd PriCe
Boral shares are traded on Australian 
Stock Exchange limited (ASX). 
The stock code under which they 
are traded is “Bld” and the details 
of trading activity are published in 
most daily newspapers under that 
abbreviation.

shAre sALe fACiLity
A means for issuer Sponsored 
shareholders, particularly small 
shareholders, to sell their entire Boral 
shareholding is to use the share 
registry’s sale facility by contacting 
link Market Services’ Share Sale 
centre on (02) 8280 7133.

AmeriCAN dePositAry reCeiPts
in the USA, Boral shares are traded 
in the over-the-counter market in the 
form of AdRs issued by the depositary, 
The Bank of New york. Each AdR 
represents four ordinary Boral shares.

shAre iNformAtioN As At  
28 August 2007

suBstANtiAL shArehoLders
UBS Nominees Pty limited, by a 
notice of initial substantial holder dated 
15 May 2007, advised that it and its 
associates were entitled to 32,117,378 
ordinary shares.

commonwealth Bank of Australia, 
by a notice of change of interests of 
substantial holder dated 13 July 2007, 
advised that it and its associates were 
entitled to 36,133,781 ordinary shares.

capital Group companies, inc., by 
a notice of change of interests of 
substantial holder dated 26 July 2007, 
advised that it and its associates were 
entitled to 30,024,322 ordinary shares.

distriButioN sCheduLe of shArehoLders

Size of Shareholding

(a) in the categories –

1 – 1,000
1,001 – 5,000
5,001 – 10,000
10,001 – 100,000
100,001 and over

(b)  holding less than a marketable 

parcel (65 shares)

Number of 
Shareholders

44,050
34,771
5,559
2,900
142
87,422

% of 
ordinary 
Shares

3.49
13.27
6.56
10.15
66.53
100.00

4,808

0.02

votiNg rights – ordiNAry shAres
on a show of hands every person present, who is a member or proxy, attorney or 
representative of a member, shall have one vote and on a poll every member who 
is present in person or by proxy, attorney or representative shall have one vote for 
each share held by him or her.

oN-mArket Buy BACk
An on-market buy-back of ordinary shares is current. The buy-back is in a number 
of shares approximately equal to the number to be issued under the dividend 
Reinvestment Plan at the time of payment of the 2007 final dividend and 2008 
interim dividend. The maximum number of shares which the company intends to 
buy back is 15,000,000.

tweNty LArgest shArehoLders

JP Morgan Nominees Australia limited 
HSBc custody Nominees (Australia) limited
National Nominees limited
citicorp Nominees Pty limited
ANZ Nominees limited
RBc dexia investor Services Australia Nominees 
Pty limited
PSS Board
cogent Nominees Pty limited
UBS Nominees Pty limited
queensland investment corporation
Rodney Taunton Pearse
Australian Foundation investment company limited
invia custodian Pty limited
AMP life limited
Argo investments limited
UBS Wealth Management Australia Nominees  
Pty limited
Feta Nominees Pty limited
Merrill lynch (Australia) Nominees Pty limited
camrock Australia Pty limited
Bond Street custodians limited

ordinary Shares

88,985,394
82,231,934
64,170,666
46,884,331
19,363,328

16,065,900
12,185,694
11,663,718
5,207 ,004
4,303,073
3,863,672
3,699,712
3,140,662
3,115,316
2,866,907

2,650,878
2,268,850
2,006,488
1,821,091
1,641,773
378,136,391

% of ordinary 
Shares

14.84
13.72
10.70
7.82
3.23

2.68
2.03
1.95
0.87
0.72
0.64
0.62
0.52
0.52
0.48

0.44
0.38
0.33
0.30
0.27
63.07

Boral Limited Financial Report 2007

58

FINANCIAL
HiSToRy

BoRAl liMiTEd ANd coNTRollEd ENTiTiES 

as at 30 June

Revenue

2007 
$ millions

2006 
$ millions

2005 
$ millions

2004 
$ millions

2003 
$ millions

2002 
$ millions

2001 
$ millions

Proforma* 
2000 
$ millions

Proforma* 
1999 
$ millions

4,909

4,767

4,305

4,150

3,831

3,489

3,280

4,012

3,914

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation 
and amortisation (EBiTdA)1

depreciation and amortisation

Earnings before interest and tax1

762

231

531

823

209

614

794

191

603

794

195

600

672

194

478

531

188

343

Profit/(loss) from disposal of businesses

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

Profit before interest and tax

Net financing costs

Profit before tax

income tax expense 

Minority interests

531

(111)

420

614

(98)

516

603

(71)

532

600

(66)

534

478

(68)

410

(122)

(153)

(162)

(163)

(126)

 – 

 – 

(1) 

(1) 

(1) 

343

(63)

280

(87)

 – 

451

189

262

39

301

(70)

232

(78)

–

563

203

360

(33)

569

216

353

–

327

353

(90)

(120)

238

(70)

–

233

(87)

3

Net profit attributable to members of Boral 
limited

298

362

370

370

283

192

153

169

150

Total assets

Total liabilities

Net assets

5,817

5,587

5,001

4,511

4,038

3,915

3,950

3,873

4,172

2,829

2,832

2,594

2,151

1,898

1,966

2,096

2,096

2,455

2,987

2,755

2,407

2,360

2,140

1,950

1,855

1,777

Shareholders’ funds

2,987

2,755

2,407

2,360

2,140

1,950

1,855

1,777

dividends paid or declared

203

200

197

175

133

109

102

102

1,717

1,717

102

statistics

dividend per ordinary share 

34c

34c

34c

30c

23c

19c

18c

18c

18c

dividend payout ratio 

dividend cover

68% 55% 53% 47% 47% 57% 67% 61% 68%

1.5

1.8

1.9

2.1

2.1

1.8

1.5

1.7

1.5

Earnings per ordinary share 

50.0c

61.7c

63.4c

63.8c

49.1c

33.7c

27.0c

29.7c

26.3c

Return on equity

EBiT to sales

EBiT to funds employed

Net interest cover (times) 

10.0% 13.2% 15.4% 15.7% 13.2% 9.9% 8.3% 9.5% 8.7%

10.8% 12.9% 14.0% 14.4% 12.5% 9.8% 8.0% 9.0% 9.0%

11.9% 14.2% 15.9% 18.2% 16.4% 12.1% 9.2% 13.2% 11.2%

4.8

6.3

8.5

9.1

7.1

5.4

4.3

3.7

2.9

Gearing (net debt to equity)

50% 57% 58% 40% 36% 45% 53% 54% 83%

Gearing (net debt to net debt plus equity)

33% 36% 37% 28% 26% 31% 35% 35% 45%

Net tangible asset backing per share

$4.41

$4.07

$3.57

$3.65

$3.27

$3.02

$2.89

$2.78

$2.62

June 2007, 2006 and 2005 reflect results prepared under Australian equivalents to international Financial Reporting Standards (A-iFRS). The years prior 
to June 2005 represent results under previous Australian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

The comparative figures for the year ended June 2000 and June 1999 have been prepared on a proforma basis to reflect the results of operations of the 
Boral building and construction businesses for the full twelve month period. Amounts have been restated where appropriate to reflect the change in 
Australian Accounting Standards that requires abnormal items no longer to be shown separately.

*  Proforma consolidated accounts were not audited but were subject to an independent review by KPMG.

1.  June 2005 includes the impact of Adelaide Brighton bid costs $16.2 million ($11.3 million after tax).

Boral Limited Financial Report 2007

59

ANNuAL rEvIEW
GloSSARy ANd
ABBREviATioNS

gLossAry

cement

concrete

demerger

Emoluments

Fly ash

Gypsum

lime

limestone

lTi

operating sites

Squares

 A building material made of a mixture of calcined limestone 
and clay; used with water and sand or gravel to make 
concrete

A building material composed of sand and gravel and 
cement and water

 The separation of Boral’s building and construction materials 
business and energy business, which occurred in February 
2000. The energy business is now a separate Australian 
listed company, origin Energy

Remuneration and value of any benefits given to a director 
or officer in connection with the management of the Boral 
Group’s affairs 

Fly ash is a by-product of coal-fired electricity generating 
plants; it has cementitious properties and is therefore used 
as an important (cost-reducing) additive in cement

A mineral consisting of the hydrous sulphate of lime 
(calcium). When calcined, it forms Plaster of Paris used in 
plasterboard production 

oxide of calcium (cao) produced by heating limestone

A rock consisting chiefly of calcium carbonate (caco2) 

def 1: A lost Time injury (lTi) is one which causes an 
employee to be absent from work for one or more full days 
or shifts on any day subsequent to the injury occurring

def 2: long-term incentives (lTi) referred to in the 
Remuneration Report 

Wholly owned or at least 50% owned Jv operating site 
excluding sales, administration and distribution offices 

A measure of area used in roofing in the USA;  
one square = 100 square feet

Total shareholder return An annualised total shareholder return calculation which 

Total sites

Tranches

takes into consideration returns both capital and dividend 
returns to shareholders 

Wholly owned or at least 50% owned Jv operating sites and 
sales, administration and distribution offices

Additional securities/loans based on a common attribute 
such as date issued 

ABBreviAtioNs

AcM

Australian construction 
Materials division

BcSc

Blue circle Southern cement

BMTi

c&c 

dRP

EBiT

Boral Material Technologies 
inc

clay & concrete Products 
division

dividend reinvestment plan

Earnings before interest  
and tax

EBiTdA Earnings before interest, tax, 
depreciation and amortisation

EoP

EPS

Executive option Plan

Earnings per share

FAcT

Fly ash carbon treatment

Fy

Jv

Financial year

Joint venture

lBGA

lafarge Boral Gypsum in Asia

lTi

lTiFR

PEP

Pldc

lost time injury or 
long-term incentive

lost time injury frequency 
rate

Performance Enhancement 
Program

Penrith lakes development 
corporation (40% owned by 
Boral)

qEU

quarry End Use

RoFE

Return on funds employed

SARs

Share Acquisition Rights

SBE

SiB

STi

TSR

Standard brick equivalent

Stay in business

Short-term incentive

Total shareholder returns

WAcc Weighted average cost of 

capital (including the cost of 
debt and the cost of equity)

Boral Limited Financial Report 2007

60