FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of April 2011
Commission file number: 1-14872
SAPPI LIMITED
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
48 Ameshoff Street
Braamfontein
Johannesburg 2001
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
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Form 20-F x
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Form 40-F o
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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b) (1): o
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b) (7): o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to
Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
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Yes o
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No x
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If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Sappi Limited’s announcement, furnished by the Registrant under this Form 6-K, is incorporated by reference into (i) the Registration Statements on Form S-8 of the Registrant filed December 23, 1999, December 15, 2004 and February 2, 2010 in connection with The Sappi Limited Share Incentive Scheme, (ii) the Section 10(a) Prospectus relating to the offer and sale of the Registrant’s shares to Participants under The Sappi Limited Share Incentive Scheme, (iii) the Registration Statements on Form S-8 of the Registrant filed December 15, 2004 and December 21, 2005 in connection with The Sappi Limited 2004 Performance Share Incentive Plan and (iv) the Section 10(a) Prospectus relating to the offer and sale of the Registrant’s shares to Participants under The Sappi Limited 2004 Performance Share Incentive Plan.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
In order to utilize the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Reform Act”), Sappi Limited (the “Company”) is providing the following cautionary statement. Except for historical information contained herein, statements contained in this Report on Form 6-K may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Reform Act. The words “believe”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “intend”, “estimate “, “plan”, “assume”, “positioned”, “will”, “may”, “should”, “risk” and other similar expressions, which are predictions of or indicate future events and future trends, which do not relate to historical matters, identify forward-looking statements. In addition, this Report on Form 6-K may include forward-looking statements relating to the Company’s potential exposure to various types of market risks, such as interest rate risk, foreign exchange rate risk and commodity price risk. Reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are in some cases beyond the control of the Company, together with its subsidiaries (the “Group”), and may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Group to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements (and from past results, performance or achievements). Certain factors that may cause such differences include but are not limited to: the impact of the global economic downturn, the highly cyclical nature of the pulp and paper industry (and the factors that contribute to such cyclicality, such as levels of demand, production capacity, production, input costs including raw material, energy and employee costs, and pricing), adverse changes in the markets for the group’s products, consequences of substantial leverage, including as a result of adverse changes in credit markets that affect our ability to raise capital when needed, changing regulatory requirements, unanticipated production disruptions (including as a result of planned or unexpected power outages), economic and political conditions in international markets, the impact of investments, acquisitions and dispositions (including related financing), any delays, unexpected costs or other problems experienced with integrating acquisitions and achieving expected savings and synergies and currency fluctuations. These and other risks, uncertainties and factors are discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F and other filings with and submissions to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including this Report on Form 6-K. Shareholders and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of the submission of this Report on Form 6-K and are not intended to give any assurance as to future results. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward looking statements, whether to reflect new information or future events or circumstances or otherwise.
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Sappi Limited
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Announcement
4 April 2011
Trading Update in Respect of Debt Refinancing and Bond Issue
Sappi is issuing this trading update in connection with the capital markets transaction that it announced today.
We expect demand for coated paper to remain reasonably firm in our major markets.
Our raw material input costs are gradually increasing as commodity prices rise. We continue to focus on more efficient procurement and use of our inputs.
In response to rising costs, we announced price increases for coated woodfree web products in North America and for coated and uncoated woodfree products in Europe, with effect from March and April 2011.
On 31 March we announced that we would enter into a consultation process with the employee representatives of Biberist Mill. The aim is to identify ways of improving the profitability of our European business, which may include the full closure of Biberist Mill. If the full closure of Biberist Mill were to occur, Sappi would reduce its coated fine paper capacity by 435,000 tons and its uncoated fine paper capacity by 65,000 tons.
Our chemical cellulose business is performing strongly and we intend to accelerate our plans for expanding this business through investment in additional capacity.
In the second financial quarter of 2011 we expect the group’s operating profit (excluding special items) to continue the improving trend compared to the equivalent quarter last year, but to be below that of the first financial quarter as a result of seasonal factors and the additional accounting week in the first financial quarter. We expect to generate positive net cash for our second financial quarter.
Financial statements for the second financial quarter of 2011 are not yet finalised. The information above is based on certain preliminary financial data. This information is subject to change as financial data becomes available, and our financial statements are prepared.
Forward looking statement
Certain statements in this release that are neither reported financial results nor other historical information, are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements that are predictions of or indicate future earnings, savings, synergies, events, trends, plans or objectives.
The words “believe”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “intend”, “estimate”, “plan”, “assume”, “positioned”, “will”, “may”, “should”, “risk” and other similar expressions, which are predictions of or indicate future events and future trends, which do not relate to historical matters, identify forward-looking statements. You should not rely on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are in some cases beyond our control and may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements (and from past results, performance or achievements). Certain factors that may cause such differences include but are not limited to:
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the highly cyclical nature of the pulp and paper industry (and the factors that contribute to such cyclicality, such as levels of demand, production capacity, production, input costs including raw material, energy and employee costs, and pricing);
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the impact on our business of the global economic downturn;
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unanticipated production disruptions (including as a result of planned or unexpected power outages);
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changes in environmental, tax and other laws and regulations;
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adverse changes in the markets for our products;
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consequences of our leverage, including as a result of adverse changes in credit markets that affect our ability to raise capital when needed;
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adverse changes in the political situation and economy in the countries in which we operate or the effect of governmental efforts to address present or future economic or social problems;
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the impact of investments, acquisitions and dispositions (including related financing), any delays, unexpected costs or other problems experienced in connection with dispositions or with integrating acquisitions and achieving expected savings and synergies; and
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currency fluctuations.
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We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information or future events or circumstances or otherwise.
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For further information contact:
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Robert Hope
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André F Oberholzer
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Group Head Strategic Development
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Group Head Corporate Affairs
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Sappi Limited
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Sappi Limited
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Tel +27 (0) 11 407 8492
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Tel +27 (0) 11 407 8044
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Robert.Hope@sappi.com
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Mobile +27 (0) 83 235 2973
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Andre.Oberholzer@sappi.com
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Graeme Wild
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Group Investor Relations Manager
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Sappi Limited
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Tel +27 11 407 8391
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Mobile +27 (0) 83 320 8624
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Graeme.Wild@sappi.com
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: April 4, 2011
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SAPPI LIMITED,
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By:
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/s/ L. Newman
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| Name: L. Newman | |||
| Title: Group Financial Controller | |||