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 October, 2009
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.
|
Form
20-F
|
X
-------
|
Form
40-F
|
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):
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):
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.
|
Yes
|
No
|
X
-------
|
If “Yes”
is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-
INCORPORATION
BY REFERENCE
Sappi
Limited’s press release below 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 and December 15, 2004 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 highly cyclical nature of the pulp and paper
industry; the impact of the global economic downturn on the Group’s business;
pulp and paper production, production capacity, input costs including raw
materials, energy and employee costs, and pricing levels in North America,
Europe, Asia and southern Africa; any major disruption in production at the
Group’s key facilities; changes in environmental, tax and other laws and
regulations; adverse changes in the markets for the Group’s products; any
delays, unexpected costs or other problems experienced with any business
acquired or to be acquired and achieving expected savings and synergies;
consequences of the Group’s leverage; adverse changes in the South African
political situation and economy or the effect of governmental efforts to address
present or future economic or social problems; and the impact of future
investments, acquisitions and dispositions (including the financing of
investments and acquisitions) and any delays, unexpected costs or other problems
experienced in connection with dispositions. 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.
 |
Southern
Africa
|
Media
Release
30 October
2009
Intended
closure of Sappi Usutu Pulp Mill and restructuring of forestry business in the
Kingdom of Swaziland in response to market conditions and forest fire
damage
In response to
adverse market conditions, as well as the cumulative severe impact of fire
damage over the past few years, in particular the fires of August 2008 which
destroyed 40% of the Usutu timber crop, it has become apparent that the Sappi
Usutu Pulp Mill is no longer sustainable.
Sappi has therefore
today announced that it will begin the process of consulting with staff and all
other relevant stakeholders regarding its intention to close the Usutu Pulp Mill
on 31 January 2010. With the closure of the mill Sappi would also exit the
unbleached softwood flash-dried pulp market served by Usutu Pulp
Mill. The mill has a capacity of 190,000 tonnes
annually.
Sappi will continue
to seek future beneficiation opportunities for the profitable utilisation of the
Usutu forests. This could include the introduction of new
investors.
The Sappi Usutu
Pulp Company directly employs around 600 people.
ENDS
Issued
by:
Brunswick South
Africa on behalf of Sappi Limited
Tel + 27 11 502
7300
Fax + 27 11 268
5747
For further
information contact:
|
Shane
Perrow
General
Manager
Sappi Usutu
Pulp Company
Tel +268 452
5110
Mobile +268
602 0303
shane.perrow@sappi.com
|
André
F Oberholzer
Group Head
Corporate Affairs
Sappi
Limited
Tel: +27 11
407 8044
Mobile: +27
83 235 2973
andre.oberholzer@sappi.com
|
SIGNATURE
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized.
Date: October
30, 2009
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SAPPI
LIMITED,
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| by | /s/ L. Newman | |
|
Name: L.
Newman
Title: Group
Financial Controller
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