form6-k.htm
 
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 March 2010
 
Commission file number: 1-14872
 
SAPPI LIMITED

(Translation of registrants 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):
 

 
 

 

 
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Sappi Limited’s information below is 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 risk that the European acquisition (the “Acquisition”) will not be integrated successfully or such integration may be more difficult, time consuming or costly than expected, expected revenue synergies and cost savings from the Acquisition may not be fully realized or realized within the expected time frame, revenues following the Acquisition may be lower than expected, any anticipated benefits from the consolidation of the European paper business may not be achieved, 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, possible early termination of alternative fuel tax credits, 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.

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
  Sappi Fine Paper Europe
   
 
 
Press Release

Brussels, 4 March 2010

Finnish Stevedores strike has started - Sappi forced to halt production at its Finnish Kirkniemi mill

At 6.00 am today, March 4th, Finnish port stevedores commenced a strike. It is expected that 80% of inbound and outbound foreign trade will be stopped whilst the strike lasts. Sappi Fine Paper Europe’s paper mill at Kirkniemi is affected by the strike and is unable to distribute its products. As a result the company has no choice but to stop production at the mill from 3 pm today, local time, until transport can be resumed. Natural work for production departments in the mill have been evaluated to stop by 5th of March at 6.00 o’clock. Regrettably, in line with the Finnish Contracts of Employments Act, Sappi will cease salary payments 7 days after natural work stops if the stevedores strike is not resolved by then and production at the mill is able to restart.

Meanwhile Sappi will serve its customers from facilities outside Finland.

**ENDS**

For further information, please contact:

Antti Makkonen
Business Manager Mechanical Coated Reels
Sappi Fine Paper Europe
 
Sappi Europe SA
Chaussée de la Hulpe 154
B-1170 Brussels
 
Mobile : + 32 495 9116 43
Antti.Makkonen@sappi.com
 


Claudia Hammerich
Manager Corporate Communications
Sappi Fine Paper Europe
 
Sappi Europe SA
Chaussée de la Hulpe 154
B-1170 Brussels
 
Tel: +32 2 676 97 84
Mobile: +32 472 61 89 66
Claudia.Hammerich@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:  March 15, 2010
 
 
 
SAPPI LIMITED,
 
       
 
      by
/s/ L. Newman
 
   
Name:  L. Newman
 
   
Title:    Group Financial Controller