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 February, 2008
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 by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the
registrant 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 SENS Announcement, dated February 20, 2008, announcing that
Dr. Daniel Cronjé has been appointed independent non-executive chairman of
Sappi Limited, 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; pulp and paper production, production capacity, input costs including
raw material, 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; 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.
 |
Sappi
Limited
|
Announcement
20 February
2008
Dr
Danie Cronjé appointed independent, non-executive chairman of Sappi
Limited
Sappi Limited, the
global pulp and paper group, today announced that Dr Daniel (Danie) Christiaan
Cronjé has been appointed independent non-executive chairman of Sappi Limited.
He succeeds Eugene van As whose impending retirement as chairman and from the
board at the annual general meeting on 03 March 2008, was announced
earlier.
Dr Cronjé (61) was
chairman of ABSA Group Ltd for 10 years until his retirement in June 2007. ABSA
is a leading South African banking organisation in which Barclays plc obtained a
majority share in 2005. He had been with the ABSA group since 1975 and held
various executive positions including Group Chief Executive for 4 years prior to
his tenure as chairman.
Commenting on his
appointment, Dr Cronjé said: “I am honoured to have been asked to chair one of
South Africa’s leading global companies. Sappi will remain committed
to growing on a global basis and to delivering shareholder value.”
Speaking on behalf
of the board, independent non-executive director, Dave Brink, paid tribute to
outgoing chairman Eugene van As: “Sappi’s success in growing from a local pulp
and paper producer to becoming the world leader in coated fine paper and
chemical cellulose is testimony to the drive, determination and vision of a
great leader. Eugene van As is an exceptional son of Africa who has played a
crucial role in establishing Sappi as a business on the global
stage.”
Dr Cronjé is also a
director of Barclays plc, Barclays Bank plc and TSB Sugar Holdings Limited. He
holds a DCom from Potchefstroom University (now the University of the North
West).
END
NOTE TO
EDITORS:
Additional
information on Dr Daniel (Danie) Christiaan Cronjé:
Dr Cronjé obtained
his BCom, BCom (Hons) and MCom degrees also at Potchefstroom University. He
obtained his DCom in 1975.
| Career: | |
| 1969 | Sanlam investment department |
| 1969-1971 | Trust Merchant Bank, investment department |
| 1972-1975 | Lecturer in Money and Banking at Potchefstroom University |
|
1975-2007
|
Various
positions at first Volkskas Merchant Bank, the Volkskas Group, and the
ABSA Group, including:
|
|
1988-1991
|
Group Chief
Executive of the Volkskas Group
|
|
1991-1993
|
Deputy Group
Chief Executive of the ABSA Group
|
|
1993-1997
|
Group Chief
Executive of the ABSA Group
|
|
1997-2007
|
Chairman of
the ABSA Group
|
For further
information:
André F
Oberholzer
Group Head
Corporate Affairs
Sappi Limited (Reg
No 1936/008963/06)
Tel +27 (0)11 407
8044
Fax +27 (0)11 403
8236
Mobile +27
(0)83 235 2973
Andre.Oberholzer@sappi.com
SIGNATURES
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: February 25,
2008
| SAPPI LIMITED, | |||||
|
|
by:
|
/s/ D.J. O'Connor | |||
| Name: | D.J. O'Connor | ||||
| Title: | Group Secretary | ||||