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Thu 30 Jul 2009, 8:55 SAP - Sappi Limited - 3rd quarter results for the period ended June 2009
SAP
SAVVI                                                                           
SAP - Sappi Limited - 3rd quarter results for the period ended June 2009        
Sappi limited                                                                   
(Registration number 1936/008963/06)                                            
Issuer Code: SAVVI                                                              
JSE Code: SAP                                                                   
3rd quarter results for the period ended June 2009                              
Financial summary                                                               
- Net cash generated US$106 million                                             
- Good progress on debt refinancing                                             
- Global economy remains weak                                                   
- Production curtailed in all regions to match supply to                        
demand                                                                         
- Stronger Rand impacts SA margins unfavourably                                 
- Basic loss per share 12 US cents                                              
- Acquisition synergies on track                                                
Quarter ended                    
                                      June 2009     Mar 2009     June 2008      
Key figures: (US$ million)                                                      
Sales                                      1,316        1,313         1,494     
Operating (loss) profit                      (7)            6          (23)     
Special items - (gains) losses *             (6)         (23)           111     
Operating (loss) profit excluding                                               
special items                               (13)         (17)            88     
EBITDA excluding special items **             93           82           182     
Basic (loss) earnings per share                                                 
(US cents) ***                              (12)          (7)          (17)     
Net debt ****                              2,770        2,735         2,667     
Key ratios: (%)                                                                 
Operating (loss) profit to sales           (0.5)          0.5         (1.5)     
Operating (loss) profit excluding                                               
special items to sales                     (1.0)        (1.3)           5.9     
Operating (loss) profit excluding                                               
special items to Capital Employed                                               
(ROCE) **                                  (1.1)        (1.6)           8.1     
EBITDA excluding special items to sales      7.1          6.2          12.2     
Return on average equity (ROE) ****       (12.7)        (7.5)        (15.1)     
Net debt to total capitalisation ****       57.5         59.4          61.5     
                                                       Nine months ended        
                                                   June 2009     June 2008      
Key figures: (US$ million)                                                      
Sales                                                   3,816         4,344     
Operating (loss) profit                                    56           289     
Special items - (gains) losses *                         (61)          (12)     
Operating (loss) profit excluding                                               
special items                                             (5)           277     
EBITDA excluding special items **                         281           560     
Basic (loss) earnings per share                                                 
(US cents) ***                                           (16)            37     
Net debt ****                                           2,770         2,667     
Key ratios: (%)                                                                 
Operating (loss) profit to sales                          1.5           6.7     
Operating (loss) profit excluding                                               
special items to sales                                  (0.1)           6.4     
Operating (loss) profit excluding                                               
special items to Capital Employed                                               
(ROCE) **                                               (0.2)           8.8     
EBITDA excluding special items to sales                   7.4          12.9     
Return on average equity (ROE) ****                     (5.4)          10.3     
Net debt to total capitalisation ****                    57.5          61.5     
* Refer to details on special items.                                            
** Refer to Supplemental Information for the reconciliation of                  
EBITDA excluding special items to (loss) profit for the period.                 
*** Comparative figures have been revised in accordance with IAS 33 to reflect  
the impact of the rights offer.                                                 
**** Refer to Supplemental Information for the definition of the                
term.                                                                           
The table above has not been audited or reviewed.                               
Commentary                                                                      
Strong cash generation was a feature of our results for the quarter and         
benefited from management`s actions to reduce working capital and limit capital 
expenditure to essential items. Net cash generated of US$106 million for the    
quarter included cash of US$55 million from unwinding fixed-to-floating         
interest rate swaps.                                                            
Global economic conditions remained depressed in the quarter resulting in       
continued weak conditions in most of our coated paper markets. There are        
indications that the reduction of inventories in the customer supply chain has  
run its course, resulting in improved order inflows in many markets towards the 
end of the quarter.                                                             
Conditions in pulp markets, including the chemical cellulose markets, improved  
significantly in terms of both demand and US Dollar prices, late in the         
quarter.                                                                        
Sales volumes for the quarter were slightly up on the prior quarter but 3% down 
on the equivalent quarter last year despite the additional capacity from our    
European acquisition earlier in the year.                                       
Average prices realised by the group for the quarter were approximately 9%      
lower than average prices realised a year ago.                                  
We continued to match our supply to demand and manage our inventory levels by   
curtailing production during the quarter. Our finished goods inventories        
declined a further 5% in volume terms compared to March 2009.                   
Prices of our inputs continued to reduce and had a favourable effect on         
variable costs during the quarter, in most regions. Our actions to manage raw   
material usage had a further favourable effect.                                 
Management of fixed costs remains a focus area in all our businesses. During    
the quarter we announced that we were entering discussions with labour          
representatives on the permanent reduction of 90 positions at Kirkniemi Mill    
and 49 positions at Biberist Mill.                                              
The integration of the coated graphics paper business from M-real continued to  
progress well. During the quarter M-real ceased production of coated graphic    
paper at Hallein and Gohrsmuhle mills, reducing industry capacity by 640,000    
tons or approximately 7%. We have proceeded to transfer the order books from    
these mills to our own mills which we expect to improve our volumes and margins 
going forward. Achievement of the synergies from the acquisition are on track   
and we expect to achieve approximately EUR60 million of synergies in the nine   
months to September 2009 and to achieve the previously announced level of       
synergies of EUR120 million per annum within three years.                       
During the quarter we initiated alternative fuel tax credit claims in North     
America and reported a benefit of US$37 million for the period, which is        
treated as a special item and included in operating profit. We expect to        
receive the cash proceeds during the fourth financial quarter. Under current US 
legislation these credits expire on 31 December 2009. There can be no assurance 
that they will not expire sooner. In connection with the refinancings currently 
in progress, it has been agreed that the alternative fuel tax credit will be    
added to EBITDA excluding special items for covenant purposes.                  
Operating loss excluding special items was US$13 million for the quarter, an    
improvement on the loss of US$17 million in the prior quarter and compares with 
a profit of US$88 million a year ago. Our European business returned to         
profitability, excluding special items, as a result of the ramp up of synergy   
achievement and cost reduction, despite poor operating levels. The North        
American business improved its performance and its run rate by the end of the   
quarter had returned to operating profitability excluding special items. The    
Southern African business was impacted by the strengthening of the Rand         
relative to the US Dollar, weak domestic demand and low pulp prices in the      
quarter, resulting in an operating loss excluding special items.                
Special items for the quarter largely comprise an unfavourable fair value       
adjustment on plantations of US$25 million and the favourable alternative fuel  
tax credit of US$37 million. The operating loss of US$7 million for the quarter 
compares with a profit of US$6 million in the prior quarter and a loss of US$23 
million a year ago.                                                             
Net finance costs for the quarter were US$70 million, up from US$40 million in  
the prior quarter, largely as a result of an unfavourable non-cash change in    
the value of financial instruments of US$27 million. This includes an upfront   
unfavourable non-cash change in the fair value of the previously mentioned      
interest rate swaps which were unwound in the quarter of US$20 million. This    
will be more than offset by the positive amortisation of the underlying         
borrowings over the next three years in the amount of US$46 million.            
The effective tax rate for the quarter was 19%. The group did not benefit from  
the tax relief on reported losses as a result of the losses in certain regions  
where a deferred tax asset has not been raised.                                 
The basic loss per share for the quarter was 12 US cents compared to a loss of  
17 US cents in the equivalent quarter a year ago.                               
Cash flow and debt                                                              
Net cash generated of US$106 million for the quarter largely comprised cash     
generated by operations of US$77 million and cash released from working capital 
reduction of US$93 million less capital expenditure of US$54 million. Net       
finance costs in terms of cash flow were negligible in the quarter as a result  
of the US$55 million benefit of unwinding fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps 
which offset the cash finance costs.                                            
Net debt was unfavourably impacted by currency movements of US$142 million as a 
result of the strengthening of the Euro and Rand relative to the US Dollar, our 
reporting currency, and therefore increased by US$35 million to US$2.8 billion  
during the quarter, although in local currency debt reduced by the equivalent   
of US$106 million.                                                              
For the nine months to June, net cash generated (excluding cash invested in the 
acquisition from M-real) was US$62 million.                                     
Refinancing update                                                              
Sappi has made good progress with its refinancing, which is aimed to extend the 
maturity of its debt. We have raised approximately US$800 million of senior     
secured notes due in 2014 in two tranches: EUR350 million (US$497 million) and  
US$300 million, with coupons of 11.75% and 12% and yields of 13.125% and        
13.375% respectively. The proceeds have been paid into escrow pending the       
finalisation of the replacement revolving credit facility (RCF) of              
approximately EUR200 million and OeKB term loan of EUR400 million as well as    
documentation of security for the respective lenders, all of which we expect to 
have completed by the end of the September quarter.                             
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay debt. We expect   
to repay a portion of our short term debt and may elect to repay other debt. We 
also intend to repay all or part of the EUR220 million vendor loan notes issued 
to                                                                              
M-real at a discount.                                                           
US$60 million was also raised in the South African bond market and will be used 
to repay short term debt.                                                       
The successful completion of our refinancing will take care of our liquidity    
and significant debt maturities for at least the next three years; however as a 
result of interest rates available in current financial market conditions, our  
refinancings will lead to a substantial increase in finance costs.              
Operating Review for the Quarter                                                
Sappi Fine Paper                                                                
                        Quarter         Quarter                    Quarter      
                          ended           ended                      ended      
June 2009       June 2008          %      March 2009      
                    US$ million     US$ million     change     US$ million      
Sales                      1,098           1,224     (10.3)           1,112     
Operating profit (loss)       19              36     (47.2)            (43)     
Operating profit (loss) to                                                      
sales (%)                    1.7             2.9          -           (3.9)     
Special items -                                                                 
(gains) losses              (32)               -          -               8     
Operating (loss)                                                                
profit excluding                                                                
special items               (13)              36          -            (35)     
Operating (loss)                                                                
profit excluding                                                                
special                                                                         
items to sales (%)         (1.2)             2.9          -           (3.1)     
EBITDA excluding                                                                
special items                 74             113     (34.5)              48     
EBITDA excluding                                                                
special items                                                                   
to sales (%)                 6.7             9.2          -             4.3     
RONOA pa (%)               (1.4)             4.4          -           (4.3)     
There was a US$22 million improvement in the operating result excluding special 
items of the fine paper business compared to the prior quarter as a result of   
the favourable turnaround in the European business and improvement in the result
of the North American business. However, the much lower operating rates in      
Europe and North America resulting from weak global market conditions resulted  
in a substantial decline in operating profit excluding special items, compared  
to a year earlier.                                                              
Europe                                                                          
                                        Quarter         Quarter                 
                                          ended           ended          %      
                                      June 2009       June 2008     change      
US$ million     US$ million      (US$)      
Sales                                        729             705        3.4     
Operating profit (loss)                        0              10          -     
Operating profit (loss) to sales (%)           0             1.4          -     
Special items - losses                         4               0          -     
Operating profit (loss) excluding                                               
special items                                  4              10     (60.0)     
Operating profit (loss) excluding                                               
special items to sales (%)                   0.5             1.4          -     
EBITDA excluding special items                62              55       12.7     
EBITDA excluding special items                                                  
to sales (%)                                 8.5             7.8          -     
RONOA pa (%)                                 0.7             1.9          -     
                                                                   Quarter      
                                                         %           ended      
                                                    change      March 2009      
(Euro)     US$ million      
Sales                                                  19.3             737     
Operating profit (loss)                                   -            (21)     
Operating profit (loss) to sales (%)                      -           (2.8)     
Special items - losses                                    -               0     
Operating profit (loss) excluding                                               
special items                                        (52.8)            (21)     
Operating profit (loss) excluding                                               
special items to sales (%)                                -           (2.8)     
EBITDA excluding special items                         28.8              34     
EBITDA excluding special items                                                  
to sales (%)                                              -             4.6     
RONOA pa (%)                                              -           (4.2)     
The European business returned to operating profit excluding special items in   
the quarter as a result of synergy achievement, lower input prices and fixed    
cost reductions. Operating rates were approximately 75% as we continued to      
curtail production to match demand.                                             
Sales volumes were similar to the prior quarter.                                
Average prices achieved within Europe were stable in the quarter. There were    
some improvements in export prices. The average prices achieved for the         
business in Euro terms were slightly lower compared to the prior quarter as a   
result of an increased proportion of exports and reels in the overall sales mix 
for the period.                                                                 
The achievement of synergies progressed well and in the 6 months we have owned  
the business we have achieved approximately EUR38 million of synergies. We      
expect to achieve approximately EUR60 million in the nine months to September   
2009 and the previously announced level of EUR120 million per annum within 3    
years. The rate of synergy realisation will accelerate following the cessation  
of coated graphic paper production at M-real`s Hallein and Gohrsmuhle mills and 
the transfer of their order books to our mills.                                 
North America                                                                   
                        Quarter         Quarter                    Quarter      
ended           ended                      ended      
                      June 2009       June 2008          %      March 2009      
                    US$ million     US$ million     change     US$ million      
Sales                        291             424     (31.4)             301     
Operating profit                                                                
(loss)                        24              25      (4.0)            (24)     
Operating profit                                                                
(loss) to sales (%)          8.2             5.9          -           (8.0)     
Special items                                                                   
(gains) losses              (37)               -          -               8     
Operating (loss)                                                                
profit excluding                                                                
special items               (13)              25          -            (16)     
Operating (loss)                                                                
profit excluding                                                                
special items to                                                                
sales (%)                  (4.5)             5.9          -           (5.3)     
EBITDA excluding                                                                
special items                 13              53     (75.5)               8     
EBITDA excluding                                                                
special                                                                         
items to sales (%)           4.5            12.5          -             2.7     
RONOA pa (%)               (4.9)             9.2          -           (5.9)     
Sales volumes improved slightly in the quarter compared to the prior quarter    
but were 23% lower than a year ago. Average prices realised declined in the     
quarter compared to the prior quarter and were 11% down compared to a year ago. 
Prices achieved for pulp started improving during the quarter after sharp       
declines in the previous two quarters.                                          
Action taken by management to reduce costs including suspending operations at   
Muskegon Mill, reducing the sales and administrative overheads and reducing     
unit consumption of raw materials, has helped offset poor market conditions and 
improve the result of the business to an operating profit excluding special     
items in the month of June.                                                     
The alternative fuel tax credit of US$37 million for the quarter is included in 
operating profit and treated as a special item.                                 
Fine Paper South Africa                                                         
Quarter         Quarter                 
                                          ended           ended          %      
                                      June 2009       June 2008     change      
                                    US$ million     US$ million      (US$)      
Sales                                         78              95     (17.9)     
Operating (loss) profit                      (5)               1          -     
Operating (loss) profit to sales (%)       (6.4)             1.1          -     
Special items - losses                         1               -          -     
Operating (loss) profit excluding                                               
special items                                (4)               1          -     
Operating (loss) profit excluding                                               
special items to sales (%)                 (5.1)             1.1          -     
EBITDA excluding special items               (1)               5          -     
EBITDA excluding special                                                        
items to sales (%)                         (1.3)             5.3          -     
RONOA pa (%)                               (8.3)             3.2          -     
Quarter      
                                                         %           ended      
                                                    change      March 2009      
                                                    (Rand)     US$ million      
Sales                                                 (9.8)              74     
Operating (loss) profit                                   -               2     
Operating (loss) profit to sales (%)                      -             2.7     
Special items - losses                                    -               -     
Operating (loss) profit excluding                                               
special items                                             -               2     
Operating (loss) profit excluding                                               
special items to sales (%)                                -             2.7     
EBITDA excluding special items                            -               6     
EBITDA excluding special                                                        
items to sales (%)                                        -             8.1     
RONOA pa (%)                                              -             4.6     
Demand levels were weak in the quarter and prices were under downward pressure  
as a result of the strength of the Rand compared to the US Dollar.              
The business recorded an operating loss for the quarter despite reducing        
operating costs.                                                                
Forest Products                                                                 
                                        Quarter         Quarter                 
                                          ended           ended          %      
                                      June 2009       June 2008     change      
US$ million     US$ million      (US$)      
Sales                                        218             270     (19.3)     
Operating (loss) profit                     (26)            (60)          -     
Operating (loss) profit to sales (%)      (11.9)          (22.2)          -     
Special items - losses (gains)                19             111          -     
Operating (loss) profit excluding                                               
special items                                (7)              51          -     
Operating (loss) profit excluding                                               
special items to sales (%)                 (3.2)            18.9          -     
EBITDA excluding special items                12              68     (84.4)     
EBITDA excluding special                                                        
items to sales (%)                           5.5            25.2          -     
RONOA pa (%)                               (1.7)            12.0          -     
                                                                   Quarter      
                                                         %           ended      
                                                    change      March 2009      
(Rand)     US$ million      
Sales                                                (11.2)             201     
Operating (loss) profit                                   -              48     
Operating (loss) profit to sales (%)                      -            23.9     
Special items - losses (gains)                            -            (31)     
Operating (loss) profit excluding                                               
special items                                             -              17     
Operating (loss) profit excluding                                               
special items to sales (%)                                -             8.5     
EBITDA excluding special items                       (80.7)              32     
EBITDA excluding special                                                        
items to sales (%)                                        -            15.9     
RONOA pa (%)                                              -             4.6     
The Forest Products business was impacted by weak domestic volumes and downward 
pressure on local prices in the quarter, which was partly offset by lower       
costs. Demand for chemical cellulose strengthened in the quarter, allowing us   
to recommence the ramp up of the Saiccor expanded capacity. Utilisation of the  
additional capacity remained low in the quarter resulting in unabsorbed fixed   
costs and depreciation related to the expansion, which will be eliminated as    
the mill approaches full capacity by the end of September 2009. Prices for      
chemical cellulose started to recover during the quarter, in line with NBSK     
pulp which increased from a low of US$577 per ton in March 2009 to US$644 per   
ton in July, still US$260 per ton below the peak in 2008.                       
The sharp strengthening of the Rand relative to the US Dollar had a severe      
direct impact on export revenue received in Rands and on domestic prices as a   
result of import competition.                                                   
The unfavourable special items of US$19 million for the region in the quarter   
relate to an unfavourable plantation fair value adjustment partly offset by an  
insurance payout from our captive insurance company to Forest Products.         
The insurance payment has no net effect on group special items.                 
Outlook                                                                         
Although global economic conditions remain weak we have seen improvement in     
pulp markets and some of our coated graphic paper export markets. In addition,  
inventory reduction in the coated graphic paper supply chain has largely run    
its course and we have started seeing order levels closer to end use demand     
levels. We also expect demand, particularly for reels, to strengthen during the 
next quarter which is historically the seasonally strongest quarter, and for    
our operating rates to improve in Europe and North America.                     
The chemical cellulose market improved markedly during our third financial      
quarter in terms of both demand and pricing. Sappi Saiccor Mill is responding   
by ramping up its production following the 30% capacity expansion commissioned  
last September, and expects to achieve close to full capacity by our financial  
year end and improve sales volumes during the next quarter as production        
increases.                                                                      
Other factors which are expected to improve results are the achievement of      
further alternative fuel tax credits in North America of approximately US$40    
million which will be reported as a special item, subject to continued          
availability under US law, accelerated synergy achievement in respect of the    
European acquisition integration, the benefits of fixed and variable cost       
reduction action and potential for some further input price reduction           
realisation.                                                                    
Against this background, we expect to return to operating profitability         
excluding special items during the next quarter. Cash generation is expected to 
be positive for the quarter.                                                    
We will continue to focus on cash generation and debt reduction. We expect      
capital expenditure for the full year to be less than US$200 million and to     
continue to carefully manage capex at that level in order to prioritise debt    
reduction.                                                                      
The successful completion of our refinancing will take care of our liquidity    
and significant debt maturities for at least the next three years. With our     
well structured business and decisive management action, we are strongly placed 
to ride out the current economic downturn and take full advantage of our        
leading market positions and efficient asset base when conditions improve.      
On behalf of the board                                                          
R J Boettger         M R Thompson                                               
Director             Director                          30 July 2009             
sappi limited                                                                   
(Registration number 1936/008963/06)                                            
Issuer Code: SAVVI                                                              
JSE Code: SAP                                                                   
ISIN: ZAE000006284                                                              
Other information (this information has not been reviewed)                      
special items                                                                   
Special items cover those items which management believe are material by nature 
or amount to the operating results and require separate disclosure. Such items  
would generally include profit or loss on disposal of property, investments and 
businesses, asset impairments, restructuring charges, non-recurring integration 
costs related to acquisitions, financial impacts of natural disasters, non-cash 
gains or losses on the price fair value adjustment of plantations and           
alternative fuel tax credits receivable in cash.                                
Special items, excluding interest and tax effects, for the relevant periods     
are:                                                                            
                   Quarter         Quarter     Nine months     Nine months      
                     ended           ended           ended           ended      
June 2009       June 2008       June 2009       June 2008      
               US$ million     US$ million     US$ million     US$ million      
Plantation                                                                      
price fair value                                                                
adjustment               25             105            (44)            (12)     
Restructuring                                                                   
provisions raised                                                               
(released)                2               -              10             (3)     
Profit on disposal of                                                           
property, plant and                                                             
equipment                 -             (1)             (1)             (5)     
Asset impairments         1               1               6               3     
Fuel tax credit        (37)               -            (37)               -     
Integration costs         3               -               3               -     
Fire, flood, storm and                                                          
related events            -               6               2               5     
(6)             111            (61)            (12)      
key regional figures                                                            
                   Quarter         Quarter     Nine months     Nine months      
                     ended           ended           ended           ended      
June 2009       June 2008       June 2009       June 2008      
               Metric tons     Metric tons     Metric tons     Metric tons      
                   (000`s)         (000`s)         (000`s)         (000`s)      
Sales volume                                                                    
Fine Paper -                                                                    
North America           300             389             919           1,164     
Europe                  746             637           2,061           1,918     
Southern Africa          70              87             222             246     
Total                 1,116           1,113           3,202           3,328     
Forest Products -                                                               
Pulp and                                                                        
paper                                                                           
operations              355             347             968           1,039     
Forestry operations     218             279             649             726     
Total                 1,689           1,739           4,819           5,093     
               US$ million     US$ million     US$ million     US$ million      
Sales                                                                           
Fine Paper -                                                                    
North                                                                           
America                 291             424             955           1,231     
Europe                  729             705           2,027           2,040     
Southern Africa          78              95             226             271     
Total                 1,098           1,224           3,208           3,542     
Forest Products -                                                               
Pulp and paper                                                                  
operations              204             249             567             747     
Forestry operations      14              21              41              55     
Total                 1,316           1,494           3,816           4,344     
Operating (loss) profit                                                         
Fine Paper -                                                                    
North America            24              25             (7)              62     
Europe                    -              10             (8)              47     
Southern Africa         (5)               1             (1)               5     
Total                    19              36            (16)             114     
Forest Products        (26)            (60)              71             167     
Corporate and other       -               1               1               8     
Total                   (7)            (23)              56             289     
Special items - (gains) losses                                                  
Fine Paper -                                                                    
North America          (37)               -            (29)               2     
Europe                    4               -               4             (4)     
Southern Africa           1               -               1               -     
Total                  (32)               -            (24)             (2)     
Forest Products          19             111            (44)            (10)     
Corporate and other       7               -               7               -     
Total                   (6)             111            (61)            (12)     
Operating                                                                       
(loss) profit excluding                                                         
special items                                                                   
Fine Paper -                                                                    
North America          (13)              25            (36)              64     
Europe                    4              10             (4)              43     
Southern Africa         (4)               1               -               5     
Total                  (13)              36            (40)             112     
Forest Products         (7)              51              27             157     
Corporate and other      7               1               8               8      
Total                  (13)              88             (5)             277     
EBITDA                                                                          
excluding special items                                                         
Fine Paper -                                                                    
North America            13              53              40             144     
Europe                   62              55             146             178     
Southern Africa         (1)               5              10              17     
Total                    74             113             196             339     
Forest Products          12              68              76             212     
Corporate and other       7               1               9               9     
Total                    93             182             281             560     
forward-looking statements                                                      
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. Undue reliance should  
not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, they are subject to  
known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can be affected by other factors, 
that could cause actual results and company plans and objectives to differ      
materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements    
(or from past results). Such risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are  
not limited to, the impact of the global economic downturn, the risk that the   
European 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. 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.                     
We have included in this announcement an estimate of total synergies from the   
acquisition of M-real`s coated graphic paper business and the integration of    
the acquired business into our existing business. The estimate of synergies     
that we expect to achieve following the completion of the acquisition is based  
on assumptions which in the view of our management were prepared on a           
reasonable basis, reflect the best currently available estimates and judgments, 
and present, to the best of our management`s knowledge and belief, the expected 
course of action and the expected future financial impact on our performance    
due to the acquisition. However, the assumptions about these expected synergies 
are inherently uncertain and, though considered reasonable by management as of  
the date of preparation, are subject to a wide variety of significant business, 
economic and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause actual        
results to differ materially from those contained in this estimate of           
synergies. There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully       
implement the strategic or operational initiatives that are intended, or        
realise the estimated synergies. This synergy estimate is not a profit forecast 
or a profit estimate and should not be treated as such or relied on by          
shareholders or prospective investors to calculate the likely level of profits  
or losses for Sappi for fiscal 2009 or beyond.                                  
Group income statement                                                          
                                       Reviewed        Reviewed                 
Quarter         Quarter                 
                                          ended           ended                 
                                      June 2009       June 2008          %      
                          Notes     US$ million     US$ million     change      
Sales                                      1,316           1,494       (12)     
Cost of sales                              1,272           1,428                
Gross profit                                  44              66       (33)     
Selling, general and                                                            
administrative expenses                       90              95                
Other operating income                      (31)               -                
Share of profit from                                                            
associates and joint ventures                (8)             (6)                
Operating (loss) profit        3             (7)            (23)          -     
Net finance costs                             70              45                
Net interest                                  44              43                
Finance cost capitalised                       -             (1)                
Net foreign exchange (gains) losses          (1)               2                
Net fair value loss on                                                          
financial instruments                         27               1                
(Loss) profit before taxation               (77)            (68)          -     
Taxation                                    (15)             (5)                
Current                                        3               7                
Deferred                                    (18)            (12)                
(Loss) profit for the period                (62)            (63)          -     
Basic (loss) earnings per                                                       
share (US cents)               1            (12)            (17)                
Weighted average number of                                                      
shares in issue (millions)     1           515.8           362.2                
Diluted basic (loss) earnings                                                   
per share (US cents)           1            (12)            (17)                
Weighted average number                                                         
of shares on fully diluted                                                      
basis (millions)               1           517.9           366.0                
                                       Reviewed        Reviewed                 
                                    Nine months     Nine months                 
                                          ended           ended                 
June 2009       June 2008          %      
                                    US$ million     US$ million     change      
Sales                                      3,816           4,344       (12)     
Cost of sales                              3,510           3,782                
Gross profit                                 306             562       (46)     
Selling, general and                                                            
administrative expenses                      273             294                
Other operating income                      (17)             (6)                
Share of profit from                                                            
associates and joint ventures                (6)            (15)                
Operating (loss) profit                       56             289       (81)     
Net finance costs                            131             100                
Net interest                                 116             106                
Finance cost capitalised                       -            (16)                
Net foreign exchange                                                            
(gains) losses                              (12)             (3)                
Net fair value loss on                                                          
financial instruments                         27              13                
(Loss) profit before taxation               (75)             189          -     
Taxation                                     (1)              55                
Current                                        7              11                
Deferred                                     (8)              44                
(Loss) profit for the period                (74)             134          -     
Basic (loss) earnings per                                                       
share (US cents)                            (16)              37                
Weighted average number of                                                      
shares in issue (millions)                 471.5           362.0                
Diluted basic (loss) earnings                                                   
per share (US cents)                        (16)              37                
Weighted average number                                                         
of shares on fully diluted                                                      
basis (millions)                           473.7           365.5                
Group balance sheet                                                             
                                                  Reviewed        Reviewed      
                                                 June 2009       Sept 2008      
                                               US$ million     US$ million      
ASSETS                                                                          
Non-current assets                                    5,004           4,408     
Property, plant and equipment                         3,927           3,361     
Plantations                                             702             631     
Deferred taxation                                        38              41     
Other non-current assets                                337             375     
Current assets                                        2,482           1,701     
Inventories                                             831             725     
Trade and other receivables                             855             702     
Cash and cash equivalents                               796             274     
Total assets                                          7,486           6,109     
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES                                                          
Shareholders` equity                                                            
Ordinary shareholders` interest                       2,049           1,605     
Non-current liabilities                               3,050           2,578     
Interest-bearing borrowings                           2,254           1,832     
Deferred taxation                                       392             399     
Other non-current liabilities                           404             347     
Current liabilities                                   2,387           1,926     
Interest-bearing borrowings                           1,293             821     
Bank overdraft                                           19              26     
Other current liabilities                             1,017           1,025     
Taxation payable                                         58              54     
Total equity and liabilities                          7,486           6,109     
Number of shares in issue at balance sheet date                                 
(millions)                                            515.8           229.2     
Group cash flow statement                                                       
                                                  Reviewed        Reviewed      
Quarter         Quarter      
                                                     ended           ended      
                                                 June 2009       June 2008      
                                               US$ million     US$ million      
(Loss) profit for the period                           (62)            (63)     
Adjustment for:                                                                 
Depreciation, fellings and amortisation                 125             115     
Taxation                                               (15)             (5)     
Net finance costs                                        70              45     
Post employment benefits                               (13)            (12)     
Other non-cash items                                   (28)              76     
Cash generated from operations                           77             156     
Movement in working capital                              93              29     
Net finance costs                                         -            (83)     
Taxation paid                                           (3)            (40)     
Dividends paid *                                          -               -     
Cash retained from operating activities                 167              62     
Cash utilised in investing activities                  (61)            (98)     
Capital expenditure and other                                                   
non-current assets                                     (59)            (98)     
Acquisition of M-real                                   (2)               -     
                                                       106            (36)      
Cash effects of financing activities                   (57)              56     
Net movement in cash and                                                        
cash equivalents                                         49              20     
                                                  Reviewed        Reviewed      
                                               Nine months     Nine months      
                                                     ended           ended      
June 2009       June 2008      
                                               US$ million     US$ million      
(Loss) profit for the period                           (74)             134     
Adjustment for:                                                                 
Depreciation, fellings and amortisation                 336             344     
Taxation                                                (1)              55     
Net finance costs                                       131             100     
Post employment benefits                               (32)            (65)     
Other non-cash items                                   (89)            (81)     
Cash generated from operations                          271             487     
Movement in working capital                              25           (134)     
Net finance costs                                      (54)           (150)     
Taxation paid                                           (5)            (56)     
Dividends paid *                                       (37)            (73)     
Cash retained from operating activities                 200              74     
Cash utilised in investing activities                 (726)           (351)     
Capital expenditure and other                                                   
non-current assets                                    (138)           (351)     
Acquisition of M-real                                 (588)               -     
                                                     (526)           (277)      
Cash effects of financing activities                    979             161     
Net movement in cash and                                                        
cash equivalents                                        453           (116)     
* Dividend no 85: 16 US cents per share paid on 28 November 2008                
Group statement of recognised income and expense                                
                                                  Reviewed        Reviewed      
                                                   Quarter         Quarter      
                                                     ended           ended      
June 2009       June 2008      
                                               US$ million     US$ million      
Exchange differences on translation of                                          
foreign operations                                      243              50     
Sundry other movements in equity                          1             (1)     
Net income (expense) recorded directly                                          
in equity                                               244              49     
(Loss) profit for the period                           (62)            (63)     
Total recognised profit (expense) for                                           
the period                                              182            (14)     
                                                  Reviewed        Reviewed      
                                               Nine months     Nine months      
ended           ended      
                                                 June 2009       June 2008      
                                               US$ million     US$ million      
Exchange differences on translation of                                          
foreign operations                                     (44)           (222)     
Sundry other movements in equity                          1               1     
Net income (expense) recorded directly                                          
in equity                                              (43)           (221)     
(Loss) profit for the period                           (74)             134     
Total recognised profit (expense) for                                           
the period                                            (117)            (87)     
Notes to the group results                                                      
1. Basis of preparation                                                         
The condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with        
International Accounting Standard 34, Interim Financial Reporting. The          
accounting policies and methods of computation used in the preparation of the   
results are consistent, in all material respects, with those used in the annual 
financial statements for September 2008 which are compliant with International  
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting  
Standards Board.                                                                
The preliminary results for the nine month period and quarter ended June 2009   
have been reviewed in terms of the International Standard on Review Engagements 
2410 by the group`s auditors, Deloitte & Touche. Their unmodified review report 
is available for inspection at the company`s registered offices.                
In November and December 2008, Sappi conducted a renounceable rights offer of   
286,886,270 new ordinary shares of ZAR1.00 each to qualifying Sappi             
shareholders recorded in the shareholders register at the close of business on  
Friday 21 November 2008, at a subscription price of ZAR20.27 per rights offer   
share in the ratio of 6 rights offer shares for every 5 Sappi shares held. The  
rights offer was fully subscribed and the shareholders received their shares on 
15 December 2008. The rights offer raised ZAR5,8 billion which was used to      
partly finance the acquisition of the coated graphic paper business of M-real   
and the related costs. In accordance with IAS 33, prior period basic, headline  
and diluted earnings per share have been restated to take into account the      
bonus element of the rights offer. The prior period weighted average number of  
shares has been adjusted by a factor of 1.58 (the adjustment factor). Please    
refer to Supplemental Information for a summary of this calculation.            
2. Reconciliation of movement in shareholders` equity                           
                                                  Reviewed        Reviewed      
                                               Nine months     Nine months      
ended           ended      
                                                 June 2009       June 2008      
                                               US$ million     US$ million      
Balance - beginning of period                         1,605           1,816     
Total recognised expense for the period               (117)            (87)     
Dividends paid                                         (37)            (73)     
Rights offer                                            575               -     
Costs directly attributable to the rights offer        (31)               -     
Issue of new shares to M-real                            45               -     
Transfers to participants of the share purchase                                 
trust                                                     2               6     
Share based payment reserve                               7               7     
Balance - end of period                               2,049           1,669     
3. Operating (loss) profit                                                      
                                                  Reviewed        Reviewed      
                                                   Quarter         Quarter      
ended           ended      
                                                 June 2009       June 2008      
                                               US$ million     US$ million      
Included in operating (loss) profit are the                                     
following non-cash items:                                                       
Depreciation and amortisation                           106              94     
Fair value adjustment on plantations                                            
(included in cost of sales)                                                     
Changes in volume                                                               
Fellings                                                 19              21     
Growth                                                 (20)            (20)     
                                                       (1)               1      
Plantation price fair value                                                     
adjustment                                               25             105     
                                                        24             106      
Included in other operating income                                              
are the following:                                                              
Asset impairments                                         1               1     
Profit on disposal of property,                                                 
plant and equipment                                       -             (1)     
Restructuring provisions                                                        
raised (released)                                         2               -     
Integration costs                                         3               -     
Fuel tax credit                                        (37)               -     
3. Operating (loss) profit                                                      
                                                  Reviewed        Reviewed      
                                               Nine months     Nine months      
                                                     ended           ended      
June 2009       June 2008      
                                               US$ million     US$ million      
Included in operating (loss) profit are the                                     
following non-cash items:                                                       
Depreciation and amortisation                           286             283     
Fair value adjustment on plantations                                            
(included in cost of sales)                                                     
Changes in volume                                                               
Fellings                                                 50              61     
Growth                                                 (52)            (55)     
                                                       (2)               6      
Plantation price fair value                                                     
adjustment                                             (44)            (12)     
                                                      (46)             (6)      
Included in other operating income                                              
are the following:                                                              
Asset impairments                                         6               3     
Profit on disposal of property,                                                 
plant and equipment                                     (1)             (5)     
Restructuring provisions                                                        
raised (released)                                        10             (3)     
Integration costs                                         3               -     
Fuel tax credit                                        (37)               -     
                                                  Reviewed        Reviewed      
Quarter         Quarter      
                                                     ended           ended      
                                                 June 2009       June 2008      
                                               US$ million     US$ million      
4. Headline earnings per share *                                                
Headline earnings per share (US cents) **              (12)            (17)     
Weighted average number of shares in                                            
issue (millions) **                                   515.8           362.2     
Diluted headline earnings per                                                   
share (US cents) **                                    (12)            (17)     
Weighted average number of shares on                                            
fully diluted basis (millions) **                     517.9           366.0     
Calculation of Headline earnings *                                              
(Loss) profit for the period                           (62)            (63)     
Asset impairments                                         1               1     
Profit on disposal of property,                                                 
plant and equipment                                       -             (1)     
Tax effect of above items                                 -               1     
Headline (loss) earnings                               (61)            (62)     
                                                  Reviewed        Reviewed      
Nine months     Nine months      
                                                     ended           ended      
                                                 June 2009       June 2008      
                                               US$ million     US$ million      
4. Headline earnings per share *                                                
Headline earnings per share (US cents) **              (15)              37     
Weighted average number of shares in                                            
issue (millions) **                                   471.5           362.0     
Diluted headline earnings per                                                   
share (US cents) **                                    (15)              36     
Weighted average number of shares on                                            
fully diluted basis (millions) **                     473.7           365.5     
Calculation of Headline earnings *                                              
(Loss) profit for the period                           (74)             134     
Asset impairments                                         6               3     
Profit on disposal of property,                                                 
plant and equipment                                     (1)             (5)     
Tax effect of above items                                 -               1     
Headline (loss) earnings                               (69)             133     
* Headline earnings disclosure is required by the JSE Limited.                  
** Prior period headline earnings per share has been restated for the bonus     
element of the rights offer in accordance with IAS 33.                          
Please refer to Supplemental Information for a summary of this                  
calculation.                                                                    
Reviewed        Reviewed      
                                                   Quarter         Quarter      
                                                     ended           ended      
                                                 June 2009       June 2008      
US$ million     US$ million      
5. Capital expenditure                                                          
Property, plant and equipment                            54             103     
                                                  Reviewed        Reviewed      
Nine months     Nine months      
                                                     ended           ended      
                                                 June 2009       June 2008      
                                               US$ million     US$ million      
5. Capital expenditure                                                          
Property, plant and equipment                           147             377     
                                                 June 2009       Sept 2008      
                                               US$ million     US$ million      
6. Capital commitments                                                          
Contracted                                               71              76     
Approved but not contracted                             157             130     
                                                       228             206      
June 2009       Sept 2008      
                                               US$ million     US$ million      
7. Contingent liabilities                                                       
Guarantees and suretyships                               45              38     
Other contingent liabilities                              7               7     
                                                        52              45      
8. Material balance sheet movements                                             
Acquisition of M-real`s coated graphic paper business                           
See note 9 for details of how the acquisition is recorded in the balance sheet. 
Interest-bearing borrowings and cash and cash equivalents                       
Included in long term borrowings is the EUR220 million (US$309 million) vendor  
loan note and the assumed interest-bearing debt both used to partly finance the 
acquisition of M-real`s coated graphic paper business.                          
During the nine months ended June 2009, the group also drew down EUR200 million 
(US$281 million) of its committed facilities and raised a further US$63 million 
in long-term bank loans. All of this is currently held in cash.                 
9. Acquisition                                                                  
On 31 December 2008, Sappi acquired M-real`s coated graphic paper business for  
EUR750 million (US$1.1 billion). The transaction includes M-real`s coated       
graphic paper business (excluding M-real`s South African business), including   
brands and company knowledge, as well as four coated graphic mills.             
The acquisition was financed through a combination of equity, assumed debt, the 
cash proceeds from a rights offering and a vendor loan note.                    
The acquired business contributed revenues of US$522 million, a net operating   
profit of US$8 million and a net loss of US$4 million to the group for the      
period from acquisition to 28 June 2009.                                        
Details of net assets acquired and goodwill are as follows:                     
                                                             EURO      US$      
Purchase consideration:                                                         
Cash consideration                                             400      563     
Shares issued *                                                 32       45     
Vendor loan note                                               220      308     
Adjustments to working capital                                 (4)      (6)     
Gain on forward exchange contract covering purchase                             
consideration                                                 (24)     (32)     
Direct costs relating to the acquisition                        23       32     
Total purchase consideration                                   647      910     
Provisional fair value of net identifiable assets acquired                      
(see below)                                                    647      910     
Provisional goodwill **                                          -        -     
The assets and liabilities arising from the acquisition are as follows:         
                       EURO            EURO            US$             US$      
                 Acquiree`s     Provisional     Acquiree`s     Provisional      
                   carrying            fair       carrying            fair      
amount           value         amount           value      
Property, plant                                                                 
and equipment            634             531            892             747     
Information                                                                     
technology related                                                              
intangibles                2               2              3               3     
Brand names                -              18              -              25     
Inventories              118             115            166             162     
Trade receivables        200             193            281             272     
Prepayments and                                                                 
other debit balances      15              18             21              25     
Cash and cash                                                                   
equivalents                5               5              7               7     
Trade payables          (85)            (85)          (120)           (120)     
Pension liabilities     (37)            (40)           (52)            (56)     
Borrowings              (46)            (42)           (65)            (59)     
Provisions               (4)             (4)            (6)             (6)     
Other payables                                                                  
and accruals            (60)            (65)           (84)            (91)     
Net deferred tax                                                                
(liabilities) assets    (11)               1           (15)               1     
Net identifiable                                                                
assets acquired          731             647          1,028             910     
Outflow of cash to acquire business, net of cash acquired:                      
EURO     US$      
Cash consideration                                              400     563     
Direct costs relating to acquisition                             23      32     
Cash and cash equivalents in subsidiary acquired                (5)     (7)     
Net cash outflow on acquisition                                 418     588     
The provisional values determined as at March 2009 have been adjusted as        
follows to arrive at the provisional values as at June 2009                     
                               EURO                           US$               
Provisional fair values **                   
                     March 2009     June 2009     March 2009     June 2009      
Property, plant and                                                             
equipment                    494           531            695           747     
Information                                                                     
technology related                                                              
intangibles                    2             2              3             3     
Brand names                   18            18             25            25     
Inventories                  116           115            163           162     
Trade receivables            200           193            281           272     
Prepayments and other                                                           
debit balances                21            18             30            25     
Cash and cash                                                                   
equivalents                    5             5              7             7     
Trade payables              (86)          (85)          (121)         (120)     
Pension liabilities         (40)          (40)           (56)          (56)     
Borrowings                  (47)          (42)           (66)          (59)     
Provisions                   (4)           (4)            (6)           (6)     
Other payables and                                                              
accruals                    (64)          (65)           (89)          (91)     
Net deferred tax                                                                
(liabilities) assets          13             1             18             1     
Net identifiable                                                                
assets acquired              628           647            884           910     
EURO           US$      
Provisional goodwill                                                            
at March 2009 **                                           27            38     
Increase in fair                                                                
values of net                                                                   
identifiable assets                                      (19)          (26)     
Change in adjustments                                                           
to working capital                                       (10)          (14)     
Increase in direct                                                              
costs relating to                                                               
acquisition                                                 2             2     
Provisional goodwill                                                            
at June 2009 **                                             0             0     
* 11,159,702 Sappi shares were issued to M-real as partial payment of the       
acquisition price. The fair value of US$45 million (EUR32 million) was          
determined using Sappi`s published market price at the date of exchange.        
** The initial accounting for the business combination has been determined      
provisionally as at the end of the third quarter ended June 2009 because the    
group is still in the process of finalising the fair values of the identifiable 
assets and liabilites of the acquired business of M-real. The changes in        
provisional values from March 2009 to June 2009 are due to the group having     
access to more information that enabled us to update our initial determination  
of fair values and the purchase consideration.                                  
Notes to the group results                                                      
Reviewed        Reviewed                 
                                        Quarter         Quarter                 
                                          ended           ended                 
                                      June 2009       June 2008          %      
US$ million     US$ million     change      
10. Regional information                                                        
Sales                                                                           
Fine Paper -                                                                    
North America                                291             424       (31)     
Europe                                       729             705          3     
Southern Africa                               78              95       (18)     
Total                                      1,098           1,224       (10)     
Forest Products -                                                               
Pulp and paper                                                                  
operations                                   204             249       (18)     
Forestry operations                           14              21       (33)     
Total                                      1,316           1,494       (12)     
Operating profit                                                                
Fine Paper -                                                                    
North America                                 24              25        (4)     
Europe                                         -              10      (100)     
Southern Africa                              (5)               1          -     
Total                                         19              36       (47)     
Forest Products                             (26)            (60)          -     
Corporate and other                            -               1      (100)     
Total                                        (7)            (23)          -     
Net operating assets                                                            
Fine Paper -                                                                    
North America                              1,035           1,064        (3)     
Europe                                     2,475           2,098         18     
Southern Africa                              205             124         65     
Total                                      3,715           3,286         13     
Forest Products                            1,790           1,714          4     
Corporate and other                           72              27        167     
Total                                      5,577           5,027         11     
                                       Reviewed        Reviewed                 
Nine months     Nine months                 
                                          ended           ended                 
                                      June 2009       June 2008          %      
                                    US$ million     US$ million     change      
10. Regional information                                                        
Sales                                                                           
Fine Paper -                                                                    
North America                                955           1,231       (22)     
Europe                                     2,027           2,040        (1)     
Southern Africa                              226             271       (17)     
Total                                      3,208           3,542        (9)     
Forest Products -                                                               
Pulp and paper                                                                  
operations                                   567             747       (24)     
Forestry operations                           41              55       (25)     
Total                                      3,816           4,344       (12)     
Operating profit                                                                
Fine Paper -                                                                    
North America                                (7)              62          -     
Europe                                       (8)              47          -     
Southern Africa                              (1)               5          -     
Total                                       (16)             114          -     
Forest Products                               71             167       (57)     
Corporate and other                            1               8        100     
Total                                         56             289       (81)     
Net operating assets                                                            
Fine Paper -                                                                    
North America                              1,035           1,064        (3)     
Europe                                     2,475           2,098         18     
Southern Africa                              205             124         65     
Total                                      3,715           3,286         13     
Forest Products                            1,790           1,714          4     
Corporate and other                           72              27        167     
Total                                      5,577           5,027         11     
Supplemental Information (this information has not been reviewed)               
general definitions                                                             
Average - averages are calculated as the sum of the opening and closing         
balances for the relevant period divided by two                                 
Fellings - the amount charged against the income statement representing the     
standing value of the plantations harvested                                     
NBSK - Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft pulp. One of the main varieties of      
market pulp, mainly produced from spruce trees in Scandinavia, Canada and north 
eastern USA. The NBSK is a benchmark widely used in the pulp and paper industry 
for comparative purposes                                                        
SG&A - selling, general and administrative expenses                             
Non-GAAP measures                                                               
The group believes that it is useful to report certain non-GAAP measures for    
the following reasons:                                                          
- these measures are used by the group for internal performance analysis;       
- the presentation by the group`s reported business segments of these measures  
facilitates comparability with other companies in our industry, although the    
group`s measures may not be comparable with similarly titled profit measurements
reported by other companies; and                                                
- it is useful in connection with discussion with the investment analyst        
community and debt rating agencies.                                             
These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or construed as a 
substitute for GAAP measures in accordance with IFRS                            
Acquisition - the acquisition of M-real`s coated graphic paper business on 31   
December 2008                                                                   
Adjustment factor - This is calculated using the pre-announcement share price   
divided by the theoretical ex-rights price (TERP). TERP is the ((Number of new  
shares multiplied by the Subscription price) plus the (Number of shares held    
multiplied by the Ex-dividend share price)) all divided by the (Number of new   
shares plus the number of shares held prior to the rights offer)                
Capital employed - shareholders` equity plus net debt                           
EBITDA excluding special items - earnings before interest (net finance costs),  
taxation, depreciation, amortisation and special items                          
Headline earnings - as defined in circular 8/2007 issued by the South African   
Institute of Chartered Accountants, separates from earnings all separately      
identifiable re-measurements. It is not necessarily a measure of sustainable    
earnings. It is a listing requirement of the JSE Limited to disclose headline   
earnings per share                                                              
Net debt - current and non-current interest-bearing borrowings, and bank        
overdraft (net of cash, cash equivalents and short-term deposits)               
Net debt to total capitalisation - net debt divided by capital employed         
Net operating assets - total assets (excluding deferred taxation and cash and   
cash equivalents) less current liabilities (excluding interest-bearing          
borrowings and bank overdraft)                                                  
Net assets - total assets less total liabilities                                
Net asset value per share - net assets divided by the number of shares in issue 
at balance sheet date                                                           
ROCE - return on average capital employed. Operating profit excluding special   
items divided by average capital employed                                       
ROE - return on average equity. Profit for the period divided by average        
shareholders` equity                                                            
RONOA - return on average net operating assets. Operating profit excluding      
special items divided by average net operating assets                           
Special items - special items cover those items which management believe are    
material by nature or amount to the operating results and require separate      
disclosure. Such items would generally include profit or loss on disposal of    
property, investments and businesses, asset impairments, restructuring charges, 
non-recurring integration costs related to acquisitions, financial impacts of   
natural disasters, non-cash gains or losses on the price fair value adjustment  
of plantations and alternative fuel tax credits receivable in cash              
The above financial measures are presented to assist our shareholders and the   
investment community in interpreting our financial results.                     
These financial measures are regularly used and compared between companies in   
our industry                                                                    
Supplemental Information (this information has not been reviewed)               
EBITDA excluding special items                                                  
Quarter         Quarter      
                                                     ended           ended      
                                                 June 2009       June 2008      
                                               US$ million     US$ million      
Reconciliation of (loss) profit for the period                                  
to                                                                              
EBITDA excluding special items (1)                                              
(Loss) profit for the period                           (62)            (63)     
Net finance costs                                        70              45     
Taxation                                               (15)             (5)     
Special items - (gains) losses                          (6)             111     
Operating (loss) profit excluding special items        (13)              88     
Depreciation and amortisation                           106              94     
EBITDA excluding special items (1)                       93             182     
Net debt (US$ million) (2)                                                      
Net debt to total capitalisation (%) (2)                                        
Net asset value per share (US$) (2)                                             
                                               Nine months     Nine months      
                                                     ended           ended      
                                                 June 2009       June 2008      
US$ million     US$ million      
Reconciliation of (loss) profit for the period                                  
to                                                                              
EBITDA excluding special items (1)                                              
(Loss) profit for the period                           (74)             134     
Net finance costs                                       131             100     
Taxation                                                (1)              55     
Special items - (gains) losses                         (61)            (12)     
Operating (loss) profit excluding special items         (5)             277     
Depreciation and amortisation                           286             283     
EBITDA excluding special items (1)                      281             560     
                                                 June 2009       Sept 2008      
US$ million     US$ million      
Net debt (US$ million) (2)                            2,770           2,405     
Net debt to total capitalisation (%) (2)               57.5            60.0     
Net asset value per share (US$) (2)                    3.97            7.00     
(1) In connection with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission ("SEC") rules    
relating to "Conditions for Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures", we have        
reconciled EBITDA excluding special items to net profit rather than operating   
profit. As a result our definition retains minority interest as part of EBITDA  
excluding special items.                                                        
Operating profit excluding special items represents earnings before interest    
(net finance costs), taxation and special items. Net finance costs includes:    
gross interest paid; interest received; interest capitalised; net foreign       
exchange gains; and net fair value adjustments on interest rate financial       
instruments. See the group income statement for an explanation of the           
computation of net finance costs. Special items cover those items which         
management believe are material by nature or amount to the operating results    
and require separate disclosure. Such items would generally include profit and  
loss on disposal of property, investments and businesses, asset impairments,    
restructuring charges, non-recurring integration costs related to acquisitions, 
financial impacts of natural disasters, non-cash gains or losses on the price   
fair value adjustment of plantations and alternative fuel tax credits           
receivable in cash.                                                             
EBITDA excluding special items represents operating profit before depreciation, 
amortisation and special items.                                                 
We use both operating profit excluding special items and EBITDA excluding       
special items as internal measures of performance to benchmark and compare      
performance, both between our own operations and as against other companies.    
Operating profit excluding special items and EBITDA excluding special items are 
measures used by the group, together with measures of performance under IFRS,   
to compare the relative performance of operations in planning, budgeting and    
reviewing the performances of various businesses. We believe they are useful    
and commonly used measures of financial performance in addition to net profit,  
operating profit and other profitability measures under IFRS because they       
facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period and company  
to company. By eliminating potential differences in results of operations       
between periods or companies caused by factors such as depreciation and         
amortisation methods, historic cost and age of assets, financing and capital    
structures and taxation positions or regimes, we believe both operating profit  
excluding special items and EBITDA excluding special items can provide a useful 
additional basis for comparing the current performance of the operations being  
evaluated. For these reasons, we believe operating profit excluding special     
items and EBITDA excluding special items and similar measures are regularly     
used by the investment community as a means of comparison of companies in our   
industry. Different companies and analysts may calculate operating profit       
excluding special items and EBITDA excluding special items differently, so      
making comparisons among companies on this basis should be done very carefully. 
Operating profit excluding special items and EBITDA excluding special items are 
not measures of performance under IFRS and should not be considered in          
isolation or construed as a substitute for operating profit or net profit as    
indicators of the company`s operations in accordance with IFRS.                 
(2) Refer to Supplemental Information for the definition of the                 
term.                                                                           
Supplemental Information (this information has not been reviewed)               
summary rand convenience translation                                            
                                          Quarter       Quarter                 
                                            ended         ended          %      
June 2009     June 2008     change      
Key figures: (ZAR million)                                                      
Sales                                       11,344        11,711        (3)     
Operating (loss) profit                       (60)         (180)          -     
Special items - (gains) losses *              (52)           870          -     
Operating (loss) profit excluding                                               
special items                                (112)           690          -     
EBITDA excluding special items *               802         1,427       (44)     
Basic (loss) earnings per                                                       
share (SA cents)                             (103)         (133)          -     
Net debt *                                  21,880        21,108          4     
Key ratios: (%)                                                                 
Operating (loss) profit to sales             (0.5)         (1.5)                
Operating (loss) profit excluding                                               
special items to sales                       (1.0)           5.9                
Operating (loss) profit excluding                                               
special items to Capital                                                        
Employed (ROCE) *                            (1.1)           7.9                
EBITDA excluding special items                                                  
to sales                                       7.1          12.2                
Return on average equity (ROE)              (12.5)        (14.7)                
Net debt to total capitalisation *            57.5          61.5                
                                    Nine months     Nine months                 
                                          ended           ended          %      
June 2009       June 2008     change      
Key figures: (ZAR million)                                                      
Sales                                     35,949          31,814         13     
Operating (loss) profit                      528           2,117       (75)     
Special items - (gains) losses *           (575)            (88)          -     
Operating (loss) profit excluding                                               
special items                               (47)           2,029          -     
EBITDA excluding special items *           2,647           4,101       (35)     
Basic (loss) earnings per                                                       
share (SA cents)                           (151)             271          -     
Net debt *                                21,880          21,108          4     
Key ratios: (%)                                                                 
Operating (loss) profit to sales             1.5             6.7                
Operating (loss) profit excluding                                               
special items to sales                     (0.1)             6.4                
Operating (loss) profit excluding                                               
special items to Capital                                                        
Employed (ROCE) *                          (0.2)             8.7                
EBITDA excluding special items                                                  
to sales                                     7.4            12.9                
Return on average equity (ROE)             (6.4)            10.2                
Net debt to total capitalisation *          57.5            61.5                
* Refer to Supplemental Information for the definition of the term.             
The above financial results have been translated into ZAR from US Dollars as    
follows:                                                                        
- Assets and liabilities at rates of exchange ruling at period end; and         
- Income, expenditure and cash flow items at average exchange rates.            
exchange rates                                                                  
June        Mar        Dec      
                                                2009       2009       2008      
Exchange rates:                                                                 
Period end rate: US$1 = ZAR                    7.8990     9.5849     9.7148     
Average rate for the Quarter: US$1 = ZAR       8.6197     9.8979     9.8584     
Average rate for the YTD: US$1 = ZAR           9.4205     9.9015     9.8584     
Period end rate: EUR 1 = US$                   1.4054     1.3301     1.4064     
Average rate for the Quarter: EUR 1 = US$      1.3651     1.3300     1.3471     
Average rate for the YTD: EUR 1 = US$          1.3432     1.3288     1.3471     
                                                           Sept       June      
                                                           2008       2008      
Exchange rates:                                                                 
Period end rate: US$1 = ZAR                               8.0751     7.9145     
Average rate for the Quarter: US$1 = ZAR                  7.8150     7.8385     
Average rate for the YTD: US$1 = ZAR                      7.4294     7.3236     
Period end rate: EUR 1 = US$                              1.4615     1.5795     
Average rate for the Quarter: EUR 1 = US$                 1.5228     1.5747     
Average rate for the YTD: EUR 1 = US$                     1.5064     1.5071     
The financial results of entities with reporting currencies other than the US   
Dollar are translated into US Dollars as follows:                               
- Assets and liabilities at rates of exchange ruling at period end; and         
- Income, expenditure and cash flow items at average exchange rates.            
Other interested parties can obtain printed copies of this report from:         
South Africa:                                                                   
Computershare Investor                                                          
Services (Proprietary) Limited                                                  
70 Marshall Street                                                              
Johannesburg 2001                                                               
PO Box 61051                                                                    
Marshalltown 2107                                                               
Tel +27 (0)11 370 5000                                                          
United States:                                                                  
ADR Depositary:                                                                 
The Bank of New York Mellon                                                     
Investor Relations                                                              
PO Box 11258                                                                    
Church Street Station                                                           
New York, NY 10286-1258                                                         
Tel +1 610 382 7836                                                             
Channel Islands:                                                                
Capita Registrars                                                               
(Jersey) Limited                                                                
12 Castle Street                                                                
St Helier                                                                       
Jersey                                                                          
JE2 3RT                                                                         
Tel +44 (0)208 639 3399                                                         
this report is available on the Sappi website www.sappi.com                     
www.sappi.com                                                                   
Date: 30/07/2009 08:55:02 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.                  
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