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Thu 7 Nov 2002, 10:52 Sappi Limited - Results For The Fourth Quarter And
SAPPI LIMITED - RESULTS FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 2002    
sappi limited                                                                   
The word for fine paper                                                         
(Registration number 1936/008963/06)                                            
JSE Code: SAP                                                                   
ISIN Code: ZAE 000006284                                                        
Results for the fourth quarter and year ended September 2002                    
Headline EPS - Quarter 30 US cents                                              
             - Year 98 US cents                                                 
Strong cash flow                                                                
US business improves                                                            
Dividend increased to 28 US cents                                               
summary                                                                         
                  Quarter ended                    Year ended                   
                  Sept.     June         Sept.     Sept.    Sept.               
2002      2002         2001      2002     2001                
Sales              1,052     974          998       3,729    4,184              
(US$ million)                                                                   
Operating profit   122       97           91        389      446                
(US$ million)                                                                   
EBITDA             219       188          175       741      797                
(US$ million)                                                                   
Operating profit  11.6      10.0         9.1       10.4     10.7                
to sales (%)                                                                    
EBITDA to sales   20.8      19.3         17.5      19.9     19.0                
(%)                                                                             
Operating profit   13.0      11.8         11.1      11.3     13.1               
to average net                                                                  
assets (%)                                                                      
EPS before        30         28           23       98        113                
exceptional items                                                               
(Headline) (US                                                                  
cents)                                                                          
EPS (US cents)    32         29           20       95        59                 
Return on          18.6      18.2         9.9*      14.2     15.9*              
equity (%)                                                                      
Net debt           1,419     1,572        1,126     1,419    1,126              
(US$ million)                                                                   
*Before Mobile restructuring charge                                             
comment                                                                         
During the last two years the group`s revenues have shrunk partly as a result of
management`s actions to close underperforming facilities and largely due to     
lower overall demand, sharply declining prices, particularly in North America,  
and the weakening of the Euro and the Rand relative to the US dollar. It is     
pleasing therefore to be able to report that, helped by the acquisition of      
Potlatch`s coated fine paper business in the USA, our sales have increased in   
the past two quarters in spite of the continuing weak prices. The company is in 
a strong position to return to a growth path.                                   
Demand for coated fine paper as measured by shipments from producers plus the   
net of imports and exports was 6.8% higher than the equivalent quarter last year
in the USA and flat in Europe. For the full year, demand was flat in both       
markets. Inventories have declined in the customer chain over the last two years
but appear to have reached a trough and started to stabilise. European industry 
exports of coated fine paper increased 26% compared to the previous full year.  
Published data indicates that bench mark coated fine paper prices dropped       
sharply in the USA and in September 2002 were 8.6% below a year earlier (Coated 
# 3 Web) whilst Europe recorded a 1.9% decline over the same period (100gsm     
sheets Germany). We continued to curtail production and in the quarter reduced  
our output of paper and pulp by approximately 130,000 tons.                     
North American and Scandinavian pulp inventories increased during the quarter   
but remain at 1.6 million tons, a reasonable level after the quiet summer       
period, representing only 27 days of supply. Pulp prices started moving upwards 
in the second calendar quarter but dropped again slightly in the third calendar 
quarter.                                                                        
Against this background, sales for the quarter increased 5% compared to a year  
earlier to US$1.1 billion.                                                      
Net profit before exceptional items of US$69 million was up 30% compared to the 
equivalent quarter last year. Earnings per share before exceptional items were  
30 US cents, 2 US cents up on the previous quarter. Basic earnings per share    
were 32 US cents. Return on equity for the quarter was 18.6%.                   
Selling, general and administrative expenses declined by US$22 million compared 
with the same quarter last year. US$4 million was due to better management of   
expenses. The difference arose both from the reversal of accruals after the     
withdrawal of pending litigation and the reduction of accruals related to an    
over-cautious response to higher insurance deductibles post September 11, 2001. 
Group operating profit increased 34% and the operating profit margin increased  
to 11.6% from 9.1% in the equivalent quarter last year.                         
Although our North American business returned to profitability in the final     
quarter as a result of stronger demand and the benefits of the Cloquet          
acquisition, its margins remain under pressure.                                 
Net finance costs of US$29 million were 19% below the equivalent quarter last   
year despite increased debt following the Cloquet acquisition. Foreign exchange 
losses and the marking to market of financial instruments included in net       
finance costs were US$5 million for the quarter compared to US$15 million last  
year.                                                                           
Sales for the year were US$3.7 billion, 11% lower than last year. Operating     
profit of US$389 million was 13% lower reflecting the pressure on margins       
experienced during the year.                                                    
For the full year, net profit before exceptional items was US$226 million, down 
14% compared to the previous year. The year`s earnings per share before         
exceptional items were 98 US cents and basic earnings per share were 95 US      
cents. Return on equity for the year was 14.2%.                                 
Net finance costs for the year of US$74 million were 20% lower than last year,  
despite the Cloquet acquisition, US$4 million lower interest capitalised and a  
net increase of US$8 million in respect of foreign exchange movements and       
marking to market of financial instruments.                                     
Last quarter, we indicated that we would enter into interest rate swaps in      
respect of a portion of our fixed long-term debt to variable rates to reduce our
interest cost. To date we have not swapped into variable rates because, while it
would be prudent to buy a collar, the requirement that such instruments be      
marked to market would likely result in excessive volatility in quarterly       
earnings caused by the changes in interest rates. We will continue to monitor   
interest rate developments and take action when appropriate.                    
cash flow and debt                                                              
EBITDA for the quarter was US$219 million, 25.1% higher than last year. Free    
cash flow for the year, after all cash charges and Capex, but prior to dividends
and the acquisition of assets, was US$150 million for the quarter and US$292    
million for the year.                                                           
Working capital was well managed and declined by US$50 million in the quarter   
and a total of US$89 million over the last two quarters.                        
During the quarter we repurchased approximately 984,000 shares at an average    
price of R119.48 per share (US$11.40) and a cost of US$11.2 million. Since      
December 2000 we have repurchased 13.0 million shares or approximately 5.5% of  
total shares in issue, at an average price of R64.16, some of which have been   
utilised by the share incentive scheme to meet its obligations.                 
Capital expenditure for the full year on fixed assets and plantations was US$205
million, which was well below the aggregate of depreciation, amortisation and   
fellings. Capital commitments have increased from US$162 million last quarter to
US$228 million at the end of September 2002 and assuming the business outlook   
continues to improve, we expect capital expenditure to approach the level of    
depreciation next year. We continue rigorously to apply our existing criteria   
for capital allocations to all new capital expenditure projects.                
Net debt declined by US$153 million in the quarter to US$1,419 million at the   
end of September 2002. Net debt to total capitalisation is 37.0%. We now have a 
very good debt maturity profile with the average maturity at approximately 10   
years.                                                                          
The group has reviewed its pension funds to take account of the recent          
significant changes in the performance and outlook of financial markets. Using  
revised and lower discount rates and assumed rates of return, the pension funds 
in our European businesses are adequately funded. There is a surplus in the     
South African fund (which has not been brought to account) but, in the UK and   
USA funds, a shortfall is projected. It is anticipated that the projected future
additional annual charges required to correct the projected shortfall in those  
funds will be approximately 5 US cents per share and this situation will        
continue to be reviewed annually. The estimated surplus of the South African    
defined benefit plan has not been reflected on the group`s balance sheet pending
the outcome of the statutory allocation analysis of the surplus between the     
company and the members of the fund.                                            
operating review for the quarter                                                
sappi fine paper                                                                
                       Quarter ended                                            
                      Sept. 2002    Sept. 2001    %                             
                      US$ million   US$ million   change                        
Sales                 905           826           9.6                           
Operating profit      78            65            20.0                          
Operating margin (%)  8.6           7.9           -                             
EBITDA                156           130           20.0                          
EBITDA Margin (%)     17.2          15.7          -                             
RONOA p.a. (%)        10.4          10.5          -                             
Advertising spend and more specifically advertising print pages, which are key  
drivers of our performance have been slow to pick up. Since July 2002 we have   
seen a gradual improvement from a very low base and the outlook is that this    
should continue.                                                                
Our European and South African businesses performed well, but there is scope for
improvement in our North American business - we saw the beginning of this in the
last quarter.                                                                   
Operating profit increased 20% to US$78 million, a return on net operating      
assets of 10.4%.                                                                
Europe                                                                          
Despite overcapacity in the market and difficult market conditions, our European
business continued to report solid results. Sales volume was about 2% up on a   
year earlier and 3% up on the previous quarter due to better exports. Domestic  
shipments remained flat. Average prices realised in the domestic market held up 
well throughout the year and were only 2% lower in Euro compared to the         
equivalent quarter last year.                                                   
Operating profit was 7% lower than a year earlier and the return on net         
operating assets was lower at 14.6 %.                                           
Quarter ended                                              
                     Sept. 2002    Sept. 2001    % change  % change             
                     US$ million   US$ million   (US$)     (Euro)               
Sales                459           444           3.4       (6.7)                
Operating profit     53            57            (7.0)     (16.1)               
Operating margin (%) 11.5          12.8          -         -                    
EBITDA               96            94            2.1       (7.8)                
EBITDA Margin (%)    20.9          21.1          -         -                    
RONOA p.a. (%)       14.6          17.0          -         -                    
North America                                                                   
Our North American business returned to profitability, benefiting from          
seasonally strong demand, the recent start of a pick-up in print advertising and
the benefits of the Cloquet acquisition and integration. The Cloquet integration
is on track and we achieved the targeted benefits in the quarter. We remain     
confident that the announced synergies will be fully realised and that the      
acquisition will be accretive by 20 US cents per share in 2003.                 
There is still significant opportunity to improve the performance of our North  
American business including improving operating efficiencies at all of the      
mills.                                                                          
                      Quarter ended                                             
Sept. 2002    Sept. 2001    %                             
                      US$ million   US$ million   change                        
Sales                 388           323           20.1                          
Operating profit      15            0             -                             
Operating margin (%)  3.9           0             -                             
EBITDA                47            26            80.8                          
EBITDA Margin (%)     12.1          8.0           -                             
RONOA p.a. (%)        4.2           0             -                             
Fine Paper SA                                                                   
The Southern African fine paper order book remains strong. Compared to a year   
earlier, average prices realised declined slightly in Dollar terms but were up  
26% in Rand terms. We are focusing on cost control to avoid inflationary        
pressure following the sharp weakening of the Rand last year. Return on net     
operating assets was 46.0%.                                                     
                      Quarter ended                                             
                     Sept. 2002    Sept. 2001    % change  % change             
US$ million   US$ million   (US$)     (Rand)               
Sales                58            59            (1.7)     22.8                 
Operating profit     10            8             25.0      56.2                 
Operating margin (%) 17.2          13.6          -         -                    
EBITDA               13            10            30.0      62.5                 
EBITDA Margin (%)    22.4          16.9          -         -                    
RONOA p.a. (%)       46.0          32.3          -         -                    
forest products                                                                 
Demand in South Africa for packaging papers and newsprint remained firm on the  
back of solid GDP growth and continued import replacement. International demand 
for pulp, including dissolving pulp, improved slightly. Although NBSK pulp      
prices declined about US$20 during the quarter, they remain US$35 above the     
trough level of March/April 2002.                                               
Dissolving pulp markets continued to be oversupplied leading to difficult       
trading conditions.                                                             
The sharp decline in the Rand at the end of 2001 has resulted in upward pressure
on domestic costs, particularly of imported goods. We will continue to maintain 
very tight control on all of our input costs to ensure we maintain our very     
competitive cost base.                                                          
Operating profit increased 22.6% compared to the equivalent quarter last year.  
Return on net operating assets was 21.3 %.                                      
                     Quarter ended                                              
                     Sept. 2002    Sept. 2001    % change  % change             
                     US$ million   US$ million   (US$)     (Rand)               
Sales                147           172           (14.5)    6.8                  
Operating profit     38            31            22.6      53.2                 
Operating margin (%) 25.8          18.0          -         -                    
EBITDA               57            50            14.0      42.5                 
EBITDA Margin (%)    38.8          29.1          -         -                    
RONOA p.a. (%)       21.3          14.4          -         -                    
dividend                                                                        
The Board has declared a dividend of 28 US cents for the year ended September   
2002. A dividend of 26 US cents was paid in the previous year.                  
outlook                                                                         
There are signs that advertising spending is at last recovering. We also believe
that the inventory reduction throughout the coated fine paper customer chain in 
our major markets has come to an end. As a result of these factors we expect    
apparent demand for coated fine paper to resume growth next year even if world  
economic growth is muted.                                                       
The industry capacity for coated fine paper in Europe remains above consumption 
and we therefore expect further growth in exports. The closure of 600,000 tons  
of US coated finepaper capacity over the last six months should tighten the     
supply-demand balance in the US and we expect a modest improvement in operating 
rates and prices, an expectation supported by the late but healthy demand for   
catalogues this season.                                                         
In both regions we will continue to match our output to customer demand.        
Pulp prices, which had strengthened since the beginning of the second calendar  
quarter, declined in recent weeks as global inventories increased. We do not    
expect this decline to be a long-term trend. Provided there is reasonable       
economic growth as predicted by most analysts in the year ahead, we would expect
pulp demand to increase and pulp prices to rise modestly in the second half of  
the year.                                                                       
Overall we are cautiously optimistic that, barring a major shock in the world   
economy, our earnings will show reasonable growth in the next year.             
On behalf of the Board                                                          
E van As       D G Wilson                                                       
Director       Director                                                         
7 November 2002                                                                 
dividend announcement                                                           
The Board has declared a dividend (number 79) of 28  US cents per share for the 
year ended September 2002.                                                      
In compliance with the requirements of STRATE, the JSE Securities Exchange`s    
electronic settlement system which is applicable to Sappi, the salient dates in 
respect of the dividend will be as follows:                                     
Last day to trade cum dividend:    Friday 3 January 2003                        
Date on which shares commence trading                                           
ex-dividend:   Monday 6 January 2003                                            
Record date:   Friday 10 January 2003                                           
Payment date:  Monday 13 January 2003                                           
Dividends payable from the Johannesburg transfer office will be paid in South   
African rands (except that nominee shareholders, including the nominees of the  
US ADR depositary bank, who are nominees for South African non-residents may    
elect, on or before Wednesday 8 January 2003, to receive payment in United      
States dollars) and dividends payable from the London transfer office will be   
paid in British pounds sterling or in the case of shareholders with registered  
addresses in the USA, in United States dollars. Dividends payable other than in 
United States dollars will be calculated at the respective rates of exchange    
ruling on Monday 23 December 2002. Those rates will be announced on 24 December 
2002.                                                                           
There will not be any dematerialisation nor rematerialisation of Sappi Limited  
share certificates from 6 January to 10 January 2003, both days inclusive.      
Sappi Management Services (Pty) Limited                                         
Secretaries                                                                     
Per D J O`Connor                                                                
7 November 2002                                                                 
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 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 and pricing), adverse changes in the markets for
the group`s products, consequences of substantial leverage, changing regulatory 
requirements, unanticipated production disruptions, 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.                                                                      
definitions                                                                     
Debt/total capitalisation - current and non-current interest-bearing borrowings,
and bank overdrafts (net of cash, cash equivalents and short-term deposits),    
divided by shareholders` equity plus minority interest, non-current liabilities,
current interest-bearing borrowings and overdraft                               
EBITDA - earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and fellings 
(before non-trading profit/loss)                                                
EBITDA Margin - EBITDA divided by sales                                         
Fellings - the amount charged against the income statement representing the     
standing cost of the plantations harvested                                      
Net asset value - shareholders` equity plus net deferred tax                    
Net assets - total assets less current liabilities                              
NOPAT - net operating profit after current tax                                  
ROE - return on average equity. Net profit divided by average shareholders`     
equity                                                                          
RONA - operating profit divided by average net assets                           
RONOA - operating profit divided by average net operating assets, which are     
total assets (excluding deferred taxation and cash) less current liabilities    
(excluding interest-bearing borrowings and bank overdraft)                      
Financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended September 2002          
group income statement                                                          
Reviewed  Reviewed         Reviewed Audited                    
                 Quarter   Quarter          Year     Year                       
                 ended     ended            ended    ended                      
                 Sept.     Sept.            Sept.    Sept.                      
2002      2001             2002     2001                       
                 US$       US$      %       US$      US$      %                 
                 million   million  change  million  million  change            
Sales             1,052     998      5.4     3,729    4,184                     
(10.9)            
Cost of sales     861       816              3,008    3,375                     
Gross profit      191       182      4.9     721      809                       
                                                              (10.9)            
Selling, general  69        91               332      363                       
and                                                                             
administrative                                                                  
expenses                                                                        
Operating profit  122       91       34.1    389      446                       
                                                              (12.8)            
Non-trading       (2)       3                17       207                       
(profit) loss                                                                   
Net finance       29        36               74       92                        
costs                                                                           
Net paid          30        27               96       126                       
Capitalised       (6)       (6)              (29)     (33)                      
Net foreign       1         13               (4)      (1)                       
exchange losses                                                                 
(gains)                                                                         
Mark to market    4         2                11       -                         
of financial                                                                    
instruments                                                                     
Profit before     95        52               298      147                       
taxation                                                                        
Taxation          28        47               52       88                        
- current                                                                       
- deferred        (6)       (42)             26       (79)                      
Net profit for    73        47       55.3    220      138      59.4             
the period                                                                      
EBITDA            219       175      25.1    741      797      (7.0)            
Basic earnings    32        20               95       59                        
per share                                                                       
(US cents)                                                                      
Earnings before                                                                 
exceptional                                                                     
items                                                                           
(Headline        30         23               98       113                       
earnings) per                                                                   
share (US cents)                                                                
Weighted average  230.2     229.6            230.2    232.8                     
number of shares                                                                
in issue                                                                        
(millions)                                                                      
Diluted earnings  31        20               94       59                        
per share                                                                       
(US cents)                                                                      
Diluted earnings                                                                
before                                                                          
exceptional                                                                     
items                                                                           
(Headline         30        23               97       112                       
earnings) per                                                                   
share (US cents)                                                                
Weighted average  233.4     232.6            233.4    235.2                     
number of shares                                                                
on fully diluted                                                                
basis (millions)                                                                
Calculation of                                                                  
earnings before                                                                 
exceptional                                                                     
items (Headline)                                                                
net of tax                                                                      
Net profit for    73        47               220      138                       
the period                                                                      
(Profit) loss on  (1)       4                1        4                         
disposal of                                                                     
business and                                                                    
fixed assets                                                                    
Mill closure      1         (2)              6        118                       
costs and asset                                                                 
impairment                                                                      
Debt              -         -                6        -                         
restructuring                                                                   
costs                                                                           
Deferred finance -          5               -         5                         
fees written off                                                                
on early                                                                        
settlement of                                                                   
loans                                                                           
Decrease in       (4)       (1)              (7)      (2)                       
provisions                                                                      
Earnings before   69        53               226      263                       
exceptional                                                                     
items (Headline)                                                                
group balance sheet                                                             
                                           Reviewed     Audited                 
                                           Sept. 2002   Sept. 2001              
                                           US$ million  US$ million             
ASSETS                                                                          
Non-current assets                          3,639        3,344                  
Property, plant and equipment               3,189        2,890                  
Plantations                                 298          324                    
Deferred taxation                           6            4                      
Other non-current assets                    146          126                    
Current assets                              1,002        1,160                  
Cash and cash equivalents                   161          445                    
Trade and other receivables                 320          202                    
Inventories                                 521          513                    
Total assets                                4,641        4,504                  
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES                                                          
Shareholders` equity                                                            
Ordinary shareholders` interest             1,601        1,503                  
Minority interest                           2            3                      
Non-current liabilities                     2,110        1,638                  
Interest-bearing borrowings                 1,455        1,012                  
Deferred taxation                           399          385                    
Other non-current liabilities               256          241                    
Current liabilities                         928          1,360                  
Interest-bearing borrowings and bank        125          559                    
overdraft                                                                       
Other current liabilities                   803          801                    
Total equity and liabilities                4,641        4,504                  
Number of shares in issue (millions)        230.2        229.5                  
Net debt (US$ million)                      1,419        1,126                  
Net debt to total capitalisation (%)       37.0          30.4                   
Net asset value per share (US$)             8.66         8.21                   
group cash flow statement                                                       
               Reviewed      Reviewed      Reviewed     Audited                 
               Quarter       Quarter       Year         Year                    
               ended         ended         ended        ended                   
Sept. 2002    Sept. 2001    Sept. 2002   Sept. 2001              
               US$ million   US$ million   US$ million  US$ million             
Cash generated  226           164           744          771                    
by operations                                                                   
Movement in     50            177           (42)         51                     
working                                                                         
capital                                                                         
Net finance     (35)          (42)          (103)        (125)                  
costs                                                                           
Taxation paid   (26)          (41)          (89)         (94)                   
Dividends paid  -             -             (60)         (60)                   
Cash retained   215           258           450          543                    
from operating                                                                  
activities                                                                      
Cash effects    (60)          (81)          (701)        (303)                  
of investing                                                                    
activities                                                                      
Normal          (65)          (81)          (218)        (303)                  
investing                                                                       
activities                                                                      
Acquisition of  5             -             (483)        -                      
net assets                                                                      
                155           177           (251)        240                    
Cash effects    (189)         40            (29)         (90)                   
of financing                                                                    
activities                                                                      
Net movement    (34)          217           (280)        150                    
in cash and                                                                     
cash                                                                            
equivalents                                                                     
group statement of changes in shareholders` equity                              
                                           Reviewed     Audited                 
Year         Year                    
                                           ended        ended                   
                                           Sept. 2002   Sept. 2001              
                                           US$ million  US$ million             
Balance - beginning of year                 1,503        1,618                  
Net profit for the year                     220          138                    
Foreign currency translation reserve        (62)         (118)                  
Revaluation of derivative instruments       3            8                      
Dividends paid - US$0.26 (2001: US$0.25)    (60)         (60)                   
per share                                                                       
Net transfers to share purchase trust       (3)          (83)                   
(share buybacks)                                                                
Balance - end of year                       1,601        1,503                  
notes to the group results                                                      
1. Basis of preparation                                                         
The group results have been prepared in conformity with South African Statements
of Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. The same accounting policies have    
been followed as in the annual financial statements for September 2001.         
The financial results for the quarter have been reviewed by the group`s         
auditors, Deloitte & Touche. Their report is available for inspection at the    
company`s registered offices.                                                   
                Reviewed     Reviewed      Reviewed     Audited                 
                Quarter      Quarter       Year         Year                    
                ended        ended         ended        ended                   
Sept. 2002   Sept. 2001    Sept. 2002   Sept. 2001              
                US$ million  US$ million   US$ million  US$ million             
2. Operating                                                                    
profit                                                                          
Included in                                                                     
operating                                                                       
profit are:                                                                     
Depreciation     85           73            310          300                    
Fellings         7            6             26           30                     
Amortisation     5            5             16           21                     
                 97           84            352          351                    
3. Capital                                                                      
expenditure                                                                     
Fixed assets                                180         293                     
(excluding                                                                      
Cloquet assets                                                                  
acquired)                                                                       
Plantations                                 25           28                     
                                            205          321                    
4. Capital                                                                      
commitments                                                                     
Contracted but                              55           78                     
not provided                                                                    
Approved but                                173          109                    
not contracted                                                                  
                                            228          187                    
5. Contingent                                                                   
liabilities                                                                     
Guarantees and                              66           79                     
suretyships                                                                     
Other                                       14           27                     
contingent                                                                      
liabilities                                                                     
regional information                                                            
                 Reviewed Reviewed         Reviewed  Audited                    
                 Quarter  Quarter          Year      Year                       
ended    ended            ended     ended                      
                 Sept.    Sept.            Sept.     Sept.                      
                 2002     2001             2002      2001                       
                 US$      US$       %      US$       US$     %                  
million  million   change million   million change             
Sales -                                                                         
Metric                                                                          
tons                                                                            
(000`s)                                                                         
Fine     North      398     287      38.7    1,163     1,238  (6.1)             
Paper -  America                                                                
         Europe     560     551      1.6     2,180     2,168  0.6               
Southern   76      78       (2.6)   310       288    7.6               
         Africa                                                                 
         Total      1,034   916      12.9    3,653     3,694  (1.1)             
Forest              605     585      3.4     2,434     2,412  0.9               
Products                                                                        
Total               1,639   1,501    9.2     6,087     6,106  (0.3)             
Sales                                                                           
Fine     North      388     323      20.1    1,197     1,442  (17.0)            
Paper -  America                                                                
         Europe     459     444      3.4     1,744     1,781  (2.1)             
         Southern   58      59       (1.7)   215       229    (6.1)             
         Africa                                                                 
Total      905     826      9.6     3,156     3,452  (8.6)             
Forest              147     172              573       732    (21.7)            
Products                            (14.5)                                      
Total               1,052   998      5.4     3,729     4,184  (10.9)            
Operating                                                                       
profit                                                                          
Fine     North      15      -        -       (21)      40     -                 
Paper -  America                                                                
Europe     53      57       (7.0)   217       177    22.6              
         Southern   10      8        25.0    34        31     9.7               
         Africa                                                                 
         Total      78      65       20.0    230       248    (7.3)             
Forest              38      31       22.6    141       194    (27.3)            
Products                                                                        
Corporate           6       (5)     -        18        4      350.0             
Total               122     91       34.1    389       446    (12.8)            
Earnings                                                                        
before                                                                          
interest,                                                                       
tax,                                                                            
depreciation                                                                    
and                                                                             
amortisation                                                                    
charges *                                                                       
Fine     North      47      26       80.8    89        150    (40.7)            
Paper -  America                                                                
         Europe     96      94       2.1     378       325    16.3              
         Southern   13     10        30.0    42        38     10.5              
Africa                                                                 
         Total      156     130      20.0    509       513    (0.8)             
Forest              57      50       14.0    214       280    (23.6)            
Products                                                                        
Corporate           6       (5)     -        18        4      350.0             
Total               219     175      25.1    741       797    (7.0)             
Net                                                                             
operating                                                                       
assets                                                                          
Fine     North      1,483   1,009    47.0    1,483     1,009  47.0              
Paper -  America                                                                
         Europe     1,420   1,333    6.5     1,420     1,333  6.5               
Southern   90      100              90        100    (10.0)            
         Africa                     (10.0)                                      
         Total      2,993   2,442    22.6    2,993     2,442  22.6              
Forest              714     825              714       825    (13.5)            
Products                            (13.5)                                      
Corporate          (36)     (13)     176.9   (36)      (13)   176.9             
Total               3,671   3,254    12.8    3,671     3,254  12.8              
* before non-trading (profit) loss                                              
convenience translation into rands                                              
               Unaudited  Unaudited         Unaudited Unaudited                 
               Quarter    Quarter           Year      Year                      
               ended      ended             ended     ended                     
Sept.      Sept.     %       Sept.     Sept.      %              
               2002       2001      change  2002      2001       change         
Sales           11,027     8,370     31.7    39,301    33,294     18.0          
(ZAR million)                                                                   
Operating       1,279      763       67.6    4,100     3,549      15.5          
profit                                                                          
(ZAR million)                                                                   
Profit after    765        394      94.2     2,319     1,098      111.2         
taxation                                                                        
(ZAR million)                                                                   
EBITDA          2,296      1,468     56.4    7,810     6,342      23.1          
(ZAR million)                                                                   
Operating      11.6       9.1               10.4      10.7                      
profit to                                                                       
sales (%)                                                                       
EBITDA to      20.8       17.5              19.9      19.0                      
sales (%)                                                                       
Operating       13.1      11.0              12.2      13.0                      
profit to                                                                       
average net                                                                     
assets (%)                                                                      
EPS before      314        193       62.7    1,033     899        14.9          
exceptional                                                                     
items                                                                           
(Headline)                                                                      
(SA cents)                                                                      
Basic EPS       335        168      99.4     1,001     469        113.4         
(SA cents)                                                                      
EBITDA per      997        639       56.0    3,393     2,724      24.6          
share                                                                           
(SA cents)                                                                      
Net debt                                     14,956    10,065     48.6          
(ZAR million)                                                                   
Net debt to                                  37.0      30.4                     
total                                                                           
capitalisation                                                                  
(%)                                                                             
Cash generated  2,369      1,375     72.3    7,841     6,135      27.8          
by operations                                                                   
(ZAR million)                                                                   
Cash retained   2,254      2,164             4,743     4,321                    
from operating                                                                  
activities                                                                      
(ZAR million)                                                                   
Net movement    (356)      1,820             (2,951)   1,194                    
in cash and                                                                     
cash                                                                            
equivalents                                                                     
(ZAR million)                                                                   
Exchange                                                                        
rates:                                                                          
Period end      10.5400    8.9386            10.5400   8.9386                   
rate:                                                                           
US$1 = ZAR                                                                      
Average rate:   10.4818    8.3871            10.5393   7.9574                   
US$1 = ZAR                                                                      
Period end      1.0216     1.0909            1.0216    1.0909                   
rate:                                                                           
US$1 = EUR                                                                      
Average rate:   1.0153     1.1251            1.0884    1.1293                   
US$1 = EUR                                                                      
This report is available on the Sappi website -                                 
www.sappi.com                                                                   
Other interested parties can obtain printed copies of this report from:         
South Africa:                                                                   
Computershare Investor Services Limited,                                        
8th Floor, 11 Diagonal Street, Johannesburg, 2001                               
PO Box 1053, Johannesburg, 2000. Tel +27 (0)11 370-5000.                        
United Kingdom:                                                                 
Capita IRG plc, Bourne House, 34 Beckenham Road,                                
Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4TU, DX 91750, Beckenham West.                             
Tel +44 (0)208 639-2157.                                                        
United States ADR Depositary:                                                   
Bank of New York, ADR Department,                                               
101 Barclay Street, New York, NY 10286. Tel +1 212 815-5800.                    
www.sappi.com                                                                   
Date: 07/11/2002 09:00:00 AM Produced by the JSE SENS Department                


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