form6k.htm
 
FORM 6-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
 
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
 
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
For the month of December, 2007
 
Commission file number: 1-14872
 
SAPPI LIMITED

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
 
48 Ameshoff Street
Braamfontein
Johannesburg 2001
 
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
 

Form 20-F
X
-------
Form 40-F


Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b) (1):
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b) (7):
 
Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 
Yes
  
No
X
-------

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-
 
 
 
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Sappi Limited’s SENS Announcement, dated December 3, 2007, announcing that Dr. Danie Cronjé has joined the Registrant’s board of directors as a non-executive director, furnished by the Registrant under this Form 6-K is incorporated by reference into (i) the Registration Statements on Form S-8 of the Registrant filed December 23, 1999 and December 15, 2004 in connection with The Sappi Limited Share Incentive Scheme, (ii) the Section 10(a) Prospectus relating to the offer and sale of the Registrant’s shares to Participants under The Sappi Limited Share Incentive Scheme, (iii) the Registration Statements on Form S-8 of the Registrant filed December 15, 2004 and December 21, 2005 in connection with The Sappi Limited 2004 Performance Share Incentive Plan and (iv) the Section 10(a) Prospectus relating to the offer and sale of the Registrant’s shares to Participants under The Sappi Limited 2004 Performance Share Incentive Plan.
 
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

In order to utilize the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Reform Act”), Sappi Limited (the “Company”) is providing the following cautionary statement. Except for historical information contained herein, statements contained in this Report on Form 6-K may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Reform Act. The words “believe”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “intend”, “estimate “, “plan”, “assume”, “positioned”, “will”, “may”, “should”, “risk” and other similar expressions which are predictions of or indicate future events and future trends which do not relate to historical matters identify forward-looking statements. In addition, this Report on Form 6-K may include forward-looking statements relating to the Company’s potential exposure to various types of market risks, such as interest rate risk, foreign exchange rate risk and commodity price risk. Reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are in some cases beyond the control of the Company, together with its subsidiaries (the “Group”), and may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Group to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements (and from past results, performance or achievements). Certain factors that may cause such differences include but are not limited to: the highly cyclical nature of the pulp and paper industry; pulp and paper production, production capacity, input costs including raw material, energy and employee costs, and pricing levels in North America, Europe, Asia and southern Africa; any major disruption in production at the Group’s key facilities; changes in environmental, tax and other laws and regulations; adverse changes in the markets for the Group’s products; any delays, unexpected costs or other problems experienced with any business acquired or to be acquired; consequences of the Group’s leverage; adverse changes in the South African political situation and economy or the effect of governmental efforts to address present or future economic or social problems; and the impact of future investments, acquisitions and dispositions (including the financing of investments and acquisitions) and any delays, unexpected costs or other problems experienced in connection with dispositions. These and other risks, uncertainties and factors are discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F and other filings with and submissions to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including this Report on Form 6-K. Shareholders and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of the submission of this Report on Form 6-K and are not intended to give any assurance as to future results. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information or future events or circumstances or otherwise.

 


 
Sappi Limited



Stock Exchange Announcement
 

03 December 2007

Dr Danie Cronjé joins Sappi Limited Board

Sappi Limited, the global pulp and paper group, today announced that Dr Daniel (Danie) Christiaan Cronjé will join the Sappi Limited board with effect from 01 January 2008 as a non-executive director.

Dr Cronjé (61) retired in July 2007 as Chairman of both ABSA Group Ltd and ABSA Bank Ltd, a leading South African banking organisation in which Barclays plc obtained a majority share in 2005. He had been with the ABSA group since 1975 and held various executive positions including Group Chief Executive for 4 years and Chairman for 10 years. He is also a director of Barclays plc, Barclays Bank plc and TSB Sugar Holdings Limited. He holds a DCom from Potchefstroom University (now the University of the North West).
                                           END
NOTE TO EDITORS:

Additional information on Dr Daniel (Danie) Christiaan Cronjé:

Dr Cronjé obtained his BCom, BCom (Hons) and MCom degrees also at Potchefstroom University. He obtained his DCom in 1975.

Career:
                                                                 
    1969
Sanlam investment department
1969-1971 Trust Merchant Bank, investment department
1972-1975 Lecturer in Money and Banking at Potchefstroom University
1975-2007
Various positions at first Volkskas Merchant Bank, the Volkskas Group, and the ABSA Group, including:
1988-1991
Group Chief Executive of the Volkskas Group
1991-1993
Deputy Group Chief Executive of the ABSA Group
1993-1997
Group Chief Executive of the ABSA Group
1997-2007
Chairman of the ABSA Group
 
 
For further information:
André F Oberholzer
Group Head Corporate Affairs
Sappi Limited (Reg No 1936/008963/06)
Tel +27 (0)11 407 8044
Fax +27 (0)11 403 8236
Mobile +27 (0)83 235 2973
Andre.Oberholzer@sappi.com





SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
Date:  December 6, 2007
 


SAPPI LIMITED,
 
by
  /s/  D.J. O'Connor
 
Name:  D.J. O’Connor
Title:  Group Secretary