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Announces Release of Security over Existing Debt
Sappi Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Registration number: 1936/008963/06
JSE share code: SAP
ISIN code: ZAE000006284
(‘Sappi’ or ‘the company’)
Sappi Announces Release of Security over Existing Debt
31 August 2016
Sappi Limited announced today that it, together with certain of its subsidiaries (together, “Sappi”),
has released all existing security previously granted to secure certain indebtedness of Sappi,
including all security granted to secure (i) Sappi Papier Holding GmbH’s (“SPH”) outstanding
US$400 million 7¾% senior secured notes due 2017, (ii) SPH’s outstanding €350million 3?%
senior secured notes due 2022, (iii) SPH’s outstanding €350million 4% senior secured notes due
2023, (iv) the Sappi Group’s €465million revolving credit facility (the “RCF”) and (v) certain of
Sappi’s hedging obligations.
In order to release the security, Sappi was required to meet various release conditions under the
RCF and the indentures governing SPH’s outstanding notes, including a condition under the RCF
that each of Sappi’s two most recent compliance certificates certified that Sappi’s leverage ratio
was equal to or less than 2.50:1. The second such compliance certificate was delivered by Sappi
on 8 August 2016.
Certain formalities with respect to the release of security are expected to be completed in the
coming days.
Commenting on this development, Sappi Chief Executive Officer Steve Binnie said: “The release
of the security package reflects the improvement in the financial position of the Sappi group,
allowing more flexibility for future initiatives”.
This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute any offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy any security in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. The
notes have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the “Securities Act”) or applicable state or foreign securities laws and may not be
offered or sold in the United States absent registration under federal or applicable state securities
laws or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements.
This press release shall not be considered an “offer of securities to the public” for purposes of the
Luxembourg law on prospectus for public offering dated 10 July 2005. Furthermore, this press
release constitutes neither an offer to sell, nor a solicitation to buy securities, nor shall it give rise
to or require the publication of a prospectus in any EU member state which has implemented the
Prospectus Directive.
This announcement does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or
otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities, nor is it intended to be an inducement to engage
in investment activity for the purpose of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act
2000 of the United Kingdom.
This announcement is directed only at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom; (ii)
persons in the United Kingdom who have professional experience in matters relating to
investments and who are investment professionals within the meaning of Article 19(5) of the
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended) of the
United Kingdom (the “Financial Promotion Order”); (iii) persons who fall within Articles 49(2)(a) to
(d) (“high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.”) of the Financial Promotion
Order; and (iv) any other person to whom this announcement may be lawfully directed (all such
persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). Any investment or investment activity
to which this announcement relates is only available to relevant persons and will be engaged in
only with relevant persons. This announcement must not be acted on or relied on by persons
who are not relevant persons.
The offer of the notes does not, nor is it intended to, constitute an “offer to the public” (as that
term is defined in the South African Companies Act, 2008 (the “SA Companies Act”)) and does
not, nor is it intended to, constitute a prospectus prepared and registered under the SA
Companies Act. No South African resident or offshore subsidiary of a South African resident may
subscribe for or purchase any of the notes or beneficially own or hold any of the notes unless
specific approval has been obtained from the South African Reserve Bank by such person or
such subscription, purchase or beneficial holding or ownership is otherwise permitted under the
South African exchange control regulations or the rulings promulgated thereunder.
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.
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 and which do not relate to historical matters, identify forward-
looking statements. You should not rely on forward-looking statements because they involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are in some cases beyond our
control and may cause our actual results, performance or achievements 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 (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);
- the impact on our business of a global economic downturn;
- unanticipated production disruptions (including as a result of planned or unexpected power
outages);
- changes in environmental, tax and other laws and regulations;
- adverse changes in the markets for our products;
- the emergence of new technologies and changes in consumer trends including increased
preferences for digital media;
- consequences of our leverage, including as a result of adverse changes in credit markets that
affect our ability to raise capital when needed;
- adverse changes in the political situation and economy in the countries in which we operate
or the effect of governmental efforts to address present or future economic or social
problems;
- the impact of restructurings, investments, acquisitions, dispositions and other strategic
initiatives (including related financing), any delays, unexpected costs or other problems
experienced in connection with dispositions or with integrating acquisitions or implementing
restructurings or other strategic initiatives, and achieving expected savings and synergies;
and
- currency fluctuations.
We undertake 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.
Sponsor : UBS South Africa (Pty) Ltd
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