JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Dec. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sappi (NYSE: SPP), the world's leading producer of coated fine paper, today announced the following information regarding dealing in securities of Sappi by directors of one of the Company's major subsidiary companies. In terms of paragraph 3.63 of the Listings Requirements of the JSE Limited, we hereby provide the following information regarding dealing in securities of Sappi by a director of the Company. Clearance for the dealing was received in terms of Listings Requirement 3.66, as follows: Director's Name: J L Miller Company (Subsidiary) : Sappi Fine Paper North America Date of transaction : 24 December 2008 Nature of transaction : Sale of shares Number of rights exercised/shares sold : 4,612 Dates rights granted and prices: : N/A Vesting period : N/A Selling price : R36,01 Class of security : Ordinary shares Extent of interest : Direct beneficial Company Secretary's Name: S G Manchester Company (Subsidiary) : Sappi Fine Paper North America Date of transaction : 24 December 2008 Nature of transaction : Sale of shares Number of rights exercised/shares sold : 3,459 Dates rights granted and prices : N/A Vesting period : N/A Selling price : R36,01 Class of security : Ordinary shares Extent of interest : Direct beneficial Director's Name: J Miller Company (Subsidiary) : Sappi Fine Paper North America Date of transaction : 24 December 2008 Nature of transaction : Sale of shares arising from exercise of rights to shares in terms of the Sappi Limited Share Incentive Scheme Number of rights : 1. 2,500 Exercised/shares sold : 2. 3,000 Dates rights granted : 1. 15 January 2001: R49.00 linked to: and price : 2. 15 December 2008 arising from grant of 15 January 2001 to take into cognizance rights offer : R20.27 Vesting period : Over 5 years expiring after 8 years Selling price : R36,00 Class of security : Ordinary shares Extent of interest : Direct beneficial Director's Name (Company Secretary): C M Mowatt Company (Subsidiary) : Sappi Southern Africa Date of transaction : 24 December 2008 Nature of transaction : Sale of shares arising from exercise of rights to shares in terms of the Sappi Limited Share Incentive Scheme Number of rights : 1. 2,700 Exercised/shares sold : 2. 3,240 Dates rights granted : 1. 15 January 2001: R49.00 linked to: and price : 2. 15 December 2008 arising from grant of 15 January 2001 to take into cognizance rights offer : R20.27 Vesting period : Over 5 years expiring after 8 years Selling price : R36,20 Class of security : Ordinary shares Extent of interest : Direct beneficial Director's Name (Company Secretary): A D Tubb Company (Subsidiary) : Sappi Southern Africa Date of transaction : 24 December 2008 Nature of transaction : Sale of shares arising from exercise of rights to shares in terms of the Sappi Limited Share Incentive Scheme Number of rights : 1. 9,000 Exercised/shares sold : 2. 10,800 Dates rights granted : 1. 15 January 2001: R49.00 linked to: and price : 2. 15 December 2008 arising from grant of 15 January 2001 to take into cognizance rights offer : R20.27 Vesting period : Over 5 years expiring after 8 years Selling price : R35,68 Class of security : Ordinary shares Extent of interest : Direct beneficial Director's Name (Company Secretary): D J O'Connor Company : Sappi Limited Date of transaction : 23 December 2008 Nature of transaction : Sale of shares arising from exercise of rights to shares in terms of the Sappi Limited Share Incentive Scheme Number of rights : 1. 1,600 Exercised/shares sold : 2. 1,920 Dates rights granted : 1. 15 January 2001: R49.00 linked to and price : 2. 15 December 2008 arising from grant of 15 January 2001 to take into cognizance rights offer : R20.27 Vesting period : Over 5 years expiring after 8 years Selling price : R36,00 Class of security : Ordinary shares Extent of interest : Direct beneficial Director's Name (Company Secretary): Denis James O'Connor Company : Sappi Limited Date of transaction : 24 December 2008 Nature of transaction : Sale of shares Number of rights exercised/shares sold : 1,000 Dates rights granted and prices : N/A Vesting period : N/A Selling price : R36,49 Class of security : Ordinary shares Extent of interest : Direct beneficial Director's Name (Company Secretary) : A J W van Der Merwe Company : Sappi Southern Africa Date of transaction : 22 December 2008 Nature of transaction : Sale of shares arising from exercise of rights to shares in terms of the Sappi Limited Share Incentive Scheme Number of rights : 1. 8,000 Exercised/shares sold : 2. 9,200 Dates rights granted : 1. 15 January 2001: R49.00 linked to: and price : 2. 15 December 2008 arising from grant of 15 January 2001 to take into cognizance rights offer : R20.27 Vesting period : Over 5 years expiring after 8 years Selling price : R36,00 Class of security : Ordinary shares Extent of interest : Direct beneficial About Sappi Limited A global leader in the pulp and paper industry, Sappi Limited conducts its business through two business units, Sappi Fine Paper and Sappi Forest Products. Sappi Fine Paper, operating in Europe, North America and South Africa, produces a wide range of coated fine paper brands with an international reputation for quality and innovation. The company also produces a range of uncoated graphic and business papers, coated and uncoated specialty papers, as well as casting release papers. Sappi Forest Products owns or manages approximately 540,000 hectares of plantations through Sappi Forests; is a leading Southern African fully integrated pulp, packaging paper and newsprint business through Sappi Kraft ; and is the world's leading producer of chemical cellulose used in the manufacture of viscose fibre through Sappi Saiccor; Sappi Trading, based in Hong Kong, operates a trading network for the international sales and distribution of the products of the two divisions outside their core operation regions. For more information, visit: http://www.sappi.com/. DATASOURCE: Sappi CONTACT: Denis O'Connor of Sappi, +1-27-11-407-807, Web Site: http://www.sappi.com/

Copyright