Our performance in 2009 - Sappi

Litigation
We become involved from time to time in various claims and
lawsuits incidental to the ordinary course of our business. We
are not currently involved in legal proceedings which, either
individually or in the aggregate, are expected to have a material
adverse effect on our business, assets or properties (see
note 26).
Directors and secretaries
The composition of the board of directors is provided on pages
26 to 28. There were no changes to the composition of the
board during the year and there continued to be 13 directors,
two of whom were executive directors. All 11 non-executives
remain independent.
In terms of the Company’s Articles of Association, Dr D Konar,
Mr J D McKenzie, Sir A N R Rudd and Mr M R Thompson will
retire by rotation from the board at the forthcoming annual
general meeting and all being eligible, have offered themselves
for re-election. The board recommends each of them for
re-appointment.
Having reached the company’s retirement age of 70 years
for non-executive directors, Mr D C Brink and Mr F A Sonn will
retire from the board on 31 December 2009.
Subsequent to the year end, Mr P N Mageza and Dr R Thummer
were appointed to the board with effect from 01 January 2010 and
01 February 2010 respectively. In terms of the company’s Articles
of Association, it will be necessary to confirm their appointments
2009 annual report
at the forthcoming annual general meeting. They will in terms of
the Articles of Association retire from the board at that meeting
and being eligible, will offer themselves for re-election.
Personal details of Dr D Konar, Mr J D McKenzie, Sir A N R Rudd
and Mr M R Thompson are set out on pages 27 to 28 of this
report and of Mr P N Mageza and Dr R Thummer are set out on
page 205 of this report.
The remuneration and fees of the directors of Sappi Limited
are set out in the Compensation report on pages 87 to 91.
The beneficial interests of directors in the shares of the company
(including options and rights and options in terms of the Scheme
and conditional share awards in terms of the Plan) are disclosed
in the Compensation report on pages 87 to 91.
A register of interests of directors and other executives in shares
of the company is available to shareholders and the public
on request.
The secretaries and their business and postal addresses are
set out on page 206.
Special resolutions
A full list of the special resolutions passed by the company
and its subsidiaries during the year will be made available to
shareholders on request.
Subsidiary companies
Details of the company’s significant subsidiaries are set out in
Annexure A on page 198.
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financials