Sappi Fine Paper North America and United Steelworkers Ratify Labor Agreements

Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 22 August 2006 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Sappi Fine Paper North America, the leading manufacturer of coated fine paper in North America, announced today that employees at its Somerset and Westbrook Mills, located in Skowhegan and Westbrook, Maine, respectively, have voted on and ratified labor agreements between Sappi and the United Steelworkers of America.

"We are pleased and encouraged that our employees at the Somerset and Westbrook mills have ratified the new labor agreements," said Ronee Hagen, president and CEO, Sappi Fine Paper North America. "Our goal throughout the negotiations was to reach new labor agreements that were fair and competitive and we are pleased that we have been able to accomplish that with the USW. The agreements are good for our mills, our employees, and the State of Maine. We look forward to our continuing negotiations for new labor agreements for our mills in Cloquet, Minnesota and Muskegon, Michigan."

The Somerset mill's new union contract will expire in four years from the ratification date; the Westbrook Mill's new union contract will expire in two years from the ratification date.

About Sappi Fine Paper North America

Sappi Fine Paper North America (SFPNA) is the leading North American producer of coated fine paper used in premium magazines, catalogues, books and high-end print advertising. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Sappi Fine Paper North America is known for innovation and quality. SFPNA is a division of Sappi Limited (NYSE:SPP), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with manufacturing operations on four continents in nine countries, sales offices in 50 countries, and customers in more than 100 countries around the world. Learn more about Sappi at http://www.sappi.com/.