Notes to the condensed group results

1. Basis of preparation

The condensed group interim financial statements for the quarter and nine months ended June 2026 have been prepared in accordance with and containing the information required by IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting, the Financial Pronouncements as issued by the Financial Reporting Standards Council, the SAICA Financial Reporting Guides as issued by the Accounting Practices Committee, the JSE Listings Requirements and the Companies Act of South Africa. The accounting policies applied in the preparation of the condensed group financial statements are in terms of IFRS® Accounting Standards and are consistent with those applied in the previous annual financial statements.

The preparation of these condensed group financial statements was supervised by the Chief Financial Officer, GT Pearce, CA(SA) and were authorised for issue on 06 August 2026.

The results are unaudited.

2. Segment information

  Quarter ended   Nine months ended
Metric tons (000’s) Jun 2026 Jun 2025   Jun 2026 Jun 2025
Volumes sold          
North America 380 326   1,067 1,059
Europe 452 479   1,412 1,435
South Africa – Pulp and paper 381 391   1,186 1,148
  Forestry
351 253   1,023 851
Total 1,564 1,449   4,688 4,493
Which consists of:          
   Pulp 339 344   1,064 1,044
   Packaging and speciality papers 414 362   1,146 1,042
   Graphic papers 460 490   1,455 1,556
   Forestry 351 253   1,023 851
  Quarter ended   Nine months ended
US$ million Jun 2026 Jun 2025   Jun 2026 Jun 2025
Revenue          
North America 454 404   1,269 1,302
Europe 541 571   1,649 1,673
South Africa – Pulp and paper 320 329   983 1,003
  Forestry
19 17   54 53
Total 1,334 1,321   3,955 4,031
Which consists of:          
   Pulp 265 280   804 871
   Packaging and speciality papers 514 451   1,425 1,305
   Graphic papers 536 573   1,672 1,802
   Forestry 19 17   54 53
Operating profit (loss) excluding special items          
North America (5) (21)   (59) 31
Europe (9) (20)   (3) (2)
South Africa (167) 30   (262) 106
   Unallocated and eliminations(1) 4 6   13 11
Total (177) (5)   (311) 146
Which consists of:          
   Pulp (102) 4   (218) 84
   Packaging and speciality papers (85) (16)   (168) (28)
   Graphic papers 6 1   62 79
      Unallocated and eliminations(1) 4 6   13 11
Special items – (gains) losses          
North America 3   124 2
Europe 9 3   170 11
South Africa 12 (2)   15 1
   Unallocated and eliminations(1) 2 1   23 16
Total 26 2   332 30
Operating profit (loss) by segment          
North America (8) (21)   (183) 29
Europe (18) (23)   (173) (13)
South Africa (179) 32   (277) 105
   Unallocated and eliminations(1) 2 5   (10) (5)
Total (203) (7)   (643) 116
Adjusted EBITDA          
North America 22 5   28 105
Europe 14 5   72 69
South Africa 12 64   80 204
   Unallocated and eliminations(1) 5 6   15 12
Total 53 80   195 390
Which consists of:          
   Pulp 22 39   48 174
   Packaging and speciality papers (3) 4   (6) 46
   Graphic papers 29 31   138 158
      Unallocated and eliminations(1) 5 6   15 12

(1) Includes the group’s treasury operations and insurance captive.

Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to profit for the period and operating profit excluding special items to operating profit

    Quarter ended   Nine months ended
US$ million Note Jun 2026 Jun 2025   Jun 2026 Jun 2025
Adjusted EBITDA   53 80   195 390
   Plantation fair value price adjustment   (152) (9)   (262) (27)
EBITDA excluding special items   (99) 71   (67) 363
Depreciation and amortisation   (78) (76)   (244) (217)
Operating profit (loss) excluding special items   (177) (5)   (311) 146
Special items – gains (losses)   (26) (2)   (332) (30)
   Net restructuring release (charge)   (1)   (3)
   Profit (Loss) on disposal and written-off assets   (1) (1)   (4)
   Goodwill impairment 8   (48)
   Asset (impairments) impairment reversal 8 (15) (1)   (234) (2)
   Write down of held-for-sale assets     (4)
   Profit (Loss) on disposal of held-for-sale assets   (7)   (7)
   Equity-accounted investees impairment 8   (9)
   Written off other assets and expenses     (6)
   Insurance   3   3
   Fire, flood, storm and other events   (3) (2)   (21) (27)
Operating profit (loss)   (203) (7)   (643) 116
Net finance costs   (29) (26)   (81) (65)
Profit (Loss) before taxation   (232) (33)   (724) 51
Taxation   51   93 (34)
Profit (Loss) for the period   (181) (33)   (631) 17
  Nine months ended
US$ million Jun 2026 Jun 2025
Net operating assets    
North America 1,591 1,738
Europe 1,088 1,391
South Africa 1,628 1,847
   Unallocated and eliminations(1) 32 18
Total 4,339 4,994
Reconciliation of net operating assets to total assets    
Segment assets 4,339 4,994
   Deferred tax assets 23 80
   Cash and cash equivalents 204 203
   Trade and other payables 889 916
   Provisions 14 2
   Derivative financial instruments 2 9
   Taxation payable 21 26
Total assets 5,492 6,230

(1) Includes the group's treasury operations and insurance captive.

 

3. Operating profit (loss)

    Quarter ended   Nine months ended
US$ million Note Jun 2026 Jun 2025   Jun 2026 Jun 2025
Included in operating profit are the following items:            
Depreciation and amortisation   78 76   244 217
Fair value adjustment on plantations (included in cost of sales)            
   Fellings   17 18   56 51
   Growth   (16) (25)   (57) (67)
   Price 8 152 9   262 27
    153 2   261 11
Net restructuring charge (release)   1   3
(Profit) Loss on disposal and written-off assets   1 1   4
Asset impairments (impairment reversal) 8 15 1   234 2
Goodwill impairment 8   48
Equity-accounted investees impairment 8   9
Write down of held-for-sale assets     4
(Profit) Loss on disposal of held-for-sale assets   7   7
Insurance   (3)   (3)

4. Earnings per share

  Quarter ended   Nine months ended
US$ million Jun 2026 Jun 2025   Jun 2026 Jun 2025
Basic earnings (loss) per share (US cents) (30) (5)   (104) 3
Headline earnings (loss) per share (US cents) (27) (5)   (55) 4
Adjusted EPS (US cents) (8) (4)   (19) 11
Weighted average number of shares in issue (millions) 607.0 604.6   606.6 603.7
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (US cents) (30) (5)   (104) 3
Diluted headline earnings (loss) per share (US cents) (27) (5)   (55) 4
Weighted average number of shares on fully diluted basis (millions) 607.8 606.6   607.8 606.4
Calculation of headline earnings (loss)          
   Profit (Loss) for the period (181) (33)   (631) 17
   (Profit) Loss on disposal and write off of property, plant and equipment 1 1   4
   Asset impairments (impairment reversal) 15 1   234 2
   Goodwill impairment   48
   Write down of held-for-sale assets   4
   (Profit) Loss on disposal of held-for-sale assets 7   7
   Equity-accounted investees impairment   9
   Insurance recoveries  
   Tax effect of above items (3) (1)   (3)
Headline earnings (loss) (161) (32)   (332) 23
Calculation of adjusted earnings (loss)          
Profit (Loss) for the period (181) (33)   (631) 17
Special items and plantation fair value price adjustment after tax 134 9   515 49
   Gross amount 178 11   594 57
   Tax effect (44) (2)   (79) (8)
Tax special items   3
Adjusted earnings (loss) (47) (24)   (113) 66

5. Financial instruments

The group's financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis consist of derivative financial instruments and investment funds. These have been categorised in terms of the fair value measurement hierarchy as established by IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement per the table below.

      Fair value(1)
        Reviewed
US$ million Classification Fair value hierarchy Jun 2026 Sept 2025
Investment funds(2) FV through OCI Level 1 5 5
Derivative financial assets FV through PL Level 2 18 6
Derivative financial liabilities FV through PL Level 2 11 4
(1) The fair value of the financial instruments are equal to their carrying value.
(2) Included in other non-current assets.

There have been no transfers of financial assets or financial liabilities between the categories of the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value of all external over-the-counter derivatives is calculated based on the discount rate adjustment technique. The discount rate used is derived from observable rates of return for comparable assets or liabilities traded in the market. The credit risk of the external counterparty is incorporated into the calculation of fair values of financial assets and own credit risk is incorporated in the measurement of financial liabilities. The change in fair value is therefore impacted by the following inputs, the movement of the interest rate curves, by the volatility of the applied credit spreads, and by any changes to the credit profile of the involved parties.

There are no financial assets and liabilities that have been remeasured to fair value on a non-recurring basis.

The carrying amounts of other financial instruments which include cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, certain investments, trade and other payables and current interest-bearing borrowings approximate their fair values.

6. Capital commitments

    Reviewed
US$ million Jun 2026 Sept 2025
Contracted 49 62
  49 62

7. Interest-bearing borrowings, lease liabilities and cash and cash equivalents

    Reviewed
US$ million Jun 2026 Sept 2025
Non-current and current interest-bearing borrowings 2,076 2,015
Non-current and current lease liabilities and bank overdrafts 125 124
Less: Cash and cash equivalents (204) (219)
Net debt 1,997 1,920
Covenant leverage ratio(1) 6.9 3.6
Interest cover 0.5 6.1
(1) In view of continuing difficult and uncertain market conditions and market volatility, the group proactively negotiated a suspension period for the measurement of its leverage covenants from March 2026 to March 2027. This suspension is subject to customary conditions for this kind of relief which only applies during the suspension period.

8. Material balance sheet movements

Since the 2025 financial year-end, the Euro and the ZAR have weakened and strengthened approximately 2.6% and 4.92% respectively against the US Dollar, the group's presentation currency. This has resulted in a decrease and increase of the group's European and South African assets and liabilities respectively, which are held in the aforementioned functional currency, on translation to the presentation currency at period-end.

Property, plant and equipment, goodwill and intangible assets and equity-accounted investees

Due to weakened market conditions and reduced future cash flow projections, the group impaired its mechanical coated and hybrid cash generating units (CGU), including related goodwill of US$3 million, within its European segment by US$155 million, its Matane Mill, including related intangibles and goodwill of US$49 million, by US$113 million within its North American segment and its tissue machine at the Stanger Mill by US$12 million, within the South African segment. The CGU impairments were based on the asset's value in use using management's five-year plan including appropriate bases for future product pricing in the appropriate markets, raw material and energy costs, volumes of product sold, the planned use of machinery or equipment or closing of facilities using real pre-tax discount rates of 9.26% for the European CGUs, 11.56% for the Matane CGU and 12.14% for Stanger Mill's tissue machine. These impairment amounts are included in Other operating expenses in the income statement.

In addition, the group impaired its remaining equity-accounted investment within Forestry First Colombia by US$9 million.

Plantations

Largely as a result of a sharp decline in ZAR hardwood timber prices due to the strengthening of the ZAR against the US$ during the year, the group recorded an adverse fair value price adjustment of US$262 million.

Interest-bearing borrowings

In January, the group raised a new EUR200 million five-year syndicated term loan of which the proceeds were used to term out short-term debt.

9. Going concern

The group incurred a loss of US$631 million for the period ended 30 June 2026 (June 2025: Profit of US$17 million). The loss for the period was primarily due to once-off events of impairment losses of US$282 million (including goodwill) and a plantation fair value price adjustment loss of US$262 million due to a decline in ZAR hardwood timber prices as a result of the strengthening of the ZAR against the US Dollar in the period. As at 30 June 2026, the group had net current assets of US$366 million (Sept 2025: US$285 million) and net total assets of US$1,782 million (Sept 2025: US$2,308 million). The group maintains access to committed borrowing facilities and cash resources, which management considers adequate to meet obligations as they fall due. Based on the cash flow forecast and after considering mitigating actions such as cost optimisation initiatives and refinancing plans, the directors are satisfied that the group has sufficient resources to continue operating as a going concern. Accordingly, the condensed group interim financial statements have been prepared on a going-concern basis.

10. Announced transaction

On 04 December 2025, the group announced that it had signed a non-binding letter of intent with UPM-Kymmene Corporation (UPM) in relation to the possible formation of a 50/50 joint venture for graphic papers in Europe subject to the fulfilment of a number of regulatory and other conditions precedent. The joint venture will include the European graphic papers business of Sappi (Gratkorn Mill, Ehingen Mill, Maastricht Mill, Kirkniemi Mill and Sappi Europe's wood supply joint ventures) and the UPM Communications Paper Business in Europe, the UK and the USA.

The rationale for the creation of the joint venture is that the European graphic papers industry has been in structural decline for decades and is facing growing pressure due to falling demand, high energy costs, excess production capacity and broader economic challenges. To remain competitive and sustainable in the long term, consolidation is needed. Consolidation will contribute to a more robust and resilient European graphic papers industry.

The joint venture's combined enterprise value is EUR1,420 million. Sappi's businesses are valued at EUR320 million based on a FY2025 EBITDA of EUR64million with a 5x multiple. Sappi will transfer pension and other liabilities of EUR53 million and net assets valued at EUR267 million to the joint venture. In return Sappi will receive cash of EUR90 million, a shareholder loan of EUR10 million and 50% shareholding in the joint venture.

The parties continue to work towards the fulfilment of the remaining conditions precedent and currently expect these to be completed by the end of 2026.

Management have considered the requirements of IFRS 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations and concluded that these were not met at the reporting date.

11. Related parties

There has been no material change, by nature or amount, in transactions with related parties since the 2025 financial year-end.

12. Events after balance sheet date

A general meeting was held on 23 July where shareholders approved the proposed 50/50 joint venture transaction of Sappi's European graphic papers business with UPM's Communications Paper Business.

13. Accounting standards, interpretations and amendments to existing standards that are not yet effective

There has been no significant change to management's estimates in respect of new accounting standards, amendments and interpretations to existing standards that have been published which are not yet effective and which have not yet been adopted by the group.