Paper and pulp producer Sappi has made it back into the top 40 index, marking a roundly successful year in which it paid a dividend for the first time since 2008 after nearly doubling full-year net profit while cutting net debt. Sappi had elbowed out Sibanye Gold from the blue-chip gauge in changes that will take effect from December 19, the JSE said. The company has steadily repositioned its portfolio, which traditionally has depended on producing a coated paper used in glossy magazines. The switch was its response to disruptive technology such as Apple’s iPad and e-readers like Kindle, which have had a marked effect on the demand for paper products. Sappi is now the world’s largest producer of dissolving wood pulp, which is used to manufacture viscose staple fibre, which is in turn used in textiles and pharmaceutical products, among other applications. Under the guidance of CE Steve Binnie, who took over from Ralph Boëttger in 2014, the company has also focused on growing speciali...
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