SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) March 17, 2004 -------------- BOWATER INCORPORATED (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 1-8712 62-0721803 (State or other (Commission (IRS Employer jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.) incorporation) 55 East Camperdown Way P.O. Box 1028 Greenville, South Carolina 29602 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (864) 271-7733 (Former name or former address, if changed since last report): Not applicable ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS. On March 17, 2004, Bowater Incorporated closed the sale of an aggregate amount of $250 million of its floating rate senior notes due March 15, 2010, under its effective shelf registration statement on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Registration No. 333-108166). ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS. (c) Exhibits. 1 Underwriting Agreement, dated March 10, 2004, among Bowater Incorporated and UBS Securities, LLC, as representative of the underwriters, and Barclays Capital Inc., as qualified independent underwriter. 4.1 Senior Indenture, dated March 17, 2004, between Bowater Incorporated and The Bank of New York, as trustee. 4.2 First Supplemental Indenture, dated March 17, 2004, between Bowater Incorporated and The Bank of New York, as trustee, providing for the issuance of Bowater Incorporated's floating rate senior notes due March 15, 2010. 4.3 Form of floating rate senior note (included in Exhibit 4.2). 5 Opinion of Wyche, Burgess, Freeman & Parham, P.A. 23 Consent of Wyche, Burgess, Freeman & Parham, P.A. (included in Exhibit 5). SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized. BOWATER INCOPORATED (Registrant) Date: March 17, 2004 By: /s/William G. Harvey ----------------------------------------- Name: William G. Harvey Title: Vice President and Treasurer By: /s/Ronald T. Lindsay ----------------------------------------- Name: Ronald T. Lindsay Title: Vice President - General Counsel and Secretary EXHIBITS 1 Underwriting Agreement, dated March 10, 2004, among Bowater Incorporated and UBS Securities, LLC, as representative of the underwriters, and Barclays Capital Inc., as qualified independent underwriter. 4.1 Senior Indenture, dated March 17, 2004, between Bowater Incorporated and The Bank of New York, as trustee. 4.2 First Supplemental Indenture, dated March 17, 2004, between Bowater Incorporated and The Bank of New York, as trustee, providing for the issuance of Bowater Incorporated's floating rate senior notes due March 15, 2010. 4.3 Form of floating rate senior note (included in Exhibit 4.2). 5 Opinion of Wyche, Burgess, Freeman & Parham, P.A. 23 Consent of Wyche, Burgess, Freeman & Parham, P.A. (included in Exhibit 5).