[GRAPHIC OMITTED][GRAPHIC OMITTED] UNITED STATES 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) November 10, 2004 BOWATER INCORPORATED (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 1-8712 62-0721803 (State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.) 55 East Camperdown Way P.O. Box 1028 Greenville, South Carolina 29602 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) (864) 271-7733 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) (Former name or former address, if changed since last report): Not applicable Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below): [ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) [ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) [ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) [ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement A copy of the Modification of Employment Agreement, dated as of November 16, 2004, by and between Bowater Incorporated and Richard K. Hamilton, which extends the payment of salary and benefits to Mr. Hamilton, is attached as Exhibit 99.1. ITEM 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year On November 10, 2004, the Board of Directors of Bowater Incorporated (the "Company") amended Section 4.15 of the Company's bylaws to require the resignation of outside directors at age 72. Prior to the amendment, Section 4.15 stated: "Except as provided in the following sentence, no Outside Director shall be eligible to stand for re-election to a term on the Board of Directors after he or she has reached age 70. The Board of Directors may, however, by resolution waive the mandatory retirement requirement with respect to an Outside Director if the Board of Directors determines that such action is in the best interests of the Corporation." As amended, Section 4.15 states: "Except as provided in the following sentence, no Outside Director shall be eligible to stand for re-election to a term on the Board of Directors after he or she has reached age 72 and each Outside Director is required to resign at age 72. The Board of Directors may, however, by resolution waive the mandatory retirement requirement with respect to an Outside Director if the Board of Directors determines that such action is in the best interests of the Corporation." 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: November 17, 2004 By: /s/ David G. Maffucci -------------------------------------- Name: David G. Maffucci Title:Executive Vice President and CFO EXHIBITS 99.1 Modification of Employment Agreement, dated as of November 16, 2004, by and between Bowater Incorporated and Richard K. Hamilton