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) December 16, 2005 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 On December 16, 2005, Bowater amended its Retirement Plan for Outside Directors. This amendment specifies (1) that benefits shall be distributed in a lump sum to participants who retire and (2) a method for determining the interest rate for calculating the lump sum benefit. A copy of the amendment, which became effective as of December 1, 2005, is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1. 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 INCORPORATED (Registrant) Date: December 20, 2005 By: /s/ William G. Harvey --------------------- Name: William G. Harvey Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer EXHIBITS 99.1 Amendment to Retirement Plan for Outside Directors.