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 2, 2007
ABITIBIBOWATER INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware | 001-33776 | 98-0526415 | ||
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
AbitibiBowater Inc. 1155 Metcalfe Street, Suite 800 Montreal, Quebec Canada H3B 5H2 | ||
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (514) 875-2160
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. |
Bowater Incorporated (“Bowater”), a subsidiary of AbitibiBowater Inc., and certain of Bowater’s direct and indirect subsidiaries, entered into amendments, effective as of November 2, 2007 (the “Amendments”), to Bowater’s U.S. and Canadian credit facilities. The Amendment with respect to the U.S. credit facility was entered into between Bowater and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent for the various lenders under that credit agreement. The Amendment to the Canadian credit facility was entered into among Bowater, Bowater Canadian Forest Products Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of Bowater), Bowater Canadian Holdings Incorporated (a direct subsidiary of Bowater) and The Bank of Nova Scotia, as Administrative Agent for the lenders party to that credit agreement. The Amendments principally (a) exclude certain non-recurring charges taken or to be taken in 2007 from the calculation of the interest coverage ratio and the consolidated senior secured leverage ratio; (b) reduce the minimum interest coverage ratio through the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2008; and (c) reduce the Asset Coverage Amount.
The foregoing description of the Amendments does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amendments, which are filed as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2 hereto, and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) | Exhibits |
10.1 | Second Amendment, effective as of November 2, 2007, to the Credit Agreement between Bowater Incorporated and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders party thereto, dated as of May 31, 2006 | |
10.2 | Second Amendment, effective as of November 2, 2007, to the Credit Agreement among Bowater Incorporated, Bowater Canadian Forest Products Inc., Bowater Canadian Holdings Incorporated and The Bank of Nova Scotia, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders party thereto, dated as of May 31, 2006 |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
ABITIBIBOWATER INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Jacques P. Vachon | |
Name: | Jacques P. Vachon | |
Title: | Senior Vice President | |
Corporate Affairs, Chief | ||
Legal Officer and Secretary |
Dated: November 8, 2007
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. | Description of Exhibit | |
10.1 | Second Amendment, effective as of November 2, 2007, to the Credit Agreement between Bowater Incorporated and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders party thereto, dated as of May 31, 2006 | |
10.2 | Second Amendment, effective as of November 2, 2007, to the Credit Agreement among Bowater Incorporated, Bowater Canadian Forest Products Inc., Bowater Canadian Holdings Incorporated and The Bank of Nova Scotia, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders party thereto, dated as of May 31, 2006 |