Jan 29, 2007. /Lesprom Network/. Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. and Bowater Incorporated announced on January 29 a definitive agreement to combine in an all-stock merger of equals. The combination will create a new leader in publication papers - an operationally and financially stronger company better able to meet changing customer needs, compete more effectively in an increasingly global market, adapt to lower demand for newsprint in North America, and deliver increased value to shareholders. The combined company, which will be called AbitibiBowater Inc., will have pro forma annual revenues of approximately $7.9 billion (CAD 9.3 billion), making it the third largest publicly traded paper and forest products company in North America and the eighth largest in the world. The current combined enterprise value of the two companies is in excess of $8 billion (CAD 9.4 billion). John W. Weaver, president and chief executive officer of Abitibi-Consolidated, will be executive chairman of AbitibiBowater, and David J. Paterson, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Bowater, will be president and chief executive officer of AbitibiBowater. The AbitibiBowater board of directors will consist of 14 directors, seven from each company. AbitibiBowater's headquarters and executive office will be located in Montreal, Quebec, with a U.S. regional manufacturing and sales office in Greenville, South Carolina. The company, which will be incorporated in Delaware as the new parent company, will apply to list its shares on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges. The combination is expected to generate approximately $250 million (CAD 295 million) of annualized cost synergies from improved efficiencies in such areas as production, selling, general and administrative (SG&A) costs, distribution and procurement. These synergies are in addition to cost saving initiatives already in process at both companies. Mr. Weaver said, "The new AbitibiBowater will be a global leader headquartered in Canada with a brighter future than either company would have on its own. The combined company's ability to realize significant synergies will increase shareholder value, improve our financial flexibility and better position us to compete in today's increasingly competitive global marketplace. Combining our companies is also the best way to continue to contribute to the local and regional economies of the communities in which we operate." Mr. Paterson said, "This is a logical strategic step to address the realities of today's marketplace. A more efficient manufacturing platform will enable us to bring our customers better product quality, new product innovation, and improved logistical flexibility. Both Abitibi-Consolidated and Bowater shareholders will benefit from the upside potential of a financially stronger company that is able to generate significant cost synergies, improve its balance sheet, and compete more effectively." AbitibiBowater's product lines will include newsprint, uncoated and coated mechanical papers, market pulp, and wood products. The company will also be one of the world's leading consumers of recycled newspapers and magazines as it builds on the existing efforts of both companies to be leaders in environmentally sustainable production practices. AbitibiBowater will own or operate 32 pulp and paper facilities and 35 wood product facilities located mainly in Eastern Canada and the Southeastern U.S. Pro forma combined paper production capacity is approximately 11.3 million tonnes per year and about 3.1 billion board feet of lumber. Abitibi-Consolidated is a global leader in newsprint and commercial printing papers as well as a major producer of wood products, serving clients in some 70 countries from its 45 operating facilities. Abitibi-Consolidated is among the largest recyclers of newspapers and magazines in North America, diverting annually approximately 1.9 million tonnes of waste paper from landfills. It also ranks first in Canada in terms of total certified woodlands. Bowater Incorporated is a leading producer of coated and specialty papers and newsprint. In addition, the company sells bleached market pulp and lumber products. Bowater has 12 pulp and paper mills in the United States, Canada and South Korea. In North America, it also owns two converting facilities and 10 sawmills. Bowater's operations are supported by approximately 835 000 acres of timberlands owned or leased in the United States and Canada and 28 million acres of timber cutting rights in Canada. Bowater operates six recycling plants and is one of the world's largest consumers of recycled newspapers and magazines.