Abitibi-Consolidated Shareholders Approve Combination with Bowater

Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 26 July 2007 -- /CNW Telbec/ -- Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. (NYSE: ABY, TSX: A) announced today that its shareholders have voted in favor of the combination of Abitibi-Consolidated and Bowater Incorporated (NYSE: BOW). The vote on the plan of arrangement required to effect the combination occurred today at a special meeting of shareholders of Abitibi-Consolidated.

Approximately 80% of the votes cast were voted in favor of the combination. In addition, no material amount of shares dissented from the transaction.

"I am very pleased to see that our shareholders share the same perspective on the benefit of the proposed combination with Bowater. We believe AbitibiBowater will be a global leader with a brighter future than either company would have on its own," said John Weaver, president and CEO of Abitibi-Consolidated. "We believe the combination with Bowater, which is expected to generate annualized synergies of at least USD 250 million, will enhance financial flexibility, increase cash flow, and create a better opportunity to unlock future value."

The combined company, which will be called AbitibiBowater Inc. will produce a wide range of newsprint, commercial printing papers, market pulp, and wood products. It will be the eighth largest pulp and paper manufacturer in the world. AbitibiBowater will own or operate 32 pulp and paper facilities and 35 wood products facilities located in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and South Korea. It will also be among the world's largest recyclers of newspapers and magazines, and a global leader in sustainable forest management through independent third-party certification.

About Abitibi-Consolidated Inc.

Abitibi-Consolidated is a global leader in newsprint and commercial printing papers and 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 1.7 million metric tons of waste paper from landfills.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed combination, AbitibiBowater has filed and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has declared effective a registration statement on Form S-4, which includes a definitive proxy statement of Bowater, a prospectus of AbitibiBowater and a management information circular of Abitibi-Consolidated. Shareholders are urged to read the joint proxy statement/prospectus/management information circular regarding the proposed combination, and any other relevant documents filed or to be filed by Abitibi or Bowater because they contain or will contain important information. Shareholders may obtain a free copy of the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus/management information circular, as well as other filings containing information about Abitibi-Consolidated and Bowater, without charge, at the SEC's internet site (http://www.sec.gov) and on
SEDARhttp://www.sedar.com). Copies of the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus/management information circular and the filings with the SEC and the Canadian securities regulatory authorities that will be incorporated by reference in the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus/management information circular can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to Abitibi-Consolidated, 1155 Metcalfe
Street, Suite 800, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3B 5H2, Attention: Investor Relations Department, (514) 875-2160, or to Bowater, 55 E. Camperdown Way, Greenville, SC, USA, 29602, Attention: Investor Relations Department, (864) 282-9473.

Participants in the Solicitation

Abitibi-Consolidated, Bowater, and their respective directors and executive officers and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed combination. Information regarding Abitibi-Consolidated's directors and executive officers is available in Abitibi-Consolidated's Annual Information Form for the year ended 31 December 2006, filed on SEDAR by Abitibi-Consolidated on 15 March 2007 (which was filed with the SEC on 15 March 2007, on Form 40-F), and the management proxy circular with respect to Abitibi-Consolidated's 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders filed by Abitibi-Consolidated on SEDAR on 05 April 2007, (which was filed with the SEC on 05 April 2007, on Form 6-K). Information regarding Bowater's directors and executive officers is available in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended 31 December 2006, filed with the SEC by Bowater on 01 March 2007, as amended by Amendment No. 1 filed with the SEC by Bowater on 30 April 2007, and in the definitive proxy statement with respect to Bowater's 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders which is included in the registration statement on Form S-4 filed by AbitibiBowater on 20 March 2007, as amended, and was filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus/management information circular and other relevant materials filed or to be filed with the SEC and the Canadian securities regulatory authorities.