Dividend Declaration

    Bowater Inc.

BOWATER DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

The Board of Directors of Bowater Incorporated today declared a quarterly cash
dividend of $0.20 per common share payable on October 3, 2005, to holders of
record at the close of business on September 12, 2005. Simultaneously, Bowater's
subsidiary, Bowater Canada Inc., declared a quarterly cash dividend to holders
of its exchangeable shares (TSE: BWX) in the same amount with the same record
and payable dates.

Bowater Incorporated, headquartered in Greenville, SC, is a leading producer of
newsprint and coated mechanical papers. In addition, the company makes uncoated
mechanical papers, bleached kraft pulp and lumber products. The company has 12
pulp and paper mills in the United States, Canada and South Korea and 12 North
American sawmills that produce softwood lumber. Bowater also operates two
facilities that convert a groundwood base sheet to coated products. Bowater's
operations are supported by approximately 1.4 million acres of timberlands owned
or leased in the United States and Canada and 30 million acres of timber cutting
rights in Canada. Bowater is one of the world's largest consumers of recycled
newspapers and magazines. Bowater common stock is listed on the New York Stock
Exchange, the Pacific Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. A special class of
stock exchangeable into Bowater common stock is listed on the Toronto Stock
Exchange (TSE: BWX).

All amounts are in U.S. dollars.

Media Contact:
Gordon R. Manuel
[phone]

Analyst Contact
Duane A. Owens
[phone]