SEC Form 4
FORM 4 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
WRIGHT JAMES T
(Last) (First) (Middle)
55 EAST CAMPERDOWN WAY
POST OFFICE BOX 1028
(Street)
GREENVILLE SC 29602-1028
(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
BOWATER INC [ BOW ] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
Director 10% Owner
X Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
SrVP-Human Resources
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/17/2004
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
X Form filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 02/17/2004 S 1,500 D $44.89 3,512 D
Common Stock 472.9091(1) I 401 (k) Plan
Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year) 7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option (right to buy) $40.74 01/28/2004 01/28/2013 Common Stock 15,000 15,000 D
Stock Option (right to buy) $45.02 01/27/2005(2) 01/27/2014(3) Common Stock 15,000 15,000 D
Stock Option (right to buy) $47.025 01/29/2003 01/29/2012 Common Stock 15,000 15,000 D
Stock Option (right to buy) $48 01/25/2001 01/25/2010 Common Stock 15,000 15,000 D
Stock Option (right to buy) $51.93 01/30/2002 01/30/2011 Common Stock 15,000 15,000 D
Phantom Stock Units $0 (4) (4) Common Stock 452.9151 452.9151 D
Stock Appreciation Right $44.5625 03/15/2000 03/15/2009 Common Stock 15,000 15,000 D
Stock Appreciation Right $54.84 05/10/2001 05/10/2010 Common Stock 9,400 9,400 D
Explanation of Responses:
1. Shares included in column 5 that represent an increase from the last report filed by the reporting person and are not otherwise accounted for by a transaction on this form were allocated under the Company's Salaried Employees Savings Plan as of the plan statement dated 12/31/2003. Additional securities may have accrued to the reporting person's account since that date. The account is subject to revisions in order to comply with requirements respecting nondiscrimination standards and limitations on contributions under the Internal Revenue code of 1986, as amended.
2. One half of the options are exercisable on the noted date and the remaining half are exercisable one year later unless the exercisability is accelerated by the committee administering the Plan.
3. These options were granted under the Company's 2002 Stock Option Plan. The Plan sets forth certain earlier expiration dates upon the option holder's termination of employment or cessation of Board service, as the case may be. In addition, the exercisability of outstanding options may be accelerated as approved by the committee administering the Plan, and will be accelerated upon the occurrence of certain specified "change in control" events, in which case the options will be automatically purchased by the Company at a defined acceleration price.
4. These phantom stock units were allocated under the Company's Compensatory Benefit Plan (the "Plan") and will be settled (on a 1-for-1 basis) upon the reporting person's retirement, death, disability, or other termination of employment. Units included in column 9 that represent an increase from the last report filed by the reporting person and are not otherwise accounted for by a transaction on this form were allocated under the Plan as of January 2, 2004. Additional securities may have accrued to the reporting person's account since that date. The account is subject to revision in order to comply with requirements respecting nondiscrimination standards and limitations on contributions under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
James T Wright 02/19/2004
** Signature of Reporting Person Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.