EXHIBIT 10.1
 
FIRST AMENDMENT
Dated as of May 7, 2007
To the
COMBINATION AGREEMENT AND
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
Dated as of January 29, 2007
Among
ABITIBIBOWATER INC. (FORMERLY ALPHA-BRAVO HOLDINGS INC.),
ABITIBI-CONSOLIDATED INC.,
BOWATER INCORPORATED,
ALPHA-BRAVO MERGER SUB INC.,
and
BOWATER CANADA INC.
 

 

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          This FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE COMBINATION AGREEMENT AND AGREEMENT AND
PLAN OF MERGER is dated as of May 7, 2007 (this “Amendment”) and is made among
ABITIBIBOWATER INC. (formerly Alpha-Bravo Holdings Inc.), a Delaware corporation
(“Parent”), ABITIBI-CONSOLIDATED INC., a corporation amalgamated under the laws
of Canada (“ACI”), BOWATER INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation (“Bowater”),
ALPHA-BRAVO MERGER SUB INC., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”), and BOWATER
CANADA INC., a corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada (“ExchangeCo”).
          WHEREAS, Parent, ACI, Bowater, Merger Sub and ExchangeCo entered into
that certain Combination Agreement and Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
January 29, 2007 (the “Combination Agreement");
          WHEREAS, all of the parties to the Combination Agreement desire to
amend the Combination Agreement as set forth below;
          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements contained in the Combination Agreement, and subject to
the conditions set forth therein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
AMENDMENT
SECTION 1.01 Exhibit B to the Combination Agreement is hereby deleted in its
entirety and replaced with the exhibit attached hereto as Schedule A.
SECTION 1.02 In all other respects, the Combination Agreement shall remain
unamended and in full force and effect.
ARTICLE II
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 2.01 All capitalized terms used herein and not herein defined shall of
the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Combination Agreement.
SECTION 2.02 This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts
(including by facsimile), all of which shall be considered one and the same
agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been
signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties.
SECTION 2.03 Without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or
rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would
cause the application of laws of any other jurisdictions other than those of the
State of New York, this Amendment shall be deemed to be made in and in all
respects shall be interpreted, construed and governed by and in accordance with,
and any disputes or litigation arising out of or relating, directly or
indirectly, to this Amendment shall be interpreted, construed

 

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and governed by and in accordance with, the Laws of the State of New York,
except to the extent mandatorily governed by the Laws of Canada or the Laws of
the province of Quebec or the internal laws of the State of Delaware, as
applicable.
[Signature Pages Immediately Follow]

2

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be
signed by their respective officers hereunto duly authorized, all as of the date
first written above.

            ABITIBIBOWATER INC.
      By:   /s/ John W. Weaver         Name:   John W. Weaver        Title:  
Chairman     

                  By:   /s/ David J. Paterson         Name:   David J. Paterson 
      Title:   President     

            ABITIBI-CONSOLIDATED INC.
      By:   /s/ John W. Weaver         Name:   John W. Weaver        Title:  
President and Chief Executive Officer     

                  By:   /s/ Pierre Rougeau         Name:   Pierre Rougeau       
Title:   Senior Vice-President, Corporate Development and Chief Financial
Officer     

            BOWATER INCORPORATED
      By:   /s/ David J. Paterson         Name:   David J. Paterson       
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer     

 

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            ALPHA-BRAVO MERGER SUB INC.
      By:   /s/ John W. Weaver         Name:   John W. Weaver        Title:  
Chairman     

                  By:   /s/ David J. Paterson         Name:   David J. Paterson 
      Title:   President     

            BOWATER CANADA INC.
      By:   /s/ William G. Harvey         Name:   William G. Harvey       
Title:   Director     

 

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SCHEDULE A
*Schedule A is set forth in its entirety as Exhibit E to the joint proxy
statement/prospectus/management information circular.