ABH (TSX, NYSE)

    MONTREAL, May 12 /CNW Telbec/ - AbitibiBowater - the global market leader
in uncoated freesheet (UFS) substitutes - is pleased to introduce
ECOPAQUE™, an innovative, cost-effective and environmentally friendly
offset paper. ECOPAQUE™ is the first new product of the recently formed
company.
    ECOPAQUE™ is the breakthrough high whiteness UFS substitute developed
for the commercial printing industry. UFS substitutes are specifically
engineered mechanical fiber papers offering better opacity at lighter basis
weights than uncoated freesheet. This paper is manufactured chlorine-free and
delivers a CIE whiteness of 120.
    An environmentally friendly product, this new paper uses 50% less wood
fiber than freesheet at the equivalent basis weight. ECOPAQUE™ requires
less virgin fiber than even a traditional freesheet containing up to 50%
recycled content. The fiber used is harvested from sustainable woodlands that
are certified to credible and globally recognized sustainable forest
management (SFM) standards. ECOPAQUE™'s "green" production process uses
hydroelectricity, which reduces the amount of fossil fuel used and lowers
greenhouse gases by 75%.
    "With 120 whiteness and a brightness of 90, ECOPAQUE™ is a true
breakthrough for the printing industry," said Luc A. Ranger, AbitibiBowater
Vice President, Commercial Printing Papers. "It's a win-win for our customers
because they save money while helping the environment," added Ranger.ECOPAQUE™ in brief:
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    - Breakthrough high whiteness UFS substitute
    - Uses 50 percent less wood fiber than UFS
    - Totally chlorine-free
    - Offers 60 lb caliper and opacity in a 45 lb paper, thus delivering more
      linear feet of paper per ton than uncoated freesheet
    - Lighter weight helps consumers reduce overall paper and potentially
      mailing costs
    - Available in 42.5 lb, 45 lb and 50 lb
    - CIE whiteness/ISO brightness: 120/90
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    ECOPAQUE™ also provides significant cost savings for customers. Because
this paper has the look and feel of a heavier basis weight UFS, a lower basis
weight ECOPAQUE™ sheet can be used. For example, the 45 lb ECOPAQUE™
sheet has the opacity and caliper of a 60 lb premium           #1 opaque
offset. This means less paper by weight is needed to print the same amount of
copies, resulting in a lower cost per page. Its lighter weight also offers the
potential to reduce mailing costs or allow more to be included in the mailing
within their postal class rate.
    This paper is ideal for commercial printing jobs that traditionally use
uncoated freesheet such as:

    - Direct mail                            - Flyers
    - Forms                                  - Instruction manuals
    - Book publishing                        - Newsletters
    - Financial printing                     - Workbooks
    - InsertsVersatile and recyclable, AbitibiBowater printing papers represent a
cost-effective solution for many communications applications. AbitibiBowater
was the first to develop and market mechanical fiber papers as a substitute
for UFS.
    For more information about ECOPAQUE™ sales, visit www.ecopaque.com.

    AbitibiBowater produces a wide range of newsprint, commercial printing
papers, market pulp and wood products. It is the eighth largest publicly
traded pulp and paper manufacturer in the world. AbitibiBowater owns or
operates 27 pulp and paper facilities and 34 wood products facilities located
in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and South Korea. Marketing
its products in more than 90 countries, the Company is also among the world's
largest recyclers of newspapers and magazines, and has more third-party
certified sustainable forest land than any other company in the world.
AbitibiBowater's shares trade under the stock symbol ABH on both the New York
Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange.

    Note to the media: Please click the following URL to access the
ECOPAQUE™ logo: http://files.newswire.ca/716/EcopaqueLogo.jpg