Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  FAIRFAX FINANCIAL HOLDINGS LTD/ CAN
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
04/01/2008
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
AbitibiBowater Inc. [ABH]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
95 WELLINGTON STREET WEST, SUITE 800
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director __X__ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

TORONTO, A6 M5J 2N7
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
___ Form filed by One Reporting Person
_X_ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
8.0% Convertible Notes due 2013 ("Notes") 04/01/2008   (1) Common Stock, $1.00 par value ("Shares") 5,000,000 (2) $ (2) D  
8.0% Convertible Notes due 2013 04/01/2008   (1) Common Stock, $1.00 par value 30,000,000 (2) $ (2) I See footnote (3)

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
FAIRFAX FINANCIAL HOLDINGS LTD/ CAN
95 WELLINGTON STREET WEST
SUITE 800
TORONTO, A6 M5J 2N7
    X    
WATSA V PREM ET AL
95 WELLINGTON STREET WEST
SUITE 800
TORONTO, A6 M5J 2N7
    X    
1109519 ONTARIO LTD
95 WELLINGTON STREET WEST
SUITE 800
TORONTO, A6 M5J 2N7
    X    
SIXTY TWO INVESTMENT CO LTD
1600 CATHEDRAL PLACE
925 WEST GEORGIA ST.
VANCOUVER, A1 V6C 3L3
    X    
810679 ONTARIO LTD
95 WELLINGTON STREET WEST
SUITE 800
TORONTO, A6 M5J 2N7
    X    
TIG INSURANCE GROUP
250 COMMERCIAL STREET
SUITE 5000
MANCHESTER, NH 03101
    X    
NORTH RIVER INSURANCE CO
305 MADISON AVENUE
MORRISTOWN, NJ 07962
    X    
ODYSSEY RE HOLDINGS CORP
300 FIRST STAMFORD PLACE
STAMFORD, CT 06902
    X    
ODYSSEY AMERICA REINSURANCE CORP
300 FIRST STAMFORD PLACE
STAMFORD, CT 06902
    X    

Signatures

/s/ Paul Rivett, Vice President 04/11/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

/s/ V. Prem Watsa 04/11/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

/s/ V. Prem Watsa, President 04/11/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

/s/ V. Prem Watsa, President 04/11/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

/s/ V. Prem Watsa, President 04/11/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

/s/ William J. Gillett, President 04/11/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

/s/ Paul Bassaline, Vice President 04/11/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

/s/ Donald L. Smith, Senior Vice President 04/11/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

/s/ Donald L. Smith, Senior Vice President 04/11/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(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).
(1) The Notes are convertible into Shares at the option of the holder thereof at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding 04/15/13, the maturity date of the Notes.
(2) The notes are convertible into Shares based on an initial conversion rate of 100 Shares per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of $10.00 per Share), subject to adjustment under certain circumstances.
(3) $100 million aggregate principal amount of Notes is held by Odyssey America Reinsurance Corporation, $75 million aggregate principal amount of Notes is held by The North River Insurance Company, $50 million aggregate principal amount of Notes is held by TIG Insurance Company, $32 million aggregate principal amount of Notes is held by Lombard General Insurance Company of Canada, $17.5 million aggregate principal amount of Notes is held by Commonwealth Insurance Company, $11.3 million aggregate principal amount of Notes is held by Markel Insurance Company of Canada, $6.2 million aggregate principal amount of Notes is held by Federated Insurance Company of Canada, $5 million aggregate principal amount of Notes is held by Lombard Insurance Company and $3 million aggregate principal amount of Notes is held by pension plans of certain subsidiaries of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited.

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