SCHAWK INC
S-2/A, 1997-11-10
SERVICE INDUSTRIES FOR THE PRINTING TRADE
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<PAGE>   1
 
   
   AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 10, 1997
    
 
   
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-39113
    
================================================================================
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                             ---------------------
   
                                AMENDMENT NO. 1
    
   
                                       TO
    
 
                                    FORM S-2
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                             ---------------------
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                             ---------------------
 
<TABLE>
<C>                               <C>                               <C>
            DELAWARE                      1695 RIVER ROAD                      36-2545354
  (State or other jurisdiction      DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS 60018              (IRS Employer
      of incorporation or                  (847) 827-9494                 Identification No.)
          organization)            (Address, including zip code,
                                                and
                                  and telephone number, including
                                     area code, of registrant's
                                    principal executive offices)
</TABLE>
 
                             ---------------------
                               CLARENCE W. SCHAWK
                       CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                                DAVID A. SCHAWK
                PRESIDENT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
                                1695 RIVER ROAD
                          DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS 60018
                                 (847) 827-9494
 
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agents for service)
                             ---------------------
                                   Copies to:
 
<TABLE>
<C>                                           <C>
           JOHN T. MCENROE, ESQ.                         MARK M. HEATWOLE, ESQ.
            STEVEN J. GRAY, ESQ.                        TERRENCE R. BRADY, ESQ.
     VEDDER, PRICE, KAUFMAN & KAMMHOLZ                      WINSTON & STRAWN
          222 NORTH LASALLE STREET                        35 WEST WACKER DRIVE
          CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60601                       CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60601
</TABLE>
 
                             ---------------------
 
     APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after the Registration Statement becomes effective.
                             ---------------------
 
     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, check the following box:  [ ]
 
     If the registrant elects to deliver its latest annual report to security
holders, or a complete and legible facsimile thereof, pursuant to Item 11(a)(1)
of this Form, check the following box:  [ ]
 
     If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering:  [ ]
 
     If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering:  [ ]
 
     If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering:  [ ]
 
     If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box:  [ ]
 
     THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SECTION 8(A), MAY
DETERMINE.
================================================================================
<PAGE>   2
 
     INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
     REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR
     MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
     BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR
     THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE
     SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE
     UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS
     OF ANY SUCH STATE.
 
   
                 Subject to Completion, dated November 10, 1997
    
 
PROSPECTUS
 
                                3,000,000 Shares
   
                                  SCHAWK LOGO
    
                              Class A Common Stock
                             ---------------------
 
     Of the 3,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock (the "Class A Common
Stock") of Schawk, Inc. ("Schawk" or the "Company") offered hereby (the
"Offering"), 1,500,000 shares are being sold by the Company and 1,500,000 shares
are being sold by certain stockholders of the Company (the "Selling
Stockholders"). The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of
shares of the Class A Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders. See "Use of
Proceeds" and "Principal and Selling Stockholders."
 
   
     The Class A Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol "SGK." On November 6, 1997, the last sale price of the Class A Common
Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange was $11.75 per share. See
"Price Range of Class A Common Stock."
    
                             ---------------------
 
THE SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK.
                    SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 9.
                             ---------------------
 
    THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
           AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
          NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE
               SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
                ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION
                     TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
==============================================================================================================
                                                    UNDERWRITING                               PROCEEDS TO
                                 PRICE TO           DISCOUNTS AND         PROCEEDS TO            SELLING
                                  PUBLIC           COMMISSIONS(1)         COMPANY(2)          STOCKHOLDERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                         <C>                  <C>                  <C>                  <C>
Per Share.................           $                    $                    $                    $
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total(3)..................           $                    $                    $                    $
==============================================================================================================
</TABLE>
 
(1) The Company and the Selling Stockholders have agreed to indemnify the
    Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
    Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). See
    "Underwriting."
 
(2) Before deducting estimated expenses of $325,000 payable by the Company.
 
(3) The Company and certain Selling Stockholders have granted the Underwriters a
    30-day option to purchase up to 450,000 additional shares of Class A Common
    Stock on the same terms and conditions as set forth above solely to cover
    over-allotments, if any. If such option is exercised in full, the Price to
    Public, Underwriting Discounts and Commissions, Proceeds to Company and
    Proceeds to the Selling Stockholders will be $          , $          ,
    $          and $          , respectively. See "Underwriting."
 
                             ---------------------
 
     The shares of Class A Common Stock offered by this Prospectus are offered
by the Underwriters subject to prior sale, to withdrawal, cancellation or
modification of the offer without notice, to delivery to and acceptance by the
Underwriters and to certain further conditions. It is expected that the delivery
of certificates for the shares will be made at the offices of Lehman Brothers
Inc., New York, New York, on or about             , 1997.
 
                             ---------------------
LEHMAN BROTHERS                                         MCDONALD & COMPANY
                                                        SECURITIES, INC.
          , 1997
<PAGE>   3
 
                                  SCHAWK LOGO
 
   
     [The following appears as a series of four statements surrounding in a
clockwise fashion a pictorial displayed in color.]
    
 
DIGITAL IMAGING PREPRESS SERVICES
 
   
     Schawk supplies high quality prepress services, including digitized and
conventional color separations, image retouching, platemaking and press proofs,
as well as digital photography and art production, for the consumer products
industry.
    
 
   
GLOBAL SERVICES NETWORK
    
 
     Through its North American operations and alliances with prepress service
providers in the Far East, Europe and Australia, Schawk is positioned to meet
its clients' growing demand for global brand consistency.
 
   
IMAGING ASSET MANAGEMENT SERVICES
    
 
   
     Using its PaRTs(TM) System, Schawk is able to maintain and manage
customized databases for its clients' images and package designs. Databases can
include brand packaging, images, text, production specifications, audio and
video commercial and advertising page information.
    
 
OUTSOURCING SERVICES
 
   
     Initiated in 1993, Schawk's on-site program presently places skilled Schawk
employees at or near 20 client locations, enabling its clients to achieve
greater speed-to-market for their products.
    
 
     [Image -- a globe surrounded by consumer products packaging, cans, labeling
information and computer technology components.]
 
   
     Schawk, the Schawk logo, PaRTs(TM), CLICk(TM) and the names of certain
other services offered by Schawk are service marks, trademarks or registered
service marks or trademarks of Schawk. All other trademarks or service marks
appearing in this Prospectus are trademarks, service marks or registered
trademarks or service marks of the respective companies that utilize them.
    
 
     CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THE OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE CLASS A COMMON
STOCK. SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY INCLUDE THE PURCHASE OF SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON
STOCK PRIOR TO THE PRICING OF THE OFFERING FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAINTAINING THE
PRICE OF THE CLASS A COMMON STOCK, THE PURCHASE OF SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON
STOCK FOLLOWING THE PRICING OF THE OFFERING TO COVER A SYNDICATE SHORT POSITION
IN THE CLASS A COMMON STOCK OR THE IMPOSITION OF PENALTY BIDS. FOR A DESCRIPTION
OF THESE ACTIVITIES SEE "UNDERWRITING."
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   4
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The Company is subject to the periodic reporting and other informational
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"). As long as the Company is subject to such periodic reporting and
information requirements, it will file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") all Commission reports, proxy statements and other
information required thereby, which may be inspected at the public reference
facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the Commission's regional offices located at
Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois
60661-2511 and 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048.
Copies of such material may be obtained by mail from the Public Reference
Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 at
prescribed rates. In addition, electronically filed documents, including
reports, proxy statements and other information filed by the Company, can be
obtained from the Commission's Web site at http://www.sec.gov. The Class A
Common Stock is quoted on the New York Stock Exchange, and reports and other
information concerning the Company may also be inspected and copied at the
office of the New York Stock Exchange, 2 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
 
     The Company has filed a Registration Statement on Form S-2 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with the Commission
in Washington, D.C., with respect to the Class A Common Stock offered by this
Prospectus. This Prospectus, filed as part of the Registration Statement, does
not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement,
certain portions of which have been omitted as permitted by the rules and
regulations of the Commission. For further information regarding the Company and
the shares offered hereby, reference is made to the Registration Statement and
any amendments, exhibits and schedules thereto, which may be inspected without
charge and copied at prescribed rates at the public reference facilities
maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20549. Such information may also be available on the Web site maintained by
the Commission at http://www.sec.gov. Statements contained in this Prospectus as
to the contents of any contract or other document referred to herein are not
necessarily complete and in each instance reference is made to the copy of such
contract or document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, each
such statement being qualified in its entirety by such reference.
 
               INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
 
     The following documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant
to the Exchange Act (File No. 0-26094) are incorporated herein by reference as
of their respective dates:
 
     (a) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996.
 
     (b) Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 7, 1997.
 
     (c) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1997.
 
     (d) Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 5, 1997.
 
     (e) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1997.
 
     (f) Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 8, 1997.
 
     (g) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1997.
 
     All reports and other documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this
Prospectus and prior to the termination of the Offering of the Class A Common
Stock shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein. Any statement
contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to
the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Prospectus.
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   5
 
     The Company shall provide without charge to each person to whom a
Prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person, a copy
of any or all of the information incorporated by reference in this Prospectus,
other than exhibits to such information (unless such exhibits are specifically
incorporated by reference into the information that this Prospectus
incorporates). Requests for such copies should be directed to A. Alex Sarkisian,
Schawk, Inc., 1695 River Road, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018.
 
           CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
 
     STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR IN ANY DOCUMENT INCORPORATED OR
DEEMED TO BE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN THAT RELATE TO THE COMPANY'S
BELIEFS OR EXPECTATIONS AS TO FUTURE EVENTS RELATING TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE
SUCCESS OF THE COMPANY'S GROWTH STRATEGY, THE ABILITY OF THE COMPANY TO EXPLOIT
INDUSTRY TRENDS, SUCH AS OUTSOURCING, AND THE COMPANY'S EXPLOITATION OF
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS IN THE IMAGING INDUSTRY, ARE NOT STATEMENTS OF
HISTORICAL FACT AND ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION
27A OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND SECTION 21E OF THE EXCHANGE ACT AND ARE SUBJECT TO
THE "SAFE HARBOR" CREATED THEREBY. ALTHOUGH THE COMPANY BELIEVES THAT THE
ASSUMPTIONS UPON WHICH SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE BASED ARE REASONABLE
WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF ITS KNOWLEDGE OF ITS BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS, IT CAN GIVE
NO ASSURANCE THAT THE ASSUMPTIONS WILL PROVE TO HAVE BEEN CORRECT. REFERENCE TO
SECTIONS IN THIS PROSPECTUS WHICH CONTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND
IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY AND
ADVERSELY FROM THE COMPANY'S EXPECTATIONS AND BELIEFS ARE SET OUT UNDER "RISK
FACTORS" AND "MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS." THESE FACTORS SHOULD BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED BY
POTENTIAL INVESTORS.
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   6
 
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
     The following summary should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified
in its entirety by, the more detailed information, including "Risk Factors,"
appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus, and the consolidated financial
statements and notes thereto. Unless otherwise indicated, the information set
forth in this Prospectus does not give effect to the exercise of the
Underwriters' over-allotment option.
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
   
     Schawk, Inc. ("Schawk" or the "Company") is a leading provider of digital
imaging prepress services for the consumer products industry in the United
States and Canada. The Company offers its clients a complete line of high
quality prepress services, including conventional, electronic and desktop color
separations, electronic production design, film preparation, platemaking and
press proofs for the three main printing processes used in the graphic arts
industry: lithography, flexography and gravure. The Company also provides its
clients such value-added services as digital image management, digital
photography and art production. The preparation of film, digital tape and press
proofs for lithography, flexography and other printing processes related to
packaging accounted for approximately 75% of net sales in 1996 and 77% of net
sales for the nine months ended September 30, 1997. The balance of the Company's
business consists of the production of similar services for point-of-sale,
advertising and direct mail.
    
 
   
     "Prepress services" are the tasks involved in preparing images and text for
reproduction to exact specifications for a variety of media, including packaging
for consumer products, point-of-sale displays and other promotional materials.
Packaging for consumer products encompasses folding cartons, boxes, trays, cans,
containers, packaging labels and wrap. While prepress work represents a
relatively small percentage of overall product packaging and promotion costs,
the visual impact and effectiveness of product packaging and promotions are
largely dependent upon the quality of prepress work.
    
 
   
     The Company's clients typically outsource their prepress requirements and
assign the Company the responsibility of interfacing with the clients'
designated graphic designers who design the packaging and the converters or
printers who print and produce the packaging and related materials. The Company
competes on the basis of offering its multi-national client base: (i) high
quality customized imaging; (ii) rapid turnaround and delivery times; (iii)
up-to-date knowledge of the printing press specifications of converters and
printers located throughout the United States and Canada; (iv) digital imaging
asset management; (v) art production; and (vi) the ability to service its
clients' global prepress requirements through the Company's North American
facilities and international alliance partners. The Company's clients include:
Bayer, Campbell Soup, ConAgra, General Mills, Hershey, Keebler, Leo Burnett,
Nestle, Pepsico, Pillsbury, Publisher's Clearing House, Quaker Oats and a
significant number of other Fortune 1000 accounts.
    
 
     The prepress industry in North America has over 1,300 market participants,
principally independent color separators, such as the Company, converters,
printers and consumer products companies that perform these services in-house.
The majority of prepress providers specialize in high volume, commodity-oriented
publication work that includes textbooks, advertising, catalogs, newspapers and
magazines. The Company's target market, however, is the consumer products
industry. The North American market for prepress services to the consumer
products industry is estimated by the Company to range from $1.0 billion to $1.3
billion, while the worldwide market is estimated by the Company to be as high as
$6.0 billion. The consumer products prepress industry is highly fragmented with
hundreds of market participants, only a small number of which have annual
revenues exceeding $50.0 million. The Company believes that the number of
participants in the North American prepress market for the consumer products
industry will diminish due to consolidation and attrition caused by competitive
forces such as accelerating technological requirements for advanced systems,
equipment and highly skilled personnel and the growing demands of clients for
full-service global capabilities.
 
     The Company focuses primarily on the food and beverage segment of the
consumer products industry, where packaging requirements are more complex and
demanding due to variations in packaging materials, shapes and sizes, custom
colors, varying storage conditions and marketing enhancements. Product
extensions and frequent packaging redesigns have resulted in an increasing
volume of color separation and related work in
                                        5
<PAGE>   7
 
the consumer products industry and in particular for the food and beverage
segment. Additional industry trends include: (i) the shorter turnaround and
delivery time requirements from the creative design phase to final distribution
of the packaged product; (ii) an increasing number of stock keeping units
("SKUs") competing for shelf space and market share; (iii) the increasing
importance of package appearance and promotions due to demonstrated
point-of-sale consumer purchasing behavior; and (iv) the increasing requirements
for worldwide quality and consistency in packaging as companies attempt to build
global brand name recognition.
 
     The Company believes that its clients have increasingly selected Schawk as
the primary supplier of prepress services because of the Company's ability to
provide quick turnaround and delivery times and high quality, customized
imaging. The Company is able to compete on this basis due to the following core
competencies:
 
     - Technical Expertise. The Company places an emphasis on state-of-the-art
       systems and equipment and continual training and development of its
       employees.
 
   
     - On-Site Personnel. The Company has placed over 60 employees on-site at or
       near 20 client locations in an effort to further integrate its prepress
       services directly with client operations. This facilitates faster
       turnaround and delivery times and fosters stronger client relationships.
    
 
   
     - Strong Relationships with Converters and Printers. Over the course of its
       44-year business history, the Company has developed strong relationships
       with many of the major converters and printers in the United States and
       Canada and, as a result, has extensive knowledge of their equipment,
       thereby enabling the Company to increase the overall efficiency of the
       printing process.
    
 
   
     - Imaging Asset Management. The Company maintains and manages a database of
       its clients' images and package designs. Once an image is in the
       Company's database, the client can make frequent regional, seasonal or
       event-related adjustments to the file image prior to printing. The
       Company's ability to quickly manipulate digital images enables its
       clients to deliver their products to the market faster.
    
 
     The Company's primary goal is to enhance its leadership position in the
prepress imaging market for the consumer products industry. Key aspects of the
Company's business strategy to achieve this goal include the following:
 
     - Growth through Acquisitions and Start-ups. In its 44-year business
       history, the Company has integrated more than 25 prepress and imaging
       businesses into its operations while streamlining overhead and improving
       margins. These acquisitions are part of the Company's growth strategy to
       acquire companies with Fortune 1000 client lists, excellent client
       service or proprietary products and solid management who will continue to
       operate the business after the acquisition. The Company believes that an
       emphasis on complementary acquisitions of companies serving targeted
       markets will allow it to broaden its service offerings and provide single
       source prepress and imaging services. Schawk has also established
       start-up operations in response to client or market requirements. The
       Company expects to continue this strategy as opportunities warrant.
 
     - Exploitation of Industry Trends; Outsourcing. The Company has
       historically attempted to strengthen its market position by identifying
       and exploiting industry trends. As a consequence, the Company has been
       uniquely positioned to benefit as consumer products companies continue to
       reduce both their prepress staffs and total number of suppliers. The
       Company's on-site strategy developed as clients outsourced imaging
       functions in an attempt to cut costs and improve turnaround and delivery
       times. The Company intends to expand this effort as clients increasingly
       require on-site service. Further, the Company believes that its
       commitment to client service and its broad array of premium service
       offerings position the Company as a cost effective, value-added supplier
       of prepress services.
 
     - Exploitation of Technology Advancements. The Company is dedicated to
       keeping abreast of and initiating technological process developments in
       its industry. To build upon its leadership position, the Company actively
       evaluates system and software products of various computer and software
       manufac-
                                        6
<PAGE>   8
 
       turers and also independently develops software for implementation at its
       operating facilities. The Company continually invests in new technology
       designed to support its high quality prepress services. The Company
       concentrates its efforts on understanding the systems and equipment
       available in the marketplace and creating solutions using off-the-shelf
       products, customized to meet a variety of specific client and internal
       requirements.
 
     In addition to its operations in the United States and Canada, the Company
has established a full-service prepress and digital imaging operation in Mexico.
The Company also has alliances with selected prepress companies in Europe, the
Far East and Australia to provide international prepress services to its
multi-national client base.
 
     The Company is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. The
Company's principal executive offices are located at 1695 River Road, Des
Plaines, Illinois 60018, and its telephone number is (847) 827-9494.
 
                                  THE OFFERING
 
Class A Common Stock offered
 
  By the Company................................   1,500,000 shares
 
  By the Selling Stockholders...................   1,500,000 shares
 
  Total Class A Common Stock offered............   3,000,000 shares
 
Class A Common Stock to be outstanding after the
Offering........................................   21,303,739 shares (21,453,739
                                                   shares if the Underwriters'
                                                   over-allotment option is
                                                   exercised)(1)
 
Use of Proceeds.................................   Together with other available
                                                   funds, to repurchase all of
                                                   the outstanding Series A
                                                   Preferred Stock and Series B
                                                   Preferred Stock of the
                                                   Company. See "Use of
                                                   Proceeds."
 
New York Stock Exchange Symbol..................   "SGK"
- ---------------
   
(1) Excludes 2,252,000 shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for issuance
    pursuant to the exercise of options under the Company's 1988 Equity Option
    Plan and 1991 Outside Directors' Formula Stock Option Plan, under which
    options for 756,402 shares have been granted and options for 567,257 shares
    were vested as of September 30, 1997.
    
                                        7
<PAGE>   9
 
                      SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
 
     On February 7, 1997, the Company sold its plastics business segment for
$93.485 million plus or minus working capital adjustments. The consolidated
statement of income data for the Company set forth below has been restated to
exclude discontinued operations and is presented for continuing operations only.
See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations -- General."
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
                                                                                               NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                     YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                     SEPTEMBER 30,
                                      -----------------------------------------------------   -------------------
                                        1992       1993       1994        1995       1996       1996       1997
                                      --------   --------   --------    --------   --------   --------   --------
                                                                                                  (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                   <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
  DATA
Net Sales...........................  $ 82,860   $ 95,809   $103,889    $ 87,204   $ 90,763   $ 63,881   $ 85,157
Operating Income....................    14,065     16,276     20,309      11,022     13,373      9,530     13,777
Income from Continuing Operations
  Before Income Taxes...............    12,653     12,680     15,991       7,243      9,056      6,642     13,698
Income Taxes........................       425(a)     601(a)   3,722(a)(b)   945(c)   3,530      2,487      5,479
Income from Continuing Operations...    12,228     12,079     12,269       6,298      5,526      4,155      8,219
Income from Continuing Operations
  Per Common Share..................        --(d)       --(d)       --(d) $   0.26 $   0.22   $   0.17   $   0.37
PRO FORMA INFORMATION (CONTINUING
  OPERATIONS)(E)
Pro Forma Income Taxes..............  $  5,061   $  5,072   $  6,396          --         --         --         --
Pro Forma Income from Continuing
  Operations Adjusted Only for
  Income Taxes......................     7,592      7,608      9,595          --         --         --         --
OTHER DATA
Cash Dividends per Common Share.....        --(d)       --(d)       --(d) $  0.260 $  0.260   $  0.195   $  0.195
</TABLE>
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
                                                                                         ----------------------
                                                                                                        AS
                                                                                          ACTUAL    ADJUSTED(F)
                                                                                         --------   -----------
                                                                                              (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                                      <C>        <C>
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA
Working Capital...................................                                       $ 25,379    $ 18,814
Total Assets......................................                                        129,551     122,986
Long-Term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations......                                         44,963      44,963
Stockholders' Equity..............................                                         53,403      46,838
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
(a) The Company was taxed as an S corporation and therefore was subject only to
    certain state income taxes for the years ended December 31, 1992, 1993 and
    1994.
 
(b) Income taxes for the year ended December 31, 1994 include a one-time
    deferred tax charge of $3,000 for the termination of the S corporation tax
    election.
 
(c) Income taxes for the year ended December 31, 1995 include a benefit of
    $1,632 for utilization of net operating loss carryforwards for which no tax
    benefit was previously recorded.
 
(d) Because of the limited number of stockholders of the Company during the
    periods it was taxed as an S corporation, income and cash dividends per
    common share data is not meaningful and has not been presented for the years
    ended December 31, 1992, 1993 or 1994.
 
(e) Pro forma information is presented to reflect income tax expense at a normal
    corporate rate for the years ended December 31, 1992, 1993 and 1994.
 
   
(f) Adjusted to reflect the sale by the Company of 1,500,000 shares of Class A
    Common Stock offered hereby at an estimated offering price of $11.75 per
    share and the application of the estimated net proceeds therefrom, together
    with other funds available to the Company, to repurchase Series A Preferred
    Stock and Series B Preferred Stock of the Company. See "Use of Proceeds."
    
                                        8
<PAGE>   10
 
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
     The Class A Common Stock being offered hereby involves a high degree of
risk. Prospective purchasers of the Class A Common Stock offered hereby should
carefully consider the following risk factors, as well as the other information
contained in this Prospectus or incorporated by reference herein.
 
RISKS OF TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE
 
     The success of the Company has in part depended on its ability to develop
and exploit emerging technologies in the prepress services industry. By
leveraging its technological expertise, the Company has been able to maintain an
advantage over its competitors and has demonstrated to its clients the value of
using the Company for prepress services rather than attempting to perform these
functions in-house, through lower-cost competitors or through converters who
provide certain prepress services. While the Company continually invests in
training, education and research, there can be no assurance that the Company
will be successful in continuing to develop and exploit emerging technologies.
New technologies may also have the effect of lessening the Company's current
technological advantages, leading to increased in-house production of prepress
work by the Company's clients, or lowering barriers to entry so as to permit
other firms to provide competitive services. Use of the latest computer
equipment and software, while providing the opportunity for quicker turnaround
and delivery times, has placed greater reliance upon the accuracy of formatting
and information input methodologies. In order to ensure this accuracy as early
in the process as possible, well trained, highly efficient client service
personnel are vital. There can be no assurance that the Company will be
successful in continuing to attract, train or retain the highly skilled
personnel which are necessary for its operations.
 
     The Company's services and the equipment that it employs in delivering its
services are subject to rapid technological change and rapid obsolescence.
Accordingly, the Company's ability to grow will depend upon its ability to keep
pace with technological advances on a continuing basis and to integrate
available technologies with client needs in a commercially appropriate manner.
The Company's business may be adversely affected if it is unable to keep pace
with relevant changes or if the technologies that it adopts do not receive
widespread market acceptance.
 
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ACQUISITIONS; MANAGEMENT OF GROWTH
 
     The Company plans to further expand its business through acquisitions and
evaluates acquisition opportunities on an ongoing basis. There can be no
assurance that the Company will successfully identify, complete or integrate
additional acquisitions or that any acquisitions will perform as expected or
will contribute significant revenues or profits to the Company. In addition, the
Company may pursue and consummate acquisitions that are dilutive to stockholders
if it believes that such acquisitions are in the best interests of the Company.
Additionally, in the future, the Company may face increased competition for
acquisition opportunities, which may inhibit the Company's ability to consummate
acquisitions on terms favorable to the Company.
 
     Any acquired business may provide services that, although complementary,
differ from the existing services offered by the Company. There can be no
assurance that the anticipated benefits of these acquisitions will be achieved.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to manage successfully
new service areas of the Company, the employees of such service areas or the
client base supported by such service areas.
 
     The ability of the Company to manage growth through acquisitions and its
own internal growth depends on its ability to maintain the high quality of
services that it provides to clients; to successfully integrate the different
services that it provides; to recruit, motivate and retain qualified personnel;
and to train existing sales representatives or recruit new sales representatives
to cross-sell different services or products. There can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to manage its expanding operations effectively or that it
will be able to maintain its growth. Failure to successfully manage its
expanding operations or to maintain its growth would have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   11
 
INABILITY TO PREDICT ORDER FLOW
 
   
     The prepress services business is generally characterized by individual
orders from clients on a project-by-project basis rather than long-term supply
contracts. Continued engagements for successive projects or orders are primarily
dependent upon the client's satisfaction with services previously provided. As
technological developments have significantly reduced the time-to-market for the
production of product packaging materials, seasonal fluctuations in the
Company's sales volume that previously occurred due to holiday promotions and
special marketing tie-ins have become less pronounced. Currently, on average,
the Company's projects and orders are processed in its production facility
within four days. Although the Company has established long-standing
relationships with its clients and believes its reputation for quality service
is excellent, the Company is not able to predict with certainty the volume of
its business even in the near future.
    
 
DEPENDENCE ON KEY MANAGEMENT
 
     The Company's success has been and will be dependent to a large degree upon
its ability to retain the services of its existing senior management and to
attract and retain qualified additional senior and middle management in the
future. To provide for continuity of leadership, the Company has entered into
employment agreements with two of its executive officers. The loss of the
services of any of the key management personnel or the inability to recruit and
retain qualified personnel in the future could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business and results of operations. See "Management."
 
CONCENTRATION OF OWNERSHIP
 
   
     Clarence W. Schawk, David A. Schawk, other members of their immediate
families and A. Alex Sarkisian as trustee of various family trusts for the
benefit of Clarence W. Schawk's grandchildren (the "Schawk Family") presently
beneficially own, in the aggregate, approximately 83.9% of the Class A Common
Stock of the Company and will beneficially own approximately 72.5% of the Class
A Common Stock after completion of the Offering. As a result, the Schawk Family
will, acting together, be able to control most matters requiring approval by the
stockholders of the Company, including the election of directors. The voting
control of the Schawk Family could have the effect of delaying or preventing a
change in control of the Company. See "Principal and Selling Stockholders" and
"Description of Capital Stock."
    
 
COMPETITION
 
     The Company competes with other providers of prepress and digital imaging
services. The market for prepress services is highly fragmented, with several
national and many regional participants. The Company faces, and will continue to
face, competition in its prepress business from many sources, including national
and regional companies, some of which have greater financial, marketing and
other resources than the Company. In addition, local and regional firms
specializing in particular industry segments compete on the basis of established
long-term relationships or specialized knowledge of such segments. The
introduction of new technologies may also lead to increased in-house production
of prepress work by the Company's clients, or create lower barriers to entry so
as to permit other firms to provide competing services.
 
     There can be no assurance that competitors will not introduce services or
products that achieve greater market acceptance than, or are technologically
superior to, the Company's prepress and digital imaging service offerings.
Competitors and future competitors have or may have more extensive digital
imaging service capabilities, more extensive experience and greater financial,
marketing and other resources than the Company.
 
     No assurance can be given that the Company will be able to continue to
compete successfully or that competitive pressures will not adversely affect the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. See
"Business -- Competition."
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   12
 
DEPENDENCE ON KEY CLIENTS
 
   
     The Company's ten largest clients accounted for approximately 37% of the
Company's revenues in 1996 and approximately 34% of revenues for the nine months
ended September 30, 1997. In 1996 and for the nine months ended September 30,
1997, approximately 8% and 7%, respectively, of the Company's total revenues
came from the Company's largest single client. While the Company seeks to build
long-term client relationships, revenues from any particular client can
fluctuate from period to period due to such client's purchasing patterns. Any
termination or significant disruption of the Company's relationships with any of
its principal clients could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations. See
"Business -- Clients."
    
 
FLUCTUATIONS IN VALUE OF MARKETABLE SECURITIES
 
     As of September 30, 1997, the Company held $52.3 million of marketable
securities and short-term investments which consisted of $10.5 million in equity
securities and equity mutual funds, $6.3 million in U.S. Treasury and U.S.
Government notes, $3.3 million in corporate bonds and $32.2 million in bond
mutual funds. The Company carries the marketable securities at fair value, with
unrealized gains and losses, net of income taxes, reported as a separate
component of stockholders' equity. Realized gains and losses upon disposition of
marketable securities and declines in value of marketable securities judged to
be other than temporary are included in investment income. As of September 30,
1997, the fair value of the marketable securities exceeded the Company's cost by
$2.6 million ($1.6 million net of tax effects) which was recorded in
stockholders' equity. See Note 7 to notes to condensed consolidated interim
financial statements.
 
     The fair value of the Company's marketable securities are subject to stock
market and interest rate risk and it is expected that the fair value of the
Company's marketable securities will fluctuate from period to period. Any
decrease in the market value of the marketable securities held by the Company
will have a negative impact on the Company's stockholders' equity and would have
an adverse effect on the Company's income from operations if the Company sold
its marketable securities below the cost thereof. Substantial decreases in the
fair value of such marketable securities may adversely affect the Company's
financial condition, results of operations and growth strategy, particularly its
ability to pursue its acquisition strategy.
 
LIMITED PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
 
     The Company seeks to protect its know-how and proprietary software through
copyright and trade secret laws and, in certain cases, contractual restrictions
on disclosure. Despite such measures, it may be possible for unauthorized third
parties to copy aspects of the Company's software and processes or to obtain and
use information that the Company regards as proprietary. In addition, no
assurance can be given that protective measures taken by the Company will be
sufficient to preclude competitors from developing competing or similar software
or processes.
 
FLUCTUATIONS IN QUARTERLY OPERATING RESULTS
 
     The Company's quarterly operating results have fluctuated in the past and
may fluctuate in the future as a result of a variety of factors, including
timing of the completion of particular projects or orders, material reduction or
cancellation of major projects or the loss of a major client, timing of new
business, timing of the hiring or loss of personnel, differences in order flows
between traditional prepress and digital imaging services, sensitivity to
general economic conditions, the health of the consumer products industry, the
relative mix of different types of work with differing margins, clients' order
patterns, changes in the pricing strategies of the Company and other costs
relating to the expansion of operations. Many of these factors are outside of
the Company's control. Because of the high fixed-cost nature of the Company's
business, the Company may not be able to adjust spending in a timely manner to
compensate for any unexpected revenue shortfall, which would adversely affect
operating results. For the foregoing reasons, the Company believes that
period-to-period comparisons of its financial results should not be relied upon
as an indication of future performance. In addition, the results of any
quarterly period are not indicative of results to be expected for a full fiscal
year. It is possible that, in certain future quarters, the Company's operating
results may be below the expectations of
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   13
 
public market analysts and investors. In such an event, the price of the Class A
Common Stock would likely be materially adversely affected. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations -- Quarterly Results of Operations."
 
   
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO CHANGE IN ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND TRENDS
    
 
   
     The Company's revenues and results of operations are subject to
fluctuations based upon the economic conditions of the United States and Canada
in general, and the economic conditions of the consumer products industry and
food and beverage companies in particular. If there were to be a general
economic downturn or a recession in the United States or one specifically
affecting the consumer products industry and food and beverage companies, the
Company would expect that business enterprises, including its clients and
potential clients, will substantially and immediately reduce both their prepress
budgets and their expenditures on other services of the types offered by the
Company. Adverse economic trends affecting the consumer products industry, such
as increases in the costs of paper or other materials used in consumer products
packaging, could also cause a reduction in the demand for prepress and related
services. In the event of such an economic downturn or adverse trend, there can
be no assurance that the Company's business, operating results and financial
condition would not be materially and adversely affected.
    
 
LABOR RELATIONS
 
   
     Approximately 29% of the Company's employees are represented by local units
of international labor unions. The Company considers its union employees to be
vital to its operations. Although the Company considers its relationship with
its union employees to be good, there can be no assurance that the Company will
be successful in renegotiating collective bargaining agreements with its union
employees in the future or that the failure to renegotiate such contracts will
not result in work stoppages or disruption to the operations of the Company. Any
such work stoppages or disruption could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's financial condition, results of operations or growth opportunities.
See "Business -- Employees."
    
 
RESTRICTIVE DEBT COVENANTS
 
     The Company may in the future incur indebtedness in connection with its
acquisition strategy or to fund its operations. Existing or future credit
agreements entered into by the Company with its lenders with respect to existing
or future indebtedness may contain covenants that could restrict certain actions
by the Company and may impede its ability to implement its growth strategy. No
assurances can be given that existing credit agreements will not restrict the
Company's growth strategy or that the Company will not in the future enter into
agreements with its lenders that contain restrictive covenants that would have a
similar effect.
 
POTENTIAL STOCK PRICE VOLATILITY
 
     The trading price of the Class A Common Stock could be subject to
significant fluctuations in response to variations in quarterly operating
results or other factors. Announcements concerning developments in the prepress,
digital imaging or related industries, results of the Company's operations and
stock market conditions generally could have a significant impact on the market
price of the Class A Common Stock. In addition, stock prices for many companies
fluctuate widely for reasons that may be unrelated to those companies' results
of operations. These fluctuations, as well as general economic, political and
market conditions, may have a material adverse effect on the market price of the
Class A Common Stock.
 
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
     Sales of a significant number of shares of Class A Common Stock in the
public market following the Offering, or the perception that such sales could
occur, could adversely affect the market price of the Class A Common Stock and
such sales could materially impair the Company's ability to raise capital
through the future offering of equity securities. All of the 3,000,000 shares
offered hereby (3,450,000 shares if the Underwriters' over-allotment option is
exercised in full) will be freely transferable without restriction or
registration under the Securities Act. Upon completion of the Offering, the
Company will have 21,303,739
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   14
 
   
shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding and will have increased the number of
shares that will be freely transferable without restriction (the "public float")
from 4,950,246 shares to 7,950,246 shares (8,400,246 shares if the Underwriters'
over-allotment option is exercised in full). The public float includes 2,212,914
freely transferable shares held by non-management members of the Schawk Family.
Of the remaining shares outstanding, 159,521 shares will be held by independent
parties and constitute "restricted securities" as defined under Rule 144 of the
Securities Act and subject to the resale limitations thereunder, and 12,574,173
shares will be beneficially owned by "affiliates" of the Company as defined
under Rule 144 (including management members of the Schawk Family and other
executive officers and directors of the Company) and eligible for resale subject
to the limitations under Rule 144. Of the shares held by or on behalf of the
Schawk Family, 2,212,914 shares are freely transferable and 13,176,201 shares
are eligible for resale subject to the limitations of Rule 144. All of the
shares held by the Schawk Family are subject to demand or piggyback registration
rights. See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
    
 
   
     Up to 756,402 additional shares of Class A Common Stock may be purchased by
certain employees and directors of the Company pursuant to the exercise of
options (the "Options") granted under the Company's 1988 Equity Option Plan and
the 1991 Outside Directors' Formula Stock Option Plan, of which Options for
567,257 shares were vested as of September 30, 1997. The shares of Class A
Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Options are freely tradable under a
registration statement on Form S-8, except that such shares held by affiliates
of the Company will be subject to the volume limitations of Rule 144.
    
 
     The Company may issue shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with
acquisitions of other companies. Such shares, if registered, could be freely
tradeable.
 
ANTI-TAKEOVER CONSIDERATIONS
 
     The Company is subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 203 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended ("Section 203"). Section 203
provides that, subject to certain exceptions specified therein, an "interested
stockholder" of a Delaware corporation shall not engage in any business
combination, including mergers, consolidations or acquisitions of additional
shares of the corporation, with the corporation for a three-year period
following the date that such stockholder becomes an "interested stockholder"
unless: (i) prior to such date, the board of directors of the corporation
approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in
the stockholder becoming an "interested stockholder"; (ii) upon consummation of
the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an "interested
stockholder," the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock
of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced (excluding
certain shares); or (iii) on or subsequent to such date, the business
combination is approved by the board of directors of the corporation and
authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders by the affirmative
vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by
the "interested stockholder." Except as otherwise specified in Section 203, an
"interested stockholder" is defined to include (x) any person that is the owner
of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation, or is an
affiliate or associate of the corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of
the outstanding voting stock of the corporation at any time within three years
immediately prior to the relevant date and (y) the affiliates and associates of
any such person. The Schawk Family became "interested stockholders" in September
1992.
 
     These provisions could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing
a change of control of the Company. The Company's stockholders, by adopting an
amendment to its Amended Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws, may elect not
to be governed by Section 203, effective 12 months after adoption.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   15
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
     Schawk is a leading provider of digital imaging prepress services for the
consumer products industry in the United States and Canada. The Company offers
its clients a complete line of high quality prepress services, including
conventional, electronic and desktop color separations, film preparation,
platemaking and press proofs for the three main printing processes used in the
graphic arts industry: lithography, flexography and gravure. The Company also
provides its clients such value-added services as digital photography, digital
image management and art production. See "Business."
 
     The Company's prepress business was begun in 1953, operating from one
location in Chicago, Illinois. Under the direction of Clarence W. Schawk and his
son, David A. Schawk, the Company has grown into an international business with
operations in the United States and Canada and has recently established a full-
service prepress operation in Mexico. The Company also maintains international
affiliations with selected prepress providers in Europe, the Far East and
Australia. Over the Company's 44-year business history, Schawk has integrated
more than 25 prepress and imaging businesses into its operations while
streamlining overhead and improving margins. Schawk intends to continue to
expand through acquisitions of well-managed companies in prepress and
imaging-related businesses with solid market positions, established client
relationships and new technologies. Schawk has also established start-up
operations in response to client or market requirements and expects to continue
this strategy as opportunities warrant.
 
     The Company functions as a network of autonomous operating businesses with
purchasing, technology development and finance centralized at the Company's
corporate headquarters in Des Plaines, Illinois. The following is a listing of
the various Schawk operations and international alliances:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         SCHAWK OPERATIONS                            LOCATION
         -----------------                            --------
<S>                                     <C>
United States
Amber Design Associates.............    Hackettstown, New Jersey
Color Data East.....................    Armonk, New York
Converterscan.......................    Smyrna, Georgia
Dimension Imaging...................    Roseville, Minnesota
Lincoln Graphics....................    Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Litho Colorplate, Inc...............    Minneapolis, Minnesota
LSI/Atlanta.........................    Smyrna, Georgia
LSI/Kala............................    Kalamazoo, Michigan
The Palm Group......................    Minneapolis, Minnesota
Process Color Plate Co..............    Chicago, Illinois
Schawk Cincinnati...................    Cincinnati, Ohio
Schawkgraphics......................    Des Plaines, Illinois
Stebbins Photography................    Minneapolis, Minnesota
Weston Engraving Company, Inc.......    Minneapolis, Minnesota
929 Design..........................    Costa Mesa, California
Canada
Batten Graphics.....................    Toronto, Ontario
CyberImages.........................    Toronto, Ontario
PrinterNet..........................    Toronto, Ontario
Fishbowl Productions................    Toronto, Ontario
StanMont, Inc. .....................    Montreal, Quebec
XZact...............................    Montreal, Quebec
Mexico
Schawk de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. .....    Queretaro, Mexico
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   16
 
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCES                         LOCATION
- ------------------------------------    ------------------------------------
<S>                                     <C>
Europe
Brent International PLC.............    Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
Pre-press Group De Schutter.........    Antwerpen, Belgium
Saueressig & Company................    Vreden, Germany
Far East
Colourscan Co. Pte. Ltd. ...........    Singapore
Laserscan SDN.BHD...................    Penang, Malaysia
Australia
Network Graphics....................    Marrickville, Australia
</TABLE>
    
 
   
     The Company has taken advantage of its clients' needs to rationalize their
workforces and outsource their prepress services by establishing satellite
operations either on-site or in close proximity to the Company's clients. The
Company presently has over 60 employees on-site at or near 20 client facilities.
Maintaining personnel on-site provides for increased client communication,
improved turnaround and delivery time and enhanced long-term client
relationships. It also enables the Company to modify and customize its
operations to fit the particular requirements of each client.
    
 
     The Company is primarily engaged in one line of business, prepress and
digital imaging. Prior to February 7, 1997, the Company also operated a second
business segment, the operations of which were sold in transactions accounted
for in 1996. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations -- General."
 
     The Company is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. The
Company's principal executive offices are located at 1695 River Road, Des
Plaines, Illinois 60018, and its telephone number is (847) 827-9494.
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
   
     The proceeds to the Company from the sale of the 1,500,000 shares of Class
A Common Stock offered by the Company hereby are estimated to be $16,243,000,
net of underwriting discounts, commissions and estimated expenses. If the
Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full, the proceeds to the
Company from the sale of 1,650,000 shares, net of underwriting discounts,
commissions and estimated expenses, are estimated to be $17,899,000. The Company
will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of Class A Common Stock by
the Selling Stockholders.
    
 
   
     Simultaneously with the closing of the Offering, the Company intends to use
the net proceeds from the Offering, together with other available funds, to
repurchase 17,600 shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company and 5,207
shares of Series B Preferred Stock of the Company at a price of $1,000 per share
plus accrued dividends thereon to the date of repurchase. All of the outstanding
shares of Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock of the Company
are beneficially owned by members of the Schawk Family. Each holder of Series A
Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock has agreed to sell such shares, and
the Company has agreed to purchase such shares subject to certain conditions.
See "Certain Transactions."
    
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   17
 
                      PRICE RANGE OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK
 
     The Class A Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol "SGK." The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the
high and low sales prices for the Class A Common Stock, as reported on the New
York Stock Exchange.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                HIGH        LOW
                                                                ----        ---
<S>                                                            <C>       <C>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995:
  Quarter ended March 31....................................  $11        $ 8 1/4
  Quarter ended June 30.....................................    9 1/8      7 3/8
  Quarter ended September 30................................    8 3/4      7 1/8
  Quarter ended December 31.................................    7 3/4      5 1/8
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996:
  Quarter ended March 31....................................    9 1/4      7
  Quarter ended June 30.....................................    9 1/8      7 5/8
  Quarter ended September 30................................    8 3/4      7 1/4
  Quarter ended December 31.................................    8 3/4      6 3/4
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997:
  Quarter ended March 31....................................    9          9 5/8
  Quarter ended June 30.....................................    9          7 7/8
  Quarter ended September 30................................   11 7/16     8 1/8
  Quarter ending December 31 (through                  ,
     1997)..................................................
</TABLE>
    
 
   
     The last sale price of the Class A Common Stock, as reported on the New
York Stock Exchange on November 6, 1997, was $11.75 per share. As of September
30, 1997, the Company had 19,803,739 outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock
and approximately 2,140 stockholders of record, which does not include shares
held in securities position listings.
    
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   18
 
                                DIVIDEND POLICY
 
     The Company's Board of Directors has declared and the Company has paid a
regular quarterly dividend on the Class A Common Stock of $0.065 per share, or
$0.260 per share annually. The table below sets forth information with respect
to dividends paid on the Class A Common Stock during the periods indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              PER SHARE OF CLASS A
                                                                  COMMON STOCK
                                                              --------------------
<S>                                                           <C>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995:
  Quarter ended March 31....................................         $0.065
  Quarter ended June 30.....................................          0.065
  Quarter ended September 30................................          0.065
  Quarter ended December 31.................................          0.065
                                                                    -------
                                                                     $0.260
                                                                    =======
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996:
  Quarter ended March 31....................................         $0.065
  Quarter ended June 30.....................................          0.065
  Quarter ended September 30................................          0.065
  Quarter ended December 31.................................          0.065
                                                                    -------
                                                                     $0.260
                                                                    =======
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 (THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30):
  Quarter ended March 31....................................         $0.065
  Quarter ended June 30.....................................          0.065
  Quarter ended September 30................................          0.065
                                                                    -------
                                                                     $0.195
                                                                    =======
</TABLE>
 
     The Company's Board of Directors may determine to discontinue declaring and
paying any dividends with respect to the Class A Common Stock in the future.
There can be no assurance that dividends will be paid in the future by the
Company. Any future determination as to payment of dividends will depend upon
the Company's financial condition, results of operations, growth opportunities
and such other factors as the Board of Directors deems relevant.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   19
 
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
   
     The following table sets forth, as of September 30, 1997, the
capitalization of the Company and the capitalization of the Company as adjusted
to give effect to the receipt and application by the Company of the estimated
net proceeds from the sale of 1,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock offered
hereby as described in "Use of Proceeds" (at an assumed price of $11.75 per
share and after the deduction of estimated underwriting discounts and
commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company). The table
also gives effect to additional funds to be paid by the Company to repurchase
the remaining Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock not
repurchased with the proceeds of the Offering. The table should be read in
conjunction with the historical consolidated financial statements of the Company
and the notes thereto, and the other financial information appearing elsewhere
in this Prospectus or incorporated by reference herein. See "Index to
Consolidated Financial Statements."
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
                                                              --------------------
                                                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
                                                                             AS
                                                               ACTUAL     ADJUSTED
                                                              --------    --------
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>
Cash and cash equivalents...................................  $  1,878    $  1,878
Short-term investments......................................    18,967      12,402
                                                              --------    --------
          Total cash and short-term investments.............  $ 20,845    $ 14,280
Marketable securities.......................................  $ 33,354    $ 33,354
Short-term debt:
  Notes payable to banks....................................  $  4,200    $  4,200
  Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease
     obligations............................................       391         391
                                                              --------    --------
          Total short-term debt.............................  $  4,591    $  4,591
Long-term debt..............................................  $ 40,000    $ 40,000
Capital lease obligations...................................     4,963       4,963
Stockholders' equity:
  Series A Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value; $1,000
     liquidation value; 17,600 shares issued and outstanding
     (Actual); no shares issued and outstanding (As
     Adjusted)..............................................        --          --
  Series B Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value; $1,000
     liquidation value; 5,207 shares issued and outstanding
     (Actual); no shares issued and outstanding (As
     Adjusted)..............................................        --          --
  Class A Common Stock, $0.008 par value; 19,803,739 shares
     issued and outstanding (Actual); 21,303,739 shares
     issued and outstanding (As Adjusted) (1)...............       159         171
  Class B Common Stock, $0.05 par value; 172,281 shares
     issued but not outstanding (Actual and As Adjusted)....        --          --
  Additional paid-in capital................................    78,318      71,741
  Retained earnings (deficit)...............................   (23,491)    (23,491)
  Other equity..............................................    (1,583)     (1,583)
                                                              --------    --------
          Total stockholders' equity........................    53,403      46,838
                                                              --------    --------
          Total capitalization..............................  $ 98,366    $ 91,801
                                                              ========    ========
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
   
(1) Excludes 2,252,000 shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for issuance
    pursuant to the exercise of options under the Company's 1988 Equity Option
    Plan and 1991 Outside Directors' Formula Stock Option Plan, under which
    options for 756,402 shares have been granted and options for 567,257 shares
    were vested as of September 30, 1997.
    
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   20
 
                      SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
 
     The following table sets forth selected consolidated financial data of the
Company. On February 7, 1997, the Company sold its plastics business segment for
$93.485 million plus or minus working capital adjustments. The consolidated
statement of income data for the Company set forth below has been restated to
exclude discontinued operations and is presented for continuing operations only.
See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations -- General." The selected consolidated financial data as of and for
the fiscal years ended 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996 is derived from the
consolidated financial statements of the Company which have been audited by
Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors. Ernst & Young LLP has relied upon an
audit report of Arthur Andersen LLP with respect to the presentation of certain
financial information in the Company's 1994 financial statements. The selected
consolidated financial data as of September 30, 1997 and for the nine months
ended September 30, 1996 and September 30, 1997 is derived from the unaudited
condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company which, in the opinion
of management, contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring
adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of the Company's financial
position and results of operations. The data should be read in conjunction with
the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in
this Prospectus or incorporated by reference herein.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
                                                                                                              NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                  YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                       SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                  --------------------------------------------------------   --------------------
                                                   1992       1993        1994           1995       1996      1996         1997
                                                  -------    -------    --------        -------    -------   -------      -------
                                                                                                                 (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                               <C>        <C>        <C>             <C>        <C>       <C>          <C>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME DATA
Net Sales.......................................  $82,860    $95,809    $103,889        $87,204    $90,763   $63,881      $85,157
Operating Income................................   14,065     16,276      20,309         11,022     13,373     9,530       13,777
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income
  Taxes.........................................   12,653     12,680      15,991          7,243      9,056     6,642       13,698
Income Taxes....................................      425(a)     601(a)    3,722(a)(b)      945(c)   3,530     2,487        5,479
Income from Continuing Operations...............   12,228     12,079      12,269          6,298      5,526     4,155        8,219
Income from Continuing Operations Per Common
  Share.........................................       --(d)      --(d)       --(d)     $  0.26    $  0.22   $  0.17      $  0.37
PRO FORMA INFORMATION (CONTINUING OPERATIONS)(E)
Pro Forma Income Taxes..........................  $ 5,061    $ 5,072    $  6,396             --         --        --           --
Pro Forma Income from Continuing Operations
  Adjusted Only for Income Taxes................    7,592      7,608       9,595             --         --        --           --
OTHER DATA
Cash Dividends per Common Share.................       --(d)      --(d)       --(d)     $ 0.260    $ 0.260   $ 0.195      $ 0.195
</TABLE>
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        DECEMBER 31,                         SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
                                                    ----------------------------------------------------   ----------------------
                                                                                                                          AS
                                                      1992       1993       1994       1995       1996      ACTUAL    ADJUSTED(F)
                                                    --------   --------   --------   --------   --------   --------   -----------
                                                                                                                (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                 <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA(G)
Working Capital...................................  $ 26,186   $ 30,049   $ 25,753   $ 26,875   $ 21,881   $ 25,379    $ 18,814
Total Assets......................................   155,756    180,193    193,925    184,463    160,840    129,551     122,986
Long-Term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations......    70,803     83,271     81,090     75,582     67,785     44,963      44,963
Stockholders' Equity..............................    44,183     51,119     75,590     76,429     48,926     53,403      46,838
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
 
(a) The Company was taxed as an S corporation and therefore was subject only to
    certain state income taxes for the years ended December 31, 1992, 1993 and
    1994.
 
   
(b) Income taxes for the year ended December 31, 1994 include a one-time
    deferred tax charge of $3,000 for the termination of the S corporation tax
    election.
    
 
(c) Income taxes for the year ended December 31, 1995 include a benefit of
    $1,632 for utilization of net operating loss carryforwards for which no tax
    benefit was previously recorded.
 
   
(d) Because of the limited number of stockholders of the Company during the
    periods it was taxed as an S corporation, income and cash dividends per
    common share data is not meaningful and has not been presented for the years
    ended December 31, 1992, 1993 or 1994.
    
 
(e) Pro forma information is presented to reflect income tax expense at a normal
    corporate rate for the years ended December 31, 1992, 1993 and 1994.
 
   
(f) Adjusted to reflect the sale by the Company of 1,500,000 shares of Class A
    Common Stock offered hereby at an estimated offering price of $11.75 per
    share and the application of the estimated net proceeds therefrom, together
    with other funds available to the Company, to repurchase Series A Preferred
    Stock and Series B Preferred Stock of the Company. See "Use of Proceeds."
    
 
(g) Consolidated balance sheet data for the years ended December 31, 1992, 1993,
    1994, 1995 and 1996 includes the plastics business segment of the Company.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   21
 
                      MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
                OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
     The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this
Prospectus or incorporated by reference herein. Except for the historical
information contained herein, the following discussion contains forward-looking
statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results
could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements
discussed herein. Factors that could cause or constitute such differences
include, but are not limited to, those discussed in this section, as well as in
the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Business."
 
GENERAL
 
     In 1992, the company previously known as Schawk, Inc. ("Old Schawk") and
affiliated companies controlled by the Schawk Family (such companies
collectively referred to with Old Schawk as the "Old Schawk Companies") acquired
a controlling interest in Filtertek, Inc., a New York Stock Exchange listed
company ("Filtertek"). Effective December 30, 1994, the Old Schawk Companies
were merged into Filtertek (the "Merger") in a transaction accounted for as a
purchase transaction. The surviving corporation in the Merger was Filtertek,
which then changed its name to Schawk, Inc.; however, under applicable
accounting rules the historical financial statements of the Old Schawk
Companies, rather than the Filtertek statements, are treated as the financial
statements of the Company. The Filtertek business and certain related plastics
businesses constituted what had been the plastics group of the Company (the
"Plastics Group") prior to the Merger.
 
     During 1996, the Company adopted a plan to discontinue the operation of its
Plastics Group. The Company concluded that its managerial and financial
resources could be more productively invested in the Company's primary
competency, prepress and digital imaging services. Plastic Molded Concepts, a
division of the Plastics Group located in Eagle, Wisconsin, was sold on May 1,
1996, to a management buyout group. On December 19, 1996, the Company announced
the sale of the remaining Plastics Group to ESCO Electronics Corporation. This
sale transaction closed on February 7, 1997. As a result of the February 7, 1997
sale, the Company recorded a 1996 fourth quarter charge of $33.0 million ($1.67
loss per share) to write-down assets of the Plastics Group to estimated net
realizable value and provide for income taxes and other costs of disposing of
this business. The financial information with respect to discontinued operations
is presented in Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
     As a result of the sale of the entire Plastics Group in 1996, the Company,
comprised primarily of what had been the business of the Old Schawk Companies,
is now strategically focused on its prepress and digital imaging business.
Accordingly, the Company has restated its financial statements to reflect
discontinued operations accounting treatment with respect to the Plastics Group.
Sales, cost of sales and operating income for all years presented reflect the
actual financial information for the continuing operations only of the Company's
prepress and digital imaging business and may be used as a basis of comparison
with the 1996 consolidated financial statements.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   22
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
     The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the percentage
relationship to net sales of selected items in the Company's consolidated income
statement for continuing operations:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                           YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,      SEPTEMBER 30,
                                           -----------------------    ------------------
                                           1994     1995     1996      1996        1997
                                           -----    -----    -----    ------      ------
<S>                                        <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>         <C>
Net sales................................  100.0%   100.0%   100.0%    100.0%      100.0%
Cost of sales............................   50.5     58.6     56.4      57.0        56.2
                                           -----    -----    -----     -----       -----
Gross profit.............................   49.5     41.4     43.6      43.0        43.8
Selling, general and administrative......   29.9     28.8     27.8      28.1        27.6
Write-off of equipment...................     --       --      1.1        --          --
                                           -----    -----    -----     -----       -----
Operating income.........................   19.6%    12.6%    14.7%     14.9%       16.2%
Income from continuing operations before
  income taxes...........................   15.4%     8.3%    10.0%     10.4%       16.1%
Income from continuing operations........   11.8%     7.2%     6.1%      6.5%        9.7%
Net income (loss)........................   13.0%     8.0%   (27.5)%     9.4%        9.7%
</TABLE>
 
NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 COMPARED TO NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
1996
 
     Net Sales. Net sales from continuing operations for the first nine months
of 1997 increased 33.3% to $85.2 million from $63.9 million for the first nine
months of 1996. The increase in net sales is attributable to revenue growth from
existing clients of approximately 12.4% and revenue growth from acquisitions of
approximately 20.9%. The Company acquired several new major clients during 1997
and experienced additional revenues from the expansion of its pre-existing
client base.
 
     Operating Income. For the first nine months of 1997 operating income
increased 44.6% to $13.8 million from $9.5 million due to increased sales volume
and increased operating efficiency. Cost of sales for the nine months ended
September 30, 1997 decreased as a percent of net sales to 56.2% from 57.0% of
net sales for the comparable period in 1996 due to increased sales volume and
improved operating efficiency. Selling, general and administrative expenses
increased $5.6 million or 31.0% but decreased as a percent of net sales from
28.1% to 27.6% for the first nine months of 1997 versus the comparable period in
1996.
 
     Income From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes. Income from
continuing operations before income taxes for the nine months ended September
30, 1997 was $13.7 million, a gain of 106.2% over $6.6 million in the comparable
period of 1996. The pretax income margin for the first nine months of 1997 was
16.1% versus 10.4% for the first nine months of 1996. The improvement in pretax
income in the first nine months of 1997 versus the comparable period in 1996 is
primarily due to increased sales volume and increased operating efficiency.
 
     Income From Continuing Operations. Income from continuing operations
increased 97.8% to $8.2 million for the first nine months of 1997 versus $4.2
for the first nine months of 1996 due to the increased sales volume, greater
operating efficiencies and the application of the proceeds of the sale of the
Plastics Group. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 1997, the Company
experienced growth in interest income to $2.1 million from $0.3 million for the
same period in 1996 due to an increase in invested balances relating to the
receipt of proceeds from the sale of the Plastics Group. Additionally, interest
expense decreased for the first nine months of 1997 to $2.8 million from $3.3
million in 1996 as a result of lower overall borrowings due to the retirement or
cancellation of certain of the Company's indebtedness with proceeds from the
sale of the Plastics Group. Other income of $0.6 million for the nine months
ended September 30, 1997 is primarily due to gain on the sale of investments as
the Company liquidated a portion of the equity portfolio acquired with proceeds
of the sale of the Plastics Group which was reinvested in bond funds.
 
     Net Income. Net income increased to $8.2 million for the first nine months
of 1997 from $6.0 million for the first nine months of 1996, which included $1.9
million of income from the Plastics Group.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   23
 
1996 COMPARED TO 1995
 
     Net Sales. Sales for 1996 were $90.8 million, up 4.1% over 1995 sales of
$87.2 million. Sales increased primarily as a result of the acquisition of
Converterscan of Stamford, Connecticut and Atlanta, Georgia (August 1996) and
StanMont Inc. of Montreal, Quebec and Toronto, Ontario (September 1996). These
acquisitions were included in the Company's results during the third quarter and
increased sales in the fourth quarter of 1996 by 32% from $20.3 million in sales
during the fourth quarter of 1995 to $26.9 million for the comparable quarter of
1996.
 
     Internal growth, which was negative during the first six months of 1996,
increased in the last half of 1996 as new projects and promotions came on stream
with the Company's pre-existing consumer products clients.
 
     Operating Income. Operating income for 1996 was $13.4 million, a gain of
21.3% as compared to 1995 operating income of $11.0 million. The operating
margin in 1996 of 14.7% increased over 1995 operating margin of 12.6%. The
operating gain was due to improved operating efficiencies in the Company's
plants as capacity utilization on new and existing electronic equipment improved
and the Company was able to hold selling, general and administrative costs flat
when compared with 1995.
 
     Additionally, the Company made a decision to write off approximately $1.1
million of obsolete electronic equipment that was taken out of service in
several plants due to newer, more efficient equipment going on-line. Without the
write-off, operating income would have been $14.4 million in 1996, a gain of
30.9% over 1995 operating income of $11.0 million. The operating margin
comparison without the write-off for obsolete equipment for 1996 would have been
15.9% versus 1995 operating margin of 12.6%.
 
     Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes. Income from
continuing operations before income taxes for 1996 was $9.1 million, a gain of
25.0% over 1995 income of $7.2 million. This is a pretax income margin for 1996
of 10% versus the 1995 pretax income margin of 8.3%. Interest expense in 1996
was 8.2% higher than 1995, increasing from $4.3 million in 1995 to $4.7 million
in 1996 due to increased borrowings from acquisition-related debt. Without the
write-off of obsolete equipment of approximately $1.1 million, pretax income for
1996 would have been $10.1 million, a gain of 39.5% over 1995 pretax income of
$7.2 million. The pretax margin without the write-off for obsolete equipment for
1996 would have been 11.1% as compared to 1995 margin of 8.3%.
 
     Income from Continuing Operations. Income from continuing operations for
1996 was $5.5 million as compared to $6.3 million in 1995. Excluding the
write-off of obsolete equipment in 1996, income from continuing operations would
have been $6.6 million, an increase of 4.4% compared to 1995 income of $6.3
million. Excluding the write-off of equipment in 1996 and the benefit of net
operating loss carryforwards in 1995, income from continuing operations in 1996
would have been $6.6 million, an increase of 40.9%, compared to 1995 income of
$4.7 million.
 
     Net Income (Loss). Net loss for 1996 of $25.0 million contains a $33.0
million loss ($1.67 loss per share) on the disposal of the Plastics Group and
the related stockholder litigation settlement. The 1996 loss on the disposal of
discontinued operations contains a write-down of assets to estimated net
realizable value and provides for income taxes and other costs of disposing of
this business.
 
1995 COMPARED TO 1994
 
     Net Sales. Sales for 1995 were $87.2 million compared to 1994 sales of
$103.9 million. Sales for 1994 were at a record level due in part to labeling
law changes required by the NLEA (National Labeling and Education Act). Every
food and beverage package sold in the U.S. was required to conform to a standard
contents label on each SKU by May 1994. Sales declined 16.1% in 1995 from 1994
as clients adjusted their typical package redesign cycles as a result of the
1994 NLEA deadline. This, combined with large increases in paper prices, lowered
the annual volume of projects or orders at the Company. The resulting effect was
that many of the Company's clients in 1995 elected to postpone package changes
or use up existing packaging inventories. The rebound in sales volume was much
slower than had been anticipated.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>   24
 
     Operating Income. Operating income for 1995 was $11.0 million as compared
to operating income for 1994 of $20.3 million. The operating margin for 1995
dropped to 12.6% from 19.5% in 1994. This 45.7% decline in operating income
resulted from lower sales and the corresponding impact of a high fixed-cost
base. The Company took multiple steps during 1995 to lower its cost base,
including a consolidation of its operating units, aggressive retraining of staff
and digitization of its workflow, a reduction in workforce and a reduction in
sales, general and administrative costs.
 
     Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes. Income from
continuing operations before income taxes for 1995 was $7.2 million as compared
to 1994 income of $16.0 million. Pretax income margin for 1995 was 8.3% versus a
1994 pretax income margin of 15.4%. Pretax income declined as a result of the
significant drop in operating income described above. Interest expense in 1995
was 11.6% higher than 1994, increasing from $3.9 million in 1994 to $4.3 million
in 1995 due to marginally higher average interest rates and higher average
outstanding debt in 1995.
 
     Income from Continuing Operations. Income from continuing operations for
1995 was $6.3 million as compared to 1994 income of $12.3 million. This decline
was the result of the above-mentioned factors. Income from continuing operations
in 1995 contains a tax credit of $1.6 million related to losses from its
Plastics Group.
 
     Net Income (Loss). Net income for 1995 of $6.9 million contains income from
discontinued operations of $0.6 million. This is compared to net income for 1994
of $13.5 million, which also contains $1.2 million of income from discontinued
operations.
 
QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
     The following table presents certain unaudited quarterly consolidated
financial data for each of the four quarters in 1995 and 1996 and the first
three quarters of 1997. This information was derived from unaudited condensed
consolidated financial statements of the Company that include, in the opinion of
the Company, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments,
necessary for a fair presentation when read in conjunction with the condensed
consolidated financial statements of the Company included elsewhere in this
Prospectus or incorporated by reference herein. The Company's quarterly results
of operations have fluctuated in the past and may continue to do so in the
future depending upon a variety of factors. See "Risk Factors -- Fluctuations in
Quarterly Operating Results."
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     THREE MONTHS ENDED
                       ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       MARCH 31,   JUNE 30,   SEPT. 30,   DEC. 31,   MARCH 31,   JUNE 30,   SEPT. 30,
                         1995        1995       1995        1995       1996        1996       1996
                       ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
                                          (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S>                    <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>
Net sales............   $23,162    $22,689     $21,063    $20,290     $19,280    $21,629     $22,972
Cost of sales........    12,733     13,251      12,662     12,420      11,453     11,900      13,045
                        -------    -------     -------    -------     -------    -------     -------
Gross profit.........    10,429      9,438       8,401      7,870       7,827      9,729       9,927
Selling, general and
  administrative.....     7,355      7,024       6,068      4,669       5,477      6,367       6,109
Write-off of
  equipment..........        --         --          --         --          --         --          --
                        -------    -------     -------    -------     -------    -------     -------
Operating income.....   $ 3,074    $ 2,414     $ 2,333    $ 3,201     $ 2,350    $ 3,362     $ 3,818
Income from
  continuing
  operations.........   $ 1,306    $ 1,652     $ 1,349    $ 1,991     $ 1,001    $ 1,510     $ 1,644
Net income...........     1,611      1,997         947      2,381       1,588      2,211       2,221
Earnings per share
  from continuing
  operations.........   $  0.05    $  0.07     $  0.05    $  0.09     $  0.04    $  0.06     $  0.07
Earnings (loss) per
  share..............      0.07       0.09        0.03       0.11        0.07       0.10        0.10
 
<CAPTION>
                                   THREE MONTHS ENDED
                       -------------------------------------------
                       DEC. 31,   MARCH 31,   JUNE 30,   SEPT. 30,
                         1996       1997        1997       1997
                       --------   ---------   --------   ---------
                        (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S>                    <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>
Net sales............  $ 26,882    $26,192    $29,397     $29,568
Cost of sales........    14,755     15,163     16,167      16,523
                       --------    -------    -------     -------
Gross profit.........    12,127     11,029     13,230      13,045
Selling, general and
  administrative.....     7,234      7,281      8,374       7,872
Write-off of
  equipment..........     1,050         --         --          --
                       --------    -------    -------     -------
Operating income.....  $  3,843    $ 3,748    $ 4,856     $ 5,173
Income from
  continuing
  operations.........  $  1,371    $ 1,890    $ 3,017     $ 3,312
Net income...........   (31,004)     1,890      3,017       3,312
Earnings per share
  from continuing
  operations.........  $   0.05    $  0.08    $  0.14     $  0.15
Earnings (loss) per
  share..............     (1.58)      0.08       0.14        0.15
</TABLE>
 
                                       23
<PAGE>   25
 
     The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the percentage of
net sales represented by the indicated items:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   THREE MONTHS ENDED
                          -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          MARCH 31,   JUNE 30,   SEPT. 30,   DEC. 31,   MARCH 31,   JUNE 30,   SEPT. 30,   DEC. 31,   MARCH 31,
                            1995        1995       1995        1995       1996        1996       1996        1996       1997
                          ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
<S>                       <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>
Net sales...............    100.0%     100.0%      100.0%     100.0%      100.0%     100.0%      100.0%      100.0%     100.0%
Cost of sales...........     55.0       58.4        60.1       61.2        59.4       55.0        56.8        54.9       57.9
                            -----      -----       -----      -----       -----      -----       -----     -------      -----
Gross profit............     45.0       41.6        39.9       38.8        40.6       45.0        43.2        45.1       42.1
Selling, general and
  administrative........     31.7       31.0        28.8       23.0        28.4       29.5        26.6        26.9       27.8
Write-off of
  equipment.............       --         --          --         --          --         --          --         3.9         --
                            -----      -----       -----      -----       -----      -----       -----     -------      -----
Operating income........     13.3%      10.6%       11.1%      15.8%       12.2%      15.5%       16.6%       14.3%      14.3%
Income from continuing
  operations............      5.6%       7.3%        6.4%       9.8%        5.2%       7.0%        7.2%        5.1%       7.2%
Net income..............      7.0%       8.8%        4.5%      11.7%        8.2%      10.2%        9.7%    (100.02)%      7.2%
 
<CAPTION>
                           THREE MONTHS ENDED
                          --------------------
                          JUNE 30,   SEPT. 30,
                            1997       1997
                          --------   ---------
<S>                       <C>        <C>
Net sales...............   100.0%      100.0%
Cost of sales...........    55.0        55.9
                           -----       -----
Gross profit............    45.0        44.1
Selling, general and
  administrative........    28.5        26.6
Write-off of
  equipment.............      --          --
                           -----       -----
Operating income........    16.5%       17.5%
Income from continuing
  operations............    10.3%       11.2%
Net income..............    10.3%       11.2%
</TABLE>
 
     Results of operations for the quarters shown above include the results of
operations of prepress and digital imaging businesses acquired during such
periods. The quarterly results set forth above may not be indicative of the
future operating results of the Company. See "Risk Factors -- Fluctuations in
Quarterly Operating Results" and "-- Seasonality" below.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
   
     The Company presently finances its business from available cash held by the
Company and from cash generated from operations. The Company maintains a $10.0
million unsecured credit facility and its Canadian subsidiary maintains a
Cdn$7.5 million unsecured working capital facility which is guaranteed by the
Company. Both facilities are due on demand.
    
 
     On February 7, 1997, the Company received proceeds from the sale of the
Plastics Group of $93.485 million plus or minus working capital adjustments.
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations decreased to $45.0 million at
September 30, 1997 from $67.8 million at September 30, 1996 as the Company
repaid debt with proceeds from the sale of the Plastics Group. The Company had
$20.8 million of available cash and short-term investments at September 30,
1997.
 
     The Company held invested balances of $52.3 million in bond mutual funds,
equity mutual funds, U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government notes, corporate bonds
and equity securities. These funds are available for sale to provide for
acquisitions and corporate requirements. Unrealized appreciation on these
investments of $2.6 million ($1.6 million net of tax effects) at September 30,
1997, has been excluded from earnings in the Company's consolidated statement of
operations and has been included as a separate component of stockholders'
equity.
 
     The Company repaid on or about February 7, 1997, the following debts out of
a portion of the proceeds of the sale of the Plastics Group: (i) the balance
outstanding on a $55.0 million multi-currency Revolving Credit Agreement was
paid in-full and the agreement was canceled; (ii) the interest rate swap
agreement (floating to fixed) was made whole and canceled; and (iii) all notes
payable related to unpaid 1994 S corporation dividends were paid in full and the
notes were canceled.
 
   
     At September 30, 1997, outstanding debt of the Company consisted of: (i)
unsecured notes issued pursuant to a Note Purchase Agreement dated August 18,
1995, for $40.0 million with terms ranging from 1999 through 2004 (averaging
seven years) at an average interest rate of 6.85%; and (ii) US$4.2 million of
borrowings under the Company's Canadian subsidiary's working capital facility.
    
 
     Management believes that the level of working capital is adequate for the
Company's liquidity needs related to normal operations both currently and in the
foreseeable future, and that the Company has sufficient resources to support its
growth, either through currently available cash, through cash generated from
future operations or through short-term financing.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>   26
 
     The Company had capital expenditures in the first nine months of 1997 of
$5.5 million, in 1996 of $9.0 million, in 1995 of $5.4 million, and in 1994 of
$5.1 million. Capital expenditures have been made in 1997 for machinery,
equipment and automation to expand production facilities and improve
productivity. Capital expenditures in 1996 were for the purchase of new
equipment and building renovations. Capital expenditures during 1997 are not
expected to exceed depreciation.
 
     Combined depreciation and amortization at Schawk was $5.3 million for the
first nine months of 1997, $7.4 million in 1996, $7.5 million in 1995 and $7.2
million in 1994.
 
     Acquisition costs during 1996 were $19.6 million. Acquisition costs during
1995 and 1994 were negligible.
 
     The Company repurchased $1.4 million of Class A Common Stock during the
first nine months of 1997, $1.4 million during 1996 and $1.7 million during 1995
under a share repurchase program.
 
SEASONALITY
 
     Historically, the Company has experienced lower revenues in the first and
fourth quarters due to the seasonal trends of its clients and lower overall
economic activity. However, the Company believes that this seasonal effect on
the Company's revenues will be less pronounced in the future as a result of
frequent redesigns of packaging for promotional and other reasons and the
shorter lead times for the provision of the Company's services and products.
 
IMPACT OF INFLATION
 
     The Company believes that over the past three years inflation has not had a
significant impact on the Company's results of operations.
 
                                       25
<PAGE>   27
 
                                    BUSINESS
 
GENERAL
 
   
     The Company is a leading provider of digital imaging prepress services for
the consumer products industry in the United States and Canada. The Company's
facilities produce conventional, electronic and desktop color separations,
electronic production design, film preparation, platemaking and press proofs for
the three main printing processes used in the graphic arts industry:
lithography, flexography and gravure. The Company's services also include both
digital and analog image database archival and management as well as digital
photography, art production and various related outsourcing services. These
services require skilled, highly trained technicians applying various
computerized design, manipulation and assembly techniques. The preparation of
film, digital tape and press proofs for lithography, flexography and other
printing processes related to packaging accounted for approximately 75% of net
sales in 1996 and 77% of net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 1997.
The balance of the Company's business consists of the production of similar
services for point-of-sale, advertising and direct mail.
    
 
     The Company has particular expertise in preparing color images for high
volume print production runs of consumer products packaging. The Company
functions as a vital interface between its Fortune 1000 consumer products
clients, their creative designers and their converters or printers in assuring
the production of consistent, high quality packaging materials in increasingly
shorter turnaround and delivery times. The Company's ability to provide high
quality, customized prepress services quickly makes it a valued player in new
product introduction and promotional activity.
 
     The Company maintains both digital and analog data archives of product
package layouts and designs as a value-added service which improves the
Company's efficiency in accommodating clients' rapidly changing packaging design
modifications and product line extensions. By continuing to provide such
high-end, value-added services, the Company commands a significant share of the
market for prepress services for the food and beverage industry, which uniquely
positions it to benefit from positive industry trends.
 
   
     The Company believes that its clients have increasingly chosen to outsource
their prepress needs to the Company because of its: (i) high quality customized
imaging capabilities; (ii) rapid turnaround and delivery times; (iii) up-to-date
knowledge of the printing press specifications of converters and printers
located throughout the United States and Canada; (iv) digital imaging asset
management; (v) art production; and (vi) ability to service its clients' global
prepress requirements through the Company's North American facilities and
international alliance partners.
    
 
PREPRESS SERVICES INDUSTRY
 
   
     "Prepress services" are the tasks involved in preparing images and text for
reproduction to exact specifications for a variety of media, including packaging
for consumer products, point-of-sale displays and other promotional materials.
Packaging for consumer products encompasses folding cartons, boxes, trays, cans,
containers, packaging labels and wrap. While prepress work represents a
relatively small percentage of overall product packaging and promotion costs,
the visual impact and effectiveness of product packaging and promotions are
largely dependent upon the quality of prepress work.
    
 
     Prepress services do not entail the actual printing or production of such
packaging materials, but rather include the various preparatory steps such as
art production design, digital photography, retouching, color separation and
other platemaking services, for use in lithography, flexography and gravure.
"Color separation" refers to preparing color images, text and layout for the
printing process. Prepress services such as color separation work have
traditionally been performed by skilled craftspersons almost entirely by hand,
using what is known as the "conventional" method. With the development of
digital technology, prepress firms such as the Company have become increasingly
computerized, relying instead on digital imaging, in which digitized images and
text are manipulated according to client and converter specifications. On an
increasing basis, clients supply material to the Company in a digitized format
on a variety of media, including tape, floppy disk and CD-ROM.
 
                                       26
<PAGE>   28
 
   
     The prepress industry in North America has over 1,300 market participants,
principally independent color separators, such as the Company, converters,
printers and consumer products companies that perform these services in-house.
The majority of prepress providers specialize in high volume, commodity-oriented
publication work that includes textbooks, advertising, catalogs, newspapers and
magazines. The Company's target market, however, is the consumer products
industry. The North American market for prepress services to the consumer
products industry is estimated by the Company to range from $1.0 billion to $1.3
billion, while the worldwide market is estimated by the Company to be as high as
$6.0 billion. The consumer products prepress industry is highly fragmented with
hundreds of market participants, only a small number of which have annual
revenues exceeding $50.0 million. The Company believes that the number of
participants in the North American prepress market for the consumer products
industry will diminish due to consolidation and attrition caused by competitive
forces such as accelerating technological requirements for advanced systems,
equipment and highly skilled personnel and the growing demands of clients for
full-service global capabilities.
    
 
     The rapid development of lower-cost, faster desktop publishing software
systems has increased the potential for competition in the prepress industry by
lowering barriers to entry relating to equipment costs. However, this
development has also resulted in the proliferation of software systems, many of
which have created training issues. Frequent changes in software necessitates
continuous training and education and investment in faster equipment. It has
also created the demand from clients for increasingly faster turnaround and
delivery times. As technology advances in the imaging industry, speed has become
and continues to be a significant differentiator between the Company and its
competition.
 
   
     The Company focuses primarily on the food and beverage segment of the
consumer products industry, where packaging requirements are more complex and
demanding due to variations in packaging materials, shapes and sizes, custom
colors, varying storage conditions and marketing enhancements. Product
extensions and frequent packaging redesigns have resulted in an increasing
volume of color separation and related work in the consumer products industry
and in particular for the food and beverage segment. Additional industry trends
include: (i) the shorter turnaround and delivery time requirements from the
creative design phase to final distribution of the packaged product; (ii) an
increasing number of SKUs competing for shelf space and market share; (iii) the
increasing importance of package appearance and promotions due to demonstrated
point-of-sale consumer purchasing behavior; and (iv) the increasing requirements
for worldwide quality and consistency in packaging as companies attempt to build
global brand name recognition.
    
 
THE COMPANY'S GROWTH STRATEGY
 
   
     The Company's primary goal is to enhance its leadership positions in the
prepress imaging market for the consumer products industry. Key aspects of the
Company's business strategy to achieve this goal include the following:
    
 
   
     - Growth Through Acquisitions and Start-up Operations. The Company's
       profitability and ready access to capital have enabled it to make
       strategic acquisitions of companies that range in size from $2 million to
       $20 million. In its 44-year business history, the Company has integrated
       more than 25 prepress and imaging businesses into its operations while
       streamlining overhead and improving margins. These acquisitions are part
       of the Company's growth strategy to acquire market niche companies with
       Fortune 1000 client lists, excellent client service or proprietary
       products and solid management who will continue to operate the business
       after the acquisition. These acquired managers receive performance
       incentives to continue to profitably grow the business.
    
 
   
      The Company intends to continue expanding through acquisitions of
      well-managed companies with solid market positions and established client
      lists and/or new technologies. Schawk believes that an emphasis on
      complementary acquisitions of companies serving targeted markets will
      allow it to broaden its service offerings and provide single source
      prepress and imaging and image database services.
    
 
      The Company believes it has greater versatility in meeting the various
      requirements of its clients than smaller, less integrated competitors
      lacking technical expertise, and that this versatility will result in
 
                                       27
<PAGE>   29
 
     greater opportunities for internal growth as well as enhancing the
     Company's image as an attractive purchaser for potential consolidation
     candidates. Schawk believes that there will continue to be a number of
     attractive acquisition candidates in the fragmented and consolidating
     industry in which it operates, particularly in the packaging and image
     database management markets. The Company expects to strengthen its market
     position by applying its management and operational philosophies and
     practices, which have been successful in its graphic arts businesses, to
     newly acquired businesses.
 
     The Company also has been successful in establishing start-up operations
     in response to perceived client and market requirements. Schawk intends to
     continue this strategy as opportunities warrant. See "--Acquisitions and
     Start-up Operations."
 
   
   - Exploitation of Industry Trends; Outsourcing. The Company has
     historically attempted to strengthen its market position by identifying
     and exploiting industry trends. As a consequence, the Company has been
     uniquely positioned to benefit as consumer products companies continue to
     reduce both their prepress staffs and total number of suppliers. The
     Company's on-site strategy developed as clients outsourced imaging
     functions in an attempt to cut costs and improve turnaround and delivery
     times. The Company intends to expand this effort as clients increasingly
     require on-site service. Further, the Company believes that its
     commitment to client service and its broad array of premium service
     offerings position the Company as a cost effective, value-added supplier
     of prepress services. As clients continue to cut their staffing levels,
     they are expanding the number of services required of their prepress
     suppliers. As a result, fewer of the Company's competitors have the full
     complement of capabilities required in the marketplace. The Company
     believes outsourcing trends will continue. The following is a partial
     listing of the Company's on-site locations:
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   CLIENT                             LOCATION
                   ------                             --------
     <S>                                            <C>
     Brachs & Brock Confections, Inc..............  Chattanooga, Tennessee
     Campbell Soup Company........................  Camden, New Jersey
     International Home Foods.....................  Parisippany, New Jersey
     The Keebler Company..........................  Elmhurst, Illinois
     Nabisco Foods Group..........................  Parisippany, New Jersey
     Pepsico, Inc.................................  Rye, New York
     Pillsbury, Inc...............................  Minneapolis, Minnesota
     The Quaker Oats Company......................  Chicago, Illinois
     Stouffer Foods Corporation...................  Solon, Ohio
</TABLE>
 
     The Company has also expanded its imaging operations in Cincinnati, Ohio.
     The Company is currently on-site in a client location in Cincinnati and
     believes that by locating a facility there, turnaround and delivery time
     for its existing clients and access to new client relationships will be
     strongly enhanced. The Company has also formed a start-up operation for a
     client located in Queretaro, Mexico.
 
   
   - Exploitation of Technology Advancements. The Company is dedicated to
     keeping abreast of and initiating technological process developments in
     its industry. To build upon its leadership position, the Company actively
     evaluates systems and software products of various computer and software
     manufacturers and also independently develops software for implementation
     at its operating facilities. The Company continually invests in new
     technology designed to support its high quality prepress services. The
     Company concentrates its efforts on understanding the systems and
     equipment available in the marketplace and creating solutions using
     off-the-shelf products, customized to meet a variety of specific client
     and internal requirements.
    
 
                                       28
<PAGE>   30
 
MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY
 
     The Company believes that by adhering to its management philosophy, the
Company has gained in market share and improved margin performance in its core
business. The Company's management philosophy incorporates the following key
concepts:
 
     Total Quality Management. A cornerstone of the Company's management
philosophy is its emphasis on high quality. The Company is committed to the
principles of "Total Quality Management" ("TQM") and stresses to all employees,
regardless of level, the importance of striving to meet or exceed client
expectations. Historically, the Company has been committed to employee training
and technological improvements to achieve this level of performance. Through the
Company's application of TQM employees have adopted the necessary commitment to
client service that is essential to quick turnaround and consistent delivery of
high quality services and products. Such increased quality results in decreased
costs to clients and the Company in the long run. The Company views itself as a
service provider to its clients. Understanding the needs of its clients and
customizing its services and products is part of the TQM process that has helped
the Company differentiate itself from the competition. Consequently, the Company
makes the necessary investments to ensure that these services continue to meet
the highest quality standards and needs of its clients.
 
     Client Service. Another key component of the Company's management
philosophy has been its commitment to client service. The Company believes that
this commitment has contributed to the confidence and loyalty its clients have
shown. Because of the increasingly competitive markets faced by its clients, the
Company must be flexible enough to modify its operations in order to meet the
specialized needs of its clients. The Company's emphasis on on-site client
representatives and operations addresses this requirement and has further
solidified existing imaging client relationships.
 
     Employee Training and Investment in Equipment. The Company believes that
its most valuable assets are its employees because its ability to provide
clients with high quality services and products depends upon their dedication
and expertise. The Company provides extensive and continuous training to keep
its employees abreast of the latest technological developments and the
particular needs of its clients. Providing its employees with the latest
equipment, software and training are fundamental to the Company's philosophy.
 
   
     Technical Expertise. The Company is able to provide its clients with high
quality services and products and quick response time because of its efficient
utilization of state-of-the-art equipment software, digital server, storage
technology and telecommunication systems. As part of its commitment to maintain
its technological expertise, the Company has historically worked with software
developers to create software that fully addresses the Company's and its
clients' needs. The Company acts as a test site for numerous hardware and
software products. In order to facilitate the exchange of information among its
various facilities, in 1991 the Company established the Schawk Technical
Advisory Board for the purpose of coordinating the research and evaluation of
new technologies in the graphic arts industry. This group continues to be
recognized for its efforts and has been invited to lecture at numerous national
and international symposiums and conferences.
    
 
SERVICES
 
     The Company offers comprehensive, high quality prepress services. The
Company's facilities produce conventional, electronic and desktop color
separations, electronic production design, film preparation, platemaking and
press proofs for lithography, flexography and gravure. The Company's services
also include both digital and analog image database archival and management as
well as art production and various related outsourcing services.
 
     The Company interfaces between consumer products manufacturers and the
creative designers and converters used by those businesses to produce packaging,
such as folding cartons, boxes, trays, cans, containers, packaging labels and
wrap and related point-of-sale and promotional materials. The Company's services
consist principally of the electronic and digital production of art design,
color separations and color proofs to client and converter specifications and
imaging asset management. These services are an intermediate step between
creative artwork and the actual printing of graphic materials. The production of
color separations requires well-trained and highly skilled technicians applying
various digital and analog image
 
                                       29
<PAGE>   31
 
manipulation, assembly and color management techniques in order to preserve the
integrity of the original image when translated into print and to ensure
consistency of the printed materials.
 
     The Company specializes in prepress services relating to the packaging and
promotional needs of clients in the consumer products industry, particularly
Fortune 1000 clients who need to ensure worldwide quality and consistency in the
packaging and related imagery of their products. Consumer products have no
consistent size, shape, color or packaging material. To achieve its clients'
varying requirements, the Company functions as a network of custom job shops
taking advantage of its size for technical expertise while being able to respond
quickly to the increasingly global needs of particular clients.
 
     Image quality and consistency and ever-shortening response and delivery
times are becoming increasingly important to consumer products manufacturers as
packaging assumes a greater role in promotion. While prepress work represents a
relatively small percentage of overall packaging costs, the visual impact and
effectiveness of product packaging is largely dependent upon the quality of the
prepress work.
 
   
     The Company's clients typically outsource their prepress requirements and
assign the Company the responsibility of interfacing with the clients'
designated graphic designers, who design the packaging and the converters or
printers who print and produce the packaging and related materials. The Company
competes on the basis of offering its multi-national client base: (i) high
quality customized imaging; (ii) rapid turnaround and delivery times; (iii)
up-to-date knowledge of the printing press specifications of converters and
printers located throughout the United States and Canada; (iv) digital imaging
asset management; (v) art production; and (vi) the ability to service its
clients' global prepress requirements through the Company's North American
facilities and international alliance partners.
    
 
     As technology has created opportunities for quicker production turnarounds
and deliveries, most of the Company's Fortune 1000 consumer products clients
have capitalized on the opportunity to modify their packaging more frequently in
order to customize their promotional activities on a regional, seasonal or
sporting event basis. This activity has greatly increased the importance of
maintaining the integrity of the digital and analog image design and text data
for each package variation.
 
   
     With its expansion into electronic art production design, the Company is
utilizing its technical expertise to serve clients' requirements in a variety of
outsourcing services including image database archiving, telecommunication and
trafficking. The Company has the capacity to archive and manage past, current
and future package design data and, accordingly, serves as a quick access
library of accurate file data for its clients. The Company is continuously
updating and improving its imaging database management system, called PaRTs(TM)
(Packaging archival Retrieval and Transmission system). The Company believes
that PaRTs(TM) enhances a client's ability to manage its imaging assets more
efficiently and with reduced time commitments. When compared to other database
management systems available in the market place, the Company believes that
PaRTs(TM) contributes to the Company's ability to meet its clients' quick
turnaround and delivery times and quality standards.
    
 
     The Company has also developed a customized client electronic communication
system called CLICk(TM) (Client Linked Information Centers) for its authorized
clients, designated converters and other authorized personnel. Compatible with
all major platforms and operating systems, CLICk(TM) allows clients to
efficiently communicate with the Company and others on the system using
telephone lines and/or the Internet.
 
     Given the increased computerization of the prepress services industry,
highly trained technicians are essential to the quality of the end product.
Requirements of turnaround speed without a reduction in quality are increasing
as clients strive for differentiation and customization of their products and
brands. Schawk has met these requirements by continuously reinvesting in
technology, training its personnel and establishing numerous satellite on-site
operations to complement its main operating facilities.
 
     To capitalize on market trends, management believes that the Company must
continue to be able to provide clients the ability to make numerous changes and
enhancements with shorter turnaround times than ever before. Accordingly, over
the past two years the Company has focused its efforts on improving its response
times and continues to invest in rapidly emerging technology and the continuing
education of its employees. The Company also educates clients on the
opportunities and complexities of state-of-the-art
 
                                       30
<PAGE>   32
 
equipment and software. The Company believes that its ability to provide quick
turnaround and delivery times, dependability and value-added training and
education programs will continue to give it a competitive advantage in serving
clients who require high volume, high quality product imagery.
 
     The Company's services are distinguished by its ability to complete
prepress services for packaging designs in increasingly short time frames and
with high standards of quality. In order to satisfy client requirements, the
Company is frequently required to provide services in as little as 24 hours. The
following core competencies of the Company are described in more detail below:
 
     - Technical Expertise. The Company places an emphasis on investment in
       state-of-the-art systems and equipment and the need for continual
       training and development of its employees through programs offered at the
       Company-owned training center and operating facilities and on-site at
       client locations. The Company has had success in elevating its employees'
       competency and its clients' standards to levels requiring the superior
       technical expertise and capabilities that distinguish the Company's
       services.
 
   
     - On-Site Personnel. The Company has placed over 60 employees on-site at or
       near 20 client locations in an effort to further integrate its prepress
       services directly with client operation. This facilitates faster
       turnaround and delivery times and fosters stronger client relationships.
    
 
     - Strong Relationships with Converters and Printers. As each client selects
       its own converter(s) and/or printer(s) the Company coordinates
       extensively with the converter to ensure uniformity in color and
       appearance of the printed product packages. Each client generally selects
       its printing services on a bid basis. By using the Company as its imaging
       specialist, the print/read imagery information is not captive at any one
       printer or converter. This affords each client consistent image
       replication at any printing site as the Company can supply any printer or
       converter with film customized for its printing press. Additionally, this
       allows the client to reproduce its image consistently across many
       printing sources and it also provides the client with information as to
       location and cost of its press runs.
 
       Over the course of its 44-year business history, the Company has
       developed strong relationships with many of the major converters and
       printers in the United States and Canada and, as a result, has extensive
       knowledge of their equipment, thereby enabling the Company to increase
       the overall efficiency of the printing process. Internal operating
       procedures and conditions may vary from printer to printer, affecting the
       quality of the color image. In order to minimize the effects of these
       variations, the Company makes necessary adjustments to its color
       separation work to account for irregularities or idiosyncrasies in the
       printing presses of each of its clients' converters. The Company strives
       to afford its clients total control over their imaging processes with
       customized and coordinated services designed to fit each individual
       client's particular needs, all aimed at ensuring that the color quality,
       accuracy and consistency of a client's printed matter are maintained.
 
   
     - Imaging Asset Management. The Company maintains and manages a database
       for its clients' images and package designs. Once an image is in the
       Company's database, the client can make frequent regional, seasonal or
       event-related adjustments to the file image prior to printing. The
       Company's ability to quickly manipulate digital images enables its
       clients to deliver their products to the market faster. The Company's
       capabilities also allow it to send an image for output and printing
       virtually anywhere in the world. As more and more multi-national consumer
       products companies strengthen their international packaging quality
       control to reflect their global brand image, they are requiring a more
       consistent worldwide image. In response to this trend, the Company is
       playing an increasing role in ensuring that its clients' images are
       satisfactory both domestically and internationally.
    
 
ACQUISITIONS AND START-UP OPERATIONS
 
     The Company has acquired and integrated more than 25 prepress and imaging
businesses into its operations since the business was founded in 1953.
Throughout its history, the Company has successfully identified acquisition
candidates that represent market niche companies with Fortune 1000 client lists,
excellent client service or proprietary products and solid management. The
Company favors businesses with
 
                                       31
<PAGE>   33
 
management teams that will continue to operate the businesses as autonomous
units. The Company has also commenced a number of start-up operations over the
years when client servicing requirements or market conditions warranted.
 
     During 1996, the Company made three acquisitions: Converterscan, StanMont,
Inc., and Stebbins Photography. Converterscan, previously based in Stamford,
Connecticut, and Atlanta, Georgia, has expertise in digital imaging and a strong
client base. Its two operating facilities and production and sales organization
have been consolidated with the Company's LSI/Atlanta operation in Georgia.
StanMont, Inc. is based in Montreal, Quebec and has five operating entities or
divisions: CyberImages (Toronto), Batten Graphics (Toronto), PrinterNet
(Toronto), Fishbowl Productions (Toronto) and XZact (Montreal) which will
continue as freestanding facilities. StanMont has a Canadian presence with a
strong client base as well as operations with which to serve the imaging needs
of Schawk's consumer products clients in Canada. StanMont and Batten
Graphics/CyberImages currently have significant relationships with advertising
and catalog clients, and offer further growth opportunities in the packaging
market. Stebbins Photography is a digital photography studio in Minneapolis,
Minnesota. Stebbins Photography has a strong reputation in the emerging digital
photography area. The Converterscan, StanMont and Stebbins acquisitions were
made to expand the client base, enhance the Company's technical capabilities and
services and increase its geographic presence with its multi-national client
base.
 
     The Company intends to continue expanding through acquisitions of
well-managed companies with solid market positions and established client lists
and/or new technologies. The Company believes that emphasis on complementary
acquisitions of businesses serving targeted markets will allow it to broaden its
product offerings and provide its clients with a single source for imaging and
image database services. The Company will also continue to analyze and
investigate start-up operations on an ongoing basis.
 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
 
   
     The Company is dedicated to keeping abreast of and, in a number of cases,
initiating technological process developments in its industry that have
applications for packaging. To build upon its leadership position, the Company
is actively involved in system and software technical evaluations of various
computer systems and software manufacturers and also independently pursues
software development for implementation at its operating facilities. The Company
continually invests in new technology designed to support its high quality
prepress services. The Company concentrates its efforts in understanding systems
and equipment available in the marketplace and creating solutions using
off-the-shelf products, customized to meet a variety of specific client and
internal requirements. PaRTs(TM) and CLICk(TM) are examples of the Company's
commitment to systems development.
    
 
     As an integral part of its commitment to research and development, the
Company has established the Schawk Technical Advisory Board for the purpose of
researching and evaluating new technologies in the graphic arts and
telecommunications industries. The Advisory Board meets formally, at least
quarterly, to review new equipment and programs, then disseminates the
information to the entire Company and to clients wherever appropriate.
 
MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
 
   
     The Company markets its services nationally and internationally through
seminars, newsletters and training sessions targeted at existing and potential
clients. The Company sells its services through a group of approximately 100
direct salespersons and 115 client service technicians who call on consumer
products manufacturers, including those in the food and beverage, home products,
pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries and direct mail. The Company has adopted
a team approach to marketing, reflective of its TQM philosophy. Both the
Company's salespersons and the Company's client service technicians share
responsibility for marketing the Company's offerings to existing and potential
clients, thereby fostering long-term institutional relationships with its
clients.
    
 
     In addition to its operations in the United States and Canada, the Company
considers its start-up prepress and imaging operation in Mexico and alliance
agreements with servicing partners in Europe, the Far East and Australia unique
and increasingly important aspects of its marketing and distribution
capabilities.
 
                                       32
<PAGE>   34
 
CLIENTS
 
   
     The Company's clients consist of direct purchasers of color separations,
including end-use consumer products manufacturers and direct mailers, converters
and advertising agencies. Many of the Company's clients, a large percentage of
which are Fortune 1000 companies, are multi-national in scope and often use
numerous converters both domestically and internationally. Because these clients
desire uniformity of color and image quality across a variety of media, the
Company plays a very important role in coordinating their printing activities by
maintaining current equipment specifications regarding its clients and
converters. Management believes that this role has enabled the Company to
establish closer and more stable relationships with these clients. Converters
also have a great deal of confidence in the quality of the Company's services
and have worked closely with the Company to reduce the converters' required lead
time, thereby lowering their costs. End-use clients often select and utilize the
Company to ensure better control of their packaging or other needs and depend
upon the Company to act as their agent to ensure quality management of data
along with consistency among numerous converters and packaging media. The
Company has established 20 on-site locations at or near clients that require
high volume, specialized service. As its art production services continue to
expand, the Company anticipates that it will further develop its on-site
services to its client base.
    
 
   
     Many of the Company's clients place orders on a daily and weekly basis and
work closely with the Company year-round as they frequently redesign product
packaging or introduce new products. While certain promotional activities are
seasonal, such as those relating to summer, back-to-school time and holidays,
shorter technology-driven prepress cycle time has enabled consumer products
manufacturers to tie their promotional activities to regional and/or current
events (such as sporting events or motion picture releases), prompting such
manufacturers to redesign their packages more frequently. This has resulted in a
correspondingly higher number of packaging redesign assignments. This
technology-driven trend toward more frequent packaging changes has offset
previous seasonal fluctuations in the volume of the Company's business. In
addition, consumer products manufacturers have a tendency to single-source their
prepress work with respect to a particular product line, so that changes to the
product continuity can be assured. As a result, the Company has developed a base
of steady clients in the food and beverage industry. During 1996, no single
client accounted for more than 8% of the Company's net sales, and the 10 largest
clients in the aggregate accounted for approximately 37% of net sales. For the
nine months ended September 30, 1997, no single client accounted for more than
7% of net sales, and the 10 largest clients accounted for approximately 34% of
net sales.
    
 
     The Company's current clients include:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                         <C>
Bayer Corporation                           Lipton Tea Company, Ltd.
Brachs & Brock Confections, Inc.            Nabisco Foods Group
Campbell Soup Company                       Nestle
ConAgra, Inc.                               Pepsico, Inc.
CPC Best Foods                              Pillsbury, Inc.
General Mills, Inc.                         PrintPack
Hershey Foods Corporation                   Publisher's Clearing House
Hunt-Wesson, Inc.                           The Quaker Oats Company
International Home Foods                    SmithKline Beecham
The Keebler Company                         Stouffer Foods Corporation
Leo Burnett Company, Inc.                   7-Up/Dr. Pepper
Lever Brothers
</TABLE>
 
COMPETITION
 
     The Company's competition comes from three sources: other independent color
separators; converters and printers that have prepress service capabilities; and
consumer products companies who are able to use developing technologies to
execute these services in-house.
 
     Independent color separators are companies whose business is performing
prepress services for one or more of the principal printing processes. The
Company believes that only two firms, Wace Group U.S.A., a
 
                                       33
<PAGE>   35
 
subsidiary of Wace P.L.C., and Southern Graphics, a subsidiary of Reynolds
Metals, compete with Schawk on a national basis. The remaining independent color
separators are regional or local firms that compete in specific markets. To
remain competitive, each firm must maintain client relationships and recognize,
develop and exploit state-of-the-art technology and contend with the increasing
demands for speed.
 
     Some converters with prepress service capabilities compete with the Company
by performing such services in connection with printing work. Independent color
separators such as the Company, however, may offer greater technical
capabilities, image quality control and speed of delivery. In addition,
converters often utilize the services of the Company because of the rigorous
demands being caused by the requirement for increased timetables. Increasingly,
converters are being required to invest in technology to improve speed in the
printing process and have avoided spending on prepress technology.
 
   
     In the past, the Company has faced competition from clients who have sought
to reduce costs by performing color separation services in-house. However, as
requirements of speed continue to be critical, along with the recognition of the
importance of focusing on their core competencies, clients have increasingly
recognized that the Company provides services at a rate and cost that makes
outsourcing more efficient.
    
 
PURCHASING AND RAW MATERIALS
 
     The Company purchases photographic film and chemicals, storage media, ink,
plate materials and various other supplies and chemicals on consignment for use
in its business. These items are purchased from a variety of sources and are
available from a number of producers, both foreign and domestic. Materials and
supplies account for only a small portion of the Company's cost of production,
and no shortages are anticipated. Furthermore, as a growing proportion of the
workflow is digital, the already low percentage of materials in cost of sales
will continue to be reduced. Historically, the Company has negotiated and enjoys
significant volume discounts on materials and supplies from most of its
suppliers.
 
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
 
   
     The Company owns no significant patents. The trademarks "Schawk,"
"Clockface and Creole," "CLICk" and "PaRTs" and the trade names "Amber Design,"
"Color Data East," "Schawkgraphics," "Schawk Client Services Group," "Schawk
Prep," "Lincoln Graphics," "Litho Colorplate," "LSI/Atlanta," "LSI/Kala,"
"Process Color Plate," "Total Reproductions," "Weston Engraving," "The Palm
Group," "Stebbins Photography," "Blue Barrel," "StanMont," "PrinterNet,"
"CyberImages," "Batten Graphics," "Fishbowl" and "XZact" are the most
significant trademarks and trade names used by the Company.
    
 
EMPLOYEES
 
   
     As of September 30, 1997, the Company had approximately 880 full-time
employees. Of this number, 60% were production employees of which approximately
187 are represented by local units of the Graphic Arts International Union and
approximately 67 were represented by local units of the Toronto Typographical
Union. The Company's union employees are vital to its operations. Collective
bargaining agreements covering the Company's union employees in four facilities
are subject to renegotiation. One is subject to renegotiation in 1998 and three
are subject to renegotiation during 1999-2000. One is presently being
renegotiated. The Company considers its relationships with its employees and
unions to be good.
    
 
BACKLOG
 
     The Company does not have or keep backlog figures as projects or orders are
generally in and out of the facilities within five to seven days. Generally, the
Company does not have contracts with its clients, but maintains client
relationships through a combination of service, technology enhancements and
price.
 
                                       34
<PAGE>   36
 
FACILITIES
 
     The Company owns or leases the following office and operating facilities:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      LEASE
                                                    OWNED/                         EXPIRATION
             LOCATION                SQUARE FEET    LEASED        PURPOSE             DATE              DIVISION
             --------                -----------    ------        -------          ----------           --------
                                    (APPROXIMATE)
<S>                                 <C>             <C>      <C>                  <C>             <C>
Armonk, New York..................     10,000       Leased   General Offices,     Month to        Color Data East
                                                             Operating Facility   month
Carmel, Indiana...................        782       Leased   Sales and Service    October 1998    Weston Engraving
                                                             Office                               Company, Inc.
Cherry Hill, New Jersey...........     35,000       Owned    General Offices,     N/A             Lincoln Graphics
                                                             Operating Facility
Chicago, Illinois.................     42,000       Leased   General Offices,     June 2002       Process Color Plate
                                                             Operating Facility                   Co.
Cincinnati, Ohio..................      4,754       Leased   Client Services      October 2000    Schawk Cincinnati
Covington, Kentucky...............        200       Leased   Sales Offices        Month to        LSI/Kala
                                                                                  month
Rosemont, Illinois................      3,500       Leased   Warehouse            March 1998      Corporate
Des Plaines, Illinois.............     20,000       Owned    Executive Offices    N/A             Corporate
Des Plaines, Illinois.............     60,000       Leased   General Offices,     N/A             Schawkgraphics
                                                             Operating Facility
Hackettstown, New Jersey..........      3,000       Leased   General Offices,     December 2000   Amber Design
                                                             Operating Facility                   Associates
Kalamazoo, Michigan...............     67,000       Owned    General Offices,     N/A             LSI/Kala
                                                             Operating Facility
Minneapolis, Minnesota............     31,000       Owned    General Offices,     N/A             Weston Engraving
                                                             Operating Facility                   Company, Inc.
                                                                                                  Litho Colorplate,
                                                                                                  Inc.
                                                                                                  The Palm Group
                                                                                                  Stebbins Photography
Montreal, Quebec, Canada..........      5,000       Leased   General Offices,     September       StanMont, Inc.
                                                             Operating Facility   2004
Montreal, Quebec, Canada..........     30,000       Owned    General Offices,     N/A             StanMont, Inc.
                                                             Operating Facility                   XZact
Roseville, Minnesota..............     16,000       Leased   General Offices,     May 1997        Dimension Imaging
                                                             Operating Facility
Smyrna, Georgia...................     20,000       Leased   General Offices,     October 1998    LSI/Atlanta
                                                             Operating Facility                   Converterscan
Toronto, Ontario, Canada..........     30,000       Leased   General Offices,     December 2004   Batten Graphics
                                                             Operating Facility                   CyberImages
                                                                                                  Fishbowl Productions
                                                                                                  PrinterNet
</TABLE>
    
 
     The Company considers its facilities adequate for current and foreseeable
levels of operations.
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
     From time to time, the Company has been a party to routine pending or
threatened legal proceedings and arbitrations. The Company insures some, but not
all, of its exposure with respect to such proceedings. Based upon information
presently available, and in light of legal and other defenses available to the
Company, management does not consider the liability from any threatened or
pending litigation to be material to the Company. The Company has not
experienced any significant environmental problems.
 
                                       35
<PAGE>   37
 
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
 
     The Company's executive officers and directors are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              NAME                AGE                    POSITION
              ----                ---                    --------
<S>                                    <C>  
     Clarence W. Schawk..........  71    Chairman of the Board and Director                   
     David A. Schawk.............  41    Chief Executive Officer, President and Director      
     A. Alex Sarkisian...........  45    Executive Vice President -- Finance, Chief           
                                         Financial Officer, Corporate Secretary and           
                                         Director                                             
     Judith W. McCue.............  49    Director                                             
     Robert F. Meinken...........  71    Director                                             
     John T. McEnroe.............  45    General Counsel, Assistant Secretary and Director    
     Hollis W. Rademacher........  61    Director                                             
     Dennis D. Wilson............  45    Chief Accounting Officer and Director of Financial   
                                         Reporting                                            
     John P. Cragen..............  47    Corporate Controller                                 
</TABLE>
 
     Clarence W. Schawk has been Chairman of the Board of the Company since
September 1992, when he was also appointed to the Executive Committee. He served
as Chief Executive Officer of Filtertek from September 1992 until February 1993.
Clarence W. Schawk also served as Chairman of the Board of Old Schawk from 1953
until the Merger with Filtertek and served as Chief Executive Officer until June
1994. He is the father of David A. Schawk, President and Chief Executive Officer
of the Company. Clarence W. Schawk previously served as President and a Director
of the International Prepress Association. Mr. Schawk also served as a Director
of Old Schawk until the Merger.
 
     David A. Schawk was appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Company in
September 1992, and was elected Chief Executive Officer and President in
February 1993. He was appointed to the Board of Directors in September 1992.
David A. Schawk served as the President of Old Schawk from 1987 until the
Merger. David A. Schawk was appointed Chief Executive Officer in June 1994.
David A. Schawk serves on the Company's Executive and 401(k) Administration
Committees. David A. Schawk is the son of Clarence W. Schawk. David A. Schawk
currently serves as a Director of the International Prepress Association. Mr.
Schawk also served as a Director of Old Schawk until the Merger.
 
     A. Alex Sarkisian was appointed Executive Vice President -- Finance and
Chief Financial Officer in October 1997. He has served on the Company's Board of
Directors and as Corporate Secretary since September 1992 and, in 1994, was
appointed Executive Vice President. Mr. Sarkisian was the Executive Vice
President and Secretary of Old Schawk and has held such positions since 1988 and
1986, respectively. Mr. Sarkisian also served as a Director of Old Schawk until
the Merger. He is a member of the Executive and 401(k) Administration
Committees.
 
     Judith W. McCue has been a partner with the law firm of McDermott, Will &
Emery since 1995. Prior thereto, Ms. McCue was a partner with the law firm of
Keck, Mahin & Cate where she practiced from 1972 to 1995. Ms. McCue was
appointed Director of the Company in September 1992 and is a member of the Audit
and Option Committees.
 
     Robert F. Meinken has been a retired private investor and businessman since
1988, after an extensive career in sales and marketing. Mr. Meinken was
appointed Director of the Company in September 1992 and is a member of the Audit
and Option Committees.
 
     John T. McEnroe has been a partner with the law firm of Vedder, Price,
Kaufman & Kammholz, counsel to the Company, since May 1992. Prior to this
position, he was a partner with the law firm of Keck, Mahin & Cate where he
practiced from 1976 to 1992. Mr. McEnroe was appointed a Director of the Company
in September 1992 and is a member of the Executive and Option Committees.
 
                                       36
<PAGE>   38
 
     Hollis W. Rademacher held various positions with Asiana Bank, N.A.,
Chicago, Illinois, from 1957 to 1993 and was Chief Financial Officer of Asiana
Bank Corporation, Chicago, Illinois, from 1988 to 1993. Mr. Rademacher is
currently self-employed in the fields of consulting and investments in Chicago,
Illinois. Mr. Rademacher was first elected a director of the Company in 1995 and
is a member of the Audit and Option Committees. Mr. Rademacher also serves as a
Director of Cityscape Financial Corporation, College Television Network, and
Wintrust Financial Corporation.
 
     Dennis D. Wilson has been Chief Accounting Officer since 1996 and Director
of Financial Reporting since 1994. From 1992 to 1994, Mr. Wilson was a principal
of Wilson Financial Services, Crete, Illinois, and Chief Financial Officer of
Family Services Center, Matteson, Illinois. Mr. Wilson is a Certified Public
Accountant.
 
     John P. Cragen has been Corporate Controller of the Company since 1994 and
held a similar position with Old Schawk from 1976 to 1994. Mr. Cragen is a
Certified Public Accountant.
 
     Currently, all outside Directors of the Company (except for Mr. McEnroe)
receive a $500 fee for attendance at each regularly scheduled or special board
or committee meeting. All Directors are also reimbursed for ordinary and
necessary expenses incurred in attending Board or committee meetings. Directors
fees are paid to Directors who are compensated employees of the Company as part
of such employees' overall compensation. All non-employee Directors have
received options under the Company's 1991 Outside Directors' Formula Stock
Option Plan.
 
     There is presently one vacancy on the Board of Directors. The Board
presently intends to fill such vacancy, but has not identified any candidate to
date. Any person appointed by the Board to fill such vacancy in accordance with
the Company's By-laws during 1997 will be up for election at the 1998 Annual
Meeting.
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
 
     In January 1991, the Company entered into employment agreements with
Clarence W. Schawk and David A. Schawk to serve as executive officers. These
agreements, upon review of comparable base salaries for executives of similarly
situated companies, have been amended and restated effective October 1, 1994.
Each employment agreement, as amended and restated in October, 1994, provides
for an initial term of 10 years (through December 31, 2004), with one-year
extensions thereafter unless terminated by either the Company or the executive.
Each employment agreement provides for payment of a base salary, adjustable
annually by the Board of Directors based upon a merit review and to account for
inflation, as well as an annual bonus consisting of short- and long-term
incentives. Clarence W. Schawk's employment agreement provided for a base salary
of $540,000 for the calendar year 1996 and David A. Schawk's employment
agreement provided for a base salary of $432,000 for the calendar year 1996.
 
     The short-term bonus plan contemplates cash payments of 5.0% and 3.0% of
the excess of "adjusted net income" over $10.0 million with respect to Clarence
W. Schawk and David A. Schawk, respectively. "Adjusted net income" means annual
net income after taxes, but before bonuses to the Chairman and the President of
the Company and amortization of goodwill resulting from acquisitions of the
Company consummated after January 1, 1995. The amounts of such cash payments are
subject to adjustment based upon the Company's financial performance during the
relevant fiscal year. The long-term plan contemplates a non-cash distribution of
options calculated to equal 5.0% and 3.0% of the excess of "adjusted net income"
over $10.0 million for Clarence W. Schawk and David A. Schawk, respectively.
There were no short-term plan cash bonus payments made or long-term stock plan
options granted during 1996 to either Clarence W. Schawk or David A. Schawk.
 
                                       37
<PAGE>   39
 
                       PRINCIPAL AND SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
 
   
     The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial
ownership of the Class A Common Stock as of the date of this Prospectus by: (i)
each Selling Stockholder; (ii) each member of the Schawk Family; (iii) each of
the Company's directors; and (iv) all directors and executive officers as a
group. Except as provided below, no other person is known by the Company to
beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP                       BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
                                       BEFORE OFFERING(1)       SHARES TO BE      AFTER OFFERING(1)
                                   --------------------------   SOLD IN THE      --------------------
              NAME                   SHARES           PERCENT     OFFERING         SHARES     PERCENT
              ----                 -----------        -------   ------------     ----------   -------
<S>                                <C>                <C>       <C>              <C>          <C>
Clarence W. Schawk(2)............   11,005,899(3)      55.3%      995,220(4)     10,010,679    46.8%
David A. Schawk(2)...............    1,657,118(5)       8.3       200,000         1,457,118     6.8
Jacques R. Lilly(6)..............      304,780          1.5       304,780                 0     0.0
Cathy Ann Schawk(2)(7)...........    1,086,552(8)       5.5                       1,086,552     5.1
Judith Lynn Gallo(2)(9)..........      892,088(10)      4.5                         892,088     4.2
Lisa Beth Stearns(2)(11).........      854,122(12)      4.3                         854,122     4.0
A. Alex Sarkisian(2).............    1,315,105(13)(14)  6.6                       1,315,105     6.2
John T. McEnroe..................       25,687(15)        *                          25,687       *
Judith W. McCue..................       24,461(16)        *                          24,461       *
Robert F. Meinken................       20,160(17)        *                          20,160       *
Hollis W. Rademacher.............       15,950(18)        *                          15,950       *
Directors and Executive Officers
  as a group (9 persons).........   14,075,014(19)     70.0%                     12,879,794    59.6%
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
 
  *  Less than 1.0%.
 
 (1) Unless otherwise indicated, beneficial ownership is direct and the person
     indicated has sole voting and investment power.
 
 (2) Each is a member of the Schawk Family. The address for each of the Schawk
     Family members is 1695 River Road, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018.
 
   
 (3) Includes currently exercisable options to purchase 84,810 shares; 601,110
     shares held directly by Mr. Schawk's wife; 428,890 shares held by the
     Clarence W. and Marilyn G. Schawk Family Foundation (the "Schawk Family
     Foundation"), a charitable foundation as to which Clarence W. Schawk and
     his wife serve as trustees, and 8,471,702 shares held by SGK Investments
     Limited Partnership (the "Schawk Family Partnership"), a family limited
     partnership, with respect to which Clarence W. Schawk or his wife has
     voting power. Clarence W. Schawk is the managing general partner of the
     Schawk Family Partnership and has investment power with respect to all of
     the 9,649,000 shares of Class A Common Stock held by the Schawk Family
     Partnership. Does not include 1,177,298 shares held by the Schawk Family
     Partnership for which Mr. Schawk does not have voting power, shares
     beneficially owned by Clarence W. Schawk's son David A. Schawk, or shares
     beneficially owned by Clarence W. Schawk's daughters Cathy Ann Schawk,
     Judith Lynn Gallo and Lisa Beth Stearns, or held in family trusts for the
     benefit of certain of his grandchildren. Clarence W. Schawk does not share
     voting power over shares of the Company held by or on behalf of his
     children or grandchildren.
    
 
 (4) Represents 428,890 shares held by the Schawk Family Foundation and 566,330
     shares held by the Schawk Family Partnership.
 
 (5) Includes currently exercisable options to purchase 93,060 shares and 91,673
     shares held by the Schawk Family Partnership with respect to which David A.
     Schawk has voting power. David A. Schawk is a general partner of the Schawk
     Family Partnership. Does not include shares beneficially owned by David A.
     Schawk's father, Clarence W. Schawk or shares beneficially owned by or held
     in family trusts for the benefit of David A. Schawk's sisters Cathy Ann
     Schawk, Judith Lynn Gallo and Lisa Beth Stearns, and certain of Clarence W.
     Schawk's grandchildren. Includes 475 shares held in joint tenancy and as
     custodian for minors gifted to David A. Schawk's friends.
 
                                       38
<PAGE>   40
 
 (6) Mr. Lilly's address is P.O. Box 286, Bridgewater Corners, Vermont 05035.
 
 (7) Ms. Schawk is the daughter of Clarence W. Schawk and sister of David A.
     Schawk, Judith Lynn Gallo and Lisa Beth Stearns.
 
 (8) Includes 289,500 shares held by the Schawk Family Partnership with respect
     to which Ms. Schawk has voting power.
 
 (9) Ms. Gallo is the daughter of Clarence W. Schawk and the sister of David A.
     Schawk, Cathy Ann Schawk and Lisa Beth Stearns.
 
(10) Includes 156,000 shares held by the Schawk Family Partnership with respect
     to which Ms. Gallo has voting power. Does not include 268,244 shares held
     in trust for the benefit of Ms. Gallo's child.
 
(11) Ms. Stearns is the daughter of Clarence W. Schawk and the sister of David
     A. Schawk, Cathy Ann Schawk and Judith Lynn Gallo.
 
(12) Includes 174,348 shares held by the Schawk Family Partnership with respect
     to which Ms. Stearns has voting power. Does not include 368,924 shares held
     in trusts for the benefit of Ms. Stearns' children.
 
(13) Includes currently exercisable options to purchase 45,826 shares.
 
(14) Includes 800,649 shares held by various Schawk Family trusts for the
     benefit of certain of Clarence W. Schawk's grandchildren, and 465,777
     shares held by the Schawk Family Partnership with respect to which Mr.
     Sarkisian has voting power as trustee for Clarence W. Schawk's
     grandchildren.
 
(15) Includes currently exercisable options to purchase 19,960 shares and 4,726
     shares owned indirectly by his spouse.
 
(16) Includes currently exercisable options to purchase 19,960 shares and the
     indirect ownership of 4,501 shares held in retirement trust accounts.
 
(17) Includes currently exercisable options to purchase 19,960 shares.
 
(18) Includes currently exercisable options to purchase 14,950 shares.
 
(19) Includes currently exercisable options to purchase an aggregate of 305,621
     shares held by certain executive officers and directors.
 
                              CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
 
     Clarence W. Schawk owns Geneva Waterfront, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation
that owns The Geneva Inn, a hotel in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Geneva Waterfront,
Inc. employees are eligible to participate in the Company's health plan. The
Company has been reimbursed for the full costs of such insurance. Schawk
believes that this arrangement benefits the Company because it enhances the
Company's bargaining power with its health insurance providers. The arrangement
is beneficial to Geneva Waterfront, Inc. because it enables Geneva Waterfront,
Inc. to purchase health insurance for its employees at a lower cost than it
would be able to obtain independently. In 1994, 1995 and 1996, the Company
received $167,595, $174,875 and $233,591, respectively, in insurance premium
reimbursements from Geneva Waterfront, Inc.
 
     The Company's facilities at 1200 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois are
leased from The Clarence W. Schawk 1979 Children's Trust, a trust established
for the benefit of the children of Clarence W. Schawk, including David A.
Schawk. Based on third-party appraisals, management believes that the gross rent
and other terms and conditions of this lease are comparable to those that would
have been obtained in an arm's-length transaction. The amount paid by the
Company in each of 1994, 1995 and 1996 under this lease was $380,355.
 
     The Company's facility at 1600 East Sherwin Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois
is leased from C.W. Properties, Chicago, a group consisting of a Missouri
corporation and certain individuals, all of whom are unrelated to the Schawk
Family. The lease provides for an option to purchase the building and the
adjoining property at 70% of the fair market value. The option is held by
Graphics IV Ltd., an Illinois limited partnership ("Graphics IV"). The limited
partners of Graphics IV are David A. Schawk and the daughters of Clarence W.
Schawk. Based on third party appraisals, management believes that the gross rent
and other
 
                                       39
<PAGE>   41
 
terms and conditions of this lease are comparable to those that would have been
obtained in an arm's-length transaction. The amount paid by the Company in 1994,
1995 and 1996 under this lease was $579,000, $670,986 and $679,347,
respectively.
 
     As recently as August, 1997, Clarence W. Schawk purchased shares of Class A
Common Stock on the open market. These purchases have been consistent with Mr.
Schawk's regular pattern over the last two years of purchases on the open market
for his own account, under the Company's employee stock purchase plan and
through the Company's dividend reinvestment plan. In connection with the
Offering, Mr. Schawk has agreed to promptly pay to the Company any gains he
might realize for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act as a result of any
prior purchase of Class A Common Stock. The Company presently estimates the
amount of such gain to be approximately $70,000.
 
     As part of the final settlement of certain stockholders' litigation against
the Company and its directors relating to the Merger, Clarence W. Schawk and
David A. Schawk transferred 159,521 shares of Class A Common Stock to a
settlement fund for the benefit of settlement class members. The shares are
subject to a put agreement whereby the class members may require the Company to
purchase the shares at a price ranging from $7.00 to $9.50 per share. The actual
price depends upon the time of exercise over the exercise period which begins on
the final settlement date and ends on the later of the second anniversary of the
final court approval of the settlement agreement (which occurred on May 21,
1997) or 180 days after the shares are distributed to class members (which is
not anticipated to occur prior to January 1, 1998).
 
   
     The Company will use the proceeds from the Offering, in addition to other
available funds, to repurchase all of the issued and outstanding shares of the
Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock of the Company at a price
of $1,000 per share (the liquidation preference amount per share). All of the
shares of the Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock of the
Company are held by or on behalf of the Schawk Family. Each holder of shares of
the Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock has agreed to sell
such shares to the Company at or prior to the closing of the Offering. The Board
of Directors has conditioned the repurchase of such shares on receipt of a
fairness opinion from an independent qualified investment banking firm which
provides that the price paid for the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock and
Series B Preferred Stock is fair to the stockholders of the Company from a
financial point of view.
    
 
                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
     The Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the "Certificate of
Incorporation"), fixes the total number of shares of all classes of capital
stock which the Company has the authority to issue at 41,200,000 shares, of
which 1,000,000 shares are shares of Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share
(the "Preferred Stock"), 40,000,000 shares are shares of Class A Common Stock,
$0.008 par value per share, and 200,000 shares are shares of Class B Common
Stock, $0.05 par value per share (the "Class B Common Stock").
 
CLASS A COMMON STOCK
 
     Voting Rights. Each share of Class A Common Stock is entitled to one vote
per share on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders.
 
     Dividends. Subject to the rights of holders of Preferred Stock and subject
to any other provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, holders of Class A
Common Stock are entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions in
cash, property or shares of stock of the Company as may be declared from time to
time by the Board of Directors in its discretion from any assets of the Company
legally available therefor. See "Dividend Policy."
 
     Liquidation Rights. Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Company, the holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably the
net assets of the Company available after the payment of all debts and other
liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any outstanding Preferred Stock.
Thereafter all distributions shall be made for the benefit of the holders of
Class A Common Stock.
 
                                       40
<PAGE>   42
 
     Other Provisions. Class A Common Stock does not have preemptive rights to
subscribe to any additional securities that the Company may issue, and there are
no redemption provisions or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class A
Common Stock nor is Class A Common Stock subject to calls or assessments by the
Company. All outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock are, and all shares of
Class A Common Stock to be outstanding upon completion of the Offering will be,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
 
CLASS B COMMON STOCK
 
     The shares of Class B Common Stock are non-voting. There are presently no
shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding and there is no intention that the
Company will ever issue shares of Class B Common Stock.
 
PREFERRED STOCK
 
     The Board of Directors has the authority, without further action by the
stockholders, to issue shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series and to
fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to or imposed
upon any unissued shares of Preferred Stock and to fix the number of shares
constituting any series and the designations of such series. Currently, two
series -- Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock -- have been
designated by the Board, both of which series are held by members of the Schawk
Family.
 
     The Company issued 22,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and 5,207
shares of the Series B Preferred Stock to the Schawk Family in the Merger. There
are 17,600 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and 5,207 shares of Series B
Preferred Stock outstanding as of the date hereof. The terms and conditions of
the Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock were determined by the
Board of Directors and are set forth in respective certificates of designation
adopted by the Board and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware in December 1994. In connection with the Offering, the Company will
repurchase all of the Series A and Series B Preferred Shares of the Company from
the proceeds of the Offering, together with other available funds, at a purchase
price of $1,000 per share plus accrued but unpaid dividends. See "Use of
Proceeds" and "Certain Transactions."
 
CERTAIN EFFECTS OF AUTHORIZED BUT UNISSUED STOCK
 
     Upon consummation of the Offering, there will be 18,696,261 shares of Class
A Common Stock (of which 2,252,000 shares have been reserved for issuance
pursuant to the exercise of options granted or to be granted under the Company's
option plans) and 972,793 shares of undesignated Preferred Stock available for
future issuance without stockholder approval. To the extent the Company utilizes
a depositary facility in order to issue units representing fractional interests
in deposited shares of Preferred Stock, the Company may effectively increase the
amount of Preferred Stock available for future issuance without stockholder
approval. These additional shares may be utilized for a variety of corporate
purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital or to
facilitate corporate acquisitions. The Company does not currently have any plans
to issue additional shares of capital stock, other than shares of Class A Common
Stock which may be issued upon the exercise of options. The Company may issue
Class A Common Stock in connection with the acquisition of other companies.
 
     One of the effects of the existence of unissued and unreserved Class A
Common Stock and undesignated Preferred Stock may be to enable the Board of
Directors of the Company to issue shares to persons friendly to current
management which could render more difficult, delay or discourage an attempt to
obtain control of the Company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest
or otherwise, and thereby protect the continuity of the Company's management.
Although it has no present intention to do so, the Board of Directors of the
Company could issue Preferred Stock with voting, dividend and conversion rights
which could adversely affect the voting power of holders of Class A Common Stock
and the likelihood that such holders receive dividend payments and payments upon
liquidation.
 
                                       41
<PAGE>   43
 
DELAWARE TAKEOVER STATUTE
 
     The Company is subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 203 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended ("Section 203"). Section 203
provides that, subject to certain exceptions specified therein, an "interested
stockholder" of a Delaware corporation shall not engage in any business
combination, including mergers or consolidations or acquisitions of additional
shares of the corporation with the corporation for a three-year period following
the date that such stockholder becomes an "interested stockholder" unless: (i)
prior to such date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either
the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder
becoming an "interested stockholder;" (ii) upon consummation of the transaction
which resulted in the stockholder becoming an "interested stockholder," the
interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation
outstanding at the time the transaction commenced (excluding certain shares); or
(iii) on or subsequent to such date, the business combination is approved by the
board of directors of the corporation and authorized at an annual or special
meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the
outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the "interested stockholder."
Except as otherwise specified in Section 203, an "interested stockholder" is
defined to include (x) any person that is the owner of 15% or more of the
outstanding voting stock of the corporation, or is an affiliate or associate of
the corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock
of the corporation at any time within three years immediately prior to the
relevant date and (y) the affiliates and associates of any such person. The
Schawk Family became "interested stockholders" upon the effective acquisition of
a controlling interest in Filtertek in September 1992.
 
     These provisions could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing
a change of control of the Company. The Company's stockholders, by adopting an
amendment to its Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws, may elect not to be
governed by Section 203, effective twelve months after adoption.
 
LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
 
     The Company's Certificate of Incorporation contains a provision that limits
the liability of its directors for breaches of their fiduciary duties as
directors to the full extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.
As a result, directors will not be liable, in certain circumstances, to the
Company or its stockholders for monetary damages arising from a breach of their
fiduciary duties as directors. Such limitation does not, however, affect the
liability of a director: (i) for any transaction from which the director derives
an improper personal benefit; (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or
that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) for
improper payment of dividends or redemption of shares; or (iv) for any breach of
the director's duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders. The
Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Company shall indemnify its
officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
 
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
 
     First Chicago Trust Company of New York serves as the transfer agent and
registrar for the Class A Common Stock.
 
                                       42
<PAGE>   44
 
                        SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
   
     All of the 3,000,000 shares sold in the Offering (3,450,000 if the
Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be eligible for
sale in the public market without restriction under the Securities Act except
that any share purchased by an "affiliate" of the Company (as that term is
defined in Rule 144 adopted under the Securities Act) will be subject to the
resale limitations of Rule 144. Upon completion of the Offering, there will be
21,303,739 outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and the public float will
be increased from 4,950,246 shares to 7,950,246 (8,400,246 shares if the
Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full). The public float
includes 2,212,914 freely transferable shares held by non-management members of
the Schawk Family. Of the remaining shares outstanding, 159,521 shares will be
held by independent parties and constitute "restricted securities" as defined
under Rule 144 of the Securities Act and subject to the resale limitations
thereunder, and 12,574,173 shares will be beneficially owned by affiliates of
the Company (including management members of the Schawk Family and other
executive officers and directors of the Company) and eligible for resale subject
to the limitations under Rule 144. Of the shares held by or on behalf of the
Schawk Family, 2,212,914 shares are freely transferrable under Rule 144, and
13,176,201 shares are eligible for resale subject to the volume limitations of
Rule 144. The Company and the Schawk Family have entered into a registration
rights agreement under which the Schawk Family may cause the Company to register
for sale under the Securities Act all of the shares of Class A Common Stock
owned by them or include such shares as part of a registered underwritten public
offering of Class A Common Stock by the Company.
    
 
     In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, a person (or persons
whose shares are aggregated) to whom the Rule is applicable, including an
affiliate, who has beneficially owned shares for at least a one-year period (as
computed under Rule 144) is entitled to sell within any three-month period the
number of shares that does not exceed the greater of (i) 1% of the then
outstanding shares of the Class A Common Stock (approximately 200,000 shares
after giving effect to the Offering) and (ii) the reported average weekly
trading volume of the then outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock during the
four calendar weeks immediately preceding the date on which the notice of sale
is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Sales under Rule 144 also
are subject to certain provisions relating to the manner and notice of sale and
the availability of current public information about the Company. A person (or
persons whose shares are aggregated) who is not deemed an affiliate of the
Company at any time during the 90 days immediately preceding a sale, and who has
beneficially owned shares for at least a two-year period (as computed under Rule
144), would be entitled to sell such shares under Rule 144(k) without regard to
the volume limitation and other conditions described above.
 
   
     Up to 756,402 additional shares of Class A Common Stock may be purchased by
certain employees and directors of the Company pursuant to the exercise of
options granted under the Company's 1988 Equity Option Plan and the 1991 Outside
Directors' Formula Stock Option Plan, of which 567,257 were vested as of
September 30, 1997. The shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
the Options are freely tradable under a registration statement on Form S-8,
except that such shares held by affiliates of the Company will be subject to the
volume limitations of Rule 144.
    
 
     No prediction can be made as to the effect, if any, that future sales of
shares, including any shares that may be issued in connection with potential
future acquisitions, or the availability of shares for future sale, will have on
the market price prevailing from time to time. Sales of substantial amounts of
Class A Common Stock, or the perception that such sales could occur, could
adversely affect prevailing market prices of the Class A Common Stock and the
Company's ability to raise capital in the future through the sale of additional
securities. See "Risk Factors -- Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
 
                                       43
<PAGE>   45
 
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
     Under the terms of, and subject to the conditions in, the Underwriting
Agreement, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part, the Underwriters named below,
for whom Lehman Brothers Inc. and McDonald & Company Securities, Inc. are acting
as representatives (the "Representatives"), have severally agreed to purchase
from the Company and the Selling Stockholders, and the Company and the Selling
Stockholders have agreed to sell to each Underwriter, the aggregate number of
shares of Class A Common Stock set forth opposite their respective names below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              NUMBER OF
                                                               SHARES
                        UNDERWRITERS                          ---------
<S>                                                           <C>
Lehman Brothers Inc. .......................................
McDonald & Company Securities, Inc. ........................
                                                              ---------
          Total.............................................  3,000,000
                                                              =========
</TABLE>
 
     The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the
Underwriters to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock are subject to certain
conditions, and that if any of the foregoing shares of Class A Common Stock are
purchased by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, all the
shares of Class A Common Stock agreed to be purchased by the Underwriters must
be so purchased.
 
     The Company and the Selling Stockholders have been advised that the
Underwriters propose to offer the shares of Class A Common Stock directly to the
public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this
Prospectus, and to certain selected dealers (who may include the Underwriters)
at such public offering price less a selling concession not in excess of
$          per share. The selected dealers may re-allow a concession not in
excess of $          per share to certain brokers and dealers. After the
Offering, the public offering price, the concession to selected dealers and the
reallowance may be changed by the Underwriters.
 
     The Company and the Selling Stockholders have agreed to indemnify the
Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act and to contribute to payments that the Underwriters may be
required to make in respect thereof.
 
     The Company and the Selling Stockholders have granted to the Underwriters
an option to purchase up to an aggregate of 450,000 shares of Class A Common
Stock, exercisable solely to cover over-allotments, at the offering price to the
public less the underwriting discounts and commissions shown on the cover page
of this Prospectus. Such option may be exercised at any time until 30 days after
the date of the Underwriting Agreement. To the extent that the option is
exercised, each Underwriter will be committed, subject to certain conditions, to
purchase a number of the additional shares of Class A Common Stock proportionate
to such Underwriter's initial commitment as indicated in the preceding table.
 
   
     Certain stockholders of the Company, owning an aggregate of 15,389,115
shares after the Offering, have agreed that they will not, subject to certain
limited exceptions, directly or indirectly, offer, sell or otherwise dispose of
any shares of Class A Common Stock or any securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for any such shares for a period of 90 days after
the effective date of the Offering without the prior written consent of Lehman
Brothers Inc. In addition, the Company has agreed that it will not, subject to
certain limited exceptions, directly or indirectly, offer, sell or otherwise
dispose of any shares of Class A Common Stock or any securities convertible into
or exchangeable for such shares without the prior written consent of Lehman
Brothers Inc. for 90 days after the effective date of the Offering.
    
 
     Until the distribution of the Class A Common Stock is completed, rules of
the Commission may limit the ability of the Underwriters and certain selling
group members to bid for and purchase shares of Class A Common Stock. As an
exception to these rules, the Representatives are permitted to engage in certain
 
                                       44
<PAGE>   46
 
transactions that stabilize the price of the Class A Common Stock. Such
transactions may consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing
or maintaining the price of the Class A Common Stock.
 
     In addition, if the Representatives over-allot (i.e., if they sell more
shares of Class A Common Stock than are set forth on the cover page of this
Prospectus), and thereby create a short position in the Class A Common Stock in
connection with the Offering, the Representatives may reduce that short position
by purchasing Class A Common Stock in the open market. The Representatives also
may elect to reduce any short position by exercising all or part of the
over-allotment option described herein.
 
     The Representatives also may impose a penalty bid on certain Underwriters
and selling group members. This means that if the Representatives purchase
shares of Class A Common Stock in the open market to reduce the Underwriters'
short position or to stabilize the price of the Class A Common Stock, they may
reclaim the amount of the selling concession from the Underwriters and selling
group members who sold those shares as part of the Offering.
 
     In general, purchases of a security for the purpose of stabilization or to
reduce a syndicate short position could cause the price of the security to be
higher than it might otherwise be in the absence of such purchases. The
imposition of a penalty bid might have an effect on the price of a security to
the extent that it were to discourage resales of the security.
 
     Neither the Company nor any of the Underwriters makes any representation or
prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions
described above may have on the price of the Class A Common Stock. In addition,
neither the Company nor any of the Underwriters makes any representation that
the Representatives will engage in such transactions or that such transactions,
once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
     The validity of the shares of Class A Common Stock being offered hereby and
certain other matters are being passed upon for the Company by Vedder, Price,
Kaufman & Kammholz, Chicago, Illinois. Certain legal matters relating to the
Offering will be passed upon for the Underwriters by Winston & Strawn, Chicago,
Illinois.
 
   
     John T. McEnroe, a partner of Vedder, Price, Kaufman & Kammholz, is a
director of the Company.
    
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The consolidated financial statements (including a schedule incorporated by
reference) of Schawk, Inc. at December 31, 1996 and 1995 and for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 1996, appearing in this Prospectus
and Registration Statement have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent
auditors, as set forth in their reports thereon appearing and incorporated by
reference elsewhere herein, which as to 1994 is based in part on the report of
Arthur Andersen LLP, independent auditors. The financial statements referred to
above are included in reliance upon such reports given upon the authority of
such firms as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
                                       45
<PAGE>   47
 
                   INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994, 1995 AND 1996
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              PAGE
                                                              ----
<S>                                                           <C>
Reports of Independent Auditors.............................  F-2
Consolidated Financial Statements:
  Consolidated balance sheets...............................  F-4
  Consolidated statements of operations.....................  F-5
  Consolidated statements of stockholders' equity...........  F-6
  Consolidated statements of cash flows.....................  F-7
  Notes to consolidated financial statements................  F-8
</TABLE>
 
                 NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1997
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements:
  Condensed consolidated balance sheet......................  F-20
  Condensed consolidated statements of operations...........  F-21
  Condensed consolidated statements of cash flows...........  F-22
  Notes to condensed consolidated interim financial
     statements.............................................  F-23
</TABLE>
 
                                       F-1
<PAGE>   48
 
                         REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Schawk, Inc.
 
     We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Schawk,
Inc. as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related consolidated statements
of operations, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years
in the period ended December 31, 1996. These financial statements are the
responsibility of Schawk, Inc. management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We did not audit the
1994 financial statements of Filtertek, Inc. (the Plastics Group of Schawk,
Inc.), which statements reflect net income of $4.2 million for the period ended
December 30, 1994 (included in income from discontinued operations). Those
statements were audited by other auditors whose report has been furnished to us,
and our opinion, insofar as it relates to 1994 data included for the Plastics
Group, is based on the report of other auditors.
 
     We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits and the report of other auditors provide a reasonable
basis for our opinion.
 
     In our opinion, based on our audits and the report of other auditors, the
consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all
material respects, the consolidated financial position of Schawk, Inc. at
December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the consolidated results of their operations and
their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31,
1996, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
                                            ERNST & YOUNG LLP
 
Chicago, Illinois
February 14, 1997
 
                                       F-2
<PAGE>   49
 
                         REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Schawk, Inc.
 
     We have audited the consolidated balance sheets of Filtertek, Inc. and
subsidiaries (a Delaware corporation and subsidiary of Schawk, Inc.; previously
a combined entity of Filtertek, Inc. and Filtertek de Puerto Rico, Inc., see
Note 1) as of December 30, 1994 and December 31, 1993, and the related
consolidated statements of income, cash flows and stockholders' equity for the
period ended December 30, 1994 and for the years ended December 31, 1993 and
1992, not separately presented herein. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. As discussed in Note
2, on October 2, 1993, the Company acquired Fuzere Manufacturing Company, Inc.,
Fuzere Midwest, and Robinson Industries ("Robinson/Fuzere") in a purchase
transaction between companies under common control and accounted for it as
though it was effective September 22, 1992, in a manner similar to
pooling-of-interests accounting. We did not audit the statements of income of
Robinson/Fuzere for the nine months ended September 30, 1993. Such statements
are included in the consolidated financial statements of Filtertek, Inc. and
subsidiaries. The net sales and net income of Robinson/Fuzere for the period
covered by the report of the other auditors represent 17 percent and 35 percent,
respectively, of the total consolidated net sales and net income for the year
ended December 31, 1993. These financial statements were audited by other
auditors whose report has been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it
relates to the amounts included in those financial statements, is based solely
on the reports of the other auditors.
 
     We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used
and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits and the report of
the other auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
     In our opinion, based on our audits and the report of other auditors, the
financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects,
the consolidated financial position of Filtertek, Inc. and subsidiaries as of
December 30, 1994 and December 31, 1993, and the consolidated results of their
operations and their cash flows for the period ended December 30, 1994 and for
the years ended December 31, 1993, and 1992, in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles.
 
                                            ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
Chicago, Illinois
February 17, 1995
 
                                       F-3
<PAGE>   50
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
 
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                           (IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DECEMBER 31
                                                              -------------------
                                                                1996       1995
                                                              --------   --------
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>
Assets
Current Assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents.................................  $    483   $  1,917
  Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful
     accounts of $760 in 1996 and $984 in 1995..............    19,294     29,865
  Inventories...............................................     3,675     16,806
  Prepaid expenses and other................................     6,258      3,463
  Current Assets of Plastics business held for sale.........    27,495         --
  Deferred income taxes.....................................       590      1,504
                                                              --------   --------
Total current assets........................................    57,795     53,555
Property and equipment, net.................................    27,453     76,540
Property and equipment of Plastics business held for sale...    48,788         --
Excess of cost over net assets acquired, less accumulated
  amortization of $3,449 in 1996 and $6,331 in 1995.........    13,158     47,858
Other assets of Plastics business held for sale.............     9,593         --
Other assets................................................     4,053      6,510
                                                              --------   --------
Total assets................................................  $160,840   $184,463
                                                              ========   ========
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
  Trade accounts payable....................................  $  4,116   $  7,943
  Accrued expenses..........................................     8,786     11,750
  Notes payable to stockholders.............................     5,765      5,765
  Current liabilities of Plastics business held for sale....     7,270         --
  Notes payable to banks....................................     9,586         --
  Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease
     obligations............................................       391      1,222
                                                              --------   --------
Total current liabilities...................................    35,914     26,680
Long-term debt..............................................    62,500     69,907
Capital lease obligations...................................     5,285      5,675
Other.......................................................     1,217      1,036
Deferred income taxes.......................................     3,187      4,736
Deferred income taxes of Plastics business held for sale....     3,811         --
Stockholders' Equity:
  Common stock..............................................       168        165
  Preferred stock...........................................        --         --
  Additional paid-in capital................................    77,928     75,506
  Retained earnings (deficit)...............................   (26,987)     4,573
  Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment........        --       (450)
                                                              --------   --------
                                                                51,109     79,794
  Treasury stock, at cost...................................    (1,523)    (2,695)
  Notes receivable from employees...........................      (660)      (670)
                                                              --------   --------
                                                                48,926     76,429
                                                              --------   --------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity..................  $160,840   $184,463
                                                              ========   ========
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                       F-4
<PAGE>   51
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
              (IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                              -------------------------------
                                                                1996       1995        1994
                                                              --------    -------    --------
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>        <C>
Net sales...................................................  $ 90,763    $87,204    $103,889
Cost of sales...............................................    51,153     51,066      52,486
Selling, general, and administrative expenses...............    25,187     25,116      31,094
Write-off of equipment......................................     1,050         --          --
                                                              --------    -------    --------
Operating income............................................    13,373     11,022      20,309
Other income (expense):
  Interest and dividend income..............................       340        532         544
  Interest expense..........................................    (4,657)    (4,306)     (3,858)
  Other.....................................................        --         (5)     (1,004)
                                                              --------    -------    --------
                                                                (4,317)    (3,779)     (4,318)
                                                              --------    -------    --------
Income from continuing operations before income taxes.......     9,056      7,243      15,991
Income tax provision before net operating loss
  carryforwards.............................................     3,530      2,577       3,722
Benefit of net operating loss carryforwards.................        --     (1,632)         --
                                                              --------    -------    --------
Income from continuing operations...........................     5,526      6,298      12,269
Income (loss) from discontinued operations:
  Income from discontinued operations (net of minority
     interest of $1,717 in 1994)............................     2,490        638       1,200
  Loss on disposal of discontinued operations...............   (33,000)        --          --
                                                              --------    -------    --------
Net (loss) income...........................................  $(24,984)   $ 6,936    $ 13,469
                                                              ========    =======    ========
Primary and fully diluted earnings per share:
  Continuing operations.....................................  $   0.22    $  0.26    $     --
  Discontinued operations...................................     (1.56)      0.03          --
                                                              --------    -------    --------
Total.......................................................     (1.34)      0.29          --
                                                              ========    =======    ========
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent
  shares outstanding........................................    19,545     19,203          --
Dividends per Class A common share..........................  $   0.26    $  0.26    $     --
Pro forma data (Note 15) (unaudited):
  Pro forma income taxes....................................                            7,071
  Pro forma net income adjusted only for income taxes.......                           10,247
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                       F-5
<PAGE>   52
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
 
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994, 1995, AND 1996
                             (THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  OLD                    SCHAWK, INC.                                          CUMULATIVE
                                SCHAWK     -----------------------------------------                             FOREIGN
                               COMPANIES   CLASS A   CLASS B   SERIES A    SERIES B    ADDITIONAL               CURRENCY
                                COMMON     COMMON    COMMON    PREFERRED   PREFERRED    PAID-IN     RETAINED   TRANSLATION
                                 STOCK      STOCK     STOCK      STOCK       STOCK      CAPITAL     EARNINGS   ADJUSTMENT
                               ---------   -------   -------   ---------   ---------   ----------   --------   -----------
<S>                            <C>         <C>       <C>       <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>        <C>
Balance at December 31,
  1993.......................    $ 108       $ --      $--        $--         $--       $16,559     $38,107      $(1,393)
Net income...................       --         --       --         --          --            --      13,469           --
Capital contribution to Flexo
  Graphics, Inc..............       --         --       --         --          --           198          --           --
Dividends....................       --         --       --         --          --            --     (20,398)          --
Cumulative foreign currency
  translation adjustment.....       --         --       --         --          --            --          --          446
Issuance of Series A
  preferred stock............       --         --       --         --          --        22,000     (22,000)          --
Issuance of Series B
  preferred stock............       --         --       --         --          --         5,207      (5,207)          --
Deemed purchase of minority
  interest...................       --         --       --         --          --        31,502          --           --
Recapitalization for
  Merger.....................     (108)       155        9         --          --           (54)         --           --
                                 -----       ----      ---        ---         ---       -------     --------     -------
Balance at December 31,
  1994.......................       --        155        9         --          --        75,412       3,971         (947)
Net income...................       --         --       --         --          --            --       6,936           --
Sale of Class A and B common
  stock......................       --         --       --         --          --            95          --           --
Purchase of Class A and B
  treasury stock.............       --         --       --         --          --            --          --           --
Cumulative foreign currency
  translation adjustment.....       --         --       --         --          --            --          --          497
Conversion of Series A
  preferred stock............       --          1       --         --          --            (1)         --           --
Issuance of Class A common
  stock under dividend
  reinvestment program.......       --         --       --         --          --            --      (1,333)          --
Cash dividends...............       --         --       --         --          --            --      (5,001)          --
                                 -----       ----      ---        ---         ---       -------     --------     -------
Balance at December 31,
  1995.......................       --        156        9         --          --        75,506       4,573         (450)
Net loss.....................       --         --       --         --          --            --     (24,984)          --
Sale of Class A and B common
  stock......................       --         --       --         --          --            60          --           --
Purchase of Class A and B
  treasury stock.............       --         --       --         --          --            --          --           --
Cumulative foreign currency
  translation adjustment.....       --         --       --         --          --            --          --         (233)
Conversion of Series A
  preferred stock............       --          1       --         --          --            (1)         --           --
Issuance of Class A stock in
  connection with purchase of
  Converterscan..............       --          2       --         --          --         2,363          --           --
Issuance of Class A common
  stock under dividend
  reinvestment program.......       --         --       --         --          --            --      (2,607)          --
Cash dividends...............       --         --       --         --          --            --      (3,969)          --
Write-off of foreign currency
  adjustment to discontinued
  operations.................       --         --       --         --          --            --          --          683
                                 -----       ----      ---        ---         ---       -------     --------     -------
Balance at December 31,
  1996.......................    $  --       $159      $ 9        $--         $--       $77,928     $(26,987)    $    --
                                 =====       ====      ===        ===         ===       =======     ========     =======
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                            NOTES
                                          RECEIVABLE
                               TREASURY      FROM
                                STOCK     EMPLOYEES
                               --------   ----------
<S>                            <C>        <C>
Balance at December 31,
  1993.......................  $(2,262)     $  --
Net income...................       --         --
Capital contribution to Flexo
  Graphics, Inc..............       --         --
Dividends....................       --         --
Cumulative foreign currency
  translation adjustment.....       --         --
Issuance of Series A
  preferred stock............       --         --
Issuance of Series B
  preferred stock............       --         --
Deemed purchase of minority
  interest...................       --         --
Recapitalization for
  Merger.....................      (63)      (685)
                               -------      -----
Balance at December 31,
  1994.......................   (2,325)      (685)
Net income...................       --         --
Sale of Class A and B common
  stock......................      130       (130)
Purchase of Class A and B
  treasury stock.............   (1,833)       145
Cumulative foreign currency
  translation adjustment.....       --         --
Conversion of Series A
  preferred stock............       --         --
Issuance of Class A common
  stock under dividend
  reinvestment program.......    1,333         --
Cash dividends...............       --         --
                               -------      -----
Balance at December 31,
  1995.......................   (2,695)      (670)
Net loss.....................       --         --
Sale of Class A and B common
  stock......................       57        (57)
Purchase of Class A and B
  treasury stock.............   (1,492)        67
Cumulative foreign currency
  translation adjustment.....       --         --
Conversion of Series A
  preferred stock............       --         --
Issuance of Class A stock in
  connection with purchase of
  Converterscan..............       --         --
Issuance of Class A common
  stock under dividend
  reinvestment program.......    2,607         --
Cash dividends...............       --         --
Write-off of foreign currency
  adjustment to discontinued
  operations.................       --         --
                               -------      -----
Balance at December 31,
  1996.......................  $(1,523)     $(660)
                               =======      =====
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                       F-6
<PAGE>   53
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                           (IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                              ------------------------------
                                                                1996       1995       1994
                                                              --------   --------   --------
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>        <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net (loss) income...........................................  $(24,984)  $  6,936   $ 13,469
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to cash provided
  by operating activities:
  Depreciation and amortization.............................    15,435     16,219     14,866
  Deferred income taxes.....................................      (762)      (138)     3,051
  Deferred income taxes of Plastics business held for
     sale...................................................     3,811         --         --
  Other.....................................................     1,378        243       (147)
  Loss on disposal of discontinued operations...............    33,000         --         --
  Loss on write-off of equipment............................     1,050         --         --
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of
     effects from acquisitions:
     Trade accounts receivable..............................    13,219      1,356     (1,146)
     Inventories............................................    11,520      2,272     (1,509)
     Prepaid expenses and other.............................    (2,279)         1       (169)
     Trade accounts payable and accrued expenses............   (12,197)      (934)       285
     Current assets of Plastics business held for sale......   (27,495)        --         --
     Current liabilities of Plastics business held for
       sale.................................................     7,270         --         --
                                                              --------   --------   --------
Net cash provided by operating activities...................    18,966     25,955     28,700
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of property and equipment.........................   (16,823)   (11,027)   (13,882)
Cash proceeds from disposal of property and equipment.......       477         96      1,423
Advances from related parties...............................        --         --      1,238
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired..........................    (6,282)      (395)      (618)
Proceeds from sale of division..............................     5,000         --         --
Proceeds from long-term note collected......................     4,034         --         --
Other.......................................................     1,353        475       (401)
                                                              --------   --------   --------
Net cash used in investing activities.......................   (12,241)   (10,851)   (12,240)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from debt..........................................     3,860     44,500     22,495
Principal payments on debt..................................    (6,732)   (50,538)   (25,035)
Principal payments on capital lease obligations.............      (402)      (323)      (293)
Principal payments on notes payable to stockholders.........        --     (3,015)        --
Cash dividends..............................................    (3,969)    (5,002)   (12,878)
Purchase of common stock....................................    (1,427)    (1,688)    (1,960)
Issuance of common stock....................................        60         94         57
Other.......................................................       451        497        (91)
                                                              --------   --------   --------
Net cash used in financing activities.......................    (8,159)   (15,475)   (17,705)
                                                              --------   --------   --------
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents...................    (1,434)      (371)    (1,245)
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of year.................     1,917      2,288      3,533
                                                              --------   --------   --------
Cash and cash equivalents end of year.......................  $    483   $  1,917   $  2,288
                                                              ========   ========   ========
SUPPLEMENTARY DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Issuance of note in connection with acquisition.............  $     --   $    807   $     --
Dividends issued in the form of Class A common stock........     2,349      1,333         --
Stock issued in connection with acquisition.................     2,365         --         --
Note received for sale of operating division................     2,619         --         --
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                       F-7
<PAGE>   54
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
NOTE 1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
 
     Schawk, Inc. (the Company) operated in two business segments, Imaging and
Information Technologies (the Company) and Plastics, until the sale of the
Plastic business segment on February 7, 1997. The Plastics business segment has
been reflected in these financial statements as discontinued operations (see
Note 14). The Company consists of the Company known as Schawk, Inc. (Old Schawk)
and companies previously affiliated through common ownership, Lincoln Graphics,
Inc., and Flexographics, Inc. collectively, the Old Schawk Companies. The
Plastics segment consists of the previously 60% owned subsidiaries, Filtertek,
Inc. and subsidiaries (Filtertek or the Filtertek Companies). The Company is a
leader in the prepress industry in the United States primarily serving consumer
products businesses. The Company offers a complete line of prepress services,
digital image management, art production, digital photography and products for
the production of consumer product packaging and related marketing and
advertising materials. All significant intercompany balances and transactions
have been eliminated.
 
NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
  Cash Equivalents
 
     Cash equivalents include highly liquid debt instruments and time deposits
with an original maturity of three months or less. Cash equivalents are stated
at cost, which approximates market.
 
  Inventories
 
     Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Certain inventories,
which approximate 34% in 1996 and 10% in 1995, respectively, are determined on
the last in, first out (LIFO) cost basis. The remaining inventories are
determined on the first in, first out (FIFO) cost basis.
 
  Property and Equipment
 
     Property and equipment, including capitalized leases, are stated at cost,
less accumulated depreciation and amortization and are being depreciated and
amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the
assets or the term of the leases, ranging from 3 to 40 years.
 
  Excess of Cost over Net Assets Acquired
 
     Excess of cost over net assets acquired (goodwill) is being amortized using
the straight-line method over periods ranging from 10 to 40 years. The Company
continually evaluates the existence of goodwill impairment on the basis of
whether the goodwill is fully recoverable from projected, undiscounted net cash
flows of the related business unit.
 
  Foreign Currency Translation
 
     Foreign currency assets and liabilities are translated at the rate of
exchange existing at year-end and income and expenses amounts are translated at
the average of the monthly exchange rates. Gains and losses resulting from the
translation of foreign currency financial statements are deferred and classified
as a separate component of stockholders' equity.
 
  Income Taxes
 
     Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference
between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using
enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are
 
                                       F-8
<PAGE>   55
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely
than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets arising from temporary
differences and net operating losses will not be realized.
 
     Prior to 1995 the Old Schawk Companies had elected to be taxed as an S
Corporation under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). S
Corporation income for federal income tax purposes is treated substantially as
if the Company were a partnership and, therefore, is not ordinarily subject to
federal income tax. At December 31, 1994, a provision for deferred income taxes
of $3,000 was recorded to reflect the termination of the S Corporation status of
the Old Schawk Companies. For informational purposes, the statement of
operations for 1994 includes an unaudited pro forma adjustment for income taxes
that would have been recorded if these Companies had been C Corporations, based
on the tax laws in effect during those periods.
 
  Use of Estimates
 
     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the
date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and
expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
 
  Reclassifications
 
     Certain amounts in the 1994 and 1995 financial statements have been
reclassified to conform to the 1996 presentation.
 
NOTE 3. ACQUISITIONS
 
     The following acquisitions have been accounted for using the purchase
method of accounting. Accordingly, the purchase price has been allocated to the
respective net assets acquired based on the fair value of such assets, including
certain noncompete agreements and liabilities as of the date of the
acquisitions, and the results of operations have been included in the
accompanying consolidated statements of income from the effective date of the
acquisitions. The effects of the operations of the acquired companies prior to
the date of acquisition were not significant.
 
  StanMont
 
     Effective September 1, 1996, the Company acquired all of the stock of
StanMont Inc., which has operations in Montreal and Toronto, Canada. The
following summarizes the purchase price allocation and cash paid.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
Fair value of assets acquired, net of cash acquired of
  $74.......................................................  $ 7,569
Cost in excess of net assets acquired.......................    4,552
Liabilities assumed.........................................   (7,762)
                                                              -------
Cash paid, net of cash acquired.............................  $ 4,359
                                                              =======
</TABLE>
 
     The final purchase price is also subject to earn-out conditions based on
pretax earnings as a percentage of net sales for fiscal years 1997 and 1998.
 
                                       F-9
<PAGE>   56
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
  Converterscan
 
     Effective August 1, 1996, the Company acquired all of the stock of
Converterscan, Inc., which has operations in Stamford, Connecticut, and Atlanta,
Georgia. The following summarizes the purchase price allocation and cash paid.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
Fair value of assets acquired, net of cash acquired of
  $10.......................................................  $ 1,921
Cost in excess of net assets acquired.......................    5,582
Liabilities assumed.........................................   (3,215)
Class A common stock issued (305 shares)....................   (2,365)
                                                              -------
Cash paid, net of cash acquired.............................  $ 1,923
                                                              =======
</TABLE>
 
     For each of the three years commencing two years after closing, the seller
has the right to put the shares back to the Company at the stock price at the
date of issuance.
 
     Certain issues regarding the final purchase price of these acquisitions are
still subject to ongoing negotiations. The final adjustments to purchase price
will be reflected as an increase or decrease to excess of cost over net assets
acquired.
 
NOTE 4. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
     Included in prepaid expenses and other at December 31, 1996 and 1995, was
approximately $747 and $362, respectively, of advances to Geneva Waterfront,
Inc., which is owned by a stockholder of the Company. Interest is charged on
these balances at the prime rate.
 
     Stockholders' equity has been reduced by approximately $660 and $670 for
notes receivable from employees at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The
notes are noninterest-bearing demand notes collateralized by Class B common
stock.
 
     The Company has approximately $5,765 in notes payable at December 31, 1996
and 1995, respectively, payable to certain stockholders. The notes bear interest
at 5%. Interest expense related to these notes was $288, $328 and $100 for 1996,
1995 and 1994, respectively. These notes were paid on February 7, 1997.
 
NOTE 5. INVENTORIES
 
     Inventories consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                DECEMBER 31,
                                                              -----------------
                                                               1996      1995
                                                              ------    -------
<S>                                                           <C>       <C>
Raw materials...............................................  $1,512    $ 6,432
Work in process.............................................   2,898      6,565
Finished goods..............................................      --      4,522
                                                              ------    -------
                                                               4,410     17,519
Less: LIFO reserve..........................................    (735)      (713)
                                                              ------    -------
                                                              $3,675    $16,806
                                                              ======    =======
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>   57
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
NOTE 6. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
     Property and equipment consists of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DECEMBER 31,
                                                              --------------------
                                                                1996        1995
                                                              --------    --------
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>
Land and improvements.......................................  $    522    $  2,315
Building and improvements...................................     7,794      35,998
Machinery and equipment.....................................    47,370      85,067
Leasehold improvements......................................     3,209       2,786
Building and improvements under capital leases..............     7,500       7,500
                                                              --------    --------
                                                                66,395     133,666
Accumulated depreciation and amortization...................   (38,942)    (57,126)
                                                              --------    --------
                                                              $ 27,453    $ 76,540
                                                              ========    ========
</TABLE>
 
     Accumulated depreciation and amortization includes $2,331 and $1,916 for
building and improvements under capital leases at December 31, 1996 and 1995,
respectively. Depreciation and amortization expense for property and equipment
was $6,407 (continuing operations only), $13,937 and $12,868 in 1996, 1995 and
1994, respectively.
 
NOTE 7. ACCRUED EXPENSES
 
     Accrued expenses consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                DECEMBER 31,
                                                              -----------------
                                                               1996      1995
                                                              ------    -------
<S>                                                           <C>       <C>
Accrued compensation and payroll taxes......................  $3,629    $ 6,970
Accrued income taxes........................................      --        879
Other.......................................................   5,157      3,901
                                                              ------    -------
                                                              $8,786    $11,750
                                                              ======    =======
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 8. LONG-TERM DEBT
 
     Long-term debt consists of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 DECEMBER 31,
                                                              ------------------
                                                               1996       1995
                                                              -------    -------
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>
Revolving credit facility...................................  $22,500    $28,800
Series A senior note payable................................   10,000     10,000
Series B senior note payable................................   30,000     30,000
Other.......................................................       --      1,974
                                                              -------    -------
                                                               62,500     70,774
Less: Current portion.......................................       --       (867)
                                                              -------    -------
                                                              $62,500    $69,907
                                                              =======    =======
</TABLE>
 
     The revolving credit facility bears interest at the offshore borrowing rate
(5.6875% at December 31, 1996) of the lead lender plus 0.40% to 0.875% based on
a financial statement ratio of the Company or the Lender's alternative base rate
(8.25% at December 31, 1996), as determined by the Company. The revolving
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>   58
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
credit facility was repaid in its entirety (and the credit facility canceled) on
February 7, 1997 from the proceeds of the sale of the Plastics business.
 
     The Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement to hedge the
impact of changes in interest rates on its revolving credit facility. The
agreement converts the interest rate on the revolving credit facility to a fixed
rate of 5.81%. The agreement applies to $16,000 of the outstanding principal
balance, decreasing by $2,000 each quarter until termination in October 1997
($8,000 at December 31, 1996). Net amounts paid or received on interest rate
swap agreements that qualify as hedges are recognized over the term of the
agreement as an adjustment to interest expense. Realized gains and losses
resulting from the termination of interest rate swap agreements are recognized
in the period the agreement is terminated. The swap agreement was canceled on
February 7, 1997, with no significant gain or loss realized.
 
     The Company entered into a senior note agreement for $10,000 Series A
senior notes and $30,000 Series B senior notes. The Series A notes bear interest
at 6.58% and are payable in installments of $5 million in 1999 and 2000. The
Series B notes bear interest at 6.98% and are payable in installments of $6
million from 2001 to 2004. The notes are subject to prepayment in whole or in
part on or after August 18, 1996. Borrowings under the Series A and B senior
notes are unsecured but are subject to certain restrictive covenants. In
addition, the agreement requires the Company to maintain certain net worth and
other financial ratio requirements. The fair value of the senior notes
approximates the carrying value at December 31, 1996.
 
     Interest paid on long-term debt during the years ended December 31, 1996,
1995 and 1994 was approximately $4,561, $5,071 and $5,375, respectively.
 
     Annual maturities of all long-term debt at December 31, 1996 are as
follows:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                  <C>
1997...............................................  $    --
1998...............................................       --
1999...............................................    5,000
2000...............................................   27,500
2001...............................................    6,000
Thereafter.........................................   24,000
                                                     -------
                                                     $62,500
                                                     =======
</TABLE>
 
     The Company has an unsecured $10 million line of credit with a bank in the
United States and unsecured $5.5 million line of credit with a bank in Canada to
provide financing and working capital flexibility. Advances under the Canadian
line of credit bear interest at either the Canadian prime rate or the bank's
cost of funds plus 0.625% at the option of the Company. The interest rates on
the Canadian advances at December 31, 1996, range from 3.85% to 4.73%. At
December 31, 1996, the amounts outstanding under the United States line of
credit and the Canadian line of credit are $4.4 million and $5.2 million,
respectively. Both facilities are due on demand.
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>   59
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
NOTE 9. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
     Stockholders' equity includes the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               DECEMBER 31,
                                                              ---------------
                                                               1996     1995
                                                              ------   ------
<S>                                                           <C>      <C>
Common stock:
Class A voting, $0.008 par value, 40,000,000 shares
  authorized; 20,034,030 and 19,559,771 shares issued at
  December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively; 19,915,693 and
  19,310,840 shares outstanding at December 31, 1996 and
  1995, respectively........................................  $  159   $  156
Class B nonvoting, $0.05 par value, 200,000 shares
  authorized; 172,281 shares issued at December 31, 1996 and
  1995; 133,324 and 135,310 shares outstanding at December
  31, 1996 and 1995, respectively...........................       9        9
                                                              ------   ------
                                                              $  168   $  165
                                                              ======   ======
Preferred stock, 1,000,000 shares authorized:
Series A, $0.01 par value, 17,600 and 19,800 shares issued
  and outstanding at December 31, 1996 and 1995,
  respectively..............................................  $   --   $   --
Series B, $0.01 par value, 5,207 shares issued and
  outstanding at December 31, 1996 and 1995.................      --       --
                                                              ------   ------
                                                              $   --   $   --
                                                              ======   ======
Treasury stock:
  118,337 and 248,931 shares Class A at December 31, 1996
     and 1995, respectively, and 38,957 and 36,971 shares
     Class B at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively, at
     cost...................................................  $1,523   $2,695
                                                              ======   ======
</TABLE>
 
     On December 30, 1994, the Company issued 22,000 shares of Series A
preferred stock and 5,207 shares of Series B preferred stock. The Series A
preferred shares are mandatorily redeemable by the Company on December 31, 2004,
or, at the option of the Board, on any December 31 through December 31, 2003, by
issuing to the holder for each share of Series A Preferred Stock the number of
shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the sum of $1,000 plus an amount equal
to all accumulated and unpaid dividends per share divided by $13.80, or cash in
the amount of the fair market value, as defined, of the number of shares of
Class A Common Stock. On December 30, 1996 and 1995, the Company issued 159,420
Class A common shares in exchange for 2,200 shares of Series A preferred stock.
The Series B preferred shares are mandatorily redeemable by the Company on
December 31, 1999, under the same redemption formula as Series A. The Series B
shares are also mandatorily redeemable on the date of the consummation of any
offering or private placement of the Company's debt or equity the gross proceeds
of which exceed $25,000. The Company shall redeem all outstanding shares of
Series B preferred stock with respect to each such share $1,000 in cash plus all
accumulated and unpaid dividends per share. Dividends shall accrue on each share
of preferred stock at the rate of 5.0% per year and are payable quarterly.
Holders of preferred shares are entitled to limited voting rights.
 
     In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the
holders of Series A preferred stock are entitled to be paid out of the assets of
the Company available for distribution to its stockholders before any payment to
any holders of common stock or any holders of Series B preferred stock an amount
equal to $1,000 per share plus all accumulated and unpaid dividends.
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>   60
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
     Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders
of Class A and Class B Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably the net
assets of the Company available after the payment of all debts and other
liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any outstanding preferred stock,
until the holders of Class B Common Stock have received distributions (maximum
amount of $10) equal to the par value of their shares. Thereafter, all
distributions shall be made for the benefit of the holders of Class A Common
Stock. Subsequent to December 31, 1996, the Board of Directors authorized the
cancellation of all Class B Common Stock.
 
NOTE 10. INCOME TAXES
 
     The provision (credit) for income taxes for continuing operations is
comprised of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                           --------------------------
                                                            1996      1995      1994
                                                           ------    ------    ------
<S>                                                        <C>       <C>       <C>
Current:
  Federal................................................  $  102    $1,445    $   --
  State..................................................     376       255       722
  Foreign................................................      (5)       --        --
                                                           ------    ------    ------
                                                              473     1,700       722
Deferred:
  Federal................................................   2,767      (642)    2,629
  State..................................................      18      (113)      371
  Foreign................................................     272        --        --
                                                           ------    ------    ------
                                                            3,057      (755)    3,000
                                                           ------    ------    ------
          Total..........................................  $3,530    $  945    $3,722
                                                           ======    ======    ======
</TABLE>
 
     On December 30, 1994, Schawk, Inc. recorded a $3,000 deferred income tax
charge related to the termination of the S Corporation status of the Old Schawk
Companies. The 1995 income tax provision includes a benefit of $1,632 for
utilization of net operating loss carryforwards for which no tax benefit was
previously recorded.
 
     Components of deferred income tax assets and liabilities (continuing
operations in 1996) are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 DECEMBER 31,
                                                              ------------------
                                                               1996       1995
                                                              -------    -------
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>
Current deferred income taxes:
  Inventory.................................................  $    51    $   256
  Accruals and reserves not currently deductible............      539      2,045
  Other.....................................................       --       (797)
                                                              -------    -------
Net current asset...........................................  $   590    $ 1,504
                                                              =======    =======
Noncurrent deferred income taxes:
  Depreciation..............................................  $   667    $(1,253)
  Property and equipment acquisition basis differences......   (1,537)    (3,040)
  Net operating losses and other credit carryforwards.......       --      1,100
  Other.....................................................   (2,317)      (993)
  Valuation allowance.......................................       --       (550)
                                                              -------    -------
Noncurrent liability........................................  $(3,187)   $(4,736)
                                                              =======    =======
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>   61
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
     A reconciliation between the provision for income taxes for continuing
operations computed by applying the federal statutory tax rate to income before
income taxes and minority interest and the actual provision is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                              -------------------------
                                                              1996      1995      1994
                                                              -----    ------    ------
<S>                                                           <C>      <C>       <C>
Income taxes at statutory rate..............................   34.0%     34.0%     34.0%
Income exempt from income tax...............................     --        --     (34.0)
Net operating loss carryforward not previously benefited....     --     (22.5)       --
Nondeductible expenses......................................    1.7        --        --
State income taxes..........................................    4.4       2.3       4.5
Deferred tax related to S Corporation termination...........     --        --      18.8
Other.......................................................   (1.1)     (0.8)       --
                                                               ----     -----     -----
                                                               39.0%     13.0%     23.3%
                                                               ====     =====     =====
</TABLE>
 
     The undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries were approximately $402
at December 31, 1996. No income taxes are provided on the undistributed earnings
because they are considered permanently invested. The foreign component of
income before income taxes and minority interest was $669 for 1996 (there was no
foreign component of income before taxes and minority interest in 1995 and
1994.)
 
     Income taxes paid during the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
were approximately $3,702, $1,379 and $959, respectively.
 
NOTE 11. LEASES AND COMMITMENTS
 
     The Company leases land and a building from an unrelated party. This lease
requires monthly installments of approximately $48 through January 2010. A
related party has an option to purchase the land and building in January 2000.
 
     The Company also leases land and a building from a related party, with
monthly installments of approximately $32 through June 2002. The agreement
contains an option to purchase the land and building at the end of the lease for
90% of fair market value at the end of the lease. The Company is required to pay
utilities, real estate taxes, and insurance on the property on both leases.
These leases are recorded as capital leases.
 
     The Company also leases various plant facilities and equipment under
noncancellable operating leases that expire at various dates through February
2010. Total rent expense incurred under all operating leases was approximately
$660, $1,076 and $808 for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994,
respectively.
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>   62
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
     Future minimum payments under leases with terms of one year or more are as
follows at December 31, 1996:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              CAPITAL    OPERATING
                                                              LEASES      LEASES
                                                              -------    ---------
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>
1997........................................................  $  959      $  766
1998........................................................     959         284
1999........................................................     959         178
2000........................................................     959         228
2001........................................................     959         169
Thereafter..................................................   4,860         503
                                                              ------      ------
                                                               9,655      $2,128
                                                                          ======
Less: Amounts representing interest.........................   3,979
                                                              ------
                                                               5,676
Less: Current portion.......................................     391
                                                              ------
                                                              $5,285
                                                              ======
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 12. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
 
     The Company has various defined-contribution plans for the benefit of its
employees. The plans provide a 100% match of employee contributions ranging from
2% to 5% of wages (as defined) depending on the division. Contributions to the
plans were $435 (continuing operations only), $1,534 and $1,516 in 1996, 1995
and 1994, respectively.
 
     The Company is required to contribute to certain defined-contribution union
pension plans under various labor contracts covering union employees. Pension
expense related to the union plans of continuing operations, which is determined
based upon payroll data, was approximately $545, $566, and $558 in 1996, 1995
and 1994, respectively.
 
NOTE 13. STOCK/EQUITY OPTION PLANS
 
     The Company has an Equity Option Plan that provides for the granting of
options to purchase up to 2,252 shares of Class A Common Stock to key employees.
The Company also adopted an Outside Directors' Formula Stock Option Plan
authorizing grants thereunder of options to purchase shares of Class A Common
Stock to nonemployee directors. In addition, options totaling 192 shares were
granted to former employees. Options granted under these plans have an exercise
price equal to the market price of the underlying stock at the date of grant and
are exercisable for a period of ten years from the date of grant and vest over a
three-year period.
 
                                      F-16
<PAGE>   63
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
     A summary of options outstanding at the end of each of the three years
ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, and other data for the three years then
ended under all option plans, including options granted to the Employees' Stock
Bonus Plan and Trust, follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     OUTSTANDING OPTIONS
                                                     TO PURCHASE CLASS A    WEIGHTED AVERAGE
                                                        COMMON STOCK        OF EXERCISE PRICE
                                                     -------------------    -----------------
<S>                                                  <C>                    <C>
Balance, December 31, 1993.........................           846                 $8.17
Granted............................................           364                  9.64
Exercised..........................................           (22)                 6.00
Canceled...........................................          (258)                 6.08
                                                          -------
Balance, December 31, 1994.........................           931                  9.37
Granted............................................           146                  7.82
Exercised..........................................            --                    --
Canceled...........................................           (27)                 9.78
                                                          -------
Balance, December 31, 1995.........................         1,050                  9.11
Granted............................................           185                  7.14
Exercised..........................................           (10)                 6.00
Canceled...........................................           (53)                 9.47
                                                          -------
Balance, December 31, 1996.........................         1,172                 $8.80
</TABLE>
 
     The following table summarizes information concerning outstanding and
exercisable options at December 31, 1996:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                 OPTIONS OUTSTANDING                        OPTIONS EXERCISABLE
- ------------------------------------------------------   -------------------------
                           WEIGHTED
                           AVERAGE                                      WEIGHTED
RANGE OF                  REMAINING        WEIGHTED                    AVERAGE OF
EXERCISE     NUMBER      CONTRACTUAL       AVERAGE         NUMBER      EXERCISABLE
 PRICE     OUTSTANDING   LIFE (YEARS)   EXERCISE PRICE   EXERCISABLE      PRICE
- --------   -----------   ------------   --------------   -----------   -----------
<S>        <C>           <C>            <C>              <C>           <C>
$6-$9           682          6.2            $ 7.17            519        $ 7.14
 9-12           361          7.1              9.76            361          9.76
12-15           129          1.2             14.78            129         14.78
              -----                                         -----
              1,172                                         1,009
</TABLE>
 
     Options available for grant under the plans were 588, 773, and 920, at
December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
 
     The Company has elected to follow Accounting Principles Board Opinion No.
25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" (APB 25), in accounting for its
employee stock options because, as discussed below, the alternative fair value
accounting provided for under FASB statement No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-
Based Compensation," requires the use of option-valuation models that were not
developed for use in valuing employee stock options. Under APB 25, because the
exercise price of the Company's employee stock options approximates the market
price of the underlying stock on the date of grant, no compensation is
recognized. Pro forma information regarding net income and earnings per share is
required by Statement 123 as if the Company has accounted for its employee stock
options granted subsequent to December 31, 1994, under the fair value method of
that Statement. For purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value
of the options is amortized to expense over the options vesting period.
 
                                      F-17
<PAGE>   64
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
     The Company's pro forma information follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               1996     1995
                                                              ------   ------
<S>                                                           <C>      <C>
Net income from continuing operations.......................  $5,526   $6,298
Pro forma net income from continuing operations.............  $5,397   $6,257
Earnings per share from continuing operations...............  $ 0.22   $ 0.26
Pro forma earnings per share from continuing operations.....  $ 0.21   $ 0.26
</TABLE>
 
     Because Statement 123 is applicable only to options granted subsequent to
December 31, 1994, its pro forma effect will not be fully reflected until 1997.
 
     The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of the grant
using the Black-Scholes option valuation model with the following assumptions:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                1996           1995
                                                             -----------    -----------
<S>                                                          <C>            <C>
Expected dividend yield....................................     3.0%           3.0%
Expected stock price volatility............................     39.7%          31.7%
Risk-free interest rate range..............................  5.5% - 6.6%    6.4% - 7.7%
Weighted-average expected life of options..................    7 years        7 years
</TABLE>
 
     Option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions.
Because the Company's employee stock options have characteristics significantly
different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective
input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate in management's
opinion, the existing method does not necessarily provide a reliable single
measure of the fair value of its employee stock options.
 
     In March 1997, the Company paid $794 to Plastics Group employees and
canceled 610 options in connection with the sale of the Plastics Group. The cash
paid was included in the loss on disposal of discontinued operations presented
in the statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 1996.
 
NOTE 14. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
 
     On December 30, 1994, the Old Schawk Companies merged with and into
Filtertek, the Plastics business segment (the Merger). Pursuant to the Merger,
Filtertek issued an aggregate of 16,245,399 shares of Class A Common Stock,
22,000 shares of Series A preferred stock, and 5,207 shares of Series B
preferred stock to the stockholders of the Old Schawk Companies, and the shares
of Filtertek's Class A Common Stock previously held by Old Schawk (which had a
controlling interest prior to the Merger) were canceled.
 
     Because Old Schawk owned a controlling interest of Filtertek prior to the
Merger, AICPA Accounting Interpretation 26 of Accounting Principles Board
Opinion No. 16 required that the Merger be accounted for as if the Old Schawk
Companies acquired all the remaining Class A Common Stock of Filtertek.
 
     The Company's consolidated balance sheet beginning December 31, 1994,
reflects the accounting as described in the previous paragraph as of the date of
the Merger and includes purchase accounting adjustments for the portion of
Filtertek (40%) not owned by Old Schawk prior to the Merger.
 
     On February 7, 1997, the Company sold its Plastics business segment for
cash proceeds of $92 million plus or minus working capital adjustments. The
Company recorded a loss of $33 million to adjust the carrying value of the net
assets of this business to net realizable value at December 31, 1996, and to
reflect the related settlement of stockholder litigation. The consolidated
statements of operations for 1996, 1995 and 1994 have been restated to segregate
the discontinued operations, and the accounts of the discontinued operations
have been segregated in the balance sheet at December 31, 1996.
 
                                      F-18
<PAGE>   65
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
     The following is a summary of the Plastics business segment historical
results:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         1996       1995       1994
                                                        -------    -------    -------
<S>                                                     <C>        <C>        <C>
Net sales.............................................  $77,752    $85,086    $82,256
Operating income......................................    3,572      2,615      3,964
Income taxes..........................................      118        209        127
Income from discontinued operations (net of minority
  interest of $1,717 in 1994).........................    2,490        638      1,200
</TABLE>
 
     The difference between the income tax expense of the Plastics Group at the
federal statutory rate and the actual rate is due to nondeductible amortization
and depreciation of purchase accounting adjustments and the lower tax rates of
its Puerto Rico and European divisions.
 
NOTE 15. EARNINGS PER SHARE
 
     Earnings per share for 1996 and 1995 is computed by dividing net income
less preferred dividends (of $1,250 and $1,360, respectively) by the weighted
average number of common shares outstanding and common stock equivalents that
are primarily stock options. Fully diluted earnings per share is not different
than primary earnings per share.
 
     Historical earnings per share for 1994 is computed by dividing net income
adjusted only for pro forma income taxes by the historical weighted-average
number of common shares outstanding of the Old Schawk Companies. The historical
earnings per share for 1994 adjusted only for pro forma income taxes is as
follows:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
Net income..................................................  $ 13,469
Pro forma income taxes......................................     7,071
Pro forma net income adjusted only for income taxes.........    10,247
Primary and fully diluted common shares outstanding.........   507,328
Primary and fully diluted earnings per share adjusted only
  for income taxes..........................................  $  20.20
</TABLE>
 
     Because of the Merger with Filtertek on December 30, 1994, the Company does
not consider the historical earnings per share calculation shown above to be
meaningful information.
 
                                      F-19
<PAGE>   66
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
 
                      CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                                  (UNAUDITED)
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                  1997
                                                              -------------
<S>                                                           <C>
Assets
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents.................................    $  1,878
  Short term investments....................................      18,967
  Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful
     accounts of $598.......................................      22,012
  Inventories...............................................       5,287
  Prepaid expenses and other................................       2,460
  Deferred income taxes.....................................         472
                                                                --------
Total current assets........................................      51,076
Marketable securities.......................................      33,354
Property and equipment, net.................................      27,795
Excess of cost over net assets acquired, less accumulated
  amortization of $4,179....................................      12,414
Other assets................................................       4,912
                                                                --------
Total assets................................................    $129,551
                                                                ========
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
  Trade accounts payable....................................    $  3,633
  Accrued expenses..........................................       9,819
  Income taxes payable......................................       7,654
  Notes payable to banks....................................       4,200
  Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease
     obligations............................................         391
                                                                --------
Total current liabilities...................................      25,697
Long-term debt..............................................      40,000
Capital lease obligations...................................       4,963
Other.......................................................       1,116
Deferred income taxes.......................................       4,372
Stockholders' equity:
  Common stock..............................................         159
  Preferred stock...........................................          --
  Additional paid-in-capital................................      78,318
  Retained earnings (deficit)...............................     (23,491)
  Unrealized gain on available for sale securities..........       1,558
  Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment........        (212)
                                                                --------
                                                                  56,332
  Treasury stock, at cost...................................      (2,929)
                                                                --------
                                                                  53,403
                                                                --------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity..................    $129,551
                                                                ========
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-20
<PAGE>   67
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                 NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND 1996
                                  (UNAUDITED)
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 1997       1996
                                                                -------    -------
<S>                                                             <C>        <C>
Net sales...................................................    $85,157    $63,881
Cost of sales...............................................     47,853     36,398
Selling, general, and administrative expenses...............     23,527     17,953
                                                                -------    -------
Operating income............................................     13,777      9,530
Other income (expense)
  Interest and dividend income..............................      2,149        326
  Interest expense..........................................     (2,791)    (3,299)
  Other.....................................................        563         85
                                                                -------    -------
                                                                    (79)    (2,888)
                                                                -------    -------
Income from continuing operations before income taxes.......     13,698      6,642
Income tax provision........................................      5,479      2,487
                                                                -------    -------
Income from continuing operations...........................      8,219      4,155
Income from discontinued operations.........................         --      1,866
                                                                -------    -------
Net income..................................................      8,219      6,021
Preferred dividends.........................................        855        939
                                                                -------    -------
Net income available for common shares......................    $ 7,364    $ 5,082
                                                                =======    =======
Primary and fully diluted earnings per share:
  Continuing operations.....................................    $  0.37    $  0.17
  Discontinued operations...................................         --       0.09
                                                                -------    -------
Total.......................................................    $  0.37    $  0.26
                                                                =======    =======
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent
  shares outstanding........................................     19,879     19,463
Dividends per Class A common share..........................    $ 0.195    $ 0.195
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-21
<PAGE>   68
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
 
                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                  (UNAUDITED)
                 NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND 1996
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                1997        1996
                                                              --------    --------
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income..................................................  $  8,219    $  6,021
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by
  operating activities:
  Depreciation and amortization.............................     5,309      11,759
  Deferred income taxes.....................................     1,303         491
  Gain realized on sale of marketable securities............      (567)         --
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of
     effects from acquisitions:
     Trade accounts receivable..............................    (2,718)      2,851
     Inventories............................................    (1,612)     (2,274)
     Prepaid expenses and other.............................     3,798         162
     Trade accounts payable and accrued expenses............    (3,394)        426
     Income taxes payable...................................    (6,432)         --
                                                              --------    --------
Net cash provided by operating activities...................     3,906      19,436
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from disposal of operating division................    93,485       5,000
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities.................     2,789          --
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment............       441          --
Purchase of marketable securities...........................   (52,985)         --
Purchases of property and equipment.........................    (5,458)     (9,912)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired..........................        --      (6,826)
Other.......................................................      (749)     (1,441)
                                                              --------    --------
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities.........    37,523     (13,179)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from long-term note collected......................        --       4,034
Proceeds from sale of common stock..........................       390          --
Proceeds from debt..........................................        --       3,035
Principal payments on debt..................................   (27,886)     (7,590)
Principal payments on capital lease obligations.............      (322)         --
Principal payments on notes payable to stockholders.........    (5,765)         --
Cash dividends..............................................    (4,723)     (2,618)
Purchase of common stock....................................    (1,389)     (1,269)
Other.......................................................      (127)         70
                                                              --------    --------
Net cash used in financing activities.......................   (39,822)     (4,338)
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates...................      (212)       (397)
                                                              --------    --------
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents...................     1,395       1,522
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of period...............       483       1,917
                                                              --------    --------
Cash and cash equivalents end of period.....................  $  1,878    $  3,439
                                                              ========    ========
SUPPLEMENTARY DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Dividends issued in the form of Class A Common Stock........  $      6    $  2,104
Cash paid for interest......................................     3,091       3,336
Cash paid for income taxes..................................    10,876       2,689
Note received for sale of operating division................        --       2,619
Class A Common Stock issued in connection with
  acquisitions..............................................        --       3,800
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-22
<PAGE>   69
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
 
          NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                 (THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
 
NOTE 1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
 
     The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant
to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain
information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial
statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although
the Company believes the disclosures included are adequate to make the
information presented not misleading. In the opinion of management, all
adjustments necessary for a fair presentation for the periods presented have
been reflected and are of a normal recurring nature. These financial statements
should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the
notes thereto for the three years ended December 31, 1996.
 
     The Company consummated the sale of its Plastics business segment on
February 7, 1997 for cash of $93,485 plus or minus working capital adjustments.
The Company recorded a loss of $33 million in the fourth quarter of 1996 to
adjust the carrying value of the net assets of this business to net realizable
value at December 31, 1996, and to reflect the related settlement of stockholder
litigation. The condensed consolidated statements of operations for the nine
months ended September 30, 1996 has been restated to segregate the discontinued
operations.
 
NOTE 2. INTERIM RESULTS
 
     Results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily
indicative of the results to be expected for the year.
 
NOTE 3. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
 
     Schawk, Inc. is a leading provider of digital imaging prepress services for
the consumer products industry in the United States and Canada. The Company
offers its clients a complete line of prepress services, digital image
management, digital photography and art production. The Company also provides
services for point-of-sale, advertising and direct mail.
 
NOTE 4. INVENTORIES
 
     Inventories consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                  1997
                                                              -------------
<S>                                                           <C>
Raw materials...............................................     $1,336
Work in process.............................................      4,686
                                                                 ------
                                                                  6,022
Less: LIFO reserve..........................................       (735)
                                                                 ------
                                                                 $5,287
                                                                 ======
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-23
<PAGE>   70
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
 
  NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
                 (THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
 
NOTE 5. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
     Property and equipment consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                  1997
                                                              -------------
<S>                                                           <C>
Land and improvements.......................................     $    522
Building and improvements...................................        7,794
Machinery and equipment.....................................       52,828
Leasehold improvements......................................        3,209
Building and improvements under capital leases..............        7,500
                                                                 --------
                                                                   71,853
Accumulated depreciation and amortization...................      (44,058)
                                                                 --------
                                                                 $ 27,795
                                                                 ========
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 6. EARNINGS PER SHARE
 
     In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
No. 128, Earnings Per Share, which is required to be adopted on December 31,
1997. At that time, the Company will be required to change the method currently
used to compute earnings per share and to restate all prior periods. Under the
new requirements for calculating primary earnings per share, the dilutive effect
of stock options will be excluded. The impact is not expected to have a material
impact on primary or fully diluted earnings per share for the nine-month period
ended September 30, 1997.
 
NOTE 7. INVESTMENTS
 
     The Company has adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS)
No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, which
requires that investments in debt securities and marketable equity securities be
designated as trading, held-to-maturity or available-for-sale. Management
determines the appropriate classification of its securities at the time of
purchase and reevaluates such designation as of each balance sheet date. At
September 30, 1997 all of the Company's investments were classified as available
for sale. Unrealized appreciation on these securities totaled $2,597 ($1,558 net
of tax effects) at September 30, 1997 and is included as a separate component of
stockholders' equity. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value,
with unrealized gains and losses, net of income taxes, reported in a separate
component of stockholders' equity. Realized gains and losses and declines in
value judged to be other-than-temporary on available for sale securities are
included in investment income. The cost of securities sold is based on the
specific identification method. Interest and dividends on securities classified
as available-for-sale are included in investment income.
 
     The following table is a summary of available for sale securities at
September 30, 1997:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     GROSS
                                                                   UNREALIZED    ESTIMATED
                                                          COST       GAINS       FAIR VALUE
                                                         -------   ----------    ----------
<S>                                                      <C>       <C>           <C>
Equity securities and equity mutual funds..............  $ 8,297     $2,158       $10,455
U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government notes................    6,323         23         6,346
Corporate bonds........................................    3,285         15         3,300
Bond mutual funds......................................   31,819        401        32,220
                                                         -------     ------       -------
                                                         $49,724     $2,597       $52,321
                                                         =======     ======       =======
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-24
<PAGE>   71
 
                                  SCHAWK, INC.
 
  NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
                 (THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
 
     During the nine-month period ended September 30, 1997 marketable equity
available-for-sale securities were sold with a fair value at date of sale of
$2,789 with a gross realized gain of $567.
 
     The following table is a summary of available-for-sale securities by
maturity date:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         ESTIMATED
                                                               COST      FAIR VALUE
                                                              -------    ----------
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>
Due in one year or less.....................................  $20,077     $20,245
Due after one year through five years.......................   20,841      21,107
Due after five years through ten years......................      509         514
                                                              -------     -------
Total debt securities.......................................   41,427      41,866
Equity securities...........................................    8,297      10,455
                                                              -------     -------
                                                              $49,724     $52,321
                                                              =======     =======
</TABLE>
 
     Amounts shown as short-term investments on the balance sheet at September
30, 1997 represent management's estimates of amounts available for current
operations.
 
                                      F-25
<PAGE>   72
 
          ============================================================
 
     NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT
BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ANY OF THE
UNDERWRITERS. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY SUCH SECURITIES IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH
SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS UNLAWFUL. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS
NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY
IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE
THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY
TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE.
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              PAGE
                                              ----
<S>                                           <C>
Available Information.......................    3
Incorporation of Certain Information by
  Reference.................................    3
Prospectus Summary..........................    5
Risk Factors................................    9
The Company.................................   14
Use of Proceeds.............................   15
Price Range of Class A Common Stock.........   16
Dividend Policy.............................   17
Capitalization..............................   18
Selected Consolidated Financial Data........   19
Management's Discussion and Analysis of
  Financial Condition and Results of
  Operations................................   20
Business....................................   26
Management..................................   36
Principal and Selling Stockholders..........   38
Certain Transactions........................   39
Description of Capital Stock................   40
Shares Eligible for Future Sale.............   43
Underwriting................................   44
Legal Matters...............................   45
Experts.....................................   45
Index to Consolidated Financial
  Statements................................  F-1
</TABLE>
 
          ============================================================
 
          ============================================================
 
                                3,000,000 SHARES
 
                                  SCHAWK LOGO
 
                              CLASS A COMMON STOCK
 
                          ---------------------------
 
                                   PROSPECTUS
                                     , 1997
                          ---------------------------
                                LEHMAN BROTHERS
 
                               MCDONALD & COMPANY
                                SECURITIES, INC.
 
          ============================================================
<PAGE>   73
 
                                    PART II
 
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
   
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
    
 
     The following exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K have been
included herewith unless otherwise indicated.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             COMPANY DOCUMENT OR
  EXHIBIT                                                                     REPORT FROM WHICH
    NO.                         DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION                      INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
- ------------                    --------------------                      -------------------------
<S>         <C>                                                          <C>
 
   1.1        -- Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
 
   2.3        -- Sales Agreement with ESCO Electronics Corporation.               Form 8-K
                                                                           dated February 7, 1997
 
   4.1        -- Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate.                Registration Statement
                                                                                No. 33-85152
   4.2        -- Certificate of Incorporation of Schawk, Inc., as
                 amended.
 
   4.3        -- By-Laws of Schawk, Inc., as amended.*
 
   5.1        -- Opinion of Vedder, Price, Kaufman & Kammholz, counsel
                 to the Company.*
 
  10.12       -- Schawk, Inc. 1988 Equity Option Plan.                            1988 10-K
 
  10.13a      -- First Amendment to Schawk, Inc. 1988 Equity Option               1992 10-K
                 Plan.
 
  10.13b      -- Second Amendment to Schawk, Inc. 1988 Equity Option       Registration Statement
                 Plan.                                                          No. 33-85152
 
  10.22       -- Lease Agreement dated as of July 1, 1987, and between     Registration Statement
                 Process Color Plate, a division of Schawk, Inc. and            No. 33-85152
                 The Clarence W. Schawk 1979 Children's Trust.
 
  10.23       -- Lease Agreement dated as of June 1, 1989, by and          Registration Statement
                 between Schawk Graphics, Inc., a division of Schawk,           No. 33-85152
                 Inc. and C.W. Properties.
 
  10.26       -- Schawk, Inc. 1991 Outside Directors' Formula Stock        Registration Statement
                 Option Plan, as amended.                                       No. 33-85152
 
  10.27       -- Form of Clarence W. Schawk Amended and Restated           Registration Statement
                 Employment Agreement between Clarence W. Schawk and            No. 33-85152
                 Schawk, Inc.
 
  10.28       -- Form of David A. Schawk Amended and Restated              Registration Statement
                 Employment Agreement between David A. Schawk and               No. 33-85152
                 Schawk, Inc.
 
  10.31       -- Form of Registration Rights Agreement dated December      Registration Statement
                 30, 1994, by and among Schawk, Inc. and certain                No. 33-85152
                 investors.
  10.32       -- Money Market Demand Note dated February 7, 1997 from
                 Schawk, Inc., borrower, to the Northern Trust
                 Company, lender.
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>   74
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             COMPANY DOCUMENT OR
  EXHIBIT                                                                     REPORT FROM WHICH
    NO.                         DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION                      INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
- ------------                    --------------------                      -------------------------
<S>          <C>                                                         <C>
  10.33       -- Demand Note Agreement dated September 12, 1996,
                 between Schawk Canada, Inc. and First Chicago NBD,
                 Canada and related Continuing Guaranty of Schawk,
                 Inc.
 
  10.35       -- Letter of Agreement dated September 21, 1992, by and      Registration Statement
                 between Schawk, Inc. and Judith W. McCue.                      No. 33-85152
 
  10.37       -- Schawk, Inc. Retirement Trust effective January 1,               1996 10-K
                 1996.
 
  10.38       -- Schawk, Inc. Retirement Plan for Imaging Employees               1996 10-K
                 Amended and Restated effective January 1, 1996.
 
  10.42       -- Schawk, Inc. Note Agreement dated as of August 18,               1996 10-K
                 1995.
 
  10.43       -- Stockholder Investment Program dated July 28, 1995.       Registration Statement
                                                                                No. 33-61375
 
  11          -- Statement Re Computation of Per Share Earnings.             1996 10-K/3rd Qtr.
                                                                                  1997 10-Q
 
  21          -- Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
 
  23.1        -- Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.*
 
  23.2        -- Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.*
 
  23.3        -- Consent of Vedder, Price, Kaufman & Kammholz
                 (included in Exhibit 5.1).
 
  24          -- Power of Attorney (included on signature page to
                 Registration Statement).
 
  27          -- Financial Data Schedule.                                    1996 10-K/3rd Qtr.
                                                                                  1997 10-Q
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
   
* Previously filed.
    
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>   75
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
   
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of
the requirements for filing on Form S-2 and has duly caused this Amendment No. 1
to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Des Plaines, State of Illinois, on
November 7, 1997.
    
 
                                          SCHAWK, INC.
 
   
                                          By:                  *
    
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                      David A. Schawk
                                             President, Chief Executive Officer
                                                         and Director
 
   
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
No. 1 to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following
persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      SIGNATURE                                          TITLE                     DATE
                      ---------                                          -----                     ----
<S>                                                    <C>                                       <C>
 
                          *                              Director and Chairman of the Board       11-7-97
- -----------------------------------------------------
                 Clarence W. Schawk
 
                          *                              Director, President and Chief            11-7-97
- -----------------------------------------------------      Executive Officer
                   David A. Schawk
 
                /s/ A. ALEX SARKISIAN                    Executive Vice President -- Finance,     11-7-97
- -----------------------------------------------------      Chief Financial Officer, Corporate
                  A. Alex Sarkisian                        Secretary and Director
 
                          *                              Director                                 11-7-97
- -----------------------------------------------------
                   Judith W. McCue
 
                          *                              Director                                 11-7-97
- -----------------------------------------------------
                  Robert F. Meinken
 
                          *                              Director                                 11-7-97
- -----------------------------------------------------
                   John T. McEnroe
 
                          *                              Director                                 11-7-97
- -----------------------------------------------------
                Hollis W. Rademacher
 
                          *                              Chief Accounting Officer and Director    11-7-97
- -----------------------------------------------------      of Financial Reporting
                  Dennis D. Wilson
 
             *By: /s/ A. ALEX SARKISIAN                                                           11-7-97
  ------------------------------------------------
                 A. Alex Sarkisian,
                  Attorney-in-Fact
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>   76
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             COMPANY DOCUMENT OR
  EXHIBIT                                                                     REPORT FROM WHICH
    NO.                         DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION                      INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
- ------------                    --------------------                      -------------------------
<S>         <C>                                                          <C>
 
   1.1        -- Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
 
   2.3        -- Sales Agreement with ESCO Electronics Corporation.               Form 8-K
                                                                           dated February 7, 1997
 
   4.1        -- Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate.                Registration Statement
                                                                                No. 33-85152
   4.2        -- Certificate of Incorporation of Schawk, Inc., as
                 amended.
 
   4.3        -- By-Laws of Schawk, Inc., as amended.*
 
   5.1        -- Opinion of Vedder, Price, Kaufman & Kammholz, counsel
                 to the Company.*
 
  10.12       -- Schawk, Inc. 1988 Equity Option Plan.                            1988 10-K
 
  10.13a      -- First Amendment to Schawk, Inc. 1988 Equity Option               1992 10-K
                 Plan.
 
  10.13b      -- Second Amendment to Schawk, Inc. 1988 Equity Option       Registration Statement
                 Plan.                                                          No. 33-85152
 
  10.22       -- Lease Agreement dated as of July 1, 1987, and between     Registration Statement
                 Process Color Plate, a division of Schawk, Inc. and            No. 33-85152
                 The Clarence W. Schawk 1979 Children's Trust.
 
  10.23       -- Lease Agreement dated as of June 1, 1989, by and          Registration Statement
                 between Schawk Graphics, Inc., a division of Schawk,           No. 33-85152
                 Inc. and C.W. Properties.
 
  10.26       -- Schawk, Inc. 1991 Outside Directors' Formula Stock        Registration Statement
                 Option Plan, as amended.                                       No. 33-85152
 
  10.27       -- Form of Clarence W. Schawk Amended and Restated           Registration Statement
                 Employment Agreement between Clarence W. Schawk and            No. 33-85152
                 Schawk, Inc.
 
  10.28       -- Form of David A. Schawk Amended and Restated              Registration Statement
                 Employment Agreement between David A. Schawk and               No. 33-85152
                 Schawk, Inc.
 
  10.31       -- Form of Registration Rights Agreement dated December      Registration Statement
                 30, 1994, by and among Schawk, Inc. and certain                No. 33-85152
                 investors.

  10.32       -- Money Market Demand Note dated February 7, 1997 from
                 Schawk, Inc., borrower, to the Northern Trust
                 Company, lender.
 
  10.33       -- Demand Note Agreement dated September 12, 1996
                 between Schawk Canada, Inc. and First Chicago NBD
                 Canada and related Continuing Guaranty of Schawk,
                 Inc.
 
  10.35       -- Letter of Agreement dated September 21, 1992, by and      Registration Statement
                 between Schawk, Inc. and Judith W. McCue.                      No. 33-85152
 
  10.37       -- Schawk, Inc. Retirement Trust effective January 1,               1996 10-K
                 1996.
</TABLE>
    
<PAGE>   77
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             COMPANY DOCUMENT OR
  EXHIBIT                                                                     REPORT FROM WHICH
    NO.                         DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION                      INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
- ------------                    --------------------                      -------------------------
<S>         <C>                                                          <C>
  10.38       -- Schawk, Inc. Retirement Plan for Imaging Employees               1996 10-K
                 Amended and Restated effective January 1, 1996.
 
  10.42       -- Schawk, Inc. Note Agreement dated as of August 18,               1996 10-K
                 1995.
 
  10.43       -- Stockholder Investment Program dated July 28, 1995.       Registration Statement
                                                                                No. 33-61375
 
  11          -- Statement Re Computation of Per Share Earnings.             1996 10-K/3rd Qtr.
                                                                                  1997 10-Q
 
  21          -- Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
 
  23.1        -- Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.*
 
  23.2        -- Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.*
 
  23.3        -- Consent of Vedder, Price, Kaufman & Kammholz
                 (included in Exhibit 5.1).
 
  24          -- Power of Attorney (included on signature page to
                 Registration Statement).
 
  27          -- Financial Data Schedule.                                    1996 10-K/3rd Qtr.
                                                                                  1997 10-Q
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
   
* Previously filed.
    

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     Exhibit 4.2

                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

                                       OF

                                FILTERTEK, INC.

                                  * * * * * *


     The undersigned, a natural person, for the purposes of organizing a
corporation for conducting the business and promoting the purposes hereinafter
stated, under the provisions and subject to the requirements of the laws of the
State of Delaware (particularly Chapter 1, Title 8 of the Delaware Code and the
acts amendatory thereof and supplemental thereto, and known, identified and
referred to as the "General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware"), hereby
certifies that:

     FIRST:  The name of the corporation (hereinafter called the "corporation")
is

                                FILTERTEK, INC.

     SECOND:  The address of the registered office of the corporation in the
State of Delaware is 229 South State Street, city of Dover, County of Kent.
The name of the registered agent of the corporation in the State of Delaware at
such address is The Prentice-Hall Corporation System, Inc.

     THIRD:  The nature of the business and of the purposes to be conducted and
promoted by the corporation, which shall be in addition to the authority of the
corporation to conduct any lawful business, to promote any lawful purpose, and
to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized
under the General Corporation law of the State of Delaware, is as follows:

           To manufacture, buy, sell and generally deal in and with
      goods, wares and merchandise of every class and description,
      including nylon filters, and to do all things necessary and proper
      for the accomplishment of the aforesaid purposes.

           To acquire, own, lease, construct, occupy, and use, and to
      maintain and operate buildings, shops, structures and facilities
      or any part or parts thereof, and to sell the same or otherwise
      dispose thereof.

           To purchase, receive, take by grant, gift, devise, bequest or
      otherwise, lease, or otherwise acquire, own, hold, improve,
      employ, use and otherwise deal in and with real or personal
      property, or any interest therein, wherever situated, and to sell,
      convey, lease, exchange, transfer or otherwise dispose of, or
      mortgage or pledge, all or any of its property and assets, or any
      interest therein, wherever situated.

<PAGE>   2
           To carry on a general mercantile, industrial investing, and
      trading business in all its branches, to devise, invent,
      manufacture, fabricate, assemble, install, service, maintain,
      alter, buy, sell, import, export, license as licensor or licensee,
      lease as lessor or lessee, distribute job, enter into, negotiate,
      execute, acquire and assign contracts in respect of, acquire,
      receive, grant, and assign licensing arrangements, options,
      franchises, and other rights in respect of, and generally deal in
      and with, at wholesale and retail, as principal, and as sales,
      business, special, or general agent, representative, broker,
      factor, merchant, distributor, jobber, advisor, and in any other
      lawful capacity, goods, wares, merchandise, commodities, and
      unimproved, improved, finished, processed, and other real,
      personal, and mixed property of any and all kinds, together with
      the components, resultants, and by-products thereof.

           To apply for, register, obtain, purchase, lease, take
      licensee in respect of or otherwise acquire, and to hold, own,
      use, operate, develop, enjoy, turn to account, grant licenses and
      immunities in respect of, manufacture under and to introduce,
      sell, assign, mortgage, pledge or otherwise dispose of, and, in
      any manner deal with and contract with reference to:

                 (a) inventions; devices, formulae, processes and any
            improvements and modifications thereof;

                 (b) letters patent, patent rights, patented processes,
            copyrights, designs, and similar rights, trade-marks, trade names,
            trade symbols and other indications of origin and ownership granted
            by or recognized under the laws of the United States of America,
            the District of Columbia, any state or subdivision thereof, and any
            commonwealth, territory, possession, agency or instrumentality of
            the United States of America and of any foreign country, and all
            rights connected therewith or appertaining thereunto;

                 (c) franchises, licenses, grants and concessions.

           To guarantee, purchase, take, receive, subscribe for, and
      otherwise acquire, own, hold, use, and otherwise employ, sell,
      lease, exchange, transfer, and otherwise dispose of, mortgage,
      lend, pledge, and otherwise deal in and with, securities (which
      term, for the purpose of this Article THIRD, includes, without
      limitation of the generality thereof, any shares of stock, bonds,
      debentures, notes, mortgages, other obligations, and any
      certificates, receipts or other instruments representing rights to
      receive, purchase or subscribe for the same, or representing any
      other rights or interests therein or in any property or assets )
      of any persons, domestic and foreign firms, association and
      corporations, and by any government or agency or instrumentality
      thereof, to make payment therefor in any lawful manner and, while
      owner of any such securities, to exercise any and all rights,
      powers and privileges in respect thereof, including the right to
      vote.

                                     -2-

<PAGE>   3


           To make, enter into, perform and carry out contracts of every
      kind and description with any person, firm, association,
      corporation or government or agency or instrumentality thereof.

           To acquire by purchase, exchange or otherwise, all, or any
      part of, or any interest in, the properties, assets, business and
      good will of any one or more persons, firms, associations or
      corporations heretofore or hereafter engaged in any business for
      which a corporation may now or hereafter be organized under the
      laws of the State of Delaware; to pay for the same in cash,
      property or its own or other securities; to hold, operate,
      reorganize, liquidate, sell or in any manner dispose of the whole
      or any part thereof; and in connection therewith, to assume or
      guarantee performance of any liabilities, obligations or contracts
      of such persons, firms, associations or corporations, and to
      conduct the whole or any part of any business thus acquired.

           To lend money in furtherance of its corporate purposes and to
      invest and reinvest its funds from time to time to such extent, to
      such persons, firms, associations, corporations, governments or
      agencies or instrumentalities thereof, and on such terms and on
      such security, if any, as the Board of Directors of the
      corporation may determine.

           To make contracts of guaranty and suretyship of all kinds and
      endorse or guarantee the payment of principal, interest or
      dividends upon, and to guarantee the performance of sinking fund
      or other obligations of, any securities, and to guarantee in any
      way permitted by law the performance of any of the contracts or
      other undertakings in which the corporation may otherwise be or
      become interested, of any persons, firm, association, corporation,
      government or agency or instrumentality thereof, or of any other
      combination, organization or entity whatsoever.

           To borrow money without limit as to amount and at such rates
      of interest as it may determine; from time to time to issue and
      sell its own securities, including its shares of stock, notes,
      bonds, debentures, and other obligations, in such amounts, on such
      terms and conditions, for such purposes and for such prices, now
      or hereafter permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware and by
      this Certificate of Incorporation, as the Board of Directors of
      the corporation may determine; and to secure any of its
      obligations by mortgage, pledge or other encumbrance of all or any
      of its property, franchises and income.

           To be a promoter or manager of other corporations of any type
      or kind and to participate with others in any corporation,
      partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, or other
      association, of any kind, or in any transaction, undertaking or
      arrangement which the corporation would have power to conduct by
      itself, whether or not such participation involves sharing or
      delegation of control with or to others.


                                     -3-

<PAGE>   4

           To draw, make, accept, endorse, discount, execute, and issue
      promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange, warrants, bonds,
      debentures, and other negotiable or transferable instruments and
      evidences of indebtedness whether secured by mortgage or
      otherwise, as well as to secure the same by mortgage or otherwise,
      so far as may be permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware.

           To purchase, receive, take, reacquire or otherwise acquire,
      own and hold, sell, lend, exchange, reissue, transfer or otherwise
      dispose of, pledge, use, cancel, and otherwise deal in and with
      its own shares and its other securities from time to time to such
      an extent and in such manner and upon such terms as the Board of
      Directors of the corporation shall determine; provided that the
      corporation shall not use its funds or property for the purchase
      of its own shares of capital stock when its capital is impaired or
      when such use would cause any impairment of its capital, except to
      the extent permitted by law.

           To organize, as an incorporator, or cause to be organized
      under the laws of the State of Delaware, or of any other state of
      the United States of America, or of the District of Columbia, or
      of any commonwealth, territory, dependency, colony, possession,
      agency, or instrumentality of the United States of America, or of
      any foreign country, a corporation or corporations for the purpose
      of conducting and promoting any business or purpose for which
      corporations may be organized, and to dissolve, wind up,
      liquidate, merge or consolidate any such corporation or
      corporations or to cause the same to be dissolved, wound up,
      liquidated, merged or consolidated.

           To conduct its business, promote its purposes, and carry on
      its operations in any and all of its branches and maintain offices
      both within and without the State of Delaware, in any and all
      States of the United States of America, in the District of
      Columbia, and in any or all commonwealths, territories,
      dependencies, colonies, possessions, agencies, or
      instrumentalities of the United States of America and of foreign
      governments.

           To promote and exercise all or any part of the foregoing
      purposes and powers in any and all parts of the world, and to
      conduct its business in all or any of its branches as principal
      agent, broker, factor, contractor, and in any other lawful
      capacity either alone or through or in conjunction with any
      corporations, associations, partnerships, firms, trustees,
      syndicates, individuals, organizations, and other entities in any
      part of the world, and, in conducting its business and promoting
      any of its purposes, to maintain offices, branches and agencies in
      any part of the world, to make and perform any contracts and to do
      any acts and things, and to carry on any business, and to exercise
      any powers and privileges suitable, convenient, or proper for the
      conduct, promotion, and attainment of any of the business and
      purposes herein specified or which at any time may be incidental
      thereto or may be appear conducive to or expedient for the
      accomplishment of any of such business and 


                                     -4-
<PAGE>   5

      purposes and which might be engaged in or carried on by a corporation     
      incorporated or organized under the General Corporation Law of the State
      of Delaware, and to have and exercise all of the powers conferred by the
      laws of the State of Delaware upon corporations incorporated or organized
      under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

     The foregoing provisions of this Article THIRD shall be construed both as
purposes and powers and each as an independent purpose and power.  The
foregoing enumeration of specific purposes and powers shall not be held to
limit or restrict in any manner the purposes and powers of the corporation, and
the purposes and powers herein specified shall, except when otherwise provided
in this Article THIRD, be in no wise limited or restricted by reference to, or
inference from, the terms of any provision of this or any other Article of this
certificate of incorporation; provided, that the corporation shall not conduct
any business, promote any purpose, or exercise any power or privilege within or
without the State of Delaware which, under the laws thereof, the corporation
may not lawfully conduct, promote or exercise.

     FOURTH:  The total number of shares of stock which the corporation shall
have authority  to issue is One Hundred Thousand (100,000).  All such shares
are of one class and are shares of common stock.  The par value of each of such
shares is Ten Dollars ($10.00).

     FIFTH:  The name and the mailing address of the incorporator are as
follows:


                         Name                 Mailing Address
                    John R.F. Baer       134 South LaSalle Street
                                          Chicago, Illinois 60603

     SIXTH:  The name and mailing address of each person who is to serve as a
director until the first annual meeting of the stockholders or until a
successor is elected and qualified, is as follows:


                          Name                Mailing Address           
                     Hayden Leason      c/o Nylon Filter Corporation    
                                           Hebron, Illinois 60034       
                                                                        
                     Robert M. Gunn       134 South LaSalle Street      
                                          Chicago, Illinois 60603       
                                                                        
                      Thomas Cain       c/o Nylon Filter Corporation    
                                           Hebron, Illinois 60034       

     SEVENTH: The corporation is to have perpetual existence.

     EIGHTH:  Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between this
corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between this
corporation and its stockholders or any

                                     -5-

<PAGE>   6

class of them, any court of equitable jurisdiction within the State of Delaware
may, on the application in a summary way of this corporation or of any creditor
or stockholder thereof or on the application of any receiver or receivers
appointed for this corporation under the provisions of section 291 of Title 8
of the Delaware Code or on the application of trustees in dissolution or of any
receiver or receivers appointed for this corporation under the provisions of
section 279 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code order a meeting of the creditors or
class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this
corporation, as the case may be, to be summoned in such manner as the said
court directs.  If a majority in number representing three-fourths in view of
the creditors or class  of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of
stockholders of this corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise
or arrangement and to any reorganization of this corporation as consequence of
such compromise or arrangement, the said compromise or arrangement and the said
reorganization shall, if sanctioned by the court to which the said application
has been made, be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors, and/or on
all the stockholders or class of stockholders, of this corporation, as the case
may be, and also on this corporation.

     NINTH:  For the management of the business and for the conduct of the
affairs of the corporation, and in further definition, limitation and
regulation of the powers of the corporation and of its directors and of its
stockholders or any class thereof, as the case may be, it is further provided:

           1. The power to make, alter, or repeal the By-Laws, and to adopt any
      new By-Law, except a By-Law classifying directors for election for
      staggered terms, shall be vested in the Board of Directors.

           2. Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the
      By-Laws of the corporation shall so provide.

     TENTH:  The corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Section
145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, as the same may be amended and
supplemented, indemnify any and all persons whom it shall have power to
indemnify under said section from and against any and all of the expenses,
liabilities or other matters referred to in or covered by said section, and the
indemnification provided for herein shall not be deemed exclusive of any other
rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any By-Law, agreement,
vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action
in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding
such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director,
officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs,
executors and administrators of such a person.

     ELEVENTH:  From time to time any of the provisions of this certificate of
incorporation may be amended, altered, changed or repealed, and other
provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force
may be added or inserted in the manner and at the time prescribed by said laws,
and all rights at any time conferred upon the stockholders of the corporation
by this certificate of incorporation are granted subject to the provisions of
this Article ELEVENTH.


                                     -6-

<PAGE>   7



     The UNDERSIGNED, being the incorporator hereinbefore named, has executed
this certificate at Chicago, Illinois on November 6th, 1970.


                                        /s/ John R.F. Baer
                                        -------------------------------
                                        JOHN R.F. BAER



STATE OF ILLINOIS  )
                   )    SS.
COUNTY OF COOK     )
                   

     BE IT REMEMBERED that, on November 6, 1970, before me, a Notary Public for
the State of Illinois, personally came John R.F. Baer, the incorporator, who
duly executed the foregoing certificate of incorporation before me and
acknowledged the same to be his act and deed, and that the facts therein stated
are true.

     GIVEN under my hand and seal of office on November 6, 1970.


                                        /s/ Sandra L. Campobasso
                                        -------------------------------
                                        Sandra L. Campobasso,
                                        Notary Public

                                        My Commission expires
                                          January 26, 1974



<PAGE>   8

                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
                                       OF
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                                FILTERTEK, INC.


     It is hereby certified that:

     1. The name of the corporation (hereinafter called the "corporation") is
FILTERTEK, INC.

     2. The Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation is hereby amended
by striking out Article FIRST thereof, and by substituting in lieu of said
Article the following new Article:

            "FIRST:  The name of the corporation (hereinafter
            called the 'corporation') is FILTERTEK OF INDIANA,
            INC."

     3. The amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation herein certified has
been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 228 and 242 of
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

Signed and attested to on July 17, 1972.

                                        FILTERTEK, INC.



                                        /s/ Hayden Leason
                                        -------------------------------
                                        President


Attest:


/s/ Colin Andrews
- -------------------------------
Secretary



<PAGE>   9


STATE OF ILLINOIS  )
                   )   ss.
COUNTY OF          )



     BE IT REMEMBERED that on July 17, 1972, before me, a Notary Public duly
authorized by law to take acknowledgment of deeds, personally came HAYDEN
LEASON, President of FILTERTEK, INC., who duly signed the foregoing instrument
before me and acknowledged that such signing is his act and deed, that such
instrument as executed is the act and deed of said corporation, and that the
facts stated therein are true.

     GIVEN under my hand on July 17, 1972.



                                        /s/ Alye M. Caccio
                                        -------------------------------
                                        Notary Public



<PAGE>   10




                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

                                       OF

                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

                                   * * * * *

     FILTERTEK OF INDIANA, INC., a corporation organized and existing under and
by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, DOES HEREBY
CERTIFY.

     FIRST:  That the Board of Directors of said corporation, by the unanimous
written consent of its members, filed with the minutes of the Board, adopted a
resolution proposing and declaring advisable the following amendment to the
Certificate of Incorporation of said corporation:

            RESOLVED, that the Certificate of Incorporation of
            this corporation be amended by striking out ARTICLE
            FIRST thereof and by substituting in lieu of said
            Article the following new Article:

                  "FIRST:  The name of the corporation
                  (hereinafter called the 'corporation') is
                  FILTERTEK DE PUERTO RICO, INC."

     SECOND:  That in lieu of a meeting and vote of stockholders, the
stockholders have given unanimous written consent to said amendment in
accordance with the provisions of section 228 of The General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware.

     THIRD:  That the aforesaid amendment was duly adopted in accordance with
the applicable provisions of Sections 242 and 228 of The General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware.


<PAGE>   11


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said corporation has caused this certificate to be
signed by Hayden Leason, its President, and attested by Colin Andrews, its
Secretary, this 19th day of March, 1974.

                                    FILTERTEK OF INDIANA, INC.


                                    By  /s/ Hayden Leason
                                        -------------------------------
                                                President


ATTEST:


By  /s/ Colin Andrews
   -------------------------------
   Secretary



<PAGE>   12
                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
                                       OF
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                       OF FILTERTEK DE PUERTO RICO, INC.


     It is hereby certified that:

     1.   The name of the corporation (hereafter called the "corporation")
is FILTERTEK DE PUERTO RICO, INC.


     2.   The Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation is hereby amended
by striking out Article FOURTH thereof, and by substituting in lieu of said
Article the following new Article:

          "FOURTH:  The total number of shares of stock
          which the corporation shall have authority to
          issue is Five Million (5,000,000).  All such
          shares are of one class and are shares of common
          stock. The par value of each of such shares is
          $0.048."
           

     3.   The amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation herein certified
has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 228 and 242
of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.


     4.   Each of the 2,500 shares now issued of common stock of the
corporation of the par value of $10.00 per share is reclassified, converted, 
and charged into 210.16 fully paid and non-assessable shares of the par 
value of $0.048 per share.

Signed and attested to on December 23, 1974.



                                   FILTERTECK DE PUERTO RICO, INC.



                                   /s/ Robert M. Gunn
                                   -----------------------------
                                       Vice President
                                   

Attest:


/s/ John B. Truskowski
- -----------------------------
    Assistant Secretary 
    
<PAGE>   13



STATE OF ILLINOIS )
                  ) ss
COUNTY OF COOK    )


     BE IT REMEMBERED that on December 23, 1974, before me, a Notary Public
duly authorized by law to take acknowledgment of deeds, personally came ROBERT
M. GUNN, Vice President of FILTERTEK DE PUERTO RICO, INC., who duly signed the
foregoing instrument before me and acknowledged that such signing is his act
and deed, that such instrument as executed is the act and deed of said
corporation, and that the facts stated therein are true.

     GIVEN under my hand on December 23, 1974.


                                        /s/ John B. Truskowski
                                        ----------------------
                                             Notary Public
[SEAL]






<PAGE>   14
'

                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
                                       OF
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                         FILTERTEK DE PUERTO RICO, INC.


     It is hereby certified that:

     1. The name of the corporation (hereinafter called the "corporation") is
FILTERTEK DE PUERTO RICO, INC.

     2. The Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation is hereby amended
by striking out Article FOURTH thereof, and by substituting in lieu of said
Article the following new Article:

            "FOURTH:  The total number of shares of stock which
            the corporation shall have authority to issue is One
            Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand (1,250,000).  All
            such shares are of one class and are shares of common
            stock.  The par value of each of such shares is
            $0.048."

     3. The amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation herein certified has
been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

Signed and attested to on May 29, 1975.

                                        FILTERTEK DE PUERTO RICO, INC.



   
                                        /s/
                                        -------------------------------
                                        Vice President

    

Attest:
   
/s/
- ---------------------------
Assistant Secretary
    

<PAGE>   15

STATE OF ILLINOIS   )
                    )   ss.
COUNTY OF COOK      )


     BE IT REMEMBERED that on May 29, 1975, before me a Notary Public duly
authorized by law to take acknowledgment of deeds, personally came ROBERT M.
GUNN, Vice President of FILTERTEK DE PUERTO RICO, INC., who duly signed the
foregoing instrument before me and acknowledged that such signing is his act
and deed, that such instrument as executed is the act and deed of said
corporation, and that the facts stated therein are true.

     GIVEN under my hand on May 29, 1975.


   
                                        /s/
                                        -------------------------------
                                        Notary Public

    

<PAGE>   16

                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
                                       OF
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                         FILTERTEK DE PUERTO RICO, INC.


     IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED THAT:

     1. The name of the corporation (hereinafter called "Corporation") is
FILTERTEK DE PUERTO RICO, INC.

     2. The Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation is hereby amended
by striking out Article FOURTH thereof, and by substituting in lieu of said
Article the following new Article:

            "FOURTH.  The classes of stock, total number of shares
            of stock in each class which the corporation shall
            have authority to issue and the voting rights of each
            class of stock are as follows:

            Class A Common Stock:  One Million, Two Hundred and
            Fifty Thousand (1,250,000) shares are authorized.  The
            par value of each of such shares is $0.048.  Each of
            such shares shall be entitled to one vote.

            Class B Common Stock:  Two Hundred Thousand (200,000)
            shares are authorized.  The par value of each of such
            shares is $.05.  Each of such shares shall have no
            voting rights.

            Class C Common Stock:  Two Hundred Thousand (200,000)
            shares are authorized.  The par value of each of such
            shares if $.05.  Each of such shares shall no voting
            rights."

     3. The Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation herein certified has
been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

Signed and Attested to on January 12, 1977.



                                        FILTERTEK DE PUERTO RICO, INC.

                                        /s/ Robert M. Gunn
                                        -------------------------------
                                        Vice President




ATTEST:


/s/ John B. Truskowski
- -------------------------------
Assistant Secretary

<PAGE>   17

STATE OF ILLINOIS   )
                    )  SS.
COUNTY OF COOK      )




     BE IT REMEMBERED that on January 12, 1977, before me, a Notary Public duly
authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, personally came ROBERT M.
GUNN, Vice President of FILTERTEK DE PUERTO RICO, INC., who duly signed the
foregoing instrument before me and acknowledged that such signing is his act
and deed, that such instrument as executed is the act and deed of said
corporation, and that the facts stated therein are true.

     GIVEN UNDER MY HAND on January 12, 1977.

                                        /s/ Kathleen Cordar
                                        -------------------------------
                                        Notary Public

My Commission Expires:


November 20, 1980

<PAGE>   18


                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
                                       OF
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                         FILTERTEK de PUERTO RICO, INC.
                         ------------------------------


IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED THAT:

     1. The name of the corporation (hereinafter called the "corporation") is
FILTERTEK de PUERTO RICO, INC.

     2. The Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation is hereby amended
by striking out ARTICLE FOURTH thereof, and by substituting in lieu of said
Article the following new Article:

            FOURTH:  The classes of stock, total number of shares
            of stock in each class which the corporation shall
            have authority to issue, and the voting rights of each
            class of stock are as follows:

            Class A Common Stock:  Seven million (7,000,000)
            shares are authorized.  The par value of each of such
            shares is $0.012.  Each of such shares shall be
            entitled to one vote.

            Class B Common Stock:    Two hundred thousand
            (200,000) shares are authorized.  The par value of
            each of such shares is $.05.  Each of such shares
            shall have no voting rights.

     3. The amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation herein certified has
been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 228 and 242 of
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

     4. Each of the 630,319 shares now issued of common stock of the
corporation of the par value of $0.048 per share is reclassified, converted,
and changed into four fully paid and non-assessable shares of the par value of
$0.012 per share.

<PAGE>   19


     Signed and attested to on August 6, 1981.

                                        FILTERTEK de PUERTO RICO, INC.

                                        By: /s/ John J. Leahey
                                           ----------------------------

ATTEST:

By:  /s/ Stephen P. Soltwedel
   ----------------------------------


<PAGE>   20

                                WRITTEN CONSENT
                                       OF
                              MAJORITY SHAREHOLDER
                                       OF
                         FILTERTEK de PUERTO RICO, INC.

     The undersigned, being majority shareholder of FILTERTEK de PUERTO RICO,
INC., a Delaware corporation, hereby consents to the taking of the following
action in lieu of a meeting and vote of shareholders and hereby waives any
notice whatever required to be given in connection therewith:

     RESOLVED, by the shareholders of FILTERTEK de PUERTO RICO, INC., a
Delaware corporation, that the Certificate of Incorporation of this corporation
be amended by striking the following paragraph from ARTICLE FOURTH of said
Certificate:

            "Class C Common Stock:  Two Hundred Thousand (200,000)
            shares are authorized.  The par value of each of such
            shares is $.05.  Each of such shares shall have no
            voting rights."

     The amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation herein certified has
been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 228 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

     Notice of this action has been given to all non-consenting shareholders.

     Signed and attested to on

                                        FILTERTEK de PUERTO RICO, INC.


                                        By:  /s/ Hayden Leason
                                             ------------------------------

ATTEST:

By:  /s/ Stephen P. Soltwedel
     -----------------------------


<PAGE>   21




STATE OF ILLINOIS  )
                   )  SS
COUNTY OF McHENRY  )




     BE IT REMEMBERED THAT on August 6, 1981 before me, a Notary Public, duly
authorized by law to take acknowledgment of deeds, personally came JOHN J.
LEAHEY, Executive Vice President of FILTERTEK de PUERTO RICO, INC., who duly
signed the foregoing instrument before me and acknowledged that such signing is
his act and deed, that such instrument as executed is the act and deed of said
Corporation, and that the facts stated therein are true.

     GIVEN UNDER MY HAND on August 6, 1981.



                                        /s/ Jean Wilke
                                        -------------------------------
                                        Notary Public        Jean Wilke



My Commission Expires:
March 9, 1985

<PAGE>   22



                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
                                       OF
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                         FILTERTEK de PUERTO RICO, INC.

                             ----------------------

IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED THAT:

     1. The name of the corporation (hereinafter called the "corporation") is
FILTERTEK DE PUERTO RICO, INC.

     2. The Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation is hereby amended
by striking out Article FOURTH thereof, and by substituting in lieu of said
Article the following new Article:

            "FOURTH:  The classes of stock, total number of shares
            of stock in each class which the corporation shall
            have authority to issue and the liquidation rights of
            each class are as follows:

            Class A Common Stock:  7,000,000 shares are
            authorized.  The par value of each of such shares is
            $0.012.  Each of such shares shall be entitled to one
            vote.

            Class B Common Stock:  200,000 shares are authorized.
            The par value of each of such shares is $.05.  Each of
            such shares shall have no voting rights.

            Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up:  Upon any
            liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Filtertek
            P.R., holders of shares of Class A Common Stock shall
            have equal rights with the holders of Class B to
            receive a dividend on a pro rata basis based on the
            respective par values of their stock until the Class B
            Common Stock holders have received a distribution
            equal to the par value of their shares.  Thereafter
            all distributions shall be made for the benefit of the
            holders of Class A Common Stock."

<PAGE>   23


     3. The amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation herein certified has
been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

Signed and Attested to on April 26, 1983.

                                        FILTERTEK DE PUERTO RICO, INC.




                                        /s/ Hayden Leason
                                        -------------------------------


<PAGE>   24

                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
                                       OF
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                         FILTERTEK DE PUERTO RICO, INC.


     IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED THAT:

     1. The name of the corporation (hereinafter called the "corporation") is
FILTERTEK de PUERTO RICO, INC.

     2. The Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation is hereby amended
by striking out ARTICLE FOURTH thereof, and by substituting in lieu of said
Article the following new Article:

      FOURTH:  The classes of stock, total number of shares of stock in
      each class which the corporation shall have authority to issue,
      and the voting rights of each class of stock are as follows:

      Class A Common Stock:  Thirty million (30,000,000) shares are
      authorized.  The par value of each of such shares if $0.008.  Each
      of such shares shall be entitled to one vote.

      Class B Common Stock:  Two hundred thousand (200,000) shares are
      authorized.  The par value of each of such shares is $.05.  Each
      of such shares shall have no voting rights.

     3. The amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation herein certified has
been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 228 and 242 of
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

     4. Every two of the 4,284,355 shares now issued of common stock of the
corporation of the par value of $.012 per share is reclassified, converted, and
changed into three fully paid and non-assessable shares of the par value of
$.008 per share.


<PAGE>   25

Signed and attested to on May 9, 1986.

                                      FILTERTEK DE PUERTO RICO, INC.


                                      By:  /s/
                                         -------------------------------

ATTEST:

By:  /s/ Stephen P. Soltwedel
   --------------------------------

<PAGE>   26


                        CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO THE
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                       OF FILTERTEK de PUERTO RICO, INC.


     The undersigned, Michael H. Leason and Stephen P. Soltwedel, President and
Secretary, respectively, of Filtertek de Puerto Rico, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Corporation"), do hereby certify that:

     1. Article Tenth of the Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended to
read as follows:

                  "TENTH:  The corporation shall, to the
                  fullest extent permitted by the General
                  Corporation Law of Delaware, as the same
                  may be amended and supplemented, indemnify
                  any and all persons whom it shall have
                  power to indemnify under said law from and
                  against any and all of the expenses,
                  liabilities or other matters referred to
                  in or covered by said law."

     2. The Certificate of Incorporation is further amended by adding Article
Twelfth as follows:

                  "TWELFTH:  A director of the Corporation
                  shall not be personally liable to the
                  Corporation or its shareholders for
                  monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
                  duty as a director, except for liability
                  (i) for any breach of the director's duty
                  of loyalty to the Corporation or its
                  shareholders, (ii) for acts or omissions
                  not in good faith or which involve
                  intentional misconduct or a knowing
                  violation of law, (iii) under Section 174
                  of the Delaware General Corporation Law,
                  or (iv) for any transaction from which the
                  director derived an improper personal
                  benefit.

                  If the Delaware General Corporation Law is
                  hereafter amended to authorize corporate
                  action further limiting or eliminating the
                  personal liability of directors, then the
                  liability of each director of the
                  Corporation shall be limited or eliminated
                  to the fullest extent permitted by the
                  Delaware General Corporation Law as so
                  amended from time to time."

<PAGE>   27


     3. The amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation herein certified has
been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this certificate this
31st day of March, 1989.

                                        FILTERTEK de PUERTO RICO, INC.


                                        By:  /s/ Michael Leason
                                           -------------------------------
                                           Michael H. Leason, President


                                        ATTEST:


                                        By:  /s/ Stephen P. Soltwedel
                                           -------------------------------
                                           Stephen P. Soltwedel, Secretary

<PAGE>   28


                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
                                       OF
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                         FILTERTEK DE PUERTO RICO, INC.


     Filtertek de Puerto Rico, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under
and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware,

     DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

     FIRST: That the Board of Directors of Filtertek de Puerto Rico, Inc., by
the unanimous written consent of its members, filed with the minutes of the
board duly adopted resolutions, setting forth a proposed amendment to the
Certificate of Incorporation of said corporation, declaring said amendment to
be advisable and calling a meeting of the stockholders of said corporation for
consideration thereof.  The resolutions setting forth the proposed amendment
are as follows:

     RESOLVED, that the Article Fourth of the corporation's Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended, be and it is hereby amended to read as follows:

                 Article Fourth:  The classes of stock, total
            number of shares of stock in each class which the
            corporation shall have authority to issue, and the
            voting rights of each class of stock are as follows:

                 Class A Common Stock:  Twenty Million
            (20,000,000) shares are authorized.  The par value of
            each of such shares is $0.008.  Each of such shares
            shall be entitled to one vote.

                 Class B Common Stock:  Two Hundred Thousand
            (200,000) shares are authorized.  The par value of
            each of such shares is $.05.  Each of such shares
            shall have no voting rights.

                 Preferred Stock:  The Board of Directors of the
            corporation is authorized, subject to the limitations
            prescribed by law and the provisions of this
            Certificate of Incorporation, to provide for the
            issuance of shares of the Preferred Stock or to
            provide for the issuance of shares of the Preferred
            Stock in one or more series, to establish from time to
            time the number of shares to be included in each such
            series and to fix the designations, voting powers,
            preferences, rights and qualifications, limitations or
            restrictions of the shares of the Preferred Stock of
            each such series.

<PAGE>   29

     SECOND: That in lieu of a meeting and vote of stockholders, the
stockholders have given unanimous written consent of said amendment in
accordance with the provisions of Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware.

     THIRD: That the aforesaid amendment was duly adopted in accordance with
the applicable provisions of Sections 228 and 242 of the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said Filtertek de Puerto Rico, Inc. has caused this
Certificate to be signed and attested by A. Alex Sarkisian, its Vice President
and John T. McEnroe, its Assistant Secretary, this 2nd day of June, 1994.


                                        FILTERTEK DE PUERTO RICO, INC.


                                        By: /s/ A. Alex Sarkisian
                                           -------------------------------
                                                A. Alex Sarkisian,
                                                Vice President


ATTEST:

By:  /s/ John T. McEnroe
   -------------------------------
         John T. McEnroe,
         Assistant Secretary


<PAGE>   30



                           CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
                                       OF
                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
                                       OF
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

                                       OF

                         FILTERTEK DE PUERTO RICO, INC.

     It is hereby certified that:

     1. The name of the corporation (hereinafter called the "corporation") is
Filtertek de Puerto Rico, Inc.

     2. The Certificate of Correction to the Certificate of Amendment of
Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation, which was filed by the
Secretary of State of Delaware on June 3, 1994, is hereby corrected.

     3. The inaccuracies to be corrected in said instrument are as follows:

        (a) In Article FIRST, the approval of the amendment is incorrectly
stated as being approved by the unanimous written consent of the Board of
Directors.

        (b) In Article SECOND, the approval of the amendment is incorrectly
stated as being in lieu of a meeting and vote of stockholders by unanimous
written consent.

        (c) In Article THIRD, the amendment is incorrectly adopted pursuant to
Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

     4. The portions of the instrument in corrected form are as follows:

        (a) FIRST:     That the Board of Directors of Filtertek de Puerto Rico,
Inc., at a meeting duly held, adopted resolutions setting forth a proposed
amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of said corporation, declaring
said amendment to be advisable and calling a meeting of the stockholders of
said corporation for consideration thereof.  The resolutions setting forth the
proposed amendment are as follows:

        (b) SECOND:     That such amendment has been duly adopted in accordance
with the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware by
the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of all outstanding stock
entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders.


<PAGE>   31


        (c) THIRD:     That the aforesaid amendment was duly adopted in
accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 242 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the corporation has caused this Certificate of
Correction to be signed and attested to be A. Alex Sarkisian, its Vice
President, and John T. McEnroe, its Assistant Secretary, this 15th day of
November, 1994.


                                        FILTERTEK DE PUERTO RICO, INC.


                                        By:/s/ A. Alex Sarkisian
                                           ----------------------------
                                               A. Alex Sarkisian,
                                               Vice President


ATTEST:


By:/s/ John T. McEnroe
   ---------------------------
       John T. McEnroe,
       Assistant Secretary


<PAGE>   32

                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
                                       OF
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                         FILTERTEK DE PUERTO RICO, INC.


     Filtertek de Puerto Rico, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under
and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware,

     DO HEREBY CERTIFY:

     FIRST: That the Board of Directors of Filtertek de Puerto Rico, Inc., at a
meeting duly held, adopted resolutions setting forth a proposed amendment to
the Certificate of Incorporation of said corporation, declaring said amendment
to be advisable and calling a meeting of the stockholders of said corporation
for consideration thereof.  The resolutions setting forth the proposed
amendment are as follows:

        RESOLVED, that Article First of the corporation's Certificate of
Incorporation be and it is hereby amended to read as follows:

        Article First: The name of the corporation is Filtertek, Inc.
        
     SECOND: That such amendment has been duly adopted in accordance with
provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware by the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of all outstanding stock entitled
to vote at a meeting of stockholders.

     THIRD: That the aforesaid amendment was duly adopted in accordance with
the applicable provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said Filtertek de Puerto Rico, Inc. has caused this
Certificate to be signed and attested by A. Alex Sarkisian, its Vice President,
and John T. McEnroe, its Assistant Secretary, this 1st day of June, 1994.

                                        FILTERTEK DE PUERTO RICO, INC.

                                        By:/s/ A. Alex Sarkisian
                                           ------------------------------
                                               A. Alex Sarkisian,
                                               Vice President
ATTEST:

By:/s/ John T. McEnroe
   ----------------------------
       John T. McEnroe,
       Assistant Secretary



<PAGE>   33


                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
                                       OF
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                                FILTERTEK, INC.


     Filtertek, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue
of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware,

     DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

     FIRST:  That the Board of Directors of Filtertek, Inc., at a meeting duly
held, adopted resolutions setting forth a proposed amendment to the Certificate
of Incorporation of said corporation, declaring said amendment to be advisable
and calling a meeting of the stockholders of said corporation for consideration
thereof.  The resolutions setting forth the proposed amendment are as follows:

        RESOLVED, that Article Fourth of the corporation's Certificate of
Incorporation be and it is hereby amended to read as follows:

           Article Fourth:  The class of stock, total number of shares
      of stock in each class which the corporation shall have authority
      to issue, and the voting rights of each class of stock are as
      follows:

           Class A Common Stock:  Forty Million (40,000,000) shares are
      authorized.  The par value of each of such shares is $0.008.  Each
      of such shares shall be entitled to one vote.

           Class B Common Stock:  Two Hundred Thousand (200,000) shares
      are authorized.  The par value of each of such shares is $0.05.
      Each of such shares have no voting rights.

           Preferred Stock:  One Million (1,000,000) shares are
      authorized.  The par value of each of such shares is $0.01.  The
      Board of Directors of the corporation is authorized, subject to
      the limitations prescribed by law and the provisions of this
      Certificate of Incorporation, to provide for the issuance of
      shares of the Preferred Stock or to provide for the issuance of
      shares of the Preferred Stock in one or more series, to establish
      from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such
      series and to fix the designations, voting powers, preferences,
      rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of the
      shares of the Preferred Stock of each such series.

     SECOND:  That such amendment has been duly adopted in accordance with
provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware by the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of all outstanding stock entitled
to vote at a meeting of stockholders.


<PAGE>   34


     THIRD:  That the aforesaid amendment was duly adopted in accordance with
the applicable provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said Filtertek, Inc. has caused this Certificate to be
signed and attested by A. Alex Sarkisian, its Executive Vice President, and
John T. McEnroe, its Assistant Secretary, this 23rd day of December, 1994.

                                        FILTERTEK, INC.


                                        By:/s/ A. Alex Sarkisian
                                           ------------------------------
                                               A. Alex Sarkisian,
                                               Executive Vice President


ATTEST:

By:/s/ John T. McEnroe
   ------------------------------
       John T. McEnroe,
       Assistant Secretary


<PAGE>   35

                           CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION

                                       OF

                   TERMS, PREFERENCES, RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS

                                       OF

                            SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK

                                      AND

                            SERIES B PREFERRED STOCK

                                       OF

                                FILTERTEK, INC.


     FILTERTEK, INC., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of
the State of Delaware (the "Company"), in accordance with Section 151 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

     1. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (the
"Certificate of Incorporation"), fixes the total number of shares of all
classes of capital stock which the Company shall have the authority to issue at
Forty-One Million Two Hundred Thousand (41,200,000) shares, of which One
Million (1,000,000) shall be shares of Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per
share (herein referred to as "Preferred Stock"), and Forty Million (40,000,000)
shares of which shall be shares of Class A Common Stock, $0.008 par value per
share (herein referred to as "Class A Common Stock"), and Two Hundred Thousand
(200,000) shares of which shall be shares of Class B Common Stock, $0.05 par
value per share (herein referred to as "Class B Common Stock").

     2. The Certificate of Incorporation expressly grants to the Board of
Directors of the Company (the "Board of Directors") authority to provide for
the issuance of said Preferred Stock in one or more series, with such voting
powers, full or limited or without voting powers, and with such designations,
preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated and
expressed in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue thereof
adopted by the Board of Directors and as are not stated and expressed in the
Certificate of Incorporation.

     3. Pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by the
Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors, at a special meeting held
on November 23, 1994, duly authorized and adopted the following resolutions
providing for an issuance of two series of its Preferred Stock to be designated
Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock respectively:


<PAGE>   36


            "RESOLVED, that the appropriate officers of the
            Company are hereby authorized and directed to issue
            22,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock having the
            terms and conditions as set forth in Exhibit A
            attached hereto.

            FURTHER RESOLVED, that the appropriate officers of the
            Company are hereby authorized and directed to issue
            5,207 shares of Series B Preferred Stock having the
            terms and conditions set forth in Exhibit B attached
            hereto."

            A copy of said Exhibit A and Exhibit B are attached hereto and
incorporated herein.


                                      2
<PAGE>   37


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Certificate to be signed
by A. Alex Sarkisian, its Executive Vice President, and attested to by John T.
McEnroe, its Assistant Secretary, this 23rd day of December, 1994.


                                        FILTERTEK, INC.



                                        By:/s/ A. Alex Sarkisian
                                           ------------------------------
                                               A. Alex Sarkisian,
                                               Executive Vice President

ATTEST:


By:/s/ John T. McEnroe
   ------------------------------
       John T. McEnroe,
       Assistant Secretary



                                      3
<PAGE>   38

                                 ACKNOWLEDGMENT



STATE OF ILLINOIS  )
                   )    SS.
COUNTY OF COOK     )


     I, John T. McEnroe, hereby certifies that I am the duly elected and
qualified Assistant Secretary of Filtertek, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), that the foregoing instrument is the act and deed of the Company
and that the facts stated therein are true.


                                           /s/ John T. McEnroe
                                           ------------------------------
                                           Assistant Secretary


     Subscribed and sworn to before the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for
said county and state.


                                           /s/ Gina M. Nuzzo
                                           ------------------------------
                                                Notary Public


Dated:  December 23, 1994



                                      4
<PAGE>   39


                                   EXHIBIT A

                     TERMS OF THE SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK



        The relative rights, preferences, powers, qualifications, limitations
and restrictions granted to or imposed upon the Series A Preferred Stock and
the holders thereof are as follows:

     1. Definitions.  For purposes hereof, the following definitions shall
apply:

        "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

        "Class A Common Stock" shall mean the Class A Common Stock, par value
$0.008 per share, of the Company.

        "Class B Common Stock" shall mean the Class B Common Stock, par value
$0.05 per share, of the Company.

        "Common Stock" shall mean the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock
and any other class of common stock issued by the Company after the Original
Issue Date.

        "Company" shall mean Filtertek, Inc. (to be known as Schawk, Inc.)

        "Conversion Price" shall mean $13.80.

        "Fair Market Value" shall mean the average of the closing prices as of
the closing of business for the ten trading days prior to any Optional Call
Date or the Mandatory Call Date, as applicable, for Class A Common Stock (as
reported by the New York Stock Exchange or if Class A Common Stock is not
traded on the New York Stock Exchange, then on the national exchange on which
the Class A Common Stock is traded.

        "Mandatory Call Date" shall mean December 31, 2004.

        "Optional Call Date" shall mean December 31, 1995 and each December
31st thereafter until December 31, 2003.

        "Original Issue Date" shall mean the date of the original issuance of
up to 30,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

        "Series A Preferred Stock" shall refer to shares of Series A Preferred
Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

                                     A-1
<PAGE>   40

     2. Dividends.

        (a) So long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be
outstanding, subject to the terms of this paragraph 2(a), the holders of such
Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when and as declared by
the Board, out of any funds legally available therefor, cumulative preferential
dividends in cash, in the amount of $50.00 per annum per share, payable
quarterly on the last business day of each March, June, September and December
(each such date being called a "Dividend Payment Date").  Dividends on the
Series A Preferred Stock shall be cumulative daily from the Original Issue Date
(whether or not declared and whether or not in any dividend period or dividend
periods there shall be net profits or net assets of the Company legally
available for the payment of those dividends).  Accumulated and unpaid
dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock shall not bear interest.

        (b) So long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall remain
outstanding, the Company may not declare or pay any dividend or make a
distribution on, or purchase, acquire, redeem, pay monies to the holders of, or
set aside or make monies available for, a sinking fund for the purchase or
redemption of, any shares of Class A Common Stock or any share of any other
class or series of the Company's common stock (other than Class B Common Stock)
or preferred stock ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock, with respect
to the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets on liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company unless (i) all dividends in respect of
the Series A Preferred Stock for all past dividend periods have been paid and
such dividends for the current dividend period have been paid or declared and
duly provided for, and (ii) all amounts in respect of the mandatory call of
Series A Preferred Stock which are then due and payable pursuant to the terms
of paragraph 4 below have been paid or duly provided for.  The provisions of
this paragraph 2(b) shall not prohibit the Company from repurchasing shares of
Class B Common Stock from an employee.

     3. Liquidation Rights of Series A Preferred Stock.

        (a) In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of Shares of Series A
Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to be paid out of the assets
of the Company available for distribution to its stockholders, whether such
assets are capital, surplus or earnings, before any payment or declaration and
setting apart for payment of any amount shall be made in respect of any shares
of Common Stock or any share of any other class or share of the Company's
preferred stock ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to
the payment of dividends or distribution of assets on liquidation, dissolution
or winding up of the Company, an amount equal to $1,000.00 per share plus all
accumulated and unpaid dividends (including a prorated quarterly dividend from
the last Dividend Payment Date to the date of such payment) in respect of any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

        (b) If upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company,
whether voluntary or involuntary, the assets to be distributed among the
holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall be insufficient to permit the payment
to such stockholders of the full preferential amounts aforesaid, then the
entire assets of the Company available to be distributed to such holders shall
be distributed ratably among the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, based

                                     A-2


<PAGE>   41


on the full preferential amounts for the number of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock held by each holder.

        4. Calls of Series A Preferred Stock

        (a) Mandatory Call.

                (i) On the Mandatory Call Date, the Company shall redeem all
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock by issuing or paying to the
holder of each outstanding share of Series A Preferred Stock with respect to
each share either, in the sole discretion of the Board, (x) a number of shares
of Class A Common Stock equal to the sum (the "Mandatory Call Price") of $1,000
plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid dividends per share
(including a pro rated quarterly dividend from the last Dividend Payment
Date to the Mandatory Call Date) divided by the Conversion Price or (y) cash in
the amount of the Fair Market Value, as of the Mandatory Call Date, of the
number of shares of Class A Common Stock determined pursuant to clause (x). 
The payment of the Mandatory Call Price shall be made in the manner provided in
subparagraph 4(a)(ii) through 4(a)(v) below.

                (ii) In the event that (x) only a portion of the then
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock are to be redeemed with a cash
payment, the Company shall effect such cash redemption pro rata according to
the number of shares held by each holder of Series A Preferred Stock, and
(y) only a portion of the then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock
are to be redeemed, the Company shall effect such redemption pro rata according
to the number of shares held by each holder of Series A Preferred Stock.

                (iii) At least twenty (20) days and not more than sixty (60)
days prior to the date fixed for a redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock,
written notice (the "Redemption Notice") shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to
each holder of record of the Series A Preferred Stock at his post office
address last shown on the records of the Company.  The Redemption Notice shall
state: 

                      (A) the manner in which the outstanding shares of Series
A Preferred Stock are to be redeemed;

                      (B) the number of outstanding shares of Series A
Preferred Stock are to be redeemed; and

                      (C) the number of shares of Preferred Stock held by the
holder that the Company intends to redeem;

                      (D) the Mandatory Call Date and the Mandatory Call Price
or, if applicable, the Optional Call Date and the Optional Call Price; and

                      (E) that the holder is to surrender to the Company, in
the manner and at the place designated, his certificate or certificates
representing the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed.

                                     A-3

<PAGE>   42

                      (iv) On or before the date fixed for the Mandatory Call
Date or Optional Call Date, as applicable, each holder of Series A Preferred
Stock shall surrender the certificate or certificates representing such shares
of Series A Preferred Stock to the Company, in the manner and at the place
designated in the Redemption Notice, and thereupon the Mandatory Call Price
or Optional Call Price, as applicable, for such shares shall be payable either
in cash or in shares of Class A Common Stock, as determined by the Board, to
the person whose name appears on such certificate or certificates as the owner
thereof, and each surrendered certificate shall be cancelled and retired.

                      (v) If and only if the Company shall have paid in full,
or made a provision for payment in full, on the Mandatory Call Date or Optional
Call Date, as applicable, the Mandatory Call Price or Optional Call Price, as
applicable, for the number of shares to be redeemed, dividends on the Series A  
Preferred Stock called for redemption shall cease to accumulate on the
Mandatory Call Date or Optional Call Date, as applicable, and the holders of
such shares so redeemed shall cease to have any further rights with respect
thereto, other than to receive the Mandatory Call Price or Optional Call Price,
as applicable, without interest.

                      (vi) Notwithstanding any other provision relating to a
mandatory or optional call of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, neither
certificates nor scrip representing fractional shares of Class A Common Stock
shall be issued upon the surrender for redemption of certificates representing
shares of Series A Preferred Stock.  Each holder of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock who would otherwise have been entitled to a fraction of a share
of Class A Common Stock shall receive in lieu thereof cash (without interest)
in an amount determined by multiplying the fractional share interest to which
such holder would otherwise be entitled by the Fair Market Value of a share of
Class A Common Stock at the applicable Mandatory Call Date or Optional Call
Date.

                  (b) Optional Redemption.

                      The Company may, at the option of the Board, on any
Optional Call Date, redeem a portion of the outstanding shares of Series A
Preferred Stock by issuing or paying to the holder of each outstanding share of
Series A Preferred Stock subject to the optional call with respect to each
share either, in the sole discretion of the Board, (x) a number of shares of
Class A Common Stock equal to the sum (the "Optional Call Price") of $1,000
plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid dividends per share
(including a pro rated quarterly dividend from the last Dividend Payment
Date to the applicable Optional Call Date) divided by the Conversion Price or
(y) cash in the amount of the Fair Market Value, as of the applicable Optional
Call Date, of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock determined pursuant
to clause (x).  The payment of the Optional Call Price shall be made in the
manner provided in subparagraph 4(a)(ii) through 4(a)(v) above.  The maximum
cumulative percentage of shares of Series A Preferred Stock callable on any
Optional Call Date shall equal the number set forth opposite such Optional Call
Date in the following schedule less the number of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock that were previously redeemed by the Company:



                                     A-4
<PAGE>   43


                                       MAXIMUM CUMULATIVE
                                    PERCENTAGE OF SHARES OF
                                   SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK
        OPTIONAL CALL DATE           ELIGIBLE TO BE CALLED
        ------------------          -----------------------

        December 31, 1995                    10%
        December 31, 1996                    20%
        December 31, 1997                    30%
        December 31, 1998                    40%
        December 31, 1999                    50%
        December 31, 2000                    60%
        December 31, 2001                    70%
        December 31, 2002                    80%
        December 31, 2003                    90%

     5. Voting.

     (a) Except for such voting powers as shall be granted to the holders of
shares of the Series A Preferred Stock by this Paragraph 5 or by law, voting
power shall be vested exclusively in the Common Stock (other than Class B
Common Stock).

     (b) So long as any shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall remain
outstanding, the Company will not, without the affirmative vote at a meeting or
the written consent with or without a meeting of the holders of at least 50.1%
of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, (1) create any class or
classes of stock ranking prior to or on a parity with the Series A Preferred
Stock either as to dividends or upon liquidation, (2) amend, alter or repeal
any of the provisions of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the
Company's By-Laws in any manner adverse to the holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock, or (3) liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself, or convey, sell,
assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of, all or substantially all of its
assets.

     6. No Reissuance of Series A Preferred Stock.  No Series A Preferred Stock
acquired by the Company by reason of redemption, purchase, or otherwise shall
be reissued, and all such shares shall be cancelled, retired and eliminated
from the shares which the Company shall be authorized to issue.


                                     A-5

<PAGE>   44


                                   EXHIBIT B

                       TERMS OF SERIES B PREFERRED STOCK

     The relative rights, preferences, powers, qualifications, limitations and
restrictions granted to or imposed upon the Series B Preferred Stock and the
holders thereof are as follows:

     1. Definitions.  For purposes hereof, the following definitions shall
apply:

     "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

     "Class A Common Stock" shall mean the Class A Common Stock, par value
$0.008 per share, of the Company.

     "Class B Common Stock" shall mean the Class B Common Stock, par value
$0.05 per share, of the Company.

     "Common Stock" shall mean the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock
and any other class of common stock issued by the Company after the Original
Issue Date.

     "Company" shall mean Filtertek, Inc. (to be known as Schawk, Inc.).

     "Conversion Price" shall mean $13.80.

     "Fair Market Value" shall mean the average of the closing prices as of the
closing of business, for the ten trading days prior to the Mandatory Call Date,
for Class A Common Stock (as reported by the New York Stock Exchange or if
Class A Common Stock is not traded on the New York Stock Exchange, then on the
national exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is traded.

     "Mandatory Call Date" shall mean December 31, 1999.

     "Original Issue Date" shall mean the date of the original issuance of up
to [5207] shares of Series B Preferred Stock.

     "Qualified Event" shall mean the consummation of any public offering under
the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, or private placement of the Company's
debt or equity securities the gross proceeds of which equal or exceed at least
Twenty Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000).

     "Qualified Event Date" shall mean the date on which a Qualified Event is
consummated.

     "Series A Preferred Stock" shall refer to shares of Series A Preferred
Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.


                                     B-1

<PAGE>   45

     "Series A Certificate of Designation" shall mean that certain Certificate
of Designation of Terms, Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series A
Preferred Stock of Filtertek, Inc. (to be known as Schawk, Inc.).

     "Series A Liquidation Preference" shall mean all amounts payable to the
holders of Series A Preferred Stock upon any liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company, pursuant to the Series A Certificate of Designation.

     "Series B Preferred Stock" shall refer to Series B Preferred Stock, par
value, $0.01 per share of the Company.

     2. Dividends.

     (a) So long as any shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be
outstanding, subject to the terms of this paragraph 2(a), the holders of such
Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the
Board, out of any funds legally available therefor, cumulative preferential
dividends in cash, in the amount of $50.00 per annum per share, payable
quarterly on the last business day of each March, June, September and December
(each such date being called a "Dividend Payment Date").  Dividends on the
Series B Preferred Stock shall be cumulative daily from the Original Issue Date
(whether or not declared and whether or not in any dividend period or dividend
periods there shall be net profits or net assets of the Company legally
available for the payment of those dividends).  Accumulated and unpaid
dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock shall not bear interest.  The
foregoing notwithstanding, the Company may not declare or pay any dividend on
Series B Preferred Stock if any such declaration or payment is prohibited by
the Series A Certificate of Designation.

     (b) So long as any shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall remain
outstanding, the Company may not declare or pay any dividend or make a
distribution on, or purchase, acquire, redeem, pay monies to the holders of, or
set aside or make monies available for, a sinking fund for the purchase or
redemption of, any shares of Class A Common Stock or any share of any other
class or series of the Company's common stock (other than Class B Common Stock)
or preferred stock ranking junior to the Series B Preferred Stock, with respect
to the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets on liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company unless (i) all dividends in respect of
the Series B Preferred Stock for all past dividend periods have been paid and
such dividends for the current dividend period have been paid or declared and
duly provided for, and (ii) all amounts in respect of the mandatory call of
Series B Preferred Stock which are then due and payable pursuant to the terms
of paragraph 4 below have been paid or duly provided for.  The provisions of
this paragraph 2(b) shall not prohibit the Company from repurchasing shares of
Class B Common Stock from an employee.

     3. Liquidation Rights of Series B Preferred Stock.

     (a) In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, after the Series A Liquidation
Preference has been paid, the holders of Shares of Series B Preferred Stock
then outstanding shall be entitled to be paid out of the assets of the Company
available for distribution to its stockholders, whether such assets

                                     B-2

<PAGE>   46

are capital, surplus or earnings, before any payment or declaration and setting
apart for payment of any amount shall be made in respect of any shares of
Common Stock or any share of any other class or share of the Company's
preferred stock ranking junior to the Series B Preferred Stock with respect to
the payment of dividends or distribution of assets on liquidation, dissolution
or winding up of the Company, an amount equal to $1,000.00 per share plus all
accumulated and unpaid dividends (including a prorated quarterly dividend from
the last Dividend Payment Date to the date of such payment) in respect of any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

     (b) If upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company,
whether voluntary or involuntary, the assets to be distributed among the
holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall be insufficient to permit the payment
to such stockholders of the full preferential amounts aforesaid, then the
entire assets of the Company available to be distributed to such holders shall
be distributed ratably among the holders of Series B Preferred Stock, based on
the full preferential amounts for the number of shares of Series B Preferred
Stock held by each holder.

     4. Calls of Series B Preferred Stock.

     (a) Qualified Event Call Date.

        (i) On the Qualified Event Call Date, the Company shall redeem all
outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock by issuing or paying to the
holder of each outstanding share of Series B Preferred Stock with respect to
each share cash in the amount (the "Qualified Event Call Price") of $1,000.00
per share plus all accumulated and unpaid dividends (including a prorated
quarterly dividend from the last Dividend Payment Date to the date of such
payment).  The payment of the Qualified Event Call Price shall be made in the
manner provided in subparagraph 4(a)(ii) through 4(a)(iv) below.

        (ii) In the event that only a portion of the then outstanding shares of
Series B Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, the Company shall effect such
redemption pro rata according to the number of shares held by each holder of
Series B Preferred Stock.

        (iii) At least twenty (20) days and not more than sixty (60) days prior
to the date fixed for a redemption of the Series B Preferred Stock as a result
of a Qualified Event, written notice (the "Qualified Event Redemption Notice")
shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to each holder of record of the Series B
Preferred Stock at his post office address last shown on the records of the
Company.  The Redemption Notice shall state:

              (A) the number of outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock
are to be redeemed;

              (B) the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock held by the
holder that the Company intends to redeem;

                                     B-3
<PAGE>   47



              (C) the Qualified Event Call Date and the Qualified Event Call
Price; and 

              (D) that the holder is to surrender to the Company, in the manner
and at the place designated, his certificate or certificates representing the
shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed.

        (iv) On or before the date fixed for the Qualified Event Call Date,
each holder of Series B Preferred Stock shall surrender the certificate or
certificates representing such shares of Series B Preferred Stock to the
Company, in the manner and at the place designated in the Qualified Event
Redemption Notice, and thereupon the Qualified Event Call Price for such shares
shall be payable in cash to the person whose name appears on such certificate
or certificates as the owner thereof, and each surrendered certificate shall be
cancelled and retired.

        (v) If and only if the Company shall have paid in full, or shall have
made a provision for payment in full, on the Qualified Event Call Date, the
Qualified Event Call Price for the number of shares to be redeemed, dividends
on the Series B Preferred Stock called for redemption shall cease to accumulate
on the Qualified Event Call Date and the holders of such shares so redeemed
shall cease to have any further rights with respect thereto, other than to
receive the Qualified Event Call Price without interest.

     (b) Mandatory Call.

        (i) On the Mandatory Call Date, the Company shall redeem all
outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock by issuing or paying to the
holder of each outstanding share of Series B Preferred Stock with respect to
each share either, in the sole discretion of the Board, (x) a number of shares
of Class A Common Stock equal to the sum (the "Mandatory Call Price") of $1,000
plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid dividends per share
(including a pro rated quarterly dividend from the last Dividend Payment Date
to the Mandatory Call Date) divided by the Conversion Price or (y) cash in the
amount of the Fair Market Value, as of the Mandatory Call Date, of the number
of shares of Class A Common Stock determined pursuant to clause (x).  The
payment of the Mandatory Call Price shall be made in the manner provided in
subparagraph 4(b)(ii) through 4(b)(v) below.

        (ii) In the event that only a portion of the then outstanding shares of 
Series B Preferred Stock are to be redeemed with a cash payment, the Company
shall effect such cash redemption pro rata according to the number of shares
held by each holder of Series B Preferred Stock. 


        (iii) At least twenty (20) days and not more than sixty (60) days prior
to the date fixed for a redemption of the Series B Preferred Stock, written
notice (the "Redemption Notice") shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to each
holder of record of the Series B Preferred Stock at his post office address
last shown on the records of the Company.  The Redemption Notice shall state:

                                     B-4

<PAGE>   48

              (A) the manner in which the outstanding shares of Series B
Preferred Stock are to be redeemed;

              (B) the number of outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock
are to be redeemed;

              (C) the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock held by the
holder that the Company intends to redeem;

              (D) the Mandatory Call Date and the Mandatory Call Price; and

              (E) that the holder is to surrender to the Company, in the manner
and at the place designated, his certificate or certificates representing the
shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed.

        (iv) On or before the date fixed for the Mandatory Call Date, each
holder of Series B Preferred Stock shall surrender the certificate or
certificates representing such shares of Series B Preferred Stock to the
Company, in the manner and at the place designated in the Redemption Notice,
and thereupon the Mandatory Call Price for such shares shall be payable either
in cash or in shares of Class A Common Stock, as determined by the Board, to
the person whose name appears on such certificate or certificates as the owner
thereof, and each surrendered certificate shall be cancelled and retired.

        (v) If and only if the Company shall have paid in full, or shall have
made a provision for payment in full,  on the Mandatory Call Date, the
Mandatory Call Price, for the number of shares to be redeemed, dividends on the
Series B Preferred Stock called for redemption shall cease to accumulate on the
Mandatory Call Date and the holders of such shares so redeemed shall cease to
have any further rights with respect thereto, other than to receive the
Mandatory Call Price without interest.

        (vi) Notwithstanding any other provision relating to a mandatory or
optional call of shares of Series B Preferred Stock, neither certificates nor
scrip representing fractional shares of Class A Common Stock shall be issued
upon the surrender for redemption of certificates representing shares of Series
B Preferred Stock.  Each holder of shares of Series B Preferred Stock who would
otherwise have been entitled to a fraction of a share of Class A Common Stock
shall receive in lieu thereof cash (without interest) in an amount determined
by multiplying the fractional share interest to which such holder would
otherwise be entitled by the Fair Market Value of a share of Class A Common
Stock at the applicable Mandatory Call Date.

     5. Voting.

     (a) Except for such voting powers as shall be granted to the holders of
shares of the Series B Preferred Stock by this Paragraph 5 or by law, voting
power shall be vested exclusively in the Common Stock (other than Class B
Common Stock).

                                     B-5

<PAGE>   49


     (b) So long as any shares of the Series B Preferred Stock shall remain
outstanding, the Company will not, without the affirmative vote at a meeting or
the written consent with or without a meeting of the holders of at least 50.1%
of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock, (1) create any class or
classes of stock, other than the Series A Preferred Stock, ranking prior to or
on a parity with the Series B Preferred Stock either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, (2) amend, alter or repeal any of the provisions of this Restated
Certificate of Incorporation or the Company's By-Laws in any manner adverse to
the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock, or (3) liquidate, wind up or
dissolve itself, or convey, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of, all
or substantially all of its assets.

     6. No Reissuance of Series B Preferred Stock.  No Series B Preferred Stock
acquired by the Company by reason of redemption, purchase, or otherwise shall
be reissued, and all such shares shall be cancelled, retired and eliminated
from the shares which the Company shall be authorized to issue.

                                     B-6

<PAGE>   50



                             CERTIFICATE OF MERGER

                                       OF

                                  SCHAWK, INC.
                             FLEXO GRAPHICS,  INC.
                             LINCOLN GRAPHICS, INC.

                                      AND

                                FILTERTEK, INC.

     It is hereby certified that:

     1. The constituent business corporations participating in the merger
herein certified are:

        Schawk, Inc., which is incorporated under the laws of the State of
Delaware; Flexo Graphics, Inc., which is incorporated under the laws of the
State of Minnesota; and Lincoln Graphics, Inc., which is incorporated under the
laws of the State of New Jersey; and

        Filtertek, Inc., which is incorporated under the laws of the State of
Delaware.

     2. An Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the
"Agreement") among Filtertek Inc., Filtertek USA, Inc., a wholly owned
subsidiary of Filtertek, Inc., Schawk Inc.,  Lincoln Graphics, Inc., and Flexo
Graphics, Inc. (the Agreement, together with the Amended and Restated Plan of
Merger attached thereto, the "Merger Agreements") has been approved, adopted,
certified, executed, and acknowledged by each of the aforesaid constituent
corporations in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of Section 252
of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, to wit, by Schawk,
Inc., Flexo Graphics, Inc. and Lincoln Graphics, Inc. in accordance with the
laws of their respective states of incorporation, and by Schawk, Inc. in the
same manner as is provided in Section 251 of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware, and by Filtertek, Inc. in the same manner as is provided in
Sections 203 and 251 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

     3. The name of the surviving corporation in the merger herein certified is
Filtertek, Inc., which will continue its existence as said surviving
corporation under the name "Schawk, Inc." upon the effective date of said
merger pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware.



<PAGE>   51


     4. The Certificate of Incorporation of Filtertek, Inc. is to be amended
and changed by reason of the merger herein certified by striking out ARTICLE
FIRST, and thereof, relating to the name of said surviving corporation, and by
substituting in lieu thereof the following article:

        "FIRST:  The name of the corporation (hereafter the "corporation") is
Schawk, Inc."

and said Certificate of Incorporation as so amended and changed shall continue
to be the Certificate of Incorporation of said surviving corporation until
further amended and changed in accordance with the provisions of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

     5. The executed Merger Agreements between the aforesaid constituent
corporations is on file at the principal place of business of the aforesaid
surviving corporation, the address of which is as follows:  1695 River Road,
Des Plaines, Illinois  60018.

     6. A copy of the aforesaid Merger Agreements will be furnished by the
aforesaid surviving corporation, on request, and without cost, to any
stockholder of each of the aforesaid constituent corporations.

     7. The authorized capital stock of Schawk, Inc. consists of One Million
(1,000,000) shares, of which One Hundred Thousand (100,000) shall be shares of
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, and Nine Hundred Thousand (900,000)
shall be shares of Common Stock, $0.10 par value per share.

     8. The Merger Agreements between the aforesaid constituent corporations
provide that the merger herein certified shall become effective at 5:00 p.m.,
Chicago time, on December 30, 1994.



<PAGE>   52


Dated:  December 23, 1994

                                         SCHAWK, INC.



                                         By:/s/ A. Alex Sarkisian
                                            ------------------------
                                                A. Alex Sarkisian,
                                                Executive Vice President


Dated:  December 23, 1994                FLEXO GRAPHICS, INC.



                                         By:/s/ A. Alex Sarkisian
                                            ------------------------
                                                A. Alex Sarkisian,
                                                Executive Vice President

Dated:  December 23, 1994                LINCOLN GRAPHICS, INC.



                                         By:/s/ A. Alex Sarkisian
                                            ------------------------
                                                A. Alex Sarkisian,
                                                Executive Vice President


Dated:  December 23, 1994                FILTERTEK, INC.


                                         By:/s/ A. Alex Sarkisian
                                            ------------------------
                                                A. Alex Sarkisian,
                                                Executive Vice President


<PAGE>   53

                           CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
                                       OF
                       CERTIFICATE OF AGREEMENT OF MERGER
         OF SCHAWK, INC., FLEXO GRAPHICS, INC., LINCOLN GRAPHICS, INC.
                              AND FILTERTEK, INC.


     It is hereby certified that:

     1.    The name of the corporation (hereinafter called the "Corporation") is
Schawk, Inc.  Prior to December 30, 1994, the name of the Corporation was
Filtertek, Inc.

     2.    The Certificate of Merger of the Corporation, which was filed with
the Secretary of State of Delaware on December 30, 1994, is hereby corrected.

     3.   The inaccuracies to be corrected in said instrument are as follows:

          a.     Section 7 of the Certificate of Merger incorrectly refers to
the authorized capital stock of Schawk, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which was
merged into the Corporation.  Section 7 of the Certificate of Merger should
have referred to the authorized capital stock of Flexo Graphics Corporation, a
Minnesota corporation and of Lincoln Graphics, Inc., a New Jersey corporation,
both of which were also merged into the Corporation.

     4.    The portions of the instrument in corrected form are as follows:

     "7. The authorized capital stock of Flexo Graphics, Inc. consists of
25,000 shares of common stock, $1.00 par value.  The authorized capital stock
of Lincoln Graphics, Inc. consists of 100,000 shares of common stock, $1.00 par
value."

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of
Correction to be signed by A. Alex Sarkisian, its Executive Vice President this
5th day of November, 1997.


                                SCHAWK, INC.


                                By:  /s/ A. Alex Sarkisian
                                    --------------------------
                                    A.  Alex Sarkisian, Executive Vice President


<PAGE>   54


                      CERTIFICATE OF OWNERSHIP AND MERGER

                                    MERGING

                                SCHAWK USA, INC.
                            (A DELAWARE CORPORATION)

                                 WITH AND INTO

                                  SCHAWK, INC.
                            (A DELAWARE CORPORATION)

     It is hereby certified that:

     1. Schawk, Inc. (the "Corporation") is a business corporation incorporated
under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

     2. The Corporation is the owner of all of the outstanding shares of stock
of Schawk USA, Inc., which is a business corporation incorporated under the
laws of the State of Delaware ("Schawk USA").

     3. On November 5, 1997, the Board of Directors of the Corporation adopted
the following resolutions to merge Schawk USA and Schawk California into the
Corporation:

           RESOLVED, that Schawk USA be merged into the Corporation, and
      that all of the estate, property, rights, privileges, powers and
      franchises of Schawk USA be vested in and held and enjoyed by the
      Corporation as fully and entirely and without change or diminution
      as the same were before held and enjoyed by Schawk USA in its
      name.

           FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Corporation shall assume all of
      the obligations of Schawk USA.


           FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Corporation shall cause to be
      executed and filed and/or recorded the documents prescribed by the
      laws of the State of Delaware and will cause to be performed all
      necessary acts within the State of Delaware.



<PAGE>   55

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said Schawk, Inc. has caused this Certificate to be
signed by A. Alex Sarkisian, its Executive Vice President, this 5th day of
November, 1997.


                                        SCHAWK, INC.


                                        By:  /s/ A. Alex Sarkisian
                                             --------------------------------- 
                                             A. Alex Sarkisian, Executive
                                             Vice President




<PAGE>   1



                                                                   Exhibit 10.32

$10,000,000                                                    Chicago, Illinois
                                                                February 4, 1997

                            MONEY MARKET DEMAND NOTE
                           (FIXED AND FLOATING RATE)

ON DEMAND, for value received, SCHAWK, INC., a corporation organized or formed
under the laws of the State of Delaware ("Borrower"), promises to pay to the
order of THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY, an Illinois banking corporation (the
"Lender"), the aggregate unpaid principal balance of each advance (an "Advance"
and collectively the "Advances") made by the Lender to the Borrower hereunder.
The total principal amount of Advances outstanding at any one time hereunder
shall not exceed TEN MILLION and no/100ths UNITED STATES DOLLARS
($10,000,000.00).

The unpaid principal balance of each Advance shall bear interest from the date
thereof until its interim maturity date, which may be from one to ninety days
from the date of the Advance, as reflected in column three on the annexed
schedule (the "Interim Maturity Date"), the occurrence of a demand for payment
hereof, or an "Automatic Demand" (as defined below), whichever is earliest, at
the fixed or floating rate (as the parties may agree) set forth in column four
of the annexed schedule.  The principal amount of each Advance shall mature and
be payable on its Interim Maturity Date, unless the Lender makes demand for
payment hereof or an Automatic Demand occurs, as provided below.

Interest on each Advance shall be payable on its Interim Maturity Date or upon
payment of such Advance in full (whether pursuant to demand, the occurrence of
an Automatic Demand, or otherwise), whichever is earlier.  Any Advance which is
not paid in full on its Interim Maturity Date or on or before the maturity of
this Note (whether by demand, the occurrence of an Automatic Demand, or
otherwise) shall thereafter bear interest until paid at a rate equal to two
percent (2%) in addition to the "Prime Rate" (as defined below).

The Borrower hereby authorizes the Lender to charge any account of the Borrower
maintained with the Lender for any amounts due or payable hereunder; unless the
Borrower instructs otherwise, all Advances made to the Borrower under this Note
shall be credited to an account(s) of the Borrower with the Lender.  THE LENDER
AT ITS OPTION MAY MAKE ADVANCES HEREUNDER UPON TELEPHONIC INSTRUCTIONS AND IN
SO DOING SHALL BE FULLY ENTITLED TO RELY SOLELY UPON INSTRUCTIONS, INCLUDING
INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE TRANSFERS TO THIRD PARTIES, REASONABLY BELIEVED BY THE
LENDER TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN BY AN AUTHORIZED PERSON, WITHOUT INDEPENDENT INQUIRY
OF ANY TYPE.

For purposes hereof, "Prime Rate" means that per annum rate of interest
announced from time to time by the Lender called its prime rate, which may not
at any time be the lowest rate charged

<PAGE>   2


by the Lender.  Changes in the interest rate on any Advance resulting from a
change in the Prime Rate shall take effect on the date set forth in each
announcement.  Interest shall be computed for the actual number of days elapsed
on the basis of a year consisting of 360 days,  including the date an Advance
is made and excluding the date an Advance or any portion thereof is paid or
prepaid.

Payments of both principal and interest hereon, whether at scheduled maturity,
upon demand for payment hereof, upon the occurrence of an Automatic Demand, or
otherwise, shall be due and payable on the date specified or demanded for such
payment at the principal of office of the Lender at 50 South LaSalle Street,
Chicago, Illinois 60675, in lawful money of the United States of America and in
immediately available funds.  The Borrower shall have the right to prepay
without penalty or premium any Advances bearing interest at a rate based on the
Prime Rate.

If the Borrower prepays any Advance bearing a fixed interest rate (i.e., any
rate other than one based on the Prime Rate) in whole or in part, or if the
maturity of any such fixed rate Advance is accelerated upon demand for payment
hereof or the occurrence of an Automatic Demand, the Borrower shall also pay
the Lender for all losses (including but not limited to interest rate margin
and any other losses of anticipated profits) or expenses incurred by reason of
the liquidation or re-employment of deposits acquired by the Lender to make the
Advance or maintain principal outstanding at a fixed rate.  Upon the Lender's
demand in writing specifying such losses and expenses, the Borrower shall
promptly pay them; the Lender's specification shall be deemed correct in the
absence of manifest error.  Each Advance shall be conclusively deemed to have
been funded by or on behalf of the Lender by the purchase of a deposit
corresponding in amount to such Advance and in maturity to such Advance's
Interim Maturity Date.

The Lender shall, and is hereby authorized by the Borrower to, endorse on the
schedule annexed to this Note notations with respect to each Advance specifying
the date and principal amount thereof, the Interim Maturity Date, the
applicable interest rate, and the date and amount of each payment of principal
and interest made by the Borrower with respect to each such Advance; provided,
however, the failure of the Lender to make any such notation shall not limit or
otherwise affect the right of the Lender to repayment of all Advances
(including interest thereon) made by the Lender to the Borrower.  The Lender's
endorsements as well as its records relating to Advances shall be rebuttably
presumptive evidence of the outstanding principal and interest on the Advances,
and, in the event of inconsistency, shall prevail over any records of the
Borrower and any written confirmations of Advances given by the Borrower.

At any time and without notice of any kind, any account, deposit or other
indebtedness owing by the Lender to the Borrower, and any securities or other
property of the Borrower delivered to or left in the possession of the Lender
or its nominee or bailee, may be set off against and applied in payment of any
obligation hereunder, whether due, demanded, or not.  The Borrower hereby
grants to the Lender a continuing security interest in, and assigns to the
Lender, such accounts, deposits, indebtedness and property as collateral
security for the payment of all obligations of the Borrower to the Lender,
including without limitation those hereunder.

                                      2

<PAGE>   3


The Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Lender that:

      (i)   the Borrower and each "subsidiary" (as defined below) are
            corporations existing and in good standing under the laws of their
            states of incorporation;

      (ii)  the Borrower and each subsidiary are duly qualified, in good
            standing and authorized to do business in each jurisdiction deemed
            necessary by the Borrower;

      (iii) the borrowings hereunder, the execution and delivery of this
            Note and the performance by the Borrower of its obligations
            hereunder are within the Borrower's corporate powers, have been
            authorized by all necessary corporate action, have received all
            necessary governmental approval (if any is required) and do not and
            will not contravene or conflict with any provision of law or of the
            charter or by-laws of the Borrower or of any agreement binding upon
            the Borrower; and
 
      (iv)  there has been no material adverse change in the business,
            properties, assets, operations or prospects of the Borrower since
            the date of the latest financial statements provided on behalf of
            the Borrower to the Lender.

"Subsidiary" means any corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
legal entity of which the Borrower owns directly or indirectly 50% or more of
the outstanding voting stock or interest, or of which the Borrower has
effective control, by contract or otherwise.

The Borrower shall be deemed to have remade the foregoing representations and
warranties each time an Advance is requested hereunder, except that (iv) shall
be deemed to refer to the then most recent financial statements furnished to
the Lender.

This Note (principal, interest and other amounts) shall be immediately and
automatically due and payable without action or further action of any kind on
the part of the Lender, and the Lender shall have and may exercise any and all
rights and remedies available at law or in equity, if the Lender demands
payment hereof or if any one or more of the following "Automatic Demands"
occurs:

      (a)  The Borrower shall fail to make any payment of principal,
           interest, or other amounts payable hereunder when and as due or
           demanded; or

      (b)  Any default, event of default, or similar event shall occur
           or continue under any instrument, document, note, agreement, or
           guaranty delivered to the Lender in connection with this Note, or
           any such instrument, document, note, agreement, or guaranty shall
           not be, or shall cease to be, enforceable in accordance with its
           terms; or


                                      3

<PAGE>   4


      (c)  There shall occur any default or event of default, or any
           event which might become such with notice or the passage of time or
           both, or any similar event, or any event which requires the
           prepayment of borrowed money or the acceleration of the maturity
           thereof, under the terms of any evidence of indebtedness or other
           agreement issued or assumed or entered into by the Borrower or any
           subsidiary or under the terms of any indenture, agreement or
           instrument under which any such evidence of indebtedness or other
           agreement is issued, assumed, secured or guaranteed, and such event
           shall continue beyond any applicable period of grace; or

      (d)  The Borrower or any subsidiary shall fail to preserve and
           maintain its existence, rights, franchises, licenses and privileges,
           or shall liquidate, dissolve or merger, or consolidate with or into
           any other entity, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of
           all or a substantial part of its assets.

      (e)  Any representation, warranty, schedule, certificate,
           financial statement, report, notice or other writing furnished by or
           on behalf of the Borrower to the Lender is false or misleading in
           any material respect on the date as of which the facts therein set
           forth are stated or certified; or

      (f)  Any person or entity presently not in control of the Borrower
           shall obtain control directly or indirectly of the Borrower, whether
           by purchase or gift of stock or assets, by contract, or otherwise;
           or

      (g)  Any reportable event shall occur under the Employee
           Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, in respect of
           any employee benefit plan maintained for employees of the Borrower
           or any subsidiary; or

      (h)  Any suit, action or other proceeding (judicial or
           administrative) commenced against the Borrower or any subsidiary, or
           with respect to any assets of the Borrower or any subsidiary, shall
           threaten to have a material and adverse effect on the future
           operations of the Borrower or any subsidiary; or a final judgment or
           settlement in excess of $100,000 in excess of insurance shall be
           entered in, or agreed to in respect of, any such suit, action or
           proceeding; or

      (i)  The Borrower shall fail to comply with any provision hereof,
           which failure does not otherwise constitute an Automatic Demand, and
           such failure shall continue for ten days after notice thereof to the
           Borrower by the Lender or any other holder of this Note; or

      (j)  Any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement,
           readjustment, liquidation, dissolution, or similar proceeding,
           domestic or foreign, is instituted by or against the Borrower or any
           subsidiary, or the Borrower or any subsidiary shall take any step
           toward, or to authorize, such a proceeding; or


                                      4


<PAGE>   5


      (k)  The Borrower or any subsidiary shall become insolvent,
           generally shall fail or be unable to pay debts as they mature, shall
           admit in writing inability to pay debts as they mature, shall make a
           general assignment for the benefit of creditors, shall enter into
           any composition or similar agreement, or shall suspend the
           transaction of all or a substantial portion of usual business.

The Lender may, by written notice to the Borrower, at any time and from time to
time, waive any Automatic Demand or "Unmatured Automatic Demand" (as defined
below) which shall be for such period and subject to such conditions as shall
be specified in any such notice.  In the case of any such waiver, the Lender
and the Borrower shall be restored to their former position and rights
hereunder and under the Note, respectively, and any Automatic Demand or
Unmatured Automatic Demand so waived shall be deemed to be cured and not
continuing; but no such waiver shall extend to or impair any right consequent
thereon or to any subsequent or other Automatic Demand or Unmatured Automatic
Demand.  "Unmatured Automatic Demand" means an event or condition which would
become an Automatic Demand with notice or the passage of time or both.  No
failure to exercise, and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Lender of
any right, power or privilege hereunder shall preclude any other or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.  The
rights and remedies of the Lender herein provided are cumulative and not
exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

All notices, requests and demands to or upon the respective parties hereto
shall be deemed to have been given or made when deposited in the mail, postage
prepaid, addressed:

      (A)  if to the Lender to 50 South LaSalle Street. Chicago,
           Illinois 60675, (Attention: Division Head, Metropolitan I Division)

      (B)  if to the Borrower to the address set forth below,

or to such other address as may be hereafter designated in writing by the
respective parties hereto.

This Note and any document or instrument executed in connection herewith shall
be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal law of the State
of Illinois, and shall be deemed to have been executed in the State of
Illinois.  Unless the context requires otherwise, wherever used herein the
singular shall include the plural and vice versa.  This Note shall bind the
Borrower, and its successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of the
Lender, its successors and assigns.  The Borrower agrees to pay upon demand all
expenses (including attorneys' fees, legal costs and expenses, and time charges
of attorneys who may be employees of the Lender, in each case whether in or out
of court, in original or appellate proceedings or in bankruptcy) incurred or
paid by the Lender or any holder hereof in connection with the enforcement or
preservation of its rights hereunder or under any  document or instrument
executed in connection herewith.  The Borrower expressly and irrevocably waives
presentment, protest, demand and notice of any kind in connection herewith.


                                      5


<PAGE>   6

THE BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT, SUBJECT TO THE LENDER'S SOLE AND
ABSOLUTE ELECTION, ALL SUITS, ACTIONS OR OTHER PROCEEDINGS WITH RESPECT TO,
ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS NOTE OR ANY DOCUMENT OR INSTRUMENT
EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH SHALL BE SUBJECT TO LITIGATION IN COURTS HAVING
SITUS WITHIN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.  THE BORROWER HEREBY CONSENTS AND SUBMITS TO
THE JURISDICTION OF ANY LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL COURT LOCATED IN CHICAGO,
ILLINOIS, AND HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO REQUEST OR DEMAND TRIAL BY
JURY, TO  TRANSFER OR CHANGE THE VENUE OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING
BROUGHT BY THE LENDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS PARAGRAPH, OR TO CLAIM THAT ANY
SUCH  PROCEEDING HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

NO PROVISION OF THIS NOTE OR ANY RELATED DOCUMENT OR INSTRUMENT SHALL BE
CONSTRUED TO REQUIRE THE LENDER TO EXTEND ANY CREDIT OR MAKE ANY LOAN TO THE
BORROWER.  THE BORROWER CLEARLY UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES THAT THIS NOTE IS A
DEMAND OBLIGATION PAYMENT OF WHICH IN FULL (INCLUDING PRINCIPAL, INTEREST, AND
ANY OTHER AMOUNTS) MAY BE DEMANDED BY THE LENDER AT ANY TIME IN ITS SOLE
DISCRETION WITHOUT PRIOR ORAL OR WRITTEN NOTICE OF ANY KIND.  DEMAND MAY BE
MADE AT ANY TIME, WHETHER OR NOT AN "AUTOMATIC DEMAND" HAS OCCURRED, AND
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT AN ADVANCE(S) HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING THROUGH OR
BEYOND ITS INTERIM MATURITY DATE.

                                       SCHAWK, INC.



                                       By:     /s/ Marie Meisenbach Graul
                                               --------------------------

                                       Name:   Marie Meisenbach Graul
                                               --------------------------

                                       Title:  Chief Financial Officer
                                               --------------------------

Address for notices:
SCHAWK, INC.
1695 North River Road
Des Plaines, Illinois 60018
Attn:  Treasurer


                                      6




<PAGE>   1

                                                                   Exhibit 10.33

                             DEMAND NOTE AGREEMENT

               (Fixed or Floating Rate, Canadian or U.S. Dollars)


Date:  September 12, 1996

     In consideration of First Chicago NBD Bank, Canada (the "Bank") providing
the Borrower with a demand loan facility (the "Loan Facility") in the principal
amount of up to CDN $7,500,000.00, Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand and
00/100 Dollars in lawful currency of Canada (or its equivalent in other
currencies approved by the Bank), the Borrower agrees (and each of them, if
more than one, jointly and severally agrees) with the Bank as follows:

            5.    The Borrower promises to pay to the Bank on demand in
accordance with the terms and conditions required by the Bank from time to time
at our office all amounts outstanding under the Loan Facility, including
principal, which is the aggregate of all advances made, together with interest
thereon at the rate of:

            0% per annum above the rates announced from time to time by the
            Bank as its "Canadian Prime Rate" in the case of Canadian Dollar
            advances or its "U.S. Prime Rate" in the case of U.S. Dollar
            advances (the "Note Rate") and at the rate of 3% per annum above
            the Note Rate after maturity, whether by acceleration or otherwise;
            or

            such rate or rates as may be agreed to or confirmed in writing by
            the Bank from time to time.

     Interest shall be calculated monthly in arrears, both before and after
maturity, default and judgment, on the daily balance outstanding based on the
actual number of days elapsed, divided by 365, in the case of a Canadian Dollar
advances, or by 360, in the case of a U.S. Dollar advances, with interest on
overdue interest at the same rate as on the principal, and shall be payable on
the first day of each month.

     Any change in the Canadian Prime Rate or U.S. Prime Rate will be effective
on the date such change is established without notice by the Bank to the
Borrower.  On the date hereof, Canadian Prime Rate is 5.75% per annum and U.S.
Prime Rate is 8.25% per annum.

            6.    The Borrower authorizes the Bank, but the Bank is not
obliged, from time to time to debit the account or accounts maintained by the
Borrower with the Bank form time to time (collectively, the "Account") with the
amount of interest accrued and unpaid by the Borrower and any other fees or
charges of any kind.


<PAGE>   2

            7.     Provided that the Bank has not demanded payment of any
amount outstanding under the Loan Facility, or has not terminated this
agreement, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow up to the amount
available under the Loan Facility at any time and from time to time in the
following manner: 

                   a.   The Borrower will advise and direct the Bank as to the
individual amounts the Borrower wishes to borrow, repay or reborrow under the
Loan Facility 

                                       OR

                   b.   The Borrower authorizes the Bank, daily or otherwise as
and when determined by the Bank from time to time, to ascertain the position or
net position (as the case may be) between the Borrower and the Bank in respect
of the Account and that

                   i.   if such position is a credit in favor of the Borrower,
            the Bank will apply the amount of such credit or any part thereof,
            rounded to the nearest integral amount established by the Bank from
            time to time, as a repayment of the Loan Facility, and the Bank
            will debit the Account with the amount of such repayment, and

                   ii   if such position or net position is a debit in favor of
            the Bank, the Bank will make an advance under the Loan Facility of
            such amount, rounded to the nearest integral amount established by
            the Bank from time to time, as is required to place the Account in
            such credit or net credit position as has been agreed between the
            Borrower and the Bank from time to time.

      provided that at no time shall the balance owing exceed the amount of the
      Loan Facility.

            8.     The Bank shall maintain on the books of its unit of account,
accounts and records evidencing the outstanding principal amount of the loan of
the Bank to the Borrower under the Loan Facility together with any interest in
respect thereof.  The Bank shall maintain a record of the amount of the
balance, each advance, and each payment of principal and interest on account of
the loan. The Bank's accounts and records constitute in the absence of manifest
error prima facie evidence of the indebtedness of the Borrower to the Bank
under the Loan Facility.

            9.      Where a statement of account for the Account is to be
rendered by the Bank, it is agreed that:

                    a.   the Borrower will verify the correctness and
completeness of each statement of account received from the Bank.

                                      2

<PAGE>   3


                    b.    if a statement of account and relevant vouchers are
not received on or before the 10th day after the end of the cycle agreed on for
their preparation, the Borrower shall notify the Bank in writing not later than
5 days thereafter. 

                    c.   the Borrower shall within 30 days and not thereafter
following the end of the cycle agreed on for the statement of account
preparation, notify the Bank in writing, at the branch of account for the
Account, of any alleged omissions from or inaccurate entries in the Account as
so stated. 

                    d.   at the end of the said 30 days, the statement of
account for the Account as kept by the Bank shall be conclusive evidence
without any further proof that, provided that this shall not apply with respect
to any credits to the Account made in error, any alleged errors of which the
Bank has been so notified or any payments made on forged or unauthorized
endorsements, the Account contains all credits that should be contained therein
and no debits that should not be contained therein and all the entries therein
are correct and, subject to the above exception, the Bank shall be free from
all claims in respect of the Account.

            10.    The Borrower acknowledges that the terms of this agreement
are in addition to and not in substitution for any terms and conditions of any
other agreements between the Borrower and the Bank.

            11.    This agreement is delivered in Toronto, Ontario and is
governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario.


Address:                                    Borrower:
                    
1695 River Road                             SCHAWK CANADA, INC.
Des Plaines, IL  60018                    
                    
                                            By:/s/ Marie Meisenbach Graul
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Marie Meisenbach Graul Treasurer
                                               (Authorized Signature)
                    
                    
                                            By:
                                               --------------------------------
                                               (Authorized Signature)

                                      3


<PAGE>   4

                              CONTINUING GUARANTY


GUARANTY:  To induce First Chicago NBD Bank, Canada (the "Bank"), of 161 Bay
Street, #4240, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2SI at its option, to make loans, extend or
continue credit or some other benefit, including letters of credit and foreign
exchange contracts, present or future, direct or indirect, and whether several,
joint or joint and several (referred to collectively as "Liabilities"), to

                               SCHAWK CANADA, INC
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               (Name of Borrower)
and its successors (the "Borrower"), and because the undersigned (the
"Guarantor") has determined that executing this Guaranty is in its interest and
to its financial benefit, the Guarantor absolutely and unconditionally
guaranties to the Bank, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, that the
Liabilities will be paid when due, whether by acceleration or otherwise.  The
Guarantor will not only pay the Liabilities, but will also reimburse the Bank
for accrued and unpaid interest, and any expenses including reasonable
attorneys' fees, that the Bank may pay in collecting from the Borrower or the
Guarantor and for liquidating any collateral.

LIMITATION:  The Guarantor's obligation under this Guaranty is UNLIMITED,
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if these blank lines are completed, regardless
of the amount of Liabilities outstanding at any time the Guarantor's obligation
under this Guaranty shall not exceed the principal amount of SEVEN MILLION,
FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND and 00/1000 DOLLARS ($7,500,000.00), plus interest,
expenses, and fees.  Unless otherwise specified below, the Guarantor's
obligation shall be payable in U.S. Dollars.

CONTINUED RELIANCE:  The Bank may continue to make loans or extend credit to
the Borrower based on this Guaranty until it receives written notice of
termination from the Guarantor.  That notice shall be effective at the opening
of the Bank for business on the day after receipt of the notice.  If
terminated, the Guarantor will continue to be liable to the Bank for any
Liabilities created, assumed or committed to at the time the termination
becomes effective, and all subsequent renewals, extensions, modifications and
amendments of the Liabilities.

SECURITY:  As security for the Guaranty, the Guarantor pledges and grants to
the Bank a continuing security interest in the following described property and
all of its additions, substitutions, increments, proceeds and products, whether
now owned or later acquired ("Collateral"):

1.   All securities and other property of the Guarantor in the custody,
     possession or control of the Bank (other than property held by the Bank
     solely in a fiduciary capacity):

2.   All property or securities declared or acknowledged to constitute
     security for any past, present or future liability, direct or indirect, of
     the Guarantor to the Bank;

<PAGE>   5


3.   All balances of deposit accounts of the Guarantor with the Bank;

4.   The following additional property of the Guarantor________________________

     __________________________________________________________________________


The Bank shall have the right at any time to apply its own debt or liability to
the Guarantor in whole or partial payment of this Guaranty or other present or
future liabilities, direct or indirect, without any requirement for mutual
maturity.

If the Guarantor fails to pay any amount owing under this Guaranty, the Bank
shall have all of the rights and remedies provided by law or under any other
agreement to liquidate or foreclose on and sell the Collateral, including but
not limited to the rights and remedies of a secured party under the Uniform
Commercial Code.  These rights and remedies shall be cumulative and not
exclusive.  If the Guarantor is entitled to notice, that requirement will be
met if the Bank sends notice at least seven days prior to the date of sale,
disposition or other event which requires notice.  The proceeds of any sale
shall be applied first to expenses, then toward payment of the amount owing
under this Guaranty.  The Bank is authorized to cause all or any part of the
Collateral to be transferred to or registered in its name or in the name of any
other person, firm or corporation, with or without designating the capacity of
such nominee.

INCORPORATION:  (This paragraph applies if the blanks are filled in.)  The
Guarantor agrees that so long as any Liability remains outstanding, the
covenants and events of default set forth in the Agreement dated _____________
19__ between ____________________________________ and the Guarantor, as amended
(the "Agreement"), are incorporated by reference.  Those covenants and events
shall remain in force until this Guaranty is no longer in force,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement.

NEGATIVE PLEDGE:  The Guarantor will not allow any lien to exist on any of its
property, except liens known to the Bank and existing on the date of this
Guaranty, and new liens which, in aggregate, total less than $   N/A  .
                                                             ---------
For purposes of the following paragraphs, "any collateral" shall include the
Guarantor's Collateral and any other collateral securing the Liabilities.

ACTION REGARDING BORROWER:  If any monies become available from any source
other than the Guarantor that the Bank can apply to the Liabilities, the Bank
may apply them in any manner it chooses, including but not limited to applying
them against liabilities which are not covered by this Guaranty.  The Bank may
take any action against the Borrower, any collateral, or any other person
liable for any of the Liabilities.  The Bank may release the Borrower or anyone
else from the Liabilities, either in whole or in part, or release any
collateral, and need not perfect a security interest in any collateral.  The
Bank does not have to exercise any rights that it has against the Borrower or
anyone else, or make any effort to realize on any collateral or right of
set-off.  If the Borrower requests more credit or any other benefit, the Bank
may grant it and the Bank may grant renewals, extensions, modifications and
amendments of the Liabilities and


                                      2

<PAGE>   6


otherwise deal with the Borrower or any other person as the Bank sees fit and
as if this Guaranty were not in effect.  The Guarantor's obligations under this
Guaranty shall not be released or affected by (a) any act or omission of the
Bank, (b) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, sale or other disposition
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower, or any
receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization, or other  similar
proceedings affecting the Borrower or any of its assets, or (c) any change in
the composition or structure of the Borrower or Guarantor, including a merger
or consolidation with any other person or entity.

NATURE OF GUARANTY:  This Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and not of
collection. Therefore, the Bank may insist that the Guarantor pay immediately,
and the Bank is not required to attempt to collect first from the Borrower, any
collateral, or any other person liable for the Liabilities.  The obligation of
the Guarantor shall be subject to no conditions of any kind, and shall be
absolute, regardless of the unenforceability of any provision of any agreement
between the Borrower and the Bank, or the existence of any defense, setoff or
counterclaim which the Borrower may assert.

OTHER GUARANTORS:  If there is more than one Guarantor, their obligations under
this Guaranty shall be joint and several.  In addition, each Guarantor shall be
jointly and severally liable with any other guarantor of the Liabilities.  If
the Bank elects to enforce its rights against less than all guarantors of the
Liabilities, that election shall not release Guarantor from its obligations
under this Guaranty.  The compromise or release of any of the obligations of
any of the other guarantors or the Borrower shall not serve to waive, alter or
release the Guarantor's obligations.  This Guaranty is not conditioned on
anyone else executing this or any other guaranty.

WAIVER OF SUBROGATION:  The Guarantor expressly waives any and all right of
subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity, exoneration, implied
contract, recourse to security or any other claim (including any claim, as that
term is defined in the federal Bankruptcy Code, and any amendments) which the
Guarantor may now have or later acquire against the Borrower, any other entity
directly or contingently liable for the Liabilities or against the Collateral,
arising from the existence or performance of the Guarantor's obligations under
this Guaranty.

The Guarantor further agrees that should any payments to the Bank on the
Liabilities be in whole or in part invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or
preferential, set aside or required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any
other party under any bankruptcy act or code, state or federal law, common law
or equitable doctrine, this Guaranty and any Collateral shall remain in full
force and effect (or be reinstated as the case may be) until payment in full of
any such amounts, which payment shall be due on demand.

WAIVERS:  The Guarantor waives any right it may have to receive notice of the
following matters before the Bank enforces any of its rights: (a) the Bank's
acceptance of this Guaranty, (b) any credit that the Bank extends to the
Borrower, (c) the Borrower's default, (d) any demand, or (e) any action that
the Bank takes regarding the Borrower, anyone else, any collateral, or any


                                      3


<PAGE>   7


Liability, which it might be entitled to by law or under any other agreement.
Any waiver shall affect only the specific terms and time period stated in the
waiver.  The Bank may waive or delay enforcing any of its rights without losing
them.  No modification or waiver of this Guaranty shall be effective unless it
is in writing and signed by the party against whom it is being enforced.

REPRESENTATIONS BY GUARANTOR:  Each Guarantor represents: (a) that the
execution and delivery of this Guaranty and the performance of the obligations
it imposes do not violate any law, conflict with any agreement by which it is
bound, or require the consent or approval of any governmental authority, or any
third party; (b) that this Guaranty is a valid and binding agreement,
enforceable according to its terms, and (c) that all balance sheets, profit and
loss statements, and other financial statements furnished to the Bank are
accurate and fairly reflect the financial condition of the organizations and
persons to which they apply on their effective % dates, including contingent
liabilities of every type, which financial condition has not changed materially
and adversely since those dates.  Each Guarantor, if other than a natural
person, further represents: (a) that it is duly organized, existing and in good
standing under the laws where it is organized; and (b) that the execution and
delivery of this Guaranty and the performance of the obligations it imposes (i)
are within its powers; (ii) have been duly authorized by all necessary action
of its governing body; and (iii) do not contravene the terms of its articles of
incorporation or organization, its by-laws, or any agreement governing its
affairs.

NOTICES:  Notice from one party to another relating to this Guaranty shall be
deemed effective if made in writing (including telecommunications) and
delivered to the recipient's address, telex number or facsimile number set
forth under its name by any of the following means: a) hand delivery, b)
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, with return receipt requested,
c) first class or express mail, postage prepaid, d) Federal Express, Purolator
Courier or like overnight courier service, or e) facsimile, telex or other wire
transmission with request for assurance of receipt in a manner typical with
respect to communications of that type.  Notice made in accordance with this
section shall be deemed delivered on receipt if delivered by hand or wire
transmission, on the third business day after mailing if mailed by first class,
registered or certified mail, or on the next business day after mailing or
deposit with an overnight courier service if delivered by express mail or
overnight courier.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, notice of termination of
this Guaranty shall be deemed received only upon the receipt of actual written
notice by the Bank in accordance with the paragraph above labelled "Continued
Reliance."

LAW AND JUDICIAL FORUM THAT APPLY:  This agreement is governed by Michigan law.
The Guarantor agrees that any legal action or proceeding against it with
respect to any of its obligations under this Guaranty may be brought in any
state or federal court located in the State of Michigan, as the Bank in its
sole discretion may elect.  By the execution and delivery of this Guaranty, the
Guarantor submits to and accepts, with regard to any such action or proceeding,
for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, the
jurisdiction of those courts.  The Guarantor waives any claim that the State of
Michigan is not a convenient forum or the proper venue for any such suit,
action or proceeding.

                                      4

<PAGE>   8

FOREIGN CURRENCY:  (This paragraph applies only if the blanks are filled in.)
This Guaranty arises in the context of an international transaction, and the
specification of payment in the following currency     CANADIAN DOLLARS         
                                                   ----------------------------
                                                         (Name of Currency)


("Foreign Currency") at      ILLINOIS              ("Conversion Location") is of
                        -------------------------
                            (City and Country)
the essence.  The Foreign Currency shall be the currency of account and
payments under this Guaranty.  The obligation of the Guarantor shall not be
discharged by an amount paid in any other currency or at another place, whether
pursuant to a judgement or otherwise, to the extent that the amount so paid, on
prompt conversion into the Foreign Currency and transfer to the Conversion
Location under normal banking procedure, does not yield the amount of Foreign
Currency due under this Guaranty.

MISCELLANEOUS:  The Guarantor's liability under this Guaranty is independent of
its liability under any other guaranty previously or subsequently executed by
the Guarantor or any one of them, singularly or together with others, as to all
or any part of the Liabilities, and may be enforced for the full amount of this
Guaranty regardless of the Guarantor's liability under any other guaranty.
This Guaranty is binding on the Guarantor's heirs, successors and assigns, and
will operate to the benefit of the Bank and its successors and assigns.  The
use of headings shall not limit the provisions of this Guaranty.  All
discussions and documents arising between this Guaranty and the last guaranty
signed by the Guarantor as to the Borrower are merged into this Guaranty.

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL:  The Bank and the Guarantor, after consulting or having
had the opportunity to consult with counsel, knowingly, voluntarily and
intentionally waive any right either of them may have to a trial by jury in any
litigation based upon or arising out of this Guaranty or any related instrument
or agreement, or any of the transactions contemplated by this Guaranty, or any
course of conduct, dealing, statement (whether oral or written), or actions of
either of them.  Neither the Bank nor the Guarantor shall seek to consolidate,
by counterclaim or otherwise, any action in which a jury trial has been waived
with any other action in which a jury trial cannot be or has not been waived.
These provisions shall not be deemed to have been modified in any respect or
relinquished by either the Bank or the Guarantor except by a written instrument
executed by both of them.

Dated:  September 25 , 1996
      ---------------           
                                                                      GUARANTOR:
Address:                                  SCHAWK, INC.
                                          -------------------------------------
                  
1695 River Road                           Marie Meisenbach Graul
- -------------------------------           -------------------------------------
Des Plaines, IL  60018                    /s/ Marie Meisenbach Graul
- -------------------------------           -------------------------------------
                                          Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
                                          -------------------------------------

                                      5

<PAGE>   1



                                                                      Exhibit 21

                         SUBSDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT

SCHAWK, INC.

     Schawk Canada, Inc.

        StanMont Inc.

     Schawk de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.

        Schawk Servicios Administrativos, S.A. de C.V.

     Schawk GmbH


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