MAIL WELL INC
S-8, 1998-08-14
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<PAGE>

    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 14, 1998

                                                  Registration No. 333-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM S-8
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                       UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


                               MAIL-WELL, INC.
             ----------------------------------------------------
            (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
                                      
                 Delaware                          84-1250533
             (State or Other                     (IRS Employer
             Jurisdiction of                     Identification
     Incorporation or Organization)                  Number)
     
         23 Inverness Way East, Suite 160, Englewood, Colorado 80112
         -----------------------------------------------------------
                  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

             MAIL-WELL, INC. 1997 NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN
                                       
               MAIL-WELL, INC. 1998 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN

      MAIL-WELL, INC. ALLIED ACQUISITION NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN
      ------------------------------------------------------------------
                          (Full Title of the Plans)

            Roger Wertheimer                              COPIES TO:
             Mail-Well, Inc.                      Herbert H. Davis III, Esq.
    23 Inverness Way East, Suite 160             Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons LLP
        ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO 80112                 1200 17th Street, Suite 3000
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)              Denver, Colorado  80202
                                                        (303) 623-9000
             (303) 790-8023
 -------------------------------------
(Telephone Number of Agent for Service)
                                      

                       CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                   <C>           <C>                <C>                <C>
                                    Proposed Maximum   Proposed Maximum     Amount of
Title of Securities   Amount to be   Offering Price       Aggregate        Registration
 to be Registered      Registered      Per Share        Offering Price         Fee

   Common Stock         3,074,800      $13.18(1)        $40,529,184(1)    $11,753.47(1)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

     (1) Pursuant to Rule 457(c), (h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as 
amended, the proposed maximum offering price per share and the proposed 
maximum aggregate offering price are estimated solely for purposes of 
calculating the registration fee and are based upon the following:  options 
for 1,184,400 shares at a weighted average exercise price of $8.65 a share 
under the 1997 Plan; options for 124,800 shares at an exercise price of 
$13.685 a share under the Allied Plan; and 1,765,600 shares at $16.185 a 
share, the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock as quoted 
on the New York Stock Exchange on August 11, 1998. 

<PAGE>

                             TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
                                                                     Page
PART II                                                              ----
<S>                                                                  <C>
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT . . . . . . . . . II-1
   Item 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE. . . . . . . . . II-1
   Item 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL . . . . . . . . . II-1
   Item 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. . . . . . . . II-2
   Item 8.  EXHIBITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II-2
   Item 9.  UNDERTAKINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II-3

SIGNATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II-5

EXHIBIT INDEX. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II-7
</TABLE>




                                     -ii-
<PAGE>
                                   PART II
                                       
            INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The following documents, all of which were previously filed by 
Mail-Well, Inc. (the "Company") (File No. 0-26692) with the Commission 
pursuant to the Exchange Act, are hereby incorporated by reference:

     (1) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 
31, 1997; 

     (2) the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Amendment No. 1 to 
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1998;

     (3) the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K, dated January 22, 1998, 
February 17, 1998, March 13, 1998, May 28, 1998, and May 30, 1998, and 
Amendment No. 1 to Form 8-K dated May 30, 1998; and

     (4) The description of the common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 
(the "Company Stock"), contained in the Company's Registration Statement on 
Form 8-A, File No. 001-12551, filed by the Company under Section 12 of the 
Exchange Act.

     All documents subsequently filed by the Company with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 
and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as amended, prior to the filing of a 
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby 
have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold 
shall be deemed to be incorporated in this Registration Statement by 
reference and to be a part hereof from the date of filing such documents.  
Any statement contained herein or in a document, all or a portion of which is 
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, shall be 
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration 
Statement to the extent that a statement contained in any subsequently filed 
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein 
modifies or replaces 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 Registration Statement.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

     The legality of the Company Stock registered pursuant to this Form S-8 
Registration Statement will be passed upon for the Company by the law firm of 
Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons LLP, One Tabor Center, Suite 3000, 1200 17th 
Street, Denver, Colorado 80202, which has served as special counsel to the 
Company in the preparation of the Form S-8 Registration Statement.  No 
members of this law firm have a substantial interest in the Company or are 
employed on a contingent basis by the Company.

                                    -II-1-
<PAGE>

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     Section 7-109-101 et seq. of the Colorado Business Corporation Act 
empowers a Colorado corporation to indemnify its directors, officers, 
employees and agents under certain circumstance, as well as providing for the 
elimination of personal liability of directors and officers of a Colorado 
corporation for monetary damages.

     Article V of the Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant reads as 
follows:

     "The Corporation shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by 
applicable law in effect from time to time, any person, and the estate and 
personal representative of any such person, against all liability and expense 
(including attorneys' fees) incurred by reason of the fact that he or she is 
or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while serving as a 
director or officer of the Corporation, he or she is or was serving at the 
request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, 
employee, fiduciary, or agent of, or in any similar managerial or fiduciary 
position of, another domestic or foreign Corporation or other individual or 
entity or of an employee benefit plan.  The Corporation shall also indemnify 
any person who is serving or has served the Corporation as director, officer, 
employee, fiduciary, or agent, and that person's estate and personal 
representative, to the extent and in the manner provided in any bylaw, 
resolution of the shareholders or directors, contract, or otherwise, so long 
as such provision is legally permissible."

     Article VI of the Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant reads as 
follows:

     "There shall be no personal liability of a director to the Corporation 
or to its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a 
director, except that said personal liability shall not be eliminated to the 
Corporation or to the shareholders for monetary damages arising due to any 
breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Corporation or to the 
shareholders, acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve 
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, acts specified in 
section 7-108-403, C.R.S., or any transaction from which a director derived 
an improper personal benefit.  Notwithstanding any other provisions herein, 
personal liability of a director shall be eliminated to the greatest extent 
possible as is now, or in the future, provided for by law.  Any repeal or 
modification of the foregoing sentence shall not adversely affect any right 
or protection of a director of the Corporation existing hereunder with 
respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or 
modification."

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS

     The Company hereby undertakes that it will submit or has submitted any 
of the plans intended to be qualified under Section 401 of the Internal 
Revenue Code and any amendment thereto to the Internal Revenue Service (the 
"IRS") in a timely manner and has made or will make all changes required by 
the IRS in order to qualify the Plan.

     The following exhibits are attached to this registration statement:

                                    -II-2-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>            <C>
      4.1      Mail-Well, Inc. 1997 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan
      4.2      Mail-Well, Inc. 1998 Incentive Stock Option Plan
      4.3      Mail-Well, Inc. Allied Acquisition Non-Qualified Stock Option
               Plan
      5        Opinion of Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons LLP
     23.1      Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
     23.2      Consent of Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons LLP (included in Exhibit 5
               hereto)
     23.3      Consent of Rubin, Brown, Gornstein & Co. LLP
     24        Power of Attorney (included on signature page hereto)
</TABLE>

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS

     (a)  RULE 415 OFFERING

          The Company hereby undertakes:

          (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being 
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement;

               (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the 
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement 
or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement.

          (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the 
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to 
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, 
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the 
initial bona fide offering thereof.

          (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective 
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the 
termination of the offering.

     (b)  FILINGS INCORPORATING SUBSEQUENT EXCHANGE ACT DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any 
liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Company's 
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee 
benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration 
Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the 
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time 
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     (h)  FILING OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities 
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons 
of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the 
Company has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange 
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for 
indemnification against 

                                    -II-3-
<PAGE>

such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred 
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in the 
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such 
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities 
being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the 
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of 
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is 
against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the 
final adjudication of such issue.





                                    -II-4-
<PAGE>

                                  SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Company 
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the 
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration 
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly 
authorized, in the City of Englewood and the State of Colorado, on this 13th 
day of August, 1998.


                                MAIL-WELL, INC.


                                By: /s/ Gerald F. Mahoney
                                    ------------------------------------------
                                    Gerald F. Mahoney, Chief Executive Officer


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this 
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the 
capacities and on the dates indicated.

                                      
                             POWER OF ATTORNEY

     Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Paul 
V. Reilly and Roger Wertheimer and each of them, as attorneys-in-fact, each 
with the power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign 
any amendments to this Registration Statement and to file the same, with 
exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to said attorney-in-fact, and 
each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act 
and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as 
fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby 
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact, or any one of them, 
or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or causes to be 
done by virtue hereof.

Signature                     Title                         Date
- ---------                     -----                         ----

/s/ Gerald F. Mahoney         Director, Chairman            August 13, 1998
- -------------------------     of the Board and CEO
Gerald F. Mahoney 


/s/ Paul V. Reilly            President, Chief              August 13, 1998
- -------------------------     Operating Officer, Chief
Paul V. Reilly                Financial Officer, Director
                              (Principal Accounting and
                              Financial Officer)


/s/ Frank P. Diassi           Director                      August 13, 1998
- -------------------------
Frank P. Diassi
                                    -II-5-

<PAGE>

/s/ J. Bruce Duty                 Director           August 13, 1998
- -------------------------
J. Bruce Duty


/s/ Frank J. Heverdejs            Director           August 13, 1998
- -------------------------
Frank J. Heverdejs


/s/ Jerome W. Pickholz            Director           August 13, 1998
- -------------------------
Jerome W. Pickholz





                                    -II-6-
<PAGE>

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.               Description                                 Page No.
- -----------               -----------                                 --------

 4.1      Mail-Well, Inc. 1997 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan

 4.2      Mail-Well, Inc. 1998 Incentive Stock Option Plan

 4.3      Mail-Well, Inc. Allied Acquisition Non-Qualified Stock
          Option Plan

 5        Opinion of Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons LLP

23.1      Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP

23.2      Consent of Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons LLP (included in
          Exhibit 5 hereto)

23.3      Consent of Rubin, Brown, Gornstein & Co. LLP

24        Power of Attorney (included on signature page hereto)




                                    -II-7-

<PAGE>

                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                 MAIL-WELL, INC. 1997 NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN 


<PAGE>

                                  MAIL-WELL, INC.
                        1997 NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN


     SECTION 1.  PURPOSE OF THE PLAN.  The purpose of this Mail-Well, Inc.
1997 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, as amended ("Plan") is to encourage
ownership of common stock, $.01 par value ("Common Stock"), of Mail-Well, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), by eligible key employees of the Company
and its Affiliates (as defined below) and to provide increased incentive for
such employees and directors to render services and to exert maximum effort for
the business success of the Company.  In addition, the Company expects that the
Plan will further strengthen the identification of employees and directors with
the stockholders.  Options to be granted under this Plan are not intended to
qualify as Incentive Stock Options pursuant to Section 422 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Code").  As used in this Plan, the term
"Affiliates" means any "parent corporation" of the Company and any "subsidiary
corporation" of the Company within the meaning of Code Sections 424(e) and (f),
respectively.

     SECTION 2.  ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.

          (a)  COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEE.  The Plan shall be administered by the
     Compensation Committee (the "Committee") comprised of two or more directors
     designated by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), which
     shall also designate the Chairman of the Committee.  No director shall
     serve as a member of the Committee unless he is a "Non-Employee Director"
     within the meaning of such Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of
     1934, as amended ("Exchange Act").

          (b)  COMMITTEE ACTION.  The Committee shall hold its meetings at such
     times and places as it may determine.  A majority of its members shall
     constitute a quorum, and all determinations of the Committee shall be made
     by not less than a majority of its members.  Any decision or determination
     reduced to writing and signed by a majority of the members shall be fully
     effective as if it had been made by a majority vote of its members at a
     meeting duly called and held.  The Committee may designate the Secretary of
     the Company or other Company employees to assist the Committee in the
     administration of the Plan, and may grant authority to such persons to
     execute award agreements or other documents on behalf of the Committee and
     the Company.  Any duly constituted committee of the Board satisfying the
     qualifications of this Section 2 may be appointed as the Committee.

          (c)  COMMITTEE EXPENSES.  All expenses and liabilities incurred by the
     Committee in the administration of the Plan shall be borne by the Company. 
     The Committee may employ attorneys, consultants, accountants or other
     persons.

     SECTION 3.  STOCK RESERVED FOR THE PLAN.  Subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 6(i) hereof, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock
that may be optioned under the Plan is 650,000.  The shares subject to the Plan
shall consist of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock and such number
of shares shall be and is hereby reserved for sale for such purpose.  Any of

<PAGE>

such shares which may remain unsold and which are not subject to outstanding
options at the termination of the Plan shall cease to be reserved for the
purpose of the Plan, but until termination of the Plan or the termination of the
last of the options granted under the Plan, whichever last occurs, the Company
shall at all times reserve a sufficient number of shares to meet the
requirements of the Plan.  Should any option expire or be canceled prior to its
exercise in full, the shares theretofore subject to such option may again be
made subject to an option under the Plan.

     SECTION 4.  ELIGIBILITY.  The persons eligible to participate in the
Plan as a recipient of options ("Optionee") shall include only key employees of
the Company or its Affiliates at the time the option is granted.  An employee
who has been granted an option hereunder may be granted an additional option or
options, if the Committee shall so determine.

     SECTION 5.  GRANT OF OPTIONS.  The Committee shall have sole and
absolute discretionary authority (i) to determine, authorize, and designate 
those key employees of the Company or its Affiliates who are to receive 
options under the Plan, (ii) to determine the number of shares of Common 
Stock to be covered by such options, (iii) to determine the exercise price 
for options granted under the Plan, and (iv) to determine the other terms of 
such options and the conditions for exercise thereof. The Committee shall 
thereupon grant options in accordance with such determinations and such 
options shall be evidenced by a written option agreement.  Subject to the 
express provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have discretionary 
authority to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to 
the Plan, to interpret the Plan, to prescribe and amend the terms of the 
option agreements (which need not be identical) and to make all other 
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the 
Plan.

     SECTION 6.  TERMS AND CONDITIONS.  Each option granted under the Plan
shall be evidenced by an agreement, in a form approved by the Committee, which
shall be subject to the following express terms and conditions and to such other
terms and conditions as the Committee may deem appropriate.

          (a)  OPTION PERIOD.  The Committee shall promptly notify the Optionee
     of the option grant and a written agreement shall promptly be executed and
     delivered by and on behalf of the Company and the Optionee.  The date of
     grant shall be the date the option is actually granted by the Committee,
     even though the written agreement may be executed and delivered by the
     Company and the Optionee after that date.  Each option agreement shall
     specify the period for which the option thereunder is granted (which in no
     event shall exceed ten years from the date of grant) and shall provide that
     the option shall expire at the end of such period.  If the original term of
     an option is less than ten years from the date of grant, the option may be
     amended prior to its expiration, with the approval of the Committee and the
     Optionee, to extend the term so that the term as amended is not more than
     ten years from the date of grant.  

          (b)  EXERCISE PERIOD.  The Committee may provide in the option
     agreement that an option may be exercised in whole, immediately, or is to
     be exercisable in increments.

<PAGE>

          (c)  PROCEDURE FOR EXERCISE.  Options shall be exercised by the
     delivery of written notice to the Secretary of the Company setting forth
     the number of shares with respect to which the option is being exercised.
     Such notice shall be accompanied by cash or cashier's check, bank draft,
     postal or express money order payable to the order of the Company, or at
     the option of the Committee, in Common Stock theretofore owned by such
     Optionee (or any combination of cash and Common Stock).  Notice may also be
     delivered by fax or telecopy provided that the purchase price of such
     shares is delivered to the Company via wire transfer on the same day the
     fax is received by the Company.  The notice shall specify the address to
     which the certificates for such shares are to be mailed.  An Optionee shall
     be deemed to be a stockholder with respect to shares covered by an option
     on the date the Company receives such written notice and such option
     payment.

          As promptly as practicable after receipt of such written notification
     and payment, the Company shall deliver to the Optionee certificates for the
     number of shares with respect to which such option has been so exercised,
     issued in the Optionee's name or such other name as Optionee directs;
     provided, however, that such delivery shall be deemed effected for all
     purposes when a stock transfer agent of the Company shall have deposited
     such certificates in the United States mail, addressed to the Optionee at
     the address specified pursuant to this Section 6(c).

          (d)  TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.  If an employee to whom an option is
     granted ceases to be employed by the Company for any reason other than
     death or disability, any option which is exercisable on the date of such
     termination of employment shall expire upon such date of such termination
     of employment; provided, however, the Committee, in its sole discretion,
     may allow an Optionee to exercise all or a portion of the Options granted
     but unexercised for a period of time after the Optionee's termination of
     employment, such extension not to exceed three months from the date of
     termination.

          (e)  DISABILITY OR DEATH OF OPTIONEE.  In the event of the
     determination of disability or death of an Optionee under the Plan while he
     is employed by the Company, the options previously granted to him may be
     exercised (to the extent he would have been entitled to do so at the date
     of the determination of disability or death) at any time and from time to
     time, within a three-month period after such determination of disability or
     death, by the former employee, the guardian of his estate, the executor or
     administrator of his estate or by the person or persons to whom his rights
     under the option shall pass by will or the laws of descent and
     distribution, but in no event may the option be exercised after its
     expiration under the terms of the option agreement.  An Optionee shall be
     deemed to be disabled if, in the opinion of a physician selected by the
     Committee, he is incapable of performing services for the Company of the
     kind he was performing at the time the disability occurred by reason of any
     medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected
     to result in death or to be of long, continued and indefinite duration. 
     The date of determination of disability for purposes hereof shall be the
     date of such determination by such physician.  The Committee, in its sole
     discretion, may allow an Optionee to exercise all or a portion of the

<PAGE>

     Options granted but unexercised for a longer period than three months after
     disability or death.

          (f)  ASSIGNABILITY.  An option shall not be assignable or otherwise
     transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or
     pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined in the Code or
     Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, as amended, or the
     rules thereunder.  During the lifetime of an Optionee, an option shall be
     exercisable only by the Optionee.

          (g)  NO RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER.  No Optionee shall have any rights as a
     stockholder with respect to shares covered by an option until the option is
     exercised by the written notice and accompanied by payment as provided in
     clause (c) above.

          (h)  EXTRAORDINARY CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS.  The existence of
     outstanding options shall not affect in any way the right or power of the
     Company or its stockholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments,
     recapitalizations, reorganizations, exchanges, or other changes in the
     Company's capital structure or its business, or any merger or consolidation
     of the Company, or any issuance of Common Stock or other securities or
     subscription rights thereto, or any issuance of bonds, debentures,
     preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the Common Stock
     or the rights thereof, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or
     any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any
     other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or
     otherwise.  If the Company recapitalizes or otherwise changes its capital
     structure, or merges or consolidates, (each of the foregoing a "Fundamental
     Change"), then thereafter upon any exercise of an option theretofore
     granted the Optionee shall be entitled to purchase under such option, in
     lieu of the number of shares of Common Stock as to which option shall then
     be exercisable, the number and class of shares of stock and securities to
     which the Optionee would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the
     Fundamental Change if, immediately prior to such Fundamental Change, the
     Optionee had been the holder of record of the number of shares of Common
     Stock as to which such option is then exercisable.

          (i)  CHANGES IN COMPANY'S CAPITAL STRUCTURE.  If the outstanding
     shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or both, for
     which the option is then exercisable shall at any time be changed or
     exchanged by declaration of a stock dividend, stock split, or combination
     of shares, the number and kind of shares of Common Stock or other
     securities which are subject to the Plan or subject to any options
     theretofore granted, and the option prices, shall be appropriately and
     equitably adjusted so as to maintain the proportionate number of shares or
     other securities without changing the aggregate option price.

          (j)  ACCELERATION OF OPTIONS.  Except as hereinbefore expressly
     provided, (i) the issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class
     of securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, for cash,
     property, labor or services, upon direct sale, upon the exercise of rights
     or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of shares or
     obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other
     securities, (ii) the payment of a dividend in 

<PAGE>

     property other than Common Stock or (iii) the occurrence of any similar 
     transaction, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not 
     affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect 
     to, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to options theretofore 
     granted or the purchase price per share, unless the Committee shall 
     determine in its sole discretion that an adjustment is necessary to 
     provide equitable treatment to Optionee. Notwithstanding anything to the 
     contrary contained in this Plan, the Committee may in its sole 
     discretion accelerate the time at which any option may be exercised, 
     including, but not limited to, upon the occurrence of the events 
     specified in this Section 6, and is authorized at any time (with the 
     consent of the Optionee) to purchase options pursuant to Section 7.

          (k)  STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT.  The Committee shall provide in the
     option agreement that prior to receiving any shares of Common Stock or
     other securities on the exercise of the option, the Optionee (or the
     Optionee's representative upon the Optionee's death) shall be required to
     execute the American Mail-Well Employee Stockholders Agreement, or the
     Company's Stockholders Agreement, whichever the Committee deems
     appropriate.

          (l)  CHANGE OF CONTROL.  In the event that (i) there is a proposed
     action whereby the Company would not be the surviving entity in any merger
     or consolidation (or survives only as a subsidiary of another entity) other
     than a merger for the sole purpose of changing the Company's state of
     incorporation, (ii) there is a proposed action whereby the Company would
     sell all or substantially all of its assets to any person or entity (other
     than a wholly-owned subsidiary), (iii) any person or entity (including a
     "group" as contemplated by Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), acquires
     or gains ownership or control of (including, without limitation, power to
     vote) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (iv) there
     is a proposed action whereby the Company would be dissolved and liquidated,
     or (v) as a result of or in connection with a contested election of
     directors, the persons who were directors of the Company before such
     election shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board (each such event
     in clauses (i) through (v) above is referred to herein as a "Corporate
     Change"), all Optionees hereunder shall be given notice of such Corporate
     Change and shall have a period of thirty (30) days thereafter to exercise
     their options after receipt of such notice whether such options had vested
     in accordance with their terms or not.

     SECTION 7.  RELINQUISHMENT OF OPTIONS.

          (a)  The Committee, in granting options hereunder, shall have
     discretion to determine whether or not options shall include a right of
     relinquishment as hereinafter provided by this Section 7.  The Committee
     shall also have discretion to determine whether an option agreement
     evidencing an option initially granted by the Committee without a right of
     relinquishment shall be amended or supplemented to include such a right of
     relinquishment.  Neither the Committee nor the Company shall be under any
     obligation or incur any liability to any person by reason of the
     Committee's refusal to grant or include a right of relinquishment in any
     option granted hereunder or in any option agreement evidencing the same. 
     Subject to the Committee's determination in any case that the grant by it
     of a right of 

<PAGE>

     relinquishment is consistent with Section 1 hereof, any option      
     granted under this Plan, and the option agreement evidencing such 
     option, may provide:

               i)   That the Optionee, or his heirs or other legal
          representatives to the extent entitled to exercise the option under
          the terms thereof, in lieu of purchasing the entire number of shares
          subject to purchase thereunder, shall have the right to relinquish all
          or any part of the then unexercised portion of the option (to the
          extent then exercisable) for a number of shares of Common Stock, for
          an amount of cash or for a combination of Common Stock and cash to be
          determined in accordance with the following provisions of this clause
          (i): 
     
                    a)   The written notice of exercise of such right of
               relinquishment shall state the percentage, if any, of the
               Appreciated Value (as defined below) that the Optionee elects to
               receive in cash ("Cash Percentage"), such Cash Percentage to be
               in increments of 10% of such Appreciated Value up to 100%
               thereof;

                    b)   The number of shares of Common Stock, if any, issuable
               pursuant to such relinquishment shall be the number of such
               shares, rounded to the next greater number of full shares, as
               shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the
               difference between (I) the Appreciated Value and (II) the result
               obtained by multiplying the Appreciated Value and the Cash
               Percentage by (B) the then current market value per share of
               Common Stock;

                    c)   The amount of cash payable pursuant to such
               relinquishment shall be an amount equal to the Appreciated Value
               less the aggregate current market value of the Common Stock
               issued pursuant to such relinquishment, if any, which cash shall
               be paid by the Company subject to such conditions as are deemed
               advisable by the Committee to permit compliance by the Company
               with the withholding provisions applicable to employers under the
               Code and any applicable state income tax laws;

                    d)   For the purpose of this clause (i), "Appreciated Value"
               means the excess of (x) the aggregate current market value of the
               shares of Common Stock covered by the option or the portion
               thereof to be relinquished over (y) the aggregate purchase price
               for such shares specified in such option;

               ii)  That such right of relinquishment may be exercised only upon
          receipt by the Company of a written notice of such relinquishment
          which shall be dated the date of election to make such relinquishment;
          and that, for the purposes of this Plan, such date of election shall
          be deemed to be the date when such notice is sent by registered or
          certified mail, or when receipt is acknowledged by the Company, if
          mailed by other than registered or certified mail or if delivered by
          hand or by any telegraphic communications equipment of the sender or
          otherwise delivered; 

<PAGE>

          provided, that, in the event the method just described for 
          determining such date of election shall not be or remain consistent 
          with the provisions of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or the 
          rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder, as 
          presently existing or as may be hereafter amended, which 
          regulations exempt from the operation of Section 16(b) of the 
          Exchange Act in whole or in part any such relinquishment 
          transaction, then such date of election shall be determined by such 
          other method consistent with Section 16 (b) of the Exchange Act or 
          the rules and regulations thereunder as the Committee shall in its 
          discretion select and apply;

               iii) That the "current market value" of a share of Common Stock
          on a particular date shall be equal to the mean of the reported high
          and low sales prices of the Common Stock on the New York Stock
          Exchange Composite Tape on that date, or if no prices are reported on
          that date, on the last preceding date on which such prices of the
          Common Stock are so reported provided if the Common Stock is not
          traded on the New York Stock Exchange at the time a determination of
          its fair market value is required to be made hereunder, its fair
          market value shall be deemed to be equal to the average between the
          closing bid and ask prices of the Common Stock on the most recent date
          the Common Stock was publicly traded, and, provided further, in the
          event the Common Stock is not publicly traded at the time a
          determination of its value is required to be made hereunder, the
          determination of its fair market value shall be made by the Committee
          in such manner as it deems appropriate; and

               iv)  That the option, or any portion thereof, may be relinquished
          only to the extent that (A) it is exercisable on the date written
          notice of relinquishment is received by the Company, (B) the
          Committee, subject to the provisions of Section 7(b), shall consent to
          the election of the holder to relinquish such option in whole or in
          part for cash as set forth in such written notice of relinquishment
          and (C) the holder of such option pays, or makes provision
          satisfactory to the Company for the payment of, any taxes which the
          Company is obligated to collect with respect to such relinquishment.

          (b)  The Committee shall have sole discretion to consent to or
     disapprove, and neither the Committee nor the Company shall be under any
     liability by reason of the Committee's disapproval of, any election by a
     holder of an option to relinquish such option in whole or in part for cash
     as provided in Section 7(a), except that no such consent to or approval of
     a relinquishment for cash shall be required under the following
     circumstances.  Each Optionee who is subject to the short-swing profits
     recapture provisions of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act ("Covered
     Optionee") shall be entitled to receive payment only in cash when options
     are relinquished during any window period commencing on the third business
     day following the Company's release of a quarterly or annual summary
     statement of sales and earnings and ending on the twelfth business day
     following such release ("Window Period"); provided, however, that  payment
     shall be so made in cash only in respect of 50% of the options covered by
     any stock option agreement.  A Covered Optionee shall be entitled to
     receive payment only in shares of Common Stock upon (a) the relinquishment
     of options 

<PAGE>

     outside a Window Period and (b) the relinquishment of options during a 
     Window Period once such Optionee has received payment in cash for the 
     relinquishment of 50% of the options covered by any stock option
     agreement.

          (c)  The Committee, in granting options hereunder, shall have
     discretion to determine the terms upon which such options shall be
     relinquishable, subject to the applicable provisions of this Plan, and
     including such provisions as are deemed advisable to permit the exemption
     from the operation from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act of any such
     relinquishment transaction, and options outstanding, and option agreements
     evidencing such options, may be amended, if necessary, to permit such
     exemption.  If an option is relinquished, such option shall be deemed to
     have been exercised to the extent of the number of shares of Common Stock
     covered by the option or part thereof which is relinquished, and no further
     options may be granted covering such shares of Common Stock.

          (d)  Neither any option nor any right to relinquish the same to the
     Company as contemplated by this Section 7 shall be assignable or otherwise
     transferable except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or
     pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined in the Code or
     Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, as amended, or the
     rules thereunder.

          (e)  Except as provided in Section 7(f) below, no right of
     relinquishment may be exercised within the first six months after the
     initial award of any Option containing, or the amendment or supplementation
     of any existing option agreement adding, the right of relinquishment.

          (f)  No right of relinquishment may be exercised after the initial
     award of any option containing, or the amendment or supplementation of any
     existing option agreement adding the right of relinquishment, unless such
     right of relinquishment is effective upon the Optionee's death, disability
     or termination of his relationship with the Company and the payment upon
     the exercise of such right is only in cash.

     SECTION 8.  AMENDMENTS OR TERMINATION.  The Board may amend, alter or
discontinue the Plan, but no amendment or alteration shall be made which would
impair the rights of any Optionee, without his or her consent.

     SECTION 9.  COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS AND REGULATIONS.  The Plan, the
grant and exercise of options thereunder, and the obligation of the Company to
sell and deliver shares under such options, shall be subject to all applicable
federal and state laws, rules and regulations and to such approvals by any
governmental or regulatory agency as may be required.  The Company shall not be
required to issue or deliver any certificates for shares of Common Stock prior
to the completion of any registration or qualification of such shares under any
federal or state law or issuance of any ruling or regulation of any government
body which the Company shall, in its sole discretion, determine to be necessary
or advisable.

<PAGE>

     SECTION 10.  PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT.  Unless the options and shares of
Common Stock covered by this Plan have been registered under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, or the Company has determined that such registration is
unnecessary, each person exercising an option under this Plan may be required by
the Company to give a representation in writing that he is acquiring such shares
for his own account for investment and not with a view to, or for sale in
connection with, the distribution of any part thereof.

     SECTION 11.  TAXES.

          (a)  The Company may make such provisions as it may deem appropriate
     for the withholding of any taxes which it determines is required in
     connection with any options granted under this Plan.

          (b)  Notwithstanding the terms of Section 11(a), any Optionee may pay
     all or any portion of the taxes required to be withheld by the Company or
     paid by him in connection with the exercise of a nonqualified option by
     electing to have the Company withhold shares of Common Stock, or by
     delivering previously owned shares of Common Stock, having a current market
     value, determined in accordance with Section 7(a)(iii), equal to the amount
     required to be withheld or paid.  An Optionee must make the foregoing
     election on or before the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is
     determined ("Tax Date").  All such elections are irrevocable and subject to
     disapproval by the Committee.

     SECTION 12.  REPLACEMENT OF OPTIONS.  The Committee from time to time may
permit an Optionee under the Plan to surrender for cancellation any unexercised
outstanding option and receive from the Company in exchange an option for such
number of shares of Common Stock as may be designated by the Committee.  The
Committee may, with the consent of the person entitled to exercise any
outstanding option, amend such option, including reducing the exercise price of
any option to not less than the fair market value of the Common Stock at the
time of the amendment and extending the term thereof.

     SECTION 13.  NO RIGHT TO COMPANY EMPLOYMENT.  Nothing in this Plan or as
a result of any option granted pursuant to this Plan shall confer on any
individual any right to continue in the employ of the Company or interfere in
any way with the right of the Company to terminate an individual's employment at
any time.  The option agreements may contain such provisions as the Committee
may approve with reference to the effect of approved leaves of absence.

     SECTION 14.  LIABILITY OF COMPANY.  The Company and any Affiliate which
is in existence or hereafter comes into existence shall not be liable to an
Optionee or other persons as to:

          (a)  THE NON-ISSUANCE OF SHARES.  The non-issuance or sale of shares
     as to which the Company has been unable to obtain from any regulatory body
     having jurisdiction with the authority deemed by the Company's counsel to
     be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares hereunder; and

<PAGE>

          (b)  TAX CONSEQUENCES.  Any tax consequence expected, but not
     realized, by any Optionee or other person due to the exercise of any option
     granted hereunder.

     SECTION 15.  EFFECTIVENESS AND EXPIRATION OF PLAN.  The Plan shall be
effective as of March 31, 1997.

     SECTION 16.  NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN.  Neither the adoption by the
Board nor the submission of the Plan to the stockholders of the Company for
approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the
Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable,
including without limitation, the granting of restricted stock or stock options
otherwise than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either generally
applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

     SECTION 17.  GOVERNING LAW.  This Plan and any agreements hereunder shall
be interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the state in which
the Company is incorporated and applicable federal law.

     SECTION 18.  CASHLESS EXERCISE.  The Committee also may allow cashless
exercises as permitted under Federal Reserve Board's Regulation T, subject to
applicable securities law restrictions, or by any other means which the
Committee determines to be consistent with the Plan's purpose and applicable
law.  The proceeds from such a payment shall be added to the general funds of
the Company and shall be used for general corporate purposes.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and as conclusive evidence of the adoption of the
foregoing by directors of the Company, Mail-Well, Inc. has caused these presents
to be duly executed in its name and behalf by its proper officers thereunto duly
authorized.

                                       Mail-Well, Inc.


                                       By:
                                          ----------------------------------
                                       Name: 
                                            --------------------------------
                                       Title:
                                             -------------------------------

ATTEST:


- ----------------------------
Secretary


[CORPORATE SEAL]


<PAGE>





                                  EXHIBIT 4.2
                                       
                MAIL-WELL, INC. 1998 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN 




<PAGE>

                                  MAIL-WELL, INC.
                          1998 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN


     SECTION 1.   PURPOSE OF THE PLAN.  The purpose of this Mail-Well, Inc. 
1998 Incentive Stock Option Plan ("Plan"), is to encourage ownership of 
common stock, $.01 par value ("Common Stock"), of Mail-Well, Inc., a Colorado 
corporation (the "Company"), by eligible key employees and directors of the 
Company and its Affiliates (as defined below) and to provide increased 
incentive for such employees and directors to render services and to exert 
maximum effort for the business success of the Company.  In addition, the 
Company expects that the Plan will further strengthen the identification of 
employees and directors with the stockholders.  Certain options to be granted 
under this Plan are intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options ("ISOs") 
pursuant to Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended 
("Code"), while other options granted under this Plan will be nonqualified 
options which are not intended to qualify as ISOs ("Nonqualified Options"), 
either or both as provided in the agreements evidencing the options as 
provided in the Section 6 hereof.  As used in this Plan, the term 
"Affiliates" means any "parent corporation" of the Company and any 
"subsidiary corporation" of the Company within the meaning of Code Sections 
424(e) and (f), respectively.

     SECTION 2.   ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.

          (a)  COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEE.  The Plan shall be administered by the
     Compensation Committee (the "Committee") comprised of two or more Directors
     designated by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), which
     shall also designate the Chairman of the Committee.  If the Company is
     governed by Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
     Commission ("Commission") pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
     as amended ("Exchange Act"), no director shall serve as a member of the
     Committee unless he is a "Non-Employee Director" within the meaning of such
     Rule 16b-3.
     
          (b)  COMMITTEE ACTION.  The Committee shall hold its meetings at such
     times and places as it may determine.  A majority of its members shall
     constitute a quorum, and all determinations of the Committee shall be made
     by not less than a majority of its members.  Any decision or determination
     reduced to writing and signed by a majority of the members shall be fully
     effective as if it had been made by a majority vote of its members at a
     meeting duly called and held.  The Committee may designate the Secretary of
     the Company or other Company employees to assist the Committee in the
     administration of the Plan, and may grant authority to such persons to
     execute award agreements or other documents on behalf of the Committee and
     the Company.  Any duly constituted committee of the Board satisfying the
     qualifications of this Section 2 may be appointed as the Committee.
     
          (c)  COMMITTEE EXPENSES.  All expenses and liabilities incurred by the
     Committee in the administration of the Plan shall be borne by the Company. 
     The Committee may employ attorneys, consultants, accountants or other
     persons.
     
     SECTION 3.   STOCK RESERVED FOR THE PLAN.  Subject to adjustment as 
provided in Section 6(k) hereof, the aggregate number of shares of Common 
Stock that may be optioned under the Plan 

<PAGE>

is 500,000.  The shares subject to the Plan shall consist of authorized but 
unissued shares of Common Stock and such number of shares shall be and is 
hereby reserved for sale for such purpose.  Any of such shares which may 
remain unsold and which are not subject to outstanding options at the 
termination of the Plan shall cease to be reserved for the purpose of the 
Plan, but until termination of the Plan or the termination of the last of the 
options granted under the Plan, whichever last occurs, the Company shall at 
all times reserve a sufficient number of shares to meet the requirements of 
the Plan.  Should any option expire or be canceled prior to its exercise in 
full, the shares theretofore subject to such option may again be made subject 
to an option under the Plan.
     
     SECTION 4.   ELIGIBILITY.  The persons eligible to participate in the 
Plan as a recipient of options ("Optionee") shall include only key employees 
and directors of the Company or its Affiliates at the time the option is 
granted. An employee who has been granted an option hereunder may be granted 
an additional option or options, if the Committee shall so determine.
     
     SECTION 5.   GRANT OF OPTIONS.
     
          (a)  COMMITTEE DISCRETION.  The Committee shall have sole and absolute
     discretionary authority (i) to determine, authorize, and designate those
     key employees and directors of the Company or its Affiliates who are to
     receive options under the Plan, (ii) to determine the number of shares of
     Common Stock to be covered by such options and the terms thereof, and (iii)
     to determine the type of option granted:  ISO, Nonqualified Option or a
     combination of ISO and Nonqualified Options; provided that a director who
     is not also an employee of the Company may not receive any ISOs.  The
     Committee shall thereupon grant options in accordance with such
     determinations as evidenced by a written option agreement.  Subject to the
     express provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have discretionary
     authority to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to
     the Plan, to interpret the Plan, to prescribe and amend the terms of the
     option agreements (which need not be identical) and to make all other
     determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the
     Plan.
     
          (b)  STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL.  All options granted under this Plan are
     subject to, and may not be exercised before, the approval of this Plan by
     the stockholders prior to the first anniversary date of the Board meeting
     held to approve the Plan, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a
     majority of the outstanding shares of the Company present, or represented
     by proxy, and entitled to vote thereat or by written consent in accordance
     with applicable corporate law; provided that if such approval by the
     stockholders of the Company is not forthcoming, all options previously
     granted under this Plan shall be void.
     
          (c)  LIMITATION ON INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS.  The aggregate fair market
     value (determined in accordance with Section 6(b) of this Plan at the time
     the option is granted) of the Common Stock with respect to which ISOs may
     be exercisable for the first time by any Optionee during any calendar year
     under all such plans of the Company and its Affiliates shall not exceed
     $100,000.
     
     SECTION 6.   TERMS AND CONDITIONS.  Each option granted under the Plan
shall be evidenced by an agreement, in a form approved by the Committee, which
shall be subject to the following 

<PAGE>

express terms and conditions and to such other terms and conditions as the 
Committee may deem appropriate.

          (a)  OPTION PERIOD.  The Committee shall promptly notify the Optionee
     of the option grant and a written agreement shall promptly be executed and
     delivered by and on behalf of the Company and the Optionee, provided that
     the option grant shall expire if a written agreement is not signed by said
     Optionee (or his agent or attorney) and returned to the Company within 60
     days from date of receipt by the Optionee of such agreement.  The date of
     grant shall be the date the option is actually granted by the Committee,
     even though the written agreement may be executed and delivered by the
     Company and the Optionee after that date.  Each option agreement shall
     specify the period for which the option thereunder is granted (which in no
     event shall exceed ten years from the date of grant) and shall provide that
     the option shall expire at the end of such period.  If the original term of
     an option is less than ten years from the date of grant, the option may be
     amended prior to its expiration, with the approval of the Committee and the
     Optionee, to extend the term so that the term as amended is not more than
     ten years from the date of grant.  However, in the case of an ISO granted
     to an individual who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more than
     10 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of
     the Company or its Affiliate ("Ten Percent Stockholder"), such period shall
     not exceed five years from the date of grant.
     
          (b)  OPTION PRICE.  The purchase price of each share of Common Stock
     subject to each option granted pursuant to the Plan shall be determined by
     the Committee at the time the option is granted and, in the case of ISOs,
     shall not be less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of Common
     Stock on the date the option is granted, as determined by the Committee. 
     In the case of an ISO granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder, the option
     price shall not be less than 110% of the fair market value of a share of
     Common Stock on the date the option is granted.  The purchase price of each
     share of Common Stock subject to a Nonqualified Option under this Plan
     shall be determined by the Committee prior to granting the option.  The
     Committee shall set the purchase price for each share subject to a
     Nonqualified Option at such price as the Committee in its sole discretion
     shall determine, provided that the purchase price of each share of Common
     Stock subject to a Nonqualified Option shall not be greater than the fair
     market value of a share of Common Stock on the date the option is granted
     as determined by the Committee.
     
          For all purposes under the Plan, the fair market value of a share of
     Common Stock on a particular date shall be equal to the mean of the
     reported high and low sales prices of the Common Stock on the New York
     Stock Exchange Composite Tape on that date, or if no prices are reported on
     that date, on the last preceding date on which such prices of the Common
     Stock are so reported.  If the Common Stock is not traded on the New York
     Stock Exchange at the time a determination of its fair market value is
     required to be made hereunder, its fair market value shall be deemed to be
     equal to the average between the closing bid and ask prices of the Common
     Stock on the most recent date the Common Stock was publicly traded.

<PAGE>

          In the event the Common Stock is not publicly traded at the time a
     determination of its value is required to be made hereunder, the
     determination of its fair market value shall be made by the Committee in
     such manner as it deems appropriate.
     
          (c)  EXERCISE PERIOD.  The Committee may provide in the option
     agreement that an option may be exercised in whole, immediately, or is to
     be exercisable in increments.  However, no portion of any option may be
     exercisable by an Optionee prior to the approval of the Plan by the
     Stockholders of the Company.
     
          (d)  PROCEDURE FOR EXERCISE.  Options shall be exercised by the
     delivery of written notice to the Secretary of the Company setting forth
     the number of shares with respect to which the option is being exercised.  
     Such notice shall be accompanied by cash or cashier's check, bank draft,
     postal or express money order payable to the order of the Company, or at
     the option of the Committee, in Common Stock theretofore owned by such
     Optionee (or any combination of cash and Common Stock).  Notice may also be
     delivered by fax or telecopy provided that the purchase price of such
     shares is delivered to the Company via wire transfer on the same day the
     fax is received by the Company.  The notice shall specify the address to
     which the certificates for such shares are to be mailed.  An Optionee shall
     be deemed to be a stockholder with respect to shares covered by an option
     on the date the Company receives such written notice and such option
     payment.
     
          As promptly as practicable after receipt of such written notification
     and payment, the Company shall deliver to the Optionee certificates for the
     number of shares with respect to which such option has been so exercised,
     issued in the Optionee's name or such other name as Optionee directs;
     provided, however, that such delivery shall be deemed effected for all
     purposes when a stock transfer agent of the Company shall have deposited
     such certificates in the United States mail, addressed to the Optionee at
     the address specified pursuant to this Section 6(d).
     
          (e)  TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.  If an employee to whom an option is
     granted ceases to be employed by the Company for any reason other than
     death or disability or if a director to whom an option is granted ceases to
     serve on the Board for any reason other than death or disability, any
     option which is exercisable on the date of such termination of employment
     or cessation from the Board shall expire upon such date of such termination
     of employment or cessation from the Board; provided, however, the
     Committee, in its sole discretion, may allow an Optionee to exercise all or
     a portion of the Options granted but unexercised for a period of time after
     the Optionee's termination of employment or cessation from the Board,
     provided that in no event shall ISOs be exercised after the date three
     months from the effective date of the termination of employment and
     provided further in no event may any option be exercised after its
     expiration under the terms of the option agreement.
     
          (f)  DISABILITY OR DEATH OF OPTIONEE.  In the event of the
     determination of disability or death of an Optionee under the Plan while he
     is employed by the Company or while he serves on the Board, the options
     previously granted to him may be exercised (to the extent he would have
     been entitled to do so at the date of the determination of disability or
     death) at any time and from time to time, within a three-month period after
     such determination of disability or death, by the former employee or
     director, the guardian of his estate, the executor or 

<PAGE>

     administrator of his estate or by the person or persons to whom his 
     rights under the option shall pass by will or the laws of descent and 
     distribution, but in no event may the option be exercised after its 
     expiration under the terms of the option agreement.  An Optionee shall 
     be deemed to be disabled if, in the opinion of a physician selected by 
     the Committee, he is incapable of performing services for the Company 
     of the kind he was performing at the time the disability occurred by 
     reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment 
     which can be expected to result in death or to be of long, continued 
     and indefinite duration.  The date of determination of disability for 
     purposes hereof shall be the date of such determination by such 
     physician.  The Committee, in its sole discretion, may allow an 
     Optionee to exercise all or a portion of the Options granted but 
     unexercised for a longer period than three months after disability or 
     death, provided that in no event shall ISOs be exercised after the date 
     12 months from the effective date of the termination of employment due 
     to disability or the date 18 months from the effective date of 
     termination of employment due to death (or 18 months after the death of 
     the optionee within 12 months of the termination of such optionee's 
     employment due to disability).
     
          (g)  ASSIGNABILITY.  An option shall not be assignable or otherwise
     transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or
     pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined in the Code or
     Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, as amended, or the
     rules thereunder.  During the lifetime of an Optionee, an option shall be
     exercisable only by him.
     
          (h)  INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS.  Each option agreement may contain such
     terms and provisions as the Committee may determine to be necessary or
     desirable in order to qualify an option designated as an incentive stock
     option under Section 422 of the Code.
     
          (i)  NO RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER.  No Optionee shall have any rights as a
     stockholder with respect to shares covered by an option until the option is
     exercised by the written notice and accompanied by payment as provided in
     clause (d) above.
     
          (j)  EXTRAORDINARY CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS.  The existence of
     outstanding options shall not affect in any way the right or power of the
     Company or its stockholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments,
     recapitalizations, reorganizations, exchanges, or other changes in the
     Company's capital structure or its business, or any merger or consolidation
     of the Company, or any issuance of Common Stock or other securities or
     subscription rights thereto, or any issuance of bonds, debentures,
     preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the Common Stock
     or the rights thereof, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or
     any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any
     other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or
     otherwise.  If the Company recapitalizes or otherwise changes its capital
     structure, or merges, consolidates, sells all of its assets or dissolves
     (each of the foregoing a "Fundamental Change"), then thereafter upon any
     exercise of an option theretofore granted the Optionee shall be entitled to
     purchase under such option, in lieu of the number of shares of Common Stock
     as to which option shall then be exercisable, the number and class of
     shares of stock and securities to which the Optionee would have been
     entitled pursuant to the terms of the Fundamental Change if, immediately
     prior to such Fundamental Change, the Optionee had been the holder of
     record of the number of shares of Common Stock as to which such option is
     then exercisable.

<PAGE>

          (k)  CHANGES IN COMPANY'S CAPITAL STRUCTURE.  If the outstanding
     shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or both, for
     which the option is then exercisable shall at any time be changed or
     exchanged by declaration of a stock dividend, stock split, or combination
     of shares, the number and kind of shares of Common Stock or other
     securities which are subject to the Plan or subject to any options
     theretofore granted, and the option prices, shall be appropriately and
     equitably adjusted so as to maintain the proportionate number of shares or
     other securities without changing the aggregate option price.
     
          (l)  ACCELERATION OF OPTIONS.  Except as hereinbefore expressly
     provided, (i) the issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class
     of securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, for cash,
     property, labor or services, upon direct sale, upon the exercise of rights
     or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of shares or
     obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other
     securities, (ii) the payment of a dividend in property other than Common
     Stock or (iii) the occurrence of any similar transaction, and in any case
     whether or not for fair value, shall not affect, and no adjustment by
     reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of
     Common Stock subject to options theretofore granted or the purchase price
     per share, unless the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion that
     an adjustment is necessary to provide equitable treatment to Optionee. 
     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, the
     Committee may in its sole discretion accelerate the time at which any
     option may be exercised, including, but not limited to, upon the occurrence
     of the events specified in this Section 6, and is authorized at any time
     (with the consent of the Optionee) to purchase options pursuant to Section
     7.
     
          (m)  STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT.  The Committee shall provide in the
     option agreement that prior to receiving any shares of Common Stock or
     other securities on the exercise of the option, the Optionee (or the
     Optionee's representative upon the Optionee's death) shall be required to
     execute the American Mail-Well Employee Stockholders Agreement, or the
     Company's Stockholders Agreement, whichever the Committee deems
     appropriate.
     
          (n)  CHANGE OF CONTROL.  In the event that (i) there is a proposed
     action whereby the Company would not be the surviving entity in any merger
     or consolidation (or survives only as a subsidiary of another entity) other
     than a merger for the sole purpose of changing the Company's state of
     incorporation, (ii) there is a proposed action whereby  the Company would
     sell all or substantially all of its assets to any person or entity (other
     than a wholly-owned subsidiary), (iii) any person or entity (including a
     "group" as contemplated by Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), acquires
     or gains ownership or control of (including, without limitation, power to
     vote) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (iv) there
     is a proposed action whereby the Company would be dissolved and liquidated,
     or (v) as a result of or in connection with a contested election of
     directors, the persons who were directors of the Company before such
     election shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board (each such event
     in clauses (i) through (v) above is referred to herein as a "Corporate
     Change"), all Optionees hereunder shall be given notice of such Corporate
     Change and shall have a period of thirty (30) days thereafter to exercise
     their options after receipt of such notice whether such options had vested
     in accordance with their terms or not.

     SECTION 7.     RELINQUISHMENT OF OPTIONS.
<PAGE>

          (a)  The Committee, in granting options hereunder, shall have
     discretion to determine whether or not options shall include a right of
     relinquishment as hereinafter provided by this Section 7.  The Committee
     shall also have discretion to determine whether an option agreement
     evidencing an option initially granted by the Committee without a right of
     relinquishment shall be amended or supplemented to include such a right of
     relinquishment.  Neither the Committee nor the Company shall be under any
     obligation or incur any liability to any person by reason of the
     Committee's refusal to grant or include a right of relinquishment in any
     option granted hereunder or in any option agreement evidencing the same. 
     Subject to the Committee's determination in any case that the grant by it
     of a right of relinquishment is consistent with Paragraph 1 hereof, any
     option granted under this Plan, and the option agreement evidencing such
     option, may provide:
     
               i)   That the Optionee, or his heirs or other legal
          representatives to the extent entitled to exercise the option under
          the terms thereof, in lieu of purchasing the entire number of shares
          subject to purchase thereunder, shall have the right to relinquish all
          or any part of the then unexercised portion of the option (to the
          extent then exercisable) for a number of shares of Common Stock, for
          an amount of cash or for a combination of Common Stock and cash to be
          determined in accordance with the following provisions of this clause
          (i): 
               
                    a)   The written notice of exercise of such right of
               relinquishment shall state the percentage, if any, of the
               Appreciated Value (as defined below) that the Optionee elects to
               receive in cash ("Cash Percentage"), such Cash Percentage to be
               in increments of 10% of such Appreciated Value up to 100%
               thereof;
               
                    b)   The number of shares of Common Stock, if any, issuable
               pursuant to such relinquishment shall be the number of such
               shares, rounded to the next greater number of full shares, as
               shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the
               difference between (I) the Appreciated Value and (II) the result
               obtained by multiplying the Appreciated Value and the Cash
               Percentage by (B) the then current market value per share of
               Common Stock;
               
                    c)   The amount of cash payable pursuant to such
               relinquishment shall be an amount equal to the Appreciated Value
               less the aggregate current market value of the Common Stock
               issued pursuant to such relinquishment, if any, which cash shall
               be paid by the Company subject to such conditions as are deemed
               advisable by the Committee to permit compliance by the Company
               with the withholding provisions applicable to employers under the
               Code and any applicable state income tax laws;
               
                    d)   For the purpose of this clause (i), "Appreciated Value"
               means the excess of (x) the aggregate current market value of the
               shares of Common Stock covered by the option or the portion
               thereof to be relinquished over (y) the aggregate purchase price
               for such shares specified in such option;

<PAGE>

               ii)  That such right of relinquishment may be exercised only upon
          receipt by the Company of a written notice of such relinquishment
          which shall be dated the date of election to make such relinquishment;
          and that, for the purposes of this Plan, such date of election shall
          be deemed to be the date when such notice is sent by registered or
          certified mail, or when receipt is acknowledged by the Company, if
          mailed by other than registered or certified mail or if delivered by
          hand or by any telegraphic communications equipment of the sender or
          otherwise delivered; provided, that, in the event the method just
          described for determining such date of election shall not be or remain
          consistent with the provisions of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or
          the rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder, as
          presently existing or as may be hereafter amended, which regulations
          exempt from the operation of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act in
          whole or in part any such relinquishment transaction, then such date
          of election shall be determined by such other method consistent with
          Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations
          thereunder as the Committee shall in its discretion select and apply;
          
               iii) That the "current market value" of a share of Common Stock
          on a particular date shall be deemed to be its fair market value on
          that date as determined in accordance with Paragraph 6(b); and 
          
               iv)  That the option, or any portion thereof, may be relinquished
          only to the extent that (A) it is exercisable on the date written
          notice of relinquishment is received by the Company, (B) the
          Committee, subject to the provisions of Paragraph 7(b), shall consent
          to the election of the holder to relinquish such option in whole or in
          part for cash as set forth in such written notice of relinquishment
          and (C) the holder of such option pays, or makes provision
          satisfactory to the Company for the payment of, any taxes which the
          Company is obligated to collect with respect to such relinquishment.
          
          (b)  The Committee shall have sole discretion to consent to or
     disapprove, and neither the Committee nor the Company shall be under any
     liability by reason of the Committee's disapproval of, any election by a
     holder of an option to relinquish such option in whole or in part for cash
     as provided in Paragraph 7(a), except that no such consent to or approval
     of a relinquishment for cash shall be required under the following
     circumstances.  Each Optionee who is subject to the short-swing profits
     recapture provisions of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act ("Covered
     Optionee") shall be entitled to receive payment only in cash when options
     are relinquished during any window period commencing on the third business
     day following the Company's release of a quarterly or annual summary
     statement of sales and earnings and ending on the twelfth business day
     following such release ("Window Period"); provided, however, that payment
     shall be so made in cash only in respect of 50% of the options covered by
     any stock option agreement.  A Covered Optionee shall be entitled to
     receive payment only in shares of Common Stock upon (a) the relinquishment
     of options outside a Window Period and (b) the relinquishment of options
     during a Window Period once such Optionee has received payment in cash for
     the relinquishment of 50% of the options covered by any stock option
     agreement.

<PAGE>

          (c)  The Committee, in granting options hereunder, shall have
     discretion to determine the terms upon which such options shall be
     relinquishable, subject to the applicable provisions of this Plan, and
     including such provisions as are deemed advisable to permit the exemption
     from the operation from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act of any such
     relinquishment transaction, and options outstanding, and option agreements
     evidencing such options, may be amended, if necessary, to permit such
     exemption.  If an option is relinquished, such option shall be deemed to
     have been exercised to the extent of the number of shares of Common Stock
     covered by the option or part thereof which is relinquished, and no further
     options may be granted covering such shares of Common Stock.
     
          (d)  Neither any option nor any right to relinquish the same to the
     Company as contemplated by this Paragraph 7 shall be assignable or
     otherwise transferable except by will or the laws of descent and
     distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined
     in the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, as
     amended, or the rules thereunder.
     
          (e)  Except as provided in Section 7(f) below, no right of
     relinquishment may be exercised within the first six months after the
     initial award of any Option containing, or the amendment or supplementation
     of any existing option agreement adding, the right of relinquishment.
     
          (f)  No right of relinquishment may be exercised after the initial
     award of any option containing, or the amendment or supplementation of any
     existing option agreement adding the right of relinquishment, unless such
     right of relinquishment is effective upon the Optionee's death, disability
     or termination of his relationship with the Company and the payment upon
     the exercise of such right is only in cash.
     
     SECTION 8.   AMENDMENTS OR TERMINATION.  The Board may amend, alter or 
discontinue the Plan, but no amendment or alteration shall be made which 
would impair the rights of any Optionee, without his consent, under any 
option theretofore granted, or which, without the approval of the 
stockholders, would: (i) except as is provided in Section 6(k) of the Plan, 
increase the total number of shares reserved for the purposes of the Plan, 
(ii) change the class of persons eligible to participate in the Plan as 
provided in Section 4 of the Plan, (iii) extend the applicable maximum option 
period provided for in Section 6(a) of the Plan, (iv) extend the expiration 
date of this Plan set forth in Section 14 of the Plan, (v) except as provided 
in Section 6(k) of the Plan, decrease to any extent the option price of any 
option granted under the Plan or (vi) withdraw the administration of the Plan 
from the Committee.
     
     SECTION 9.   COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS AND REGULATIONS.  The Plan, the 
grant and exercise of options thereunder, and the obligation of the Company 
to sell and deliver shares under such options, shall be subject to all 
applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations and to such 
approvals by any governmental or regulatory agency as may be required.  The 
Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates for shares 
of Common Stock prior to the completion of any registration or qualification 
of such shares under any federal or state law or issuance of any ruling or 
regulation of any government body which the Company shall, in its sole 
discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable.  Any adjustments provided 
for in subparagraphs 6(j), (k) and (l) shall be subject to any shareholder 
action required by applicable corporate law.

<PAGE>

     SECTION 10.   PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT.  Unless the options and shares of 
Common Stock covered by this Plan have been registered under the Securities 
Act of 1933, as amended, or the Company has determined that such registration 
is unnecessary, each person exercising an option under this Plan may be 
required by the Company to give a representation in writing that he is 
acquiring such shares for his own account for investment and not with a view 
to, or for sale in connection with, the distribution of any part thereof.

     SECTION 11.   TAXES.
     
          (a)  The Company may make such provisions as it may deem appropriate
     for the withholding of any taxes which it determines is required in
     connection with any options granted under this Plan.
     
          (b)  Notwithstanding the terms of Paragraph 11(a), any Optionee may
     pay all or any portion of the taxes required to be withheld by the Company
     or paid by him in connection with the exercise of a nonqualified option by
     electing to have the Company withhold shares of Common Stock, or by
     delivering previously owned shares of Common Stock, having a fair market
     value, determined in accordance with Paragraph 6(b), equal to the amount
     required to be withheld or paid.  An Optionee must make the foregoing
     election on or before the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is
     determined ("Tax Date").  All such elections are irrevocable and subject to
     disapproval by the Committee.
     
     SECTION 12.   REPLACEMENT OF OPTIONS.  The Committee from time to time 
may permit an Optionee under the Plan to surrender for cancellation any 
unexercised outstanding option and receive from the Company in exchange an 
option for such number of shares of Common Stock as may be designated by the 
Committee.  The Committee may, with the consent of the person entitled to 
exercise any outstanding option, amend such option, including reducing the 
exercise price of any option to not less than the fair market value of the 
Common Stock at the time of the amendment and extending the term thereof.
     
     SECTION 13.   NO RIGHT TO COMPANY EMPLOYMENT.  Nothing in this Plan or 
as a result of any option granted pursuant to this Plan shall confer on any 
individual any right to continue in the employ of the Company or interfere in 
any way with the right of the Company to terminate an individual's employment 
at any time.  The option agreements may contain such provisions as the 
Committee may approve with reference to the effect of approved leaves of 
absence.
     
     SECTION 14.   LIABILITY OF COMPANY.  The Company and any Affiliate which 
is in existence or hereafter comes into existence shall not be liable to an 
Optionee or other persons as to:
     
               (a)  THE NON-ISSUANCE OF SHARES.  The non-issuance or sale of
          shares as to which the Company has been unable to obtain from any
          regulatory body having jurisdiction with the authority deemed by the
          Company's counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of
          any shares hereunder; and
          
               (b)  TAX CONSEQUENCES.  Any tax consequence expected, but not
          realized, by any Optionee or other person due to the exercise of any
          option granted hereunder.

<PAGE>

     SECTION 15.   EFFECTIVENESS AND EXPIRATION OF PLAN.  The Plan shall be 
effective on the date the Board adopts the Plan.  If the stockholders of the 
Company fail to approve the Plan within twelve months of the date the Board 
approved the Plan, the Plan shall terminate and all options previously 
granted under the Plan shall become void and of no effect.  The Plan shall 
expire ten years after the date the Board approves the Plan and thereafter no 
option shall be granted pursuant to the Plan.
     
     SECTION 16.   NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN.  Neither the adoption by the 
Board nor the submission of the Plan to the stockholders of the Company for 
approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the 
Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, 
including without limitation, the granting of restricted stock or stock 
options otherwise than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either 
generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
     
     SECTION 17.   GOVERNING LAW.  This Plan and any agreements hereunder 
shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the state 
in which the Company is incorporated and applicable federal law.
     
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and as conclusive evidence of the adoption of the 
foregoing by directors of the Company, Mail-Well, Inc. has caused these 
presents to be duly executed in its name and behalf by its proper officers 
thereunto duly authorized on February 4, 1998.

ATTEST:                            Mail-Well, Inc.


                                   By: 
- ---------------------------            ---------------------------
Secretary                          Name: 
                                       ---------------------------
                                   Title: 
                                       ---------------------------

[CORPORATE SEAL]



<PAGE>

                                     EXHIBIT 4.3

          MAIL-WELL, INC. ALLIED ACQUISITION NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN 



<PAGE>

                                  MAIL-WELL, INC.
                 ALLIED ACQUISITION NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN


     SECTION 1.  PURPOSE OF THE PLAN.  The purpose of the Allied Acquisition
Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, ("Plan") is to encourage ownership of common
stock, $.01 par value ("Common Stock"), of Mail-Well, Inc., a Colorado
corporation (the "Company"), by eligible key employees of the Company and its
Affiliates (as defined below), who were formerly employees of The Allied
Printers prior to the acquisition of Allied by the Company, pursuant to that
certain Stock Purchase Agreement dated July 11, 1997, and to provide increased
incentive for such employees to render services and to exert maximum effort for
the business success of the Company.  In addition, the Company expects that the
Plan will further strengthen the identification of employees with the
stockholders.  Options to be granted under this Plan are not intended to qualify
as Incentive Stock Options pursuant to Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended ("Code").  As used in this Plan, the term "Affiliates" means
any "parent corporation" of the Company and any "subsidiary corporation" of the
Company within the meaning of Code Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively.

     SECTION 2.  ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.

          (a)  COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEE.  The Plan shall be administered by the
     Compensation Committee (the "Committee") comprised of two or more directors
     designated by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), which
     shall also designate the Chairman of the Committee.  No director shall
     serve as a member of the Committee unless he or she is a "Non-Employee
     Director" within the meaning of such Rule 16b-3 under the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act").

          (b)  COMMITTEE ACTION.  The Committee shall hold its meetings at such
     times and places as it may determine.  A majority of its members shall
     constitute a quorum, and all determinations of the Committee shall be made
     by not less than a majority of its members.  Any decision or determination
     reduced to writing and signed by a majority of the members shall be fully
     effective as if it had been made by a majority vote of its members at a
     meeting duly called and held.  The Committee may designate the Vice
     President-General Counsel and Secretary of the Company or other Company
     employees to assist the Committee in the administration of the Plan, and
     may grant authority to such persons to execute award agreements or other
     documents on behalf of the Committee and the Company.  Any duly constituted
     committee of the Board satisfying the qualifications of this Section 2 may
     be appointed as the Committee.

          (c)  COMMITTEE EXPENSES.  All expenses and liabilities incurred by the
     Committee in the administration of the Plan shall be borne by the Company. 
     The Committee may employ attorneys, consultants, accountants or other
     persons.


                                       1

<PAGE>


     SECTION 3.  STOCK RESERVED FOR THE PLAN.  Subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 6(h) hereof, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock
that may be optioned under the Plan is 62,400.  The shares subject to the Plan
shall consist of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock and such number
of shares shall be and is hereby reserved for sale for such purpose.  Any of
such shares which may remain unsold and which are not subject to outstanding
options at the termination of the Plan shall cease to be reserved for the
purpose of the Plan, but until termination of the Plan or the termination of the
last of the options granted under the Plan, whichever last occurs, the Company
shall at all times reserve a sufficient number of shares to meet the
requirements of the Plan.  Should any option expire or be canceled prior to its
exercise in full, the shares theretofore subject to such option may again be
made subject to an option under the Plan.

     SECTION 4.  ELIGIBILITY.  The persons eligible to participate in the
Plan as a recipient of options ("Optionee") shall include only key employees of
the Company or its Affiliates at the time the option is granted.  An employee
who has been granted an option hereunder may be granted an additional option or
options, if the Committee shall so determine.

     SECTION 5.  GRANT OF OPTIONS.  The Committee shall have sole and
absolute discretionary authority (i) to determine, authorize, and designate
those key employees of the Company or its Affiliates who are to receive options
under the Plan, (ii) to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be
covered by such options, (iii) to determine the exercise price for options
granted under the Plan, and (iv) to determine the other terms of such options
and the conditions for exercise thereof. The Committee shall thereupon grant
options in accordance with such determinations and such options shall be
evidenced by a written option agreement.  Subject to the express provisions of
the Plan, the Committee shall have discretionary authority to prescribe, amend
and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to interpret the Plan,
to prescribe and amend the terms of the option agreements (which need not be
identical) and to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable
for the administration of the Plan.

     SECTION 6.  TERMS AND CONDITIONS.  Each option granted under the Plan
shall be evidenced by an agreement, in a form approved by the Committee, which
shall be subject to the following express terms and conditions and to such other
terms and conditions as the Committee may deem appropriate.

          (a)  OPTION PERIOD.  The Committee shall notify the Optionee of the
     option grant and a written agreement shall promptly be executed and
     delivered by and on behalf of the Company and the Optionee.  The date of
     grant shall be the date the option is actually granted by the Committee,
     even though the written agreement may be executed and delivered by the
     Company and the Optionee after that date.  Each option agreement shall
     specify the period for which the option thereunder is granted (which in no
     event shall exceed ten years from the date of grant) and shall provide that
     the option shall expire at the end of such period.  If the original term of
     an option is less than ten years from the date of grant, the option may be
     amended prior to its expiration, with the approval of the 


                                       2

<PAGE>

     Committee and the Optionee, to extend the term so that the term as amended
     is not more than ten years from the date of grant.  

          (b)  EXERCISE PERIOD.  The Committee may provide in the option
     agreement that an option may be exercised in whole, immediately, or is to
     be exercisable in increments.

          (c)  PROCEDURE FOR EXERCISE.  Options shall be exercised by the
     delivery of written notice to the Secretary of the Company setting forth
     the number of shares with respect to which the option is being exercised.
     Such notice shall be accompanied by cash or cashier's check, bank draft,
     postal or express money order payable to the order of the Company, or at
     the option of the Committee, in Common Stock theretofore owned by such
     Optionee (or any combination of cash and Common Stock).  Notice may also be
     delivered by fax or telecopy provided that the purchase price of such
     shares is delivered to the Company via wire transfer on the same day the
     fax is received by the Company.  The notice shall specify the address to
     which the certificates for such shares are to be mailed.  An Optionee shall
     be deemed to be a stockholder with respect to shares covered by an option
     on the date the Company receives such written notice and such option
     payment.

          As promptly as practicable after receipt of such written notification
     and payment, the Company shall deliver to the Optionee certificates for the
     number of shares with respect to which such option has been so exercised,
     issued in the Optionee's name or such other name as Optionee directs;
     provided, however, that such delivery shall be deemed effected for all
     purposes when a stock transfer agent of the Company shall have deposited
     such certificates in the United States mail, addressed to the Optionee at
     the address specified pursuant to this Section 6(c).

          (d)  TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT, DEATH OR DISABILITY.  If Optionee's
     employment with the Company or its Affiliates is terminated during the
     Option Period by reason of Optionee's voluntary resignation or termination
     for "Cause" (as defined below), Options granted to him or her which are not
     exercisable on such date thereupon terminate. Any Options which are
     exercisable on the date of Optionee's voluntary resignation or termination
     of employment for cause which have not been exercised within thirty (30)
     days of such voluntary resignation or termination for Cause shall expire
     and be of no force or effect.  "Cause" means (i) gross or repeated failure
     by Optionee to substantially perform his or her duties hereunder which
     persists thirty (30) days after written notice thereof is delivered to
     Optionee by the Company (or any Affiliate); (ii) the existence of legal
     restrictions on the ability of Optionee to substantially perform his or her
     duties hereunder; (iii) misappropriation or embezzlement of corporate
     funds; (iv) conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude or which in
     the opinion of the Board of Directors brings Optionee into disrepute or
     causes material harm to the Company's (or any Affiliate's) business,
     customer relations, financial condition or prospects; or (v) material
     breach of the provisions of any covenant not to compete or confidentiality
     agreement entered into between Optionee and the Company (or any Affiliate).


                                       3

<PAGE>

          If Optionee's employment with the Company or its Affiliates is
     terminated involuntarily other than for Cause, or by reason of his or her
     disability or death, all Options granted pursuant to this Plan shall be
     thereafter exercisable by Optionee, his or her executor or administrator,
     or the person or persons to whom his or her rights under this Option
     Agreement shall pass by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, as
     the case may be, for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of
     Optionee's involuntary termination other than for Cause, or by reason of
     disability or death, whether such Options had vested in accordance with
     their terms or not, unless this Option Agreement should earlier terminate
     in accordance with its other terms.  Optionee shall be deemed to be
     disabled if, in the opinion of a physician selected by the Committee, he or
     she is incapable of performing services for the Company by reason of any
     medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected
     to result in death or to be of long, continued and indefinite duration.

          (e)  ASSIGNABILITY.  An option shall not be assignable or otherwise
     transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or
     pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined in the Code or
     Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, as amended, or the
     rules thereunder.  During the lifetime of an Optionee, an option shall be
     exercisable only by the Optionee.

          (f)  NO RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER.  No Optionee shall have any rights as a
     stockholder with respect to shares covered by an option until the option is
     exercised by the written notice and accompanied by payment as provided in
     clause (c) above.

          (g)  EXTRAORDINARY CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS.  The existence of
     outstanding options shall not affect in any way the right or power of the
     Company or its stockholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments,
     recapitalizations, reorganizations, exchanges, or other changes in the
     Company's capital structure or its business, or any merger or consolidation
     of the Company, or any issuance of Common Stock or other securities or
     subscription rights thereto, or any issuance of bonds, debentures,
     preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the Common Stock
     or the rights thereof, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or
     any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any
     other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or
     otherwise.  If the Company recapitalizes or otherwise changes its capital
     structure, or merges or consolidates, (each of the foregoing a "Fundamental
     Change"), then thereafter upon any exercise of an option theretofore
     granted the Optionee shall be entitled to purchase under such option, in
     lieu of the number of shares of Common Stock as to which option shall then
     be exercisable, the number and class of shares of stock and securities to
     which the Optionee would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the
     Fundamental Change if, immediately prior to such Fundamental Change, the
     Optionee had been the holder of record of the number of shares of Common
     Stock as to which such option is then exercisable.

          (h)  CHANGES IN COMPANY'S CAPITAL STRUCTURE.  If the outstanding
     shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or both, for
     which the option is then exercisable shall at any time be changed or
     exchanged by declaration of a stock dividend, 


                                       4

<PAGE>

     stock split, or combination of shares, the number and kind of shares of 
     Common Stock or other securities which are subject to the Plan or 
     subject to any options theretofore granted, and the option prices, shall 
     be appropriately and equitably adjusted so as to maintain the 
     proportionate number of shares or other securities without changing the 
     aggregate option price.

          (i)  ACCELERATION OF OPTIONS.  Except as hereinbefore expressly
     provided, (i) the issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class
     of securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, for cash,
     property, labor or services, upon direct sale, upon the exercise of rights
     or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of shares or
     obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other
     securities, (ii) the payment of a dividend in property other than Common
     Stock or (iii) the occurrence of any similar transaction, and in any case
     whether or not for fair value, shall not affect, and no adjustment by
     reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of
     Common Stock subject to options theretofore granted or the purchase price
     per share, unless the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion that
     an adjustment is necessary to provide equitable treatment to Optionee. 
     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, the
     Committee may in its sole discretion accelerate the time at which any
     option may be exercised, including, but not limited to, upon the occurrence
     of the events specified in this Section 6.

          (j)  CHANGE OF CONTROL.  In the event that (i) there is a proposed
     action whereby the Company would not be the surviving entity in any merger
     or consolidation (or survives only as a subsidiary of another entity) other
     than a merger for the sole purpose of changing the Company's state of
     incorporation, (ii) there is a proposed action whereby  the Company would
     sell all or substantially all of its assets to any person or entity (other
     than a wholly-owned subsidiary), (iii) any person or entity (including a
     "group" as contemplated by Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), acquires
     or gains ownership or control of (including, without limitation, power to
     vote) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (iv) there
     is a proposed action whereby the Company would be dissolved and liquidated,
     or (v) as a result of or in connection with a contested election of
     directors, the persons who were directors of the Company before such
     election shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board (each such event
     in clauses (i) through (v) above is referred to herein as a "Corporate
     Change"), all Optionees hereunder shall be given notice of such Corporate
     Change and shall have a period of thirty (30) days thereafter to exercise
     their options after receipt of such notice whether such options had vested
     in accordance with their terms or not.

     SECTION 7.  AMENDMENTS OR TERMINATION.  The Board may amend, alter or
discontinue the Plan, but no amendment or alteration shall be made which would
impair the rights of any Optionee, without his or her consent.

     SECTION 8.  COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS AND REGULATIONS.  The Plan, the
grant and exercise of options thereunder, and the obligation of the Company to
sell and deliver shares under such options, shall be subject to all applicable
federal and state laws, rules and regulations and to such 


                                       5

<PAGE>

approvals by any governmental or regulatory agency as may be required.  The 
Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates for shares 
of Common Stock prior to the completion of any registration or qualification 
of such shares under any federal or state law or issuance of any ruling or 
regulation of any government body which the Company shall, in its sole 
discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable.

     SECTION 9.   PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT.  Unless the options and shares of
Common Stock covered by this Plan have been registered under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, or the Company has determined that such registration is
unnecessary, each person exercising an option under this Plan may be required by
the Company to give a representation in writing that he or she is acquiring such
shares for his or her own account for investment and not with a view to, or for
sale in connection with, the distribution of any part thereof.

     SECTION 10.  TAXES.

          (a)  The Company may make such provisions as it may deem appropriate
     for the withholding of any taxes which it determines is required in
     connection with any options granted under this Plan.

          (b)  Notwithstanding the terms of Section 10(a), any Optionee may pay
     all or any portion of the taxes required to be withheld by the Company or
     paid by him or her in connection with the exercise of a nonqualified option
     by electing to have the Company withhold shares of Common Stock, or by
     delivering previously owned shares of Common Stock, having a current market
     value, determined in accordance with Section 7(a)(iii), equal to the amount
     required to be withheld or paid.  An Optionee must make the foregoing
     election on or before the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is
     determined ("Tax Date").  All such elections are irrevocable and subject to
     disapproval by the Committee.

     SECTION 11.  REPLACEMENT OF OPTIONS.  The Committee from time to time may
permit an Optionee under the Plan to surrender for cancellation any unexercised
outstanding option and receive from the Company in exchange an option for such
number of shares of Common Stock as may be designated by the Committee.  The
Committee may, with the consent of the person entitled to exercise any 
outstanding option, amend such option, including reducing the exercise price of
any option to not less than the fair market value of the Common Stock at the
time of the amendment and extending the term thereof.

     SECTION 12.  NO RIGHT TO COMPANY EMPLOYMENT.  Nothing in this Plan or as
a result of any option granted pursuant to this Plan shall confer on any
individual any right to continue in the employ of the Company or interfere in
any way with the right of the Company to terminate an individual's employment at
any time, nor shall anything contained herein be construed or interpreted to
limit the "employment-at-will" relationship between the Optionee and the
Company.  The option agreements may contain such provisions as the Committee may
approve with reference to the effect of approved leaves of absence.


                                       6

<PAGE>

     SECTION 13.    LIABILITY OF COMPANY.  The Company and any Affiliate which
is in existence or hereafter comes into existence shall not be liable to an
Optionee or other persons as to:

          (a)  THE NON-ISSUANCE OF SHARES.  The non-issuance or sale of shares
     as to which the Company has been unable to obtain from any regulatory body
     having jurisdiction with the authority deemed by the Company's counsel to
     be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares hereunder; and

          (b)  TAX CONSEQUENCES.  Any tax consequence expected, but not
     realized, by any Optionee or other person due to the exercise of any option
     granted hereunder.

     SECTION 14.  EFFECTIVENESS AND EXPIRATION OF PLAN.  The Plan shall be
effective as of July 11, 1997.

     SECTION 15.  NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN.  Neither the adoption by the
Board nor the submission of the Plan to the stockholders of the Company for
approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the
Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable,
including without limitation, the granting of restricted stock or stock options
otherwise than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either generally
applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

     SECTION 16.  GOVERNING LAW.  This Plan and any agreements hereunder shall
be interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the state in which
the Company is incorporated and applicable federal law.

     SECTION 17.  CASHLESS EXERCISE.  The Committee also may allow cashless
exercises as permitted under Federal Reserve Board's Regulation T, subject to
applicable securities law restrictions, or by any other means which the
Committee determines to be consistent with the Plan's purpose and applicable
law.  The proceeds from such a payment shall be added to the general funds of
the Company and shall be used for general corporate purposes.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and as conclusive evidence of the adoption of the
foregoing by directors of the Company, The Allied Printers, Inc. has caused
these presents to be duly executed in its name and behalf by its proper officers
thereunto duly authorized.

                                       Mail-Well, Inc.


                                       By:
                                          ----------------------------------
                                              Roger Wertheimer
                                       Title: Vice President-General Counsel
                                                and Secretary






                                       7

<PAGE>

ATTEST:



- ----------------------------
Mark L. Zoeller
Assistant Secretary

[CORPORATE SEAL]


























                                       8


<PAGE>
                                       
                                   EXHIBIT 5



                                August 13, 1998



Mail-Well, Inc.
23 Inverness Way East, Suite 160
Englewood, Colorado  80112

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     You have requested our opinion in connection with the Registration 
Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") which is expected to be 
filed by Mail-Well, Inc. (the "Company") on or about August 13, 1998, with 
respect to the offer and sale of 3,074,800 additional shares of the Company's 
common stock, $.01 par value ("Company Stock"), issuable under the Mail-Well, 
Inc. 1997 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, the Mail-Well Inc. 1998 Incentive 
Stock Option Plan and the Mail-Well, Inc. Allied Acquisition Non-Qualified 
Stock Option Plan (the "Plans") as described in the Registration Statement.

     We have examined such records and documents and have made such 
investigations of law as we have deemed necessary under the circumstances. 
Based on that examination and investigation, it is our opinion that the 
shares of Company Stock referred to above will be, when sold in accordance 
with the Plans and in the manner described in the Registration Statement, 
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

     We consent to the use in the Registration Statement of our name and the 
statement with respect to our firm under the heading of "Interests of Named 
Experts and Counsel."

                                       Sincerely yours,

                                       ROTHGERBER JOHNSON & LYONS LLP

                                       /s/ Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons LLP

<PAGE>
                                       
                                  EXHIBIT 23.1

                        CONSENT OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP





INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


     We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration 
Statement of Mail-Well, Inc. on Form S-8 of our reports dated January 26, 
1998 (February 11, 1998 as to the second and third paragraphs of Note 12) 
appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Mail-Well, Inc. for the year 
ended December 31, 1997 and of our report dated July 10, 1998 appearing in 
Amendment No. 1 to Current Report on Form 8-K/A of Mail-Well, Inc. dated May 
30, 1998.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Denver, Colorado
August 13, 1998


<PAGE>
                                       
                                  EXHIBIT 23.3

                 CONSENT OF RUBIN, BROWN, GORNSTEIN & CO. LLP 





INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT



     We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration 
Statement of Mail-Well, Inc. on Form S-8 of our reports dated March 6, 1998 
(except for Notes 7 and 13, which are dated May 15, 1998 and May 22, 1998, 
respectively) and March 7, 1997 (except for Note 7, which is dated March 24, 
1997) appearing in Amendment No. 1 to Current Report on Form 8-K/A of 
Mail-Well, Inc. dated May 30, 1998.

Rubin, Brown, Gornstein & Co. LLP 

/s/ Rubin, Brown, Gornstein & Co. LLP

St. Louis, MO
August 13, 1998



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