<PAGE> 1
================================================================================
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE COMMISSION
ONLY (AS PERMITTED BY RULE 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to sec.240.14a-11(c) or sec.240.14a-12
</TABLE>
THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY
(NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
(NAME OF PERSON(S) FILING PROXY STATEMENT, IF OTHER THAN THE REGISTRANT)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: ..........
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: .............
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant
to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it was determined): .............................
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: .........................
(5) Total fee paid: ..........................................................
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid: ..................................................
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: ............................
(3) Filing Party: ............................................................
(4) Date Filed: ..............................................................
================================================================================
<PAGE> 2
[STANDARD REGISTER LOGO]
P.O. BOX 1167 - DAYTON, OH 45401
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
OF THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY
Dear Shareholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
The Standard Register Company (the "Company") which will be held at The Mandalay
Banquet Center, 2700 East River Road, Dayton, Ohio, at 11:00 A.M. Eastern
Daylight Savings Time on Wednesday, April 15, 1998.
The subjects to be considered at this Annual Meeting are:
(1) To fix the number of Directors to be elected at ten;
(2) To elect ten Directors;
(3) To amend Article 4.1 of the Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan to
increase from 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 the number of shares of the
Company's Common Stock that may be made subject to stock options under
the 1995 Stock Option Plan;
(4) To select and retain Battelle & Battelle, Certified Public Accountants,
as the Company's auditors for the year 1998; and to transact any other
business that may properly come before the meeting.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on February 20,
1998, as the record date for determining the shareholders entitled to vote at
the Annual Meeting.
As part of the meeting, we will discuss the Company's 1997 operations and
our plans for the future. Directors and officers of the Company will be
available to discuss the Company's business with you.
H. Frank Coffman
Secretary
Dayton, Ohio
March 20, 1998
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE SIGN
AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE.
<PAGE> 3
THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING
OF
SHAREHOLDERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:
600 ALBANY STREET
DAYTON, OHIO 45408
(937) 443-1000
Mailing Date: March 20, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Proxy Statement accompanies the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
The Standard Register Company, an Ohio corporation, to be held at The Mandalay
Banquet Center, 2700 East River Road, Dayton, Ohio, on Wednesday, April 15,
1998, at 11:00 A.M. The proxies are solicited on behalf of the Board of
Directors of the Company. Shareholders of record at the close of business
February 20, 1998, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.
The Company had outstanding, on the record date, 23,702,538 shares of Common
Stock (each share having one vote) and 4,725,000 shares of Class A Stock (each
share having five votes).
All properly cast votes, in person or by proxy, will be counted for purposes
of the issues to be voted on at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker
non-votes will have no impact on any matter voted upon.
Any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked by the person
giving it at any time before its exercise. Properly executed proxies received in
time to be voted at the Annual Meeting, or any adjournments thereof, will be
voted according to the instructions indicated on the proxies unless the proxies
have been revoked. If no choice is specified, the shares will be voted as
recommended by the Board of Directors. Proxies may be revoked by giving a later
dated proxy to the Company or by giving notice of revocation to the Company in
writing or orally at the Annual Meeting. The presence of a shareholder at the
Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke a proxy. The proxies solicited on
behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company contain the authority to vote
the shares of stock cumulatively in the election of directors.
At the Annual Meeting, the shareholders will: (1) determine the number of
directors to be elected; (2) elect a Board of Directors; (3) approve or
disapprove an amendment to the Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan; and (4) select
independent auditors for the Company.
<PAGE> 4
PROPOSALS
PROPOSAL 1: FIXING NUMBER OF DIRECTORS
The Company has ten directors. The Board of Directors recommends fixing the
number of directors to be elected at ten. The affirmative vote of a majority of
the votes cast upon this proposal is required for approval.
The Board of Directors recommends that the shareholders vote FOR fixing the
number of Directors to be elected at ten.
PROPOSAL 2: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors is nominating for election the ten persons hereinafter
named to be directors of the Company and to hold office until the next annual
election or until their successors are elected and qualified.
Although the Board of Directors does not contemplate that any of the nominees
will be unavailable for election, if any of them is unavailable, the shares will
be voted for substitute nominees as determined by the persons voting the
proxies.
Cumulative voting is permitted by the laws of Ohio in voting for the election
of directors, if notice is given in writing by any shareholder to the President,
a Vice President or Secretary of the Company not less than forty-eight (48)
hours before the time fixed for the Annual Meeting. If any shares may be voted
cumulatively for the election of directors, each shareholder present at the
Annual Meeting and the persons voting the proxies shall have full discretion and
authority to cumulate such voting power as the shareholder or proxy possesses
and to give one candidate as many votes as the number of directors to be elected
multiplied by the number of votes which the shareholder or proxy is entitled to
cast, or to distribute such votes on the same principle among two or more
candidates, as determined by the shareholder or proxy.
In the absence of cumulative voting, nominees receiving the highest number of
votes cast for the positions to be filled will be elected.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR EACH OF THE
FOLLOWING NAMED NOMINEES TO SERVE AS DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY:
NOMINEES
All nominees recommended by the Company for election were previously elected
as Directors. Information concerning each nominee follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SERVED AS
NAME AGE DIRECTOR SINCE
---- --- --------------
<S> <C> <C>
ROY W. BEGLEY, JR.* 42 1994
</TABLE>
Mr. Begley has been an Assistant Vice-President and Investment Officer with
Key Trust Co. of Ohio, N.A., since September 1995. From April 1994 to September
1995 he was an Investment Executive of Society Investments, Inc. He was an
Investment Specialist with Provident Securities and Investments from August 1992
until April 1994, and a Financial Consultant with Shearson-Lehman Brothers prior
to August 1992. He is a member of the Pension Advisory Committee of the Board of
Directors.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
F. DAVID CLARKE, III 41 1992
</TABLE>
Mr. Clarke has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of Clarke-Hook
Corporation as well as its Vice President and General Counsel since December
1990. He is Chairman of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Executive
and Audit Committees of the Board of Directors.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
PAUL H. GRANZOW 70 1966
</TABLE>
Mr. Granzow has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company since
January 1984. He is a co-trustee of the John Q. Sherman Trust. See "Voting
Securities and Principal Holders Thereof". He is a Senior Vice-President and a
director of The Weston Paper and Manufacturing Co. He is Chairman of the
Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
GRAEME G. KEEPING 56 1996
</TABLE>
Mr. Keeping has been President of Information Resources Management Associates,
a consulting firm, since 1987. He has also been Chairman of the Board of
Directors of F3 Software Corporation since December 1997. He is a member of the
Pension Advisory Committee of the Board of Directors.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
PETER S. REDDING 59 1992
</TABLE>
Mr. Redding has been President & Chief Executive Officer of the Company since
December 1994. Prior to December 1994, he served the Company in various
executive, sales management and sales positions. Mr. Redding is a member of
KeyBank National Association, Dayton Region Advisory Board. He is an ex-officio
member of all committees of the Board of Directors, except for the Audit
Committee.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
DENNIS L. REDIKER 54 1995
</TABLE>
Mr. Rediker has been Chief Executive Officer of English China Clays, plc ("ECC
plc") since 1996. From 1993 until 1996, Mr. Rediker was President and CEO of ECC
International Inc. From 1989 until 1993, Mr. Rediker was President of Mead
Coated Board Division of Mead Corporation Worldwide Operations. Mr. Rediker is
also a Director of ECC plc. He is a member of the Audit and Compensation
Committees of the Board of Directors.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
ANN SCAVULLO 51 1996
</TABLE>
Ms. Scavullo has been Vice President of Strategic Alliances and Joint Ventures
of Avon Products, Inc., since 1995. Avon Products is a global direct seller of
beauty and related products. From 1991 until 1995, she was Vice President of
Investor Relations at Avon Products
2
<PAGE> 5
and from 1986 until 1991 she was Director of Investor Relations at Avon
Products. She is a member of the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
JOHN J. SCHIFF, JR. 54 1982
</TABLE>
Mr. Schiff has been a director of John J. and Thomas R. Schiff & Co., Inc., an
insurance agency since June 1983. Prior to January 1997, he was Chairman of the
Board of Directors of John J. and Thomas R. Schiff & Co., Inc. He is Chairman of
the Board of Directors of The Cincinnati Insurance Company and the Cincinnati
Financial Corporation. He is a director of The Cinergy Corp., Fifth Third
Bankcorp, The Fifth Third Bank, and the Cincinnati Bengals, Inc. He is Chairman
of the Audit and Pension Advisory Committees of the Board of Directors.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
CHARLES F. SHERMAN* 70 1992
</TABLE>
Mr. Sherman has had personal business interests in Ohio and Kentucky for over
five years. He is a member of the Executive and Pension Advisory Committees of
the Board of Directors.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
JOHN Q. SHERMAN, II* 44 1994
</TABLE>
Mr. Sherman has been a manufacturers' representative for A. Rifkin Company,
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, since 1985. A. Rifkin Company is a manufacturer of
specialty security packaging. He is a member of the Compensation Committee of
the Board of Directors.
* Roy W. Begley, Jr. and John Q Sherman, II are first cousins, and are nephews
of Charles F. Sherman.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Board of Directors met six times in 1997. All directors attended at least
75% of Board of Directors and committee meetings of which they were members
during 1997.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMITTEES
The Company's Audit Committee held two meetings in 1997. Mr. Schiff is
Chairman of the Audit Committee. Messrs. Clarke and Rediker are the other
members. The Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing the Company's
corporate accounting, auditing and financial reporting practices. It also
recommends the employment of independent public accountants and reviews the
relationships between the Company and its outside public accountants.
The Compensation Committee held three meetings in 1997. Mr. Clarke is Chairman
of the Compensation Committee. Messrs. Redding, Rediker and John Q. Sherman, II
and Ms. Scavullo are the other members. The Compensation Committee formulates
the Company's executive compensation program and determines executive
compensation and incentives each year. The Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan and
Management Incentive Compensation Plan are also administered by the Compensation
Committee.
The Pension Advisory Committee held three meetings in 1997. Mr. Schiff is
Chairman of the Pension Advisory Committee. Messrs. Begley, Keeping, Redding and
Charles F. Sherman are the other members. The Pension Advisory Committee
formulates and recommends procedures to the Board of Directors to insure that
the Board of Directors' duties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
are satisfied with respect to the Company's employee pension plans.
The Board of Directors established an Executive Committee effective as of
December 10, 1997. The Executive Committee did not hold any meetings in 1997.
Mr. Granzow is Chairman of the Executive Committee. Messrs. Clarke, Redding and
Charles F. Sherman are the other members. The Executive Committee has the
authority to act on behalf of the Board of Directors in the interval between
meetings of the Board of Directors in all matters except for filling vacancies
on the Board of Directors or any committee of the Board of Directors.
The Company does not have a Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors, which performs the function of a Nominating Committee,
will consider nominees recommended by any shareholder if such recommendation is
submitted in writing to the Company by November 27, 1998.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMPENSATION
Non-Officer members of the Board of Directors receive an annual fee of $20,000
for serving on the Board of Directors, and $1,000 for each Board of Director's
meeting attended. They also receive an annual fee of $3,000 for serving on the
Audit and Compensation Committees, and $5,500 for serving on the Pension
Advisory Committee. The chairmen of the Audit and Compensation Committees
receive an additional annual fee of $1,000. The chairman of the Pension Advisory
Committee receives an additional annual fee of $2,000. Each non-officer director
is paid $1,000 for each Executive Committee meeting attended, but receives no
annual fee for serving on the Executive Committee. Officer members of the Board
of Directors do not receive any fees for serving as members of the Board of
Directors or as members of any committees of the Board of Directors.
The annual fee for serving as a member of the Audit and Compensation
Committees will be increased from $3,000 to $5,500 and the additional annual fee
for serving as chairmen of the Audit and Compensation Committees will be
increased from $1,000 to $2,000 effective as of April 1, 1998.
The Company has a supplemental retirement benefit agreement with Paul H.
Granzow which provides that the Company will supplement his retirement benefits
from the Qualified Retirement Plan to the extent necessary to provide him with
annual retirement benefits equal to the greater of $150,000 or 50% of the
average annual compensation paid to him for the five year period immediately
preceding the year of his termination of employment with the Company.
3
<PAGE> 6
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS
OWNERS OF MORE THAN 5% OF THE SHARES OF THE COMPANY
The following are all of the persons known by the Company to own of record or
beneficially on February 20, 1998, five percent or more of the outstanding Class
A Stock and Common Stock of the Company:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND PERCENT OF
ADDRESS OF COMBINED
BENEFICIAL NUMBER PERCENT VOTING
OWNERS CLASS OF SHARES OF CLASS POWER
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PAUL H. GRANZOW, Class 2,516,856 53.27 38.87
JAMES L. SHERMAN A
and CHARLES F. SHERMAN, Common 5,810,508 24.51
TRUSTEES(1)
50 East. Third St.
Dayton, Ohio 45402
WILLIAM P. SHERMAN(2) Class 359,551 7.61
50 East Third St. A
Dayton, Ohio 45402 Common 878,187 3.71 5.65
MARY C. NUSHAWG(2) Class 359,551 7.61
50 East Third St. A
Dayton, Ohio 45402 Common 842,996 3.56 5.58
JAMES L. SHERMAN(2) Class 359,551 7.61
50 East Third St. A
Dayton, Ohio 45402 Common 909,795 3.84 5.72
ROBERT N. SHERMAN(2) Class 359,551 7.61
50 East Third St. A
Dayton, Ohio 45402 Common 878,061 3.70 5.65
CHARLES F. SHERMAN(2) Class 359,551 7.61
50 East Third St. A
Dayton, Ohio 45402 Common 880,073 3.71 5.66
PATRICIA L. BEGLEY(2) Class 359,550 7.61
50 East Third St. A
Dayton, Ohio 45402 The Fifth Common 830,073 3.50 5.55
THIRD BANK,(3) Class 1,081,392 22.89
TRUSTEE A
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Common 2,595,312 10.95 16.91
THE FIFTH THIRD BANK,(4) Class 1,071,624 22.68
TRUSTEE A
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Common 2,571,912 10.85 16.76
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Paul H. Granzow, James L. Sherman and Charles F. Sherman, the Trustees under
the Last Will and Testament of John Q. Sherman, deceased, hold the voting
securities in separate equal trusts for each of the six surviving children
and heirs of the deceased children of John Q. Sherman, deceased, each of
whom is a life beneficiary of his or her respective trust. The Trustees
share voting and investment power for the securities in the trusts. The Will
of John Q. Sherman requires the Trustees to give each beneficiary who is a
child of John Q. Sherman, upon his or her request, a proxy authorizing the
beneficiary to vote the shares held in his or her respective trust.
(2) Each of these individuals is a child of John Q. Sherman, deceased. None of
them own in his or her own name more than five percent of the outstanding
voting securities of the Company; however, each has the right, upon his or
her request, to vote the shares of the Company held in his or her respective
trust created under the Will of John Q. Sherman, deceased.
(3) The trust under the Last Will and Testament of William C. Sherman, deceased,
provides for the payment of net income for life to Helen Margaret Hook
Clarke, niece of William C. Sherman, deceased. The Trustee, The Fifth Third
Bank ("Fifth Third"), has the sole voting and investment power for the
securities in the trust.
(4) The trust created under the Agreement with William C. Sherman dated December
29, 1939, provides for the payment of net income for life to Helen Margaret
Hook Clarke and the children of John Q. Sherman. Fifth Third has the sole
voting and investment power for the securities in the trust.
4
<PAGE> 7
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Each director and executive officer listed on the Summary Compensation Table and
all directors and executive officers as a group own of record or beneficially
Class A Stock and Common Stock of the Company on February 20, 1998, as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PERCENT OF
COMBINED
BENEFICIAL NUMBER PERCENT VOTING
OWNERS CLASS OF SHARES OF CLASS POWER
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
ROY W. BEGLEY, JR. (1) Common 700 0.003 0.001
Director
CRAIG J. BROWN (2)(3) Common 21,077 0.089 0.045
Sr. Vice President --
Administration,
Treasurer & CFO
F. DAVID CLARKE, III (4) Common 6,776 0.029 0.014
Director Class 5,096 0.108 0.0538
A
PETER A. DORSMAN (2) Common 11,952 0.050 0.025
Sr. Vice President &
General Manager --
Document Systems Div.
PAUL H. GRANZOW (2)(5)6) Common 49,559 0.209 0.105
Director & Chairman of
Board
GRAEME G. KEEPING Common 400 0.002 0.001
Director
PETER S. REDDING (2)(7) Common 70,896 0.299 0.150
Director, President &
Chief Executive Officer
DENNIS L. REDIKER Common 500 0.002 0.001
Director
ANN SCAVULLO Common 1,050 0.004 0.002
Director
JOHN J. SCHIFF, JR. Common 36,200 0.153 0.076
Director
CHARLES F. SHERMAN (4)(8) Common 880,996 3.717 1.861
Director Class 359,551 7.610 3.799
A
JOHN Q. SHERMAN, II Common 160 0.001 0.000
Director
JOSEPH V. SCHWAN (2)(9) Common 32,901 0.139 0.070
Sr. Vice President & General
Manager--Document Mgmt. Div.
MICHAEL SPAUL Common 37,937 0.160 0.080
Sr. Vice President & General
Manager--Communicolor Div.
All current executive Common 1,216,212 5.131 2.569
officers and Class 364,647 7.717 3.852
directors as a group (2) A
(22 persons)
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Roy W. Begley, Jr. and his wife, Margaret Begley, own as joint tenants 700
shares of Common Stock of the Company. Mrs. Begley owns 130 shares of Common
Stock of the Company as to which Mr. Begley disclaims beneficial ownership.
Mrs. Begley is also the trustee of 200 shares of Common Stock of the Company
for the benefit of their children, Lauren A. Begley and Kathleen A. Begley,
as to which Mr. Begley disclaims beneficial ownership.
(2) Includes the following options to purchase Common Stock of the Company
exercisable before April 23, 1998: Craig J. Brown -- 11,000 shares; Peter A.
Dorsman -- 7,200 shares; Paul H. Granzow -- 13,000 shares; Peter S.
Redding -- 31,000 shares; Joseph V. Schwan -- 11,200 shares; Michael
Spaul -- 6,250 shares; and all executive officers and directors as a
group -- 98,370 shares.
(3) Todd J. Brown, a child of Craig J. Brown, owns 50 shares of Common Stock of
the Company. Mr. Brown disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares of
Common Stock.
(4) F. David Clarke, III and his wife, Loretta M. Clarke, own as joint tenants
6,776 shares of Common Stock of the Company.
(5) Paul H. Granzow, and Charles F. Sherman (along with James L. Sherman) are
trustees under the Last Will and Testament of John Q. Sherman. As such, the
Trustees have the power to vote shares held by the trusts in the event that
the beneficiaries of the trusts do not desire to exercise their right to
vote the shares. The John Q. Sherman Trust owns 2,516,856 shares of Class A
Stock and 5,810,508 shares of Common Stock which in the aggregate represents
38.65% of the outstanding votes of the Company. The Trustees share the
investment power
5
<PAGE> 8
with respect to Class A and Common Stock held by the trusts. The
beneficiaries of the trusts do not have the investment power with respect to
the securities in the trusts.
(6) Lana T. Granzow, the wife of Mr. Granzow, owns 1,300 shares of Common Stock
of the Company. Mr. Granzow disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares
of Common Stock.
(7) Lorelei L. Redding, the wife of Peter S. Redding, owns 250 shares of Common
Stock of the Company. Mr. Redding disclaims beneficial ownership of these
shares of Common Stock.
(8) Charles F. Sherman is a beneficiary of the John Q. Sherman Trust and as such
has the right to vote 359,551 shares of Class A Stock and 830,073 shares of
Common Stock of the Company. The Trustees have the investment power with
respect to these shares.
(9) Joseph V. Schwan and his wife, Charlann Schwan, own as joint tenants 650
shares of Common Stock of the Company.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires directors,
executive officers and holders of 10% or more of the Company's Common Stock to
report certain transactions in the Common Stock to the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The following persons who were executive officers in 1997 filed
reports of stock options granted to them in 1997 after the due date of February
11, 1998: Craig J. Brown, Brian W. Calabro, H. Frank Coffman, James H. DeYoung,
Peter A. Dorsman, Paul H. Granzow, Peter S. Redding, John E. Scarpelli, Joseph
V. Schwan, Harry A. Seifert and Michael Spaul.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL COMPENSATION ALL OTHER
--------------------- COMPENSATION
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS (1) (2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PETER S. REDDING 1997 $459,844 $1,083,430 $950
President & Chief 1996 344,531 875,488 950
Executive Officer 1995 315,000 837,507 924
JOSEPH V. SCHWAN 1997 276,250 587,530 950
Executive Vice President & 1996 202,750 515,208 950
Chief Operating Officer 1995 191,500 509,151 924
CRAIG J. BROWN 1997 205,833 400,678 950
Sr. Vice President 1996 150,500 382,435 950
Administration, Treasurer 1995 130,000 345,638 924
& Chief Financial Officer
MICHAEL SPAUL 1997 166,094 305,046 950
Sr. Vice President & 1996 155,031 393,949 950
General Manager -- 1995 148,000 393,496 924
COMMUNICOLOR
PETER A. DORSMAN 1997 161,675 297,800 950
Sr. Vice President & 1996 150,775 383,134 950
General Manager -- 1995 n/a n/a n/a
Document Systems Division
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) Includes the cash and stock incentives earned by the officers pursuant to
the Key Employees Incentive Plan and Stock Incentive Plan during 1995 and 1996,
and the Management Incentive Compensation Plan during 1997.
(2) Includes the Company's matching contributions under The Standard Register
Employees Savings Plan which provides that the Company may make an annual
matching contribution for each participant in an amount up to 10% of each
participant's contribution; provided, however, the Company's matching
contribution for each participant shall in no event exceed .6% of the
participant's eligible compensation. Employee contributions to the Savings Plan
are fully vested. The Company's matching contribution vests after five years of
Company service.
NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Information concerning each of the Executive Officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table who are not nominees for election as directors is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SERVED AS
NAME AGE OFFICER SINCE
---- --- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
JOSEPH V. SCHWAN 61 1991
</TABLE>
Mr. Schwan has been Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since
March 1997. From March 1995 until March 1997, he was Senior Vice President and
General Manager -- Document Management Division. From August 1991 until March
1995, he was Vice President -- Forms Sales & Marketing. From January 1990 until
August 1991, Mr. Schwan was Vice President and Chief Operating
6
<PAGE> 9
Officer of Rittenhouse Paper. Mr. Schwan is a member of the Board of Directors
of Hach Company in Loveland, Colorado, a manufacturer of water testing
instrumentation.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
CRAIG J. BROWN 48 1987
</TABLE>
Mr. Brown has been Senior Vice President -- Administration, Treasurer and
Chief Financial Officer since March 1995. From January 1993 until March 1995, he
was Vice President -- Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to
January 1993, he served the Company in various executive and financial
positions.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
MICHAEL SPAUL 50 1991
</TABLE>
Mr. Spaul has been Senior Vice President and General Manager -- COMMUNICOLOR
Division since March 1995. From April 1990 to March 1995, he was Vice President
and General Manager -- COMMUNICOLOR Division.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
PETER A. DORSMAN 42 1996
</TABLE>
Mr. Dorsman has been Senior Vice President and General Manager -- Document
Systems Division since January 1996. From October 1977 until January 1996, Mr.
Dorsman served in a number of senior marketing, strategic planning and sales
management positions with NCR Corporation.
RETIREMENT PLANS
The Stanreco Retirement Plan provides for retirement benefits based on the
average compensation for the highest five years of total plan participation and
is funded, in part, by contributions by the participants.
The Standard Register Company Non-Qualified Retirement Plan supplements the
Stanreco Plan. It provides retirement benefits which would have been payable
from the Stanreco Plan but for the limits imposed by the Tax Reform Act of 1986.
The Company does not currently fund or contribute to the NonQualified Plan but
does accrue for projected benefit expense annually.
The Standard Register Company Officers' Supplemental Non-Qualified Plan pays
retirement benefits in addition to the Stanreco Plan and Non-Qualified Plan
based on the number of years of credited service as an officer in excess of five
years.
RETIREMENT PLAN TABLES 1, 2 AND 3
Table 1 shows the estimated annual retirement benefits payable from the
Stanreco Plan and the NonQualified Plan to the Company's employees in specified
remuneration and years of service. Part of the estimated annual benefits include
the return of and earnings on contributions made by the employees. Table 2 shows
the estimated annual retirement benefits payable from the Supplemental Non-
Qualified Plan to officers based on remuneration and years of officer service
(in excess of five years). An officer's annual retirement benefit is equal to
the lesser of the sum of the benefits from Tables 1 and 2 or 50% of the average
of the highest five years of compensation.
TABLE 1
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AVERAGE OF FIVE YEARS OF CREDITED SERVICE
HIGHEST YEARS OF -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMPENSATION 1 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
------------------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$ 200,000 $ 2,600 $13,000 $ 26,000 $ 39,000 $ 52,000 $ 65,000 $ 78,000 $ 91,000
300,000 3,900 19,500 39,000 58,500 78,000 97,500 117,000 136,000
400,000 5,200 26,000 52,000 78,000 104,000 130,000 156,000 182,000
500,000 6,500 32,500 65,000 97,500 130,000 162,500 195,000 227,500
600,000 7,800 39,000 78,000 117,000 156,000 195,000 234,000 273,000
700,000 9,100 45,500 91,000 136,500 182,000 227,500 273,000 318,500
800,000 10,400 52,000 104,000 156,000 208,000 260,000 312,000 364,000
900,000 11,700 58,500 117,000 175,000 234,000 242,500 351,000 409,500
1,000,000 13,000 65,000 130,000 195,000 260,000 325,000 390,000 455,000
</TABLE>
7
<PAGE> 10
TABLE 2
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AVERAGE OF FIVE YEARS OF OFFICER SERVICE IN EXCESS OF FIVE
HIGHEST YEARS OF --------------------------------------------
COMPENSATION 1 5 10 15
------------------- -------- --------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
200,000 $ 6,100 $ 30,500 $ 61,000 $ 67,100
300,000 9,150 45,750 91,500 100,650
400,000 12,200 61,000 122,000 134,200
500,000 15,250 76,250 152,500 167,750
600,000 18,300 91,500 183,000 201,300
700,000 21,350 106,750 213,500 320,250
800,000 24,400 122,000 244,000 366,000
900,000 27,450 137,250 274,500 411,750
1,000,000 30,500 152,500 305,000 457,500
</TABLE>
Estimated annual benefits are based upon the assumption that the employee
remains in the service of the Company until age 62, at which age the employee
qualifies for the maximum retirement benefit. Retirement prior to age 62 will
result in actuarially reduced benefits. The estimated annual benefits are
taxable income but are not subject to any deduction for social security
benefits. No additional benefit can be earned from the Officer Supplemental
Non-Qualified Plan after the sixteenth year of officer service.
The table below shows the average of the highest five years of total
compensation and the years of service and officer service for each person listed
in the Summary Compensation Table.
TABLE 3
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AVERAGE OF
THE HIGHEST FIVE YEARS OF
YEARS OF CREDITED YEARS OF
NAME TOTAL COMPENSATION SERVICE OFFICER
---- ------------------ -------- SERVICE
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Peter S. Redding $902,416 30 16
Joseph V. Schwan 559,462 5 6
Michael Spaul 442,788 14 7
Craig J. Brown 403,044 23 11
Peter A. Dorsman 347,792 1 2
</TABLE>
STOCK OPTION TABLES
Options to purchase Common Stock of the Company for each executive officer
listed in the Summary Compensation Table are as follows:
OPTION GRANTS DURING 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS VALUE
--------------------------------------------------------------- AT ASSUMED ANNUAL RATES
NUMBER OF OF STOCK PRICE
SHARES APPRECIATION
UNDERLYING % OF TOTAL OPTIONS FOR OPTION TERM
OPTIONS GRANTED TO EMPLOYEES EXERCISE PRICE EXPIRATION -----------------------
NAME GRANTED IN 1997 (PER SHARE) DATE 5% 10%
---- ---------- -------------------- -------------- ---------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Peter S. Redding 15,000 5.4% $35.3125 12/28/07 $331,150 $844,200
Joseph V. Schwan 6,000 2.2% 35.3125 12/28/07 133,260 337,680
Craig J. Brown 5,000 1.8% 35.3125 12/28/07 111,050 281,400
Peter A. Dorsman 5,000 1.8% 35.3125 12/28/07 111,050 281,400
Michael Spaul 4,000 1.4% 35.3125 12/28/07 88,840 225,120
</TABLE>
Options to purchase Common Stock of the Company exercised in 1997 for each
executive officer listed in the Summary Compensation Table are as follows:
8
<PAGE> 11
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN 1997
AND YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SHARES VALUE OF
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY
SHARES ACQUIRED VALUE OPTIONS AT 12/31/97 OPTIONS AT 12/31/97
NAME ON EXERCISE REALIZED EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE
---- --------------- -------- ------------------------- -------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Peter S. Redding 0 0 31,000/69,000 $ 434,063/673,125
Joseph V. Schwan 0 0 11,250/25,800 155,400/241,913
Craig J. Brown 0 0 11,000/24,000 154,813/239,563
Peter A. Dorsman 0 0 7,200/18,800 94,650/150,788
Michael Spaul 4,950 72,393 6,250/23,800 80,220/241,913
</TABLE>
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Compensation Committee has the overall responsibility for determining
specific compensation levels for executive officers and bonuses for executive
officers and certain employees subject to approval of the Board of Directors.
The Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan and Management Incentive Compensation Plan
are administered by the Compensation Committee.
The Compensation Committee's goal is to establish an executive compensation
program that enhances the Company's overall fundamental objective of providing
value for its shareholders. The Compensation Committee believes that the
interests of management and shareholders can be more closely allied by providing
executives with competitive levels of compensation that will enable the Company
to attract and retain executives with the highest qualifications and by tying
executive pay to overall corporation performance. The compensation system
developed over the years by the Company has been designed so that a relatively
high percentage of all compensation is incentive-based. The Stock Option Plan is
designed to base a portion of the executives' compensation upon the market
performance of the Company's stock. The Incentive Plan, which was approved by
the shareholders on April 16, 1997 and which replaced the Key Employees
Incentive Plan and Stock Incentive Plan, is designed to provide a significant
and flexible economic opportunity to executive officers and key employees of the
Company as a reflection of their individual and group contributions to the
success of the Company.
All executive compensation was fully deductible for federal income tax
purposes for 1997 either because the individual compensation amounts were less
than $1 million or because any excess was incentive-based.
BASE COMPENSATION
In determining its recommendations to the Board of Directors for executive
officer salaries for 1997, the Compensation Committee assigned each executive
position, including the President and Chief Executive Officer position, a salary
range that defined a minimum, midpoint and maximum salary commensurate with the
responsibilities of the job, as determined by compensation guidelines and
competitive information provided to the Compensation Committee by an independent
compensation consultant. The ranges were adjusted to reflect changes in the
competitive business climate from the prior year. Executive officer salaries
were targeted at the midpoint of the range for that position. Factors that
determined the salary within the range included objective performance and level
of experience. Each executive officer's performance was judged on both a
subjective and an objective basis, the latter measured against specific,
personal objectives agreed upon at the outset of the year between the executive
and the President and Chief Executive Officer. Merit salary increases were
awarded on the basis of each executive officer's performance rating.
Mr. Redding's salary as President and Chief Executive Officer was determined
in the same manner as all other executive officers of the Company, except that
his performance was judged on a subjective basis by the Board of Directors. His
salary was not determined by specific performance measures.
The Board of Directors reviewed and adopted the recommendations of the
Compensation Committee and implemented the salary levels recommended. This
process resulted in the base salaries as disclosed in the Summary Compensation
Table for each executive named in the Summary Compensation Table.
INCENTIVE COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee administers the Incentive Plan which became
effective January 1, 1997. Fourteen employees were covered by the Incentive Plan
in 1997. The Committee selects the participants, determines the amount and terms
of each incentive award and decides whether the award shall be in cash, Common
Stock or a combination of the two.
Incentive awards to the Incentive Plan participants are subject to objective
performance goals established by the Compensation Committee. These goals are
based upon one or more of the following: earnings per share, market share, stock
price, sales, reduction of cost, net operating income, cash flow, retained
earnings, return on capital, return on equity, return on assets, results of
customer satisfaction surveys, aggregate product price and other product price
measures, and operating and maintenance cost management. The Compensation
Committee certifies to the Board of Directors each year the extent to which the
performance objectives have been achieved.
The Compensation Committee adopted performance goals and other criteria for
awarding incentive compensation under the Incentive Plan for 1997. The Incentive
Plan includes both a short term and a long term incentive compensation
component.
For 1997, the short term compensation component included a compensation pool
in an amount equal to 5% of the amount by which 1997 net profits exceeded a 7%
return on capital up to, but not including any excess over, a 12% return on
capital, plus 8% of the amount by
9
<PAGE> 12
which 1997 net profits exceed a 12% return on capital; provided, however, each
participant's short term incentive compensation for 1997 cannot exceed two times
each participant's established compensation targets. The participants'
compensation targets range from 40% to 75% of the participants' base salaries.
These objectives were attained in 1997 and the compensation paid was distributed
to the Incentive Plan participants in proportion to short term incentive
compensation targets assigned to the participants by the Compensation Committee.
The long term incentive compensation component will eventually be based upon a
three year rolling average return on capital in excess of the cost of capital.
Since 1997 was the first year in which the Incentive Plan was in effect, the
long term component for 1997 was based upon return on capital for 1997 only; in
1998, the long term component will be based upon the average return on capital
in 1997 and 1998; and in 1999 and thereafter, the long term component will be
based upon a three year average return on capital. For 1997, long term incentive
compensation was payable only if 1997 net profits equaled or exceeded a 12%
return on capital; provided, however, each participant's long term incentive
compensation for 1997 cannot exceed exceed two times each participant's
established compensation targets. The participants' compensation targets range
from 45% to 100% of the participants' base salaries. This objective was attained
in 1997 and long term incentive compensation was payable to the Incentive Plan
participants based upon the long term incentive compensation targets which were
assigned to the participants by the Committee and the 1997 performance goals and
payout matrix approved by the Committee.
All of the executives named in the Summary Compensation Table received
incentive awards under the Incentive Plan as disclosed in the Summary
Compensation Table.
STOCK OPTIONS
The Compensation Committee also administers the Stock Option Plan which became
effective October 19, 1995. One hundred and nineteen employees were covered by
the Stock Option Plan in 1997. The Stock Option Plan represents another
performance-based component of the Company's compensation program. The object of
the Stock Option Plan is to provide an incentive to the Company's management to
increase the long term value of the Company's Common Stock by granting stock
options to reward past performance and motivate future performance to the
executive officers and certain key employees of the Company. The Stock Option
Plan also encourages participants to maintain a long term stock ownership
position in the Company in order that their interests are allied with those of
the Company's shareholders. The Board of Directors has recommended that the
shareholders approve an amendment to the Stock Option Plan to increase from
2,000,000 to 3,000,000 the aggregate number of shares of the Company's Common
Stock which may be subject to stock options under the Stock Option Plan. The
proposed amendment is described in Proposal 3 in this Proxy Statement.
The Compensation Committee determines the eligible employees, the timing of
option grants, the numbers of shares granted, vesting schedules, option prices
and duration and other terms of the stock options. All of the executives named
in the Summary Compensation Table were granted stock options under the Stock
Option Plan as disclosed in the Stock Option Tables.
THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE:
F. DAVID CLARKE, III (Chairman)
DENNIS L. REDIKER
ANN SCAVULLO
JOHN Q. SHERMAN, II
10
<PAGE> 13
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following Performance Graph presents a comparison of the yearly percentage
change in the Company's cumulative total shareholder return on its Common Stock
from December 31, 1992 to December 31, 1997 (as measured by dividing (i) the sum
of (a) the cumulative amount of dividends, assuming dividend reinvestment during
the periods presented, and (b) the difference between the Company's share price
at the end and beginning of the periods presented by (ii) the share price at the
beginning of the periods presented) with the Standard & Poor's 400 Midcap Index,
Standard & Poor's 500 Index and Peer Group Index. The Peer Group consists of
Moore Corporation, Ltd., The Reynolds & Reynolds Company, Wallace Computer
Sciences, Inc., and the Company.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Measurement Period Standard S&P 400
(Fiscal Year Covered) Register MIDCAP S&P 500 Index Peer Group
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1992 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
1993 1.19 1.14 1.10 1.35
1994 1.04 1.10 1.12 1.41
1995 1.24 1.44 1.53 2.06
1996 2.06 1.72 1.89 2.87
1997 2.26 2.24 2.47 2.58
</TABLE>
PROPOSAL 3: APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO THE STOCK OPTION PLAN TO INCREASE THE
AVAILABLE STOCK OPTION SHARES
The Board of Directors is proposing to amend the 1995 Stock Option Plan to
increase the number of shares of Common Stock available for option grants from
2,000,000 to 3,000,000. The Plan was approved at the 1996 Annual Shareholders'
Meeting.
The Plan provides that options may be granted either as incentive stock
options or as nonqualified stock options. Options may be granted for varying
periods of from one to ten years. Options do not become exercisable until one
year from the date of grant. Thereafter, the right to exercise options vests at
a schedule determined at the time of grant, generally at a rate of 25% per year,
cumulative to the extent not exercised in prior periods.
There are presently options outstanding and unexercised for the purchase of
1,658,420 shares under this Plan and 301,000 shares are available for the grant
of additional options. Under these circumstances, the Board believes it
appropriate for the Plan to be increased so as to make additional options
available for grants in furtherance of the purposes of the Plan.
The exercise price for each option is fixed by the Compensation Committee.
However, the exercise price for incentive stock options must be at least 100% of
the last sale price on the exchange on which the stock is trading on the last
trading day prior to the date of grant with a further exception that incentive
options granted to persons owning more than 10% of the outstanding voting
securities of the Company must be at least 110% of such sale price. The last
sale price of the Company's Common Stock on March 10, 1998 was $32.75 per share.
In order to increase the available shares of Common Stock under the Plan, the
Board of Directors recommends that Section 4.1 of the Plan which presently
reads:
4.1 The Shares that may be made subject to Options granted under the
Plan shall not exceed 2,000,000 Shares in the aggregate. Except as provided
in Section 4.2, upon lapse or termination of any Option for any reason
without being completely exercised, the Shares which were subject to such
Option may again be subject to other options.
be amended to read:
4.1 The Shares that may be made subject to Options granted under the
Plan shall not exceed 3,000,000 Shares in the aggregate. Except as provided
in Section 4.2, upon lapse or termination of any Option for any reason
without being completely exercised, the Shares which were subject to such
Option may again be subject to other options.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast upon this proposal is
required for approval.
11
<PAGE> 14
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF
THE AMENDMENT TO SECTION 4.1 OF THE STOCK OPTION PLAN.
PROPOSAL 4: SELECTION OF AUDITORS
Action will be taken by the shareholders with respect to the selection of
auditors for the Company to serve for 1998. The Board of Directors recommends
that the firm of Battelle & Battelle, LLP, Certified Public Accountants, who
served as auditors last year, be retained.
A representative of Battelle & Battelle is expected to be present at the
Annual Meeting. This representative will have an opportunity to make a statement
to the shareholders and will be available to respond to appropriate questions
from shareholders.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast is required to retain
Battelle & Battelle as the Company auditors for the year 1998.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE SELECTION
AND RETENTION OF BATTELLE & BATTELLE, CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS, AS THE
COMPANY'S AUDITORS FOR THE YEAR 1998.
The Board of Directors does not intend to present any other proposals for
action by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting and has not been informed that
any other person or persons intend to present any other proposal for action by
shareholders at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters come before the Annual
Meeting, the person voting the proxies will vote the shares they are authorized
to vote on the proposals or matters in their best judgment.
OTHER MATTERS
SOLICITATION EXPENSES
The expenses soliciting proxies and the expenses of brokers, custodians,
nominees or fiduciaries incurred in forwarding the documents to their principals
or beneficiaries will be paid by the Company.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 1999 ANNUAL MEETING
Any proposal of a shareholder intended for inclusion in the Company's Proxy
Statement and proxy for the 1999 Annual Meeting of the Company, to be held on
April 21, 1999, must be received by the Secretary of the Company on or before
November 27, 1998, at its principal executive offices at 600 Albany Street,
Dayton, Ohio 45408.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
H. FRANK COFFMAN
Secretary
Dayton, Ohio
12
<PAGE> 15
[X] PLEASE MARK VOTES
AS IN THIS EXAMPLE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark box at right if an address change or comment
has been noted on reverse side of this card. [ ]
RECORD DATE SHARES:
Please be sure to sign and date this Proxy. Date
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholder sign here Co-owner sign here
DETACH CARD
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
1. Proposal to fix and determine the number [ ] [ ] [ ]
of Directors to be ten.
2. Election of Directors. FOR ALL WITH- FOR ALL
A vote FOR includes discretionary authority NOMINEES HOLD EXCEPT
(I) to cumulate votes selectively among the [ ] [ ] [ ]
nominees and (II) to vote for a substitute
nominee if any of the nominees listed becomes
unable or unwilling to serve.
ROY W. BEGLEY, JR. DENNIS L. REDIKER
F. DAVID CLARKE, III ANN SCAVULLO
PAUL H. GRANZOW JOHN J. SCHIFF, JR.
GRAEME G. KEEPING CHARLES F. SHERMAN
PETER S. REDDING JOHN Q. SHERMAN, II
NOTE: If you do not wish your shares voted "For" a particular nominee, mark
the "For All Except" box and strike a line through the name(s) of
the nominee(s). Your shares will be voted for the remaining nominee(s).
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
3. Proposal to approve Amendment to The Standard [ ] [ ] [ ]
Register Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan to
increase available stock option shares.
4. Proposal to approve Battelle & Battelle, [ ] [ ] [ ]
Certified Public Accountants, as the
independent public accountants of the Company.
5. According to their best judgment on any and all matters as may properly come
before the meeting or any adjournments thereof. The Board of Directors does
not know of any matters to be brought before the Annual Meeting other than
those described above.
DETACH CARD
<PAGE> 16
THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY
PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS - APRIL 15, 1998
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned, a shareholder of The Standard Register Company (the "Company")
hereby appoints PETER S. REDDING, PAUL H. GRANZOW and CHARLES F. SHERMAN
("Appointed Proxies"), each with full power to substitute or act alone, to vote,
cumulatively or otherwise (the action of a majority of those present to
control), with respect to all shares of stock of the undersigned in the Company
at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company ("Annual Meeting") to be
held April 15, 1998, and any adjournments thereof, upon the matters listed on
the reverse side hereof.
THE APPOINTED PROXIES WILL VOTE FOR EACH OF THE MATTERS SET FORTH ON THE
REVERSE SIDE, WHICH ARE MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT, UNLESS A
CONTRARY CHOICE IS SPECIFIED ON THE REVERSE SIDE, IN WHICH CASE THE APPOINTED
PROXIES WILL VOTE OR WITHHOLD IN ACCORDANCE WITH INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE VOTE, DATE AND SIGN ON REVERSE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on the reverse side hereof. Joint
owners should each sign personally. Trustees and other fiduciaries should
indicate the capacity in which they sign, and where more than one name appears,
a majority must sign. If a corporation, this signature should be that of an
authorized officer who should state his or her title.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HAS YOUR ADDRESS CHANGED? DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS?
- ------------------------- -------------------------
- ------------------------- -------------------------
- ------------------------- -------------------------
