BANTA CORP
DEF 14A, 2000-03-17
COMMERCIAL PRINTING
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                            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:

[ ]  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 ss. 240.14a-11(c) or ss. 240.14a-12

                                Banta Corporation
                  ---------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


                  --------------------------------------------
     (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>

                                BANTA CORPORATION
                                 225 Main Street
                            Menasha, Wisconsin 54952

                    Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
                            To Be Held April 25, 2000

To the Shareholders of Banta Corporation:

          You are hereby  notified that the annual  meeting of  shareholders  of
Banta  Corporation  will be held at the Park Plaza Paper Valley Hotel,  333 West
College Avenue,  Appleton,  Wisconsin, on Tuesday, April 25, 2000, at 2:00 p.m.,
Central Time, for the following purposes:

          1.   To elect nine directors to serve for the ensuing year.

          2.   To transact  such other  business as may properly come before the
               meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

          The Board of  Directors  has fixed the close of  business  on March 3,
2000 as the record date for the  determination of the  shareholders  entitled to
notice of and to vote at the annual meeting.

          We hope that you will be able to attend the meeting in person,  but if
you are  unable  to do so,  please  fill in,  sign and  promptly  mail  back the
enclosed proxy form, using the return envelope provided. If, for any reason, you
should subsequently  change your plans, you may, of course,  revoke the proxy at
any time before it is actually voted.

                                        By Order of the Board of Directors
                                        BANTA CORPORATION


                                        /s/ Ronald D. Kneezel
                                        Ronald D. Kneezel
                                        Secretary


Menasha, Wisconsin
March 17, 2000

<PAGE>

                                BANTA CORPORATION
                                 225 Main Street
                            Menasha, Wisconsin 54952

                                 PROXY STATEMENT
                                       FOR
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                            To Be Held April 25, 2000

          This proxy  statement is being  furnished to shareholders by the Board
of Directors (the "Board") of Banta Corporation (the "Company"), beginning on or
about March 17, 2000, in connection  with a solicitation of proxies by the Board
for use at the annual meeting of shareholders  to be held on Tuesday,  April 25,
2000, at 2:00 p.m., Central Time, at the Park Plaza Paper Valley Hotel, 333 West
College Avenue,  Appleton,  Wisconsin,  and all  adjournments  or  postponements
thereof  (the  "Annual  Meeting"),  for the  purposes  set forth in the attached
Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

          Execution of a proxy given in response to this  solicitation  will not
affect a shareholder's right to attend the Annual Meeting and to vote in person.
Presence at the Annual Meeting of a shareholder  who has signed a proxy does not
in itself revoke a proxy.  Any  shareholder  giving a proxy may revoke it at any
time before it is voted by giving notice thereof to the Company in writing or in
open  meeting,  by  attending  the Annual  Meeting  and voting in person,  or by
delivering a proxy bearing a later date.

          A proxy,  in the  enclosed  form,  which is  properly  executed,  duly
returned to the Company and not  revoked  will be voted in  accordance  with the
instructions  contained therein. The shares represented by executed but unmarked
proxies will be voted FOR the nine persons  nominated  for election as directors
referred to herein,  and on such other  business or matters  which may  properly
come  before the Annual  Meeting in  accordance  with the best  judgment  of the
persons named as proxies in the enclosed form of proxy.  Other than the election
of  directors,  the Board has no knowledge  of any matters to be  presented  for
action by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting.

          Only holders of record of the Company's  common stock,  $.10 par value
(the "Common Stock"),  at the close of business on March 3, 2000 are entitled to
notice of and to vote at the Annual  Meeting.  On that  date,  the  Company  had
outstanding  and entitled to vote  25,398,503  shares of Common  Stock,  each of
which is entitled to one vote per share.

                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

          At the Annual Meeting,  the shareholders  will elect nine directors of
the Company,  each to hold office until the 2001 annual meeting of  shareholders
and until his or her  successor  is duly  elected and has  qualified.  Set forth
below are the Board's  nominees to serve as  directors  of the  Company.  Unless
shareholders  otherwise specify,  the shares represented by the proxies received
will be voted in favor of the election as directors of the nine persons named as
nominees herein. The Board has no reason to believe that any of the


<PAGE>

listed  nominees  will be unable or unwilling to serve as a director if elected.
However,  in the event that any nominee  should be unable or unwilling to serve,
the shares  represented  by proxies  received will be voted for another  nominee
selected by the Board.

          The  following  sets forth certain  information,  as of March 3, 2000,
about each of the Board nominees for election at the Annual  Meeting.  Except as
otherwise  noted,  each  nominee  has  engaged in the  principal  occupation  or
employment and has held the offices shown for more than the past five years.

                             Director   Principal Occupation; Office, if any,
Name                    Age  Since      Held in the Company; Other Directorships
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jameson A. Baxter       56   1991       President  of  Baxter  Associates,  Inc.
                                        (management  and financial  consulting);
                                        Trustee of The Putnam Funds; Director of
                                        Ryerson Tull, Inc.

Donald D. Belcher       61   1994       Chairman since May 1, 1995 and President
                                        and  Chief   Executive   Officer   since
                                        January   1,   1995   of  the   Company;
                                        President and Chief Operating Officer of
                                        the Company  from  September  1, 1994 to
                                        January  1,  1995;   Senior  Group  Vice
                                        President of Avery Dennison  Corporation
                                        (diversified manufacturing company) from
                                        1990 until joining the Company; Director
                                        of Hunt Corporation.

John F. Bergstrom       53   1998       Chairman and Chief Executive  Officer of
                                        Bergstrom Corporation  (automobile sales
                                        and service, credit life insurance,  and
                                        automotive  fleet leasing);  Director of
                                        Kimberly-Clark   Corporation,    Midwest
                                        Express Holdings,  Inc., Universal Foods
                                        Corporation    and   Wisconsin    Energy
                                        Corporation.

Henry T. DeNero         53   1996       Chief  Executive  Officer of  HomeSpace,
                                        Inc.  (homeowner  services)  since 1999;
                                        Executive  Vice  President of First Data
                                        Corporation (an  information  processing
                                        and computer services company) from 1995
                                        to 1998;  Vice Chairman of Dayton Hudson
                                        Corporation  (retailing)  from  1992  to
                                        1994.

Richard L. Gunderson    66   1995       Former   Chairman  and  Chief  Executive
                                        Officer of Aid Association for Lutherans
                                        (fraternal   benefit  society  providing
                                        insurance and financial services).

Gerald A. Henseler      59   1982       Executive   Vice   President  and  Chief
                                        Financial Officer of the Company.


                                      -2-
<PAGE>

                             Director   Principal Occupation; Office, if any,
Name                    Age  Since      Held in the Company; Other Directorships
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bernard S. Kubale       71   1973       Retired  partner,  law  firm of  Foley &
                                        Lardner, Milwaukee,  Wisconsin; Director
                                        of  Consolidated  Papers,  Inc.  Foley &
                                        Lardner  has  served  as  outside  legal
                                        counsel to the Company for many years.

Ray C. Richelsen        58   1998       Executive Vice President-Transportation,
                                        Graphics   and  Safety   Markets  of  3M
                                        Company (a manufacturer of optical films
                                        and specialty  materials)  since January
                                        1998; Group Vice President of 3M Company
                                        prior thereto.

Michael J. Winkler      54   1996       Senior Vice  President and Group General
                                        Manager of Compaq  Computer  Corporation
                                        (computer  services)  since  1995;  Vice
                                        President and General Manager of Toshiba
                                        American  Information  Systems (computer
                                        services) prior thereto.

          Directors  are  elected by a plurality  of the votes cast  (assuming a
quorum is  present).  An  abstention  from  voting will be  tabulated  as a vote
withheld on the election, and will be included in computing the number of shares
present for purposes of  determining  the presence of a quorum,  but will not be
considered in determining  whether each of the nominees has received a plurality
of the votes cast at the Annual  Meeting.  A broker or  nominee  holding  shares
registered in its name, or the name of its nominee, which are beneficially owned
by another  person and for which it has not received  instructions  as to voting
from the beneficial  owner,  has the  discretion to vote the beneficial  owner's
shares with respect to the election of directors.

          THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THE FOREGOING  NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AS DIRECTORS
AND URGES EACH  SHAREHOLDER  TO VOTE "FOR" ALL NOMINEES.  SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
REPRESENTED BY EXECUTED BUT UNMARKED PROXIES WILL BE VOTED "FOR" ALL NOMINEES.



                                      -3-
<PAGE>

                               BOARD OF DIRECTORS

General

          The Board held eight meetings in 1999. Each director attended at least
75% of the  aggregate  of (a) the total  number of meetings of the Board and (b)
the total number of meetings  held by all  committees  of the Board on which the
director served during 1999, other than Messrs. Richelsen and Winkler.

          The Company has Audit,  Compensation,  and  Nominating  and  Corporate
Governance  Committees  of the Board.  The Audit  Committee  consists of Messrs.
Gunderson (Chairperson), Kubale, Richelsen and George T. Brophy. Mr. Brophy will
retire as a director of the Company effective at the time of the Annual Meeting.
The principal functions performed by the Audit Committee,  which met three times
in 1999, are to meet with the Company's  independent  public  accountants before
the annual audit to review  procedures and the scope of the audit; to review the
results of the audit;  to review the financial  control  mechanisms  used by the
Company and the adequacy of the Company's accounting and financial controls; and
to annually  recommend to the Board a firm of independent  public accountants to
serve as the Company's  auditors.  The  Compensation  Committee  consists of Ms.
Baxter (Chairperson) and Messrs.  Bergstrom,  Gunderson,  Richelsen and Winkler.
The principal functions of the Compensation Committee,  which met three times in
1999, are to administer the Company's deferred and incentive  compensation plans
(including the Company's equity incentive  plans);  to annually  evaluate salary
grades and ranges;  to  establish  guidelines  concerning  average  compensation
increases; and to specifically establish compensation of all officers, directors
and subsidiary or division  presidents.  The Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee  consists of Ms.  Baxter and Messrs.  Belcher,  DeNero  (Chairperson),
Gunderson and Kubale.  The principal  functions of the  Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee, which met one time in 1999, are to recommend persons to be
selected  by the Board as  nominees  for  election as  directors;  to  recommend
persons to be elected  to fill any  vacancies  on the  Board;  to  consider  and
recommend  to the Board  qualifications  for the office of director and policies
concerning the term of office of directors and the composition of the Board; and
to consider  and  recommend  to the Board other  actions  relating to  corporate
governance.  The  Nominating  and Corporate  Governance  Committee will consider
persons  recommended by shareholders  to become  nominees.  Recommendations  for
consideration  by the Nominating and Corporate  Governance  Committee  should be
sent to the  Secretary  of the  Company in  writing  together  with  appropriate
biographical information concerning each proposed nominee. The Company's By-laws
also set  forth  certain  requirements  for  shareholders  wishing  to  directly
nominate director candidates for consideration by the shareholders. With respect
to an election of directors to be held at an annual meeting, a shareholder must,
among other things,  give written  notice of an intent to make such a nomination
to the Secretary of the Company in advance of the meeting in compliance with the
terms and within the time period specified in the By-laws.


                                      -4-
<PAGE>

Director Compensation

          Annual  Retainer and Meeting Fees.  For fiscal 1999,  directors of the
Company,  other than full time  employees  and Mr.  Kubale,  received  an annual
retainer  fee of  $24,000  ($12,000  of which  was  payable  in shares of Common
Stock). In addition, such directors in fiscal 1999 were paid a fee of $1,000 for
every  Board  meeting  they  attended  and  $1,000  ($1,250  for  the  committee
chairperson) for every committee meeting they attended.  A director may elect to
defer all or any part of the cash  compensation he or she is entitled to receive
for serving as a  director,  in which case the amount  deferred  will be paid in
cash in three annual installments after such person ceases to be a director and,
at the direction of the  director,  either will be credited with interest at the
prime  rate  or will be  treated  for  valuation  purposes  as if such  deferred
compensation  had been  invested in Common Stock  pursuant to the phantom  stock
subaccount under the director's  deferred  compensation plan. The portion of the
retainer fee payable in Common  Stock may also be deferred.  Such amount will be
credited to the phantom stock  subaccount and will ultimately be paid in cash in
the same manner as cash retainer fees which are deferred.

          Director  Stock  Options.  In addition to the  compensation  described
above,  each of Ms.  Baxter  and  Messrs.  Brophy,  DeNero,  Gunderson,  Kubale,
Bergstrom,  Richelsen  and  Winkler  automatically  received an option for 1,500
shares of Common  Stock at a per share  exercise  price of  $21.375 on April 28,
1999 in accordance  with the terms of the Company's 1995 Equity  Incentive Plan,
as amended (the "1995 Plan"). Under the terms of the 1995 Plan, each person when
first elected as a non-employee director of the Company  automatically  receives
an option for 4,500 shares of Common Stock.  The 1995 Plan also  provides  that,
subsequent to the initial grant,  each  non-employee  director (who continues to
serve  in such  capacity)  automatically  receives  an  option  to  purchase  an
additional  1,500 shares of Common Stock on the day after each annual meeting of
shareholders;  provided,  however,  that if a person  who is first  elected as a
non-employee director on the date of the annual meeting of shareholders receives
the initial  option grant under the 1995 Plan on that date,  such  director will
not be entitled to begin receiving subsequent grants until the day following the
next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders.  Options granted to non-employee
directors  under the 1995 Plan have a per share  exercise price equal to 100% of
the  market  value of a share of Common  Stock on the date of grant  and  become
exercisable six months after the date of grant,  except that if the non-employee
director  ceases to be a director by reason of death,  disability  or retirement
during such six-month period, the option will become immediately  exercisable in
full. Options granted to non-employee directors under the 1995 Plan terminate on
the earlier of (a) ten years after the date of grant or (b) twelve  months after
the non-employee director ceases to be a director.

                                 STOCK OWNERSHIP

Management

          The  following  table  sets  forth  information,  as of March 3, 2000,
regarding  beneficial  ownership of Common  Stock by each  director and nominee,
each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table set forth
below, and all of the directors and


                                      -5-
<PAGE>

executive  officers as a group.  As of March 3, 2000,  no director or  executive
officer  of the  Company  beneficially  owned one  percent or more of the Common
Stock and the  directors and executive  officers as a group  beneficially  owned
2.5% of the Common Stock. Except as otherwise indicated in the footnotes, all of
the persons listed below have sole voting and  investment  power over the shares
of Common Stock identified as beneficially owned.

                                                   Amount and Nature of
     Name of Beneficial Owner                      Beneficial Ownership (1)(2)
     ------------------------                      --------------------

     Jameson A. Baxter.........................            20,875
     Donald D. Belcher.........................           209,457(3)
     John F. Bergstrom.........................            11,438(4)
     George T. Brophy..........................            31,023
     Henry T. DeNero...........................            11,300
     Richard L. Gunderson......................            15,000
     Gerald A. Henseler........................           149,616(5)
     Bernard S. Kubale.........................            14,115
     Ray C. Richelsen..........................             6,000
     Michael J. Winkler........................            20,481
     John E. Tiffany...........................            47,759(6)
     Dennis J. Meyer...........................            36,999
     Ronald D. Kneezel.........................            52,479
     All directors and executive
         officers as a group (14 persons)......           655,702

     -----------------------
(1)  Includes  shares  subject to  currently  exercisable  options  and  options
     exercisable within 60 days of March 3, 2000 as follows:  Ms. Baxter,  7,500
     shares;  Mr. Belcher,  157,499 shares;  Mr.  Bergstrom,  6,000 shares;  Mr.
     Brophy,  7,500 shares;  Mr.  DeNero,  9,000 shares;  Mr.  Gunderson,  7,500
     shares;  Mr.  Henseler,  51,000  shares;  Mr.  Kubale,  7,500  shares;  Mr.
     Richelsen,  6,000 shares; Mr. Winkler,  9,000 shares;  Mr. Tiffany,  33,750
     shares;  Mr. Meyer,  28,666 shares;  Mr.  Kneezel,  34,500 shares;  and all
     directors and executive officers as a group, 391,581 shares.

(2)  Does not include holdings of phantom stock units by non-employee  directors
     as follows: Ms. Baxter, 3,336 units; Mr. Bergstrom,  989 units; Mr. Brophy,
     7,131 units;  Mr. DeNero,  4,751 units;  Mr.  Gunderson,  3,725 units;  Mr.
     Kubale,  2,826 units; Mr.  Richelsen,  2,137 units; and Mr. Winkler,  1,417
     units.  The value of the phantom  stock units is based upon and  fluctuates
     with the market value of the Common Stock.

(3)  Includes  1,000 shares held by Mr.  Belcher's  spouse.  Mr.  Belcher shares
     voting and investment power over these shares.

(4)  Includes 2,350 shares held by a trust,  2,000 shares held by a partnership,
     and 900 shares held by a trust for the benefit of Mr. Bergstrom's daughter.
     Mr. Bergstrom shares voting and investment power over these shares.


                                      -6-
<PAGE>

(5)  Includes 27,708 shares held by Mr.  Henseler's spouse and 4,689 shares held
     by trusts for the benefit of Mr. Henseler's  daughter.  Mr. Henseler shares
     voting and investment power over these shares.

(6)  Includes  4,156 shares held by Mr.  Tiffany's  spouse.  Mr.  Tiffany shares
     voting and investment power over these shares.

Other Beneficial Owners

          The following table sets forth  information,  as of December 31, 1999,
regarding  beneficial  ownership by the only persons known to the Company to own
more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock. The beneficial ownership set forth
below has been reported on filings made on Schedule 13G with the  Securities and
Exchange Commission by the beneficial owners.

                    Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership
                    -----------------------------------------

                               Voting Power    Investment Power
                               ------------    ----------------
                                                                         Percent
    Name and Address                                                        of
   of Beneficial Owner        Sole  Shared      Sole   Shared  Aggregate   Class
   -------------------        ----  ------      ----   ------  ---------   -----

FMR Corp.(1)
82 Devonshire Street
Boston, MA  02109........   46,100     0   2,339,500      0    2,339,500    9.2%

Lazard Freres & Co. LLC
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY  10020......1,738,750     0   1,896,300      0    1,896,300    7.5%


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

          (1) The Company has been advised that FMR Corp. is the parent  holding
company of Fidelity  Management & Research  Company,  an  investment  adviser to
various  investment  companies,   and  Fidelity  Management  Trust  Company,  an
investment  manager  of  institutional  accounts.  The  shares of  Common  Stock
reflected  in  the  table  are  beneficially   owned  by  the   above-referenced
subsidiaries of FMR Corp.


                                      -7-
<PAGE>

                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Summary Compensation Information

          The  following  table sets forth certain  information  for each of the
last three fiscal years concerning compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to
certain  executive  officers of the Company.  The persons named in the table are
sometimes referred to herein as the "named executive officers."
<TABLE>
                                              Summary Compensation Table
<CAPTION>
                                                                          Long Term Compensation
                                                                          ----------------------
                                            Annual Compensation (1)         Awards
                                            -----------------------       Securities      Payouts
                                                                          Underlying       LTIP             All Other
Name and Principal Position       Year        Salary        Bonus          Options        Payouts        Compensation(2)
- ---------------------------       ----        ------        -----         ----------      -------        --------------
<S>                               <C>        <C>          <C>               <C>          <C>               <C>
Donald D. Belcher                 1999       $525,000     $378,000          170,000      $69,655           $ 3,200
  Chairman of the Board,          1998        438,000      123,516          100,000       17,155             3,200
  President and Chief             1997        419,000            0           55,000            0             3,200
  Executive Officer

Gerald A. Henseler                1999        339,000      203,400           20,000       46,668             3,082
  Executive Vice President        1998        326,000       76,610           18,000       12,768             3,024
  and Chief Financial Officer     1997        313,000            0           18,000            0             3,200

John E. Tiffany                   1999        201,000       96,480           15,000       27,581             2,569
  Vice President                  1998        191,000       35,908           12,000        7,481             2,499
  Manufacturing                   1997        182,500            0           12,000            0             2,375

Dennis J. Meyer                   1999        198,000       95,040           12,000       27,222             2,691
  Vice President                  1998        189,500       35,626           12,000        7,422             3,096
  Marketing and Planning          1997        182,000            0           10,000            0             3,167

Ronald D. Kneezel                 1999        198,000       95,040           12,000       27,163             2,986
  Vice President, General         1998        188,000       35,344           12,000        7,363             2,959
  Counsel and Secretary           1997        179,500            0           12,000            0             3,167

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

(1)       Certain personal benefits provided by the Company to the named executive officers are not included in the
          table.  The aggregate  amount of such  personal  benefits for each named  executive  officer in each year
          reflected  in the table did not exceed the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of the sum of such  officer's  salary
          and bonus in each respective year.

(2)       For fiscal 1999,  consists of Company matching  contributions under the Company's Incentive Savings Plan,
          which is a profit sharing plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code.
</TABLE>


                                       -8-
<PAGE>

Stock Options

          The Company has in effect  equity plans  pursuant to which  options to
purchase  Common  Stock may be granted  to key  employees  (including  executive
officers) of the Company and its  subsidiaries.  The  following  table  presents
certain  information  as to grants of stock  options made during  fiscal 1999 to
each of the named executive officers.

<TABLE>
                                         Option Grants in 1999 Fiscal Year
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                            Grant
                                          Individual Grants                                                 Date
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------          Value
                                                                                                        -------------
                                                      Percentage of
                                    Number of         Total Options
                                    Securities         Granted to       Exercise or                       Grant Date
                                    Underlying        Employees in      Base Price      Expiration         Present
        Name                     Options Granted(1)    Fiscal Year       ($/share)         Date            Value(2)
        ----                     ---------------      -------------     -----------     ----------        ----------
<S>                                   <C>                 <C>             <C>            <C>               <C>
Donald D. Belcher...........           60,000              8.7%           $23.50         10/24/09          $412,800
                                      110,000             15.9             21.125           (3)             607,100
Gerald A. Henseler..........           20,000              2.9             23.50         10/24/09           137,600
John E. Tiffany.............           15,000              2.2             23.50         10/24/09           103,200
Dennis J. Meyer.............           12,000              1.7             23.50         10/24/09            82,560
Ronald D. Kneezel...........           12,000              1.7             23.50         10/24/09            82,560

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

(1)       The options  reflected in the table (which are  nonstatutory  stock  options for purposes of the Internal
          Revenue Code) were granted on October 25, 1999 (except for a 110,000  share option grant to Mr.  Belcher,
          which options were granted on December 7, 1999) and vest ratably over the three-year period following the
          date of grant. The options are subject to early vesting in the case of the optionee's  death,  disability
          or retirement after reaching age 65.

(2)       The option  values  presented  are based on the  Black-Scholes  option  pricing  model adopted for use in
          valuing stock options.  Material  assumptions and adjustments  incorporated in the Black-Scholes model in
          estimating the values of the options reflected in the table above include the following:  (a) an exercise
          price of the option equal to the fair market value of the  underlying  stock on the date of grant;  (b) a
          risk-free rate of return  representing the interest rate on a U.S. Treasury security with a maturity date
          corresponding to the term of the option; (c) volatility of approximately  39.3% (38.1% in the case of the
          options  granted on December 7, 1999),  which was  calculated  using daily  Common  Stock  prices for the
          one-year period prior to the date of grant; (d) a dividend yield equal to approximately 2.4% (2.7% in the
          case of the options granted on December 7, 1999),  representing the dividend yield on the Common Stock as
          of the date of grant;  (e) an option term of ten years (five years in the case of certain options granted
          on  December 7, 1999);  and (f)  reductions  of 15.6% to reflect the  probability  of  forfeiture  due to
          termination prior to vesting and approximately 18%  (approximately 11% in the case of options with a term
          of five years) to reflect the  probability  of a shortened  option term due to  termination of employment
          prior to the expiration  date. The actual value,  if any, that an optionee may realize upon exercise will
          depend on the excess of the price of the Common Stock over the option exercise price on the date that the
          option is exercised.  There is no assurance that the value realized by an optionee will be at or near the
          value estimated under the Black-Scholes model.

(3)       Of the 110,000 options granted to Mr. Belcher  reflected in this line,  40,000 expire on December 6, 2009
          and 70,000 expire on December 6, 2004.
</TABLE>

          The following table sets forth  information  regarding the exercise of
stock  options by each of the named  executive  officers  during the 1999 fiscal
year and the fiscal year-end value of unexercised options held by such officers.


                                      -9-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                                        Aggregated Option Exercises in 1999
                                   Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-End Option Values
<CAPTION>

                                                                       Number of Securities          Value of Unexercised In-the-
                                     Shares                           Underlying Unexercised           Money Options at Fiscal
                                    Acquired        Value          Options at Fiscal Year-End               Year-End (1)
Name                               on Exercise    Realized(1)      Exercisable     Unexercisable     Exercisable    Unexercisable
- ----                               -----------    -----------      -----------     -------------     -----------    -------------
<S>                                 <C>            <C>               <C>             <C>               <C>             <C>
Donald D. Belcher..............     67,500         $138,206          157,499         255,001           $78,125         $158,125
Gerald A. Henseler.............     12,000           33,210           51,000          38,000            28,125                0
John E. Tiffany................          -                -           33,750          27,000            18,750                0
Dennis J. Meyer................      9,000           29,864           28,666          23,334            14,062                0
Ronald D. Kneezel..............      9,000           24,908           34,500          24,000            18,750                0

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

(1)       The dollar  values are  calculated by  determining  the  difference  between the fair market value of the
          underlying Common Stock and the exercise price of the options at exercise or fiscal year-end, as the case
          may be.
</TABLE>

Long-Term Incentives

          The Company maintains the Banta Corporation  Economic Profit Long-Term
Incentive Plan (the "EP Long-Term Plan"), which provides an incentive based both
on earnings per share  performance  and on the value  created  (i.e.,  "economic
profit")  when a business  generates a financial  return that  exceeds the total
cost of capital  employed.  The EP Long-Term Plan defines economic profit as the
difference  between (a) net  operating  profit  after tax and (b) the charge for
capital  employed in the business.  Payouts under the EP Long-Term Plan are made
in three annual  installments and outstanding  installments remain "at risk" and
subject to total loss or offset  depending on future  Company  performance.  The
Company  also  maintains  the  Banta   Corporation   Economic  Profit  Incentive
Compensation Plan (the "EP Incentive Plan"),  which provides an annual incentive
based both on earnings  per share  performance  and on the  creation of economic
profit.  The EP  Incentive  Plan  incorporates  a "bonus bank" into which annual
awards  thereunder  in excess of 200% of target,  if any,  are  credited but not
paid. Such bonus amounts are thereafter  scheduled to be paid out over time, but
remain "at risk" and  subject to total loss or  partial  offset  depending  upon
future performance.

          Set forth  below  under the  heading  "Maximum"  is the sum of (a) the
amount of unpaid  installments  under the EP  Long-Term  Plan and (b) the amount
credited to the "bonus bank" under the EP  Incentive  Plan for each of the named
executive  officers at the end of fiscal  1999.  The  amounts  under the heading
"Threshold"  reflect  the fact  that the  foregoing  amounts  are "at  risk" and
subject to total loss.


                                      -10-
<PAGE>

             Long-Term Incentive Plans -- Awards in 1999 Fiscal Year

         Name                                    Estimated Future Payouts
         ----                          -----------------------------------------
                                          Threshold                 Maximum
                                          ---------                 -------
Donald D. Belcher.................    $     0                      $122,155
Gerald A. Henseler................          0                        80,568
John E. Tiffany...................          0                        47,681
Dennis J. Meyer...................          0                        47,022
Ronald D. Kneezel.................          0                        46,963

          The Company also has in effect the Banta  Corporation  Key  Management
Retention Plan (the "Retention Plan"),  which provides an incentive based on the
Company's  earnings  per share over the two-year  period  ending March 31, 2001.
Payouts  under  the  Retention  Plan will be based on the  Company's  cumulative
earnings per share on a fully diluted basis (subject to certain adjustments) for
the period from April 4, 1999 through  March 31,  2001.  For each full cent that
such earnings per share exceed $3.60, each participant will receive 1.25% of his
maximum  award,  but in no  case  more  than  100%  of  such  maximum  award.  A
participant  whose  employment with the Company is terminated on or before March
31, 2001 for any  reason,  except  death or  permanent  disability,  will not be
eligible  to receive  any award  under the  Retention  Plan.  Payouts  under the
Retention  Plan if  earned  will be made in one lump sum after  March 31,  2001.
Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  in the  event of a change  of  control  of the
Company  (as  defined  in  the  Retention  Plan),  all  awards  thereunder  will
immediately vest and become payable.

          Set forth below under the heading "Maximum" is the highest amount that
may be earned under the Retention Plan by each of the named  executive  officers
other than Mr.  Belcher who does not  participate in the Plan. The amounts under
the heading  "Threshold"  reflect the fact that the foregoing amounts may not be
earned if the  earnings  per share  threshold  is not  achieved  or if the named
executive officer's employment is terminated prior to the award being earned.

           Key Management Retention Plan - Awards in 1999 Fiscal Year

                        Performance or other period
     Name                until maturation or payout     Estimated Future Payouts
     ----                --------------------------     ------------------------
                                                     Threshold         Maximum
                                                     ---------         -------
Gerald A. Henseler....     4/4/99 to 3/31/01        $     0           $225,000
John E. Tiffany.......     4/4/99 to 3/31/01              0            225,000
Dennis J. Meyer.......     4/4/99 to 3/31/01              0            225,000
Ronald D. Kneezel.....     4/4/99 to 3/31/01              0            225,000


Pension Plan Benefits

          The following table sets forth the estimated  annual pension  benefits
payable to a covered  participant  at normal  retirement age under the Company's
Employees  Pension Plan as well as under the Company's  Supplemental  Retirement
Plan (which, in part, provides benefits


                                      -11-
<PAGE>

that would otherwise be denied  participants  by reason of (i) certain  Internal
Revenue Code  limitations  on qualified  benefit plans and (ii) the exclusion of
cash incentive  awards and deferred  compensation in calculating  benefits under
the  qualified  plan).  The  benefits  that are  payable  under the  pension and
retirement plans are based upon remuneration that is covered under the plans and
years of service with the Company and its subsidiaries.
<TABLE>
                                                 Pension Plan Table
<CAPTION>
                                                             Yearly Pension After
           Average Monthly                                Specified Years of Service
        Compensation in Five        ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Highest Consecutive Years       10 Years   15 Years      20 Years     25 Years      30 Years     35 Years
      -------------------------       --------   --------      --------     --------      --------     --------
<S>        <C>                         <C>        <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>
           $    24,000                 $72,000    $93,600      $115,200     $136,800      $158,400     $180,000
                36,000                 108,000    140,400       172,800      205,200       237,600      270,000
                48,000                 144,000    187,200       230,400      273,600       316,800      360,000
                60,000                 180,000    234,000       288,000      342,000       396,000      450,000
                72,000                 216,000    280,800       345,600      410,400       475,200      540,000
                84,000                 252,000    327,600       403,200      478,800       554,400      630,000
                96,000                 288,000    374,400       460,800      547,200       633,600      720,000

</TABLE>


          A  participant's   remuneration   covered  by  the  Company's  pension
arrangement  is such  participant's  base  salary,  annual  bonus and  long-term
incentive compensation. The covered remuneration paid for each of the last three
fiscal  years to the  named  executive  officers  is set  forth  in the  Summary
Compensation Table under the headings "Salary",  "Bonus" and "LTIP Payouts".  As
of December 31, 1999, Messrs. Belcher, Henseler, Tiffany, Meyer, and Kneezel had
completed  5, 33, 11, 6 and 11 years of  credited  service  under the  Company's
pension  plans,  respectively.  Benefits  shown in the table are  computed  as a
straight  single  life  annuity  assuming  retirement  at age 65.  The  benefits
reflected  in the  table  are not  subject  to  reduction  for  Social  Security
benefits.

Agreements with Named Executive Officers

          The Company has an  agreement  with Mr.  Henseler  which  provides for
certain  benefits in the event of  termination  of employment  after a change of
control of the  Company.  The  principal  benefits  are:  (a) a bonus  under any
Company  bonus  or  incentive  plan or plans  for the year in which  termination
occurs;  (b)  continued  salary  payments  and life  insurance  and  medical and
disability  insurance for a maximum of four years,  with reduced  payments for a
surviving  spouse;  (c)  additional  pension  benefits  to  fully  or  partially
compensate for the reduction of benefits under the Company's pension plan due to
termination  of employment;  and (d) full exercise  rights for all stock options
for three months  following  termination of employment.  These benefits are made
available if Mr.  Henseler's  employment is terminated by the Company other than
for cause as defined in the agreement or if he terminates his employment because
of  significant  changes made in his working  conditions  or status  without his
consent.  Continued salary payments and insurance  benefits are to be reduced by
corresponding  payments and benefits obtained from any successor  employer.  The
transactions  which are deemed to result in a "change of control" of the Company
for purposes of Mr. Henseler's  agreement  include:  (1) the acquisition of more
than 30% of the voting  stock of the  Company  by any  person,  organization  or
group; (2) the sale of all or substantially all of the


                                      -12-
<PAGE>

Company's business or assets; (3) a consolidation or merger,  unless the Company
or a subsidiary is the surviving  corporation;  (4) the acquisition of assets or
stock of another entity if in connection with the acquisition new persons become
directors  of the Company and  constitute  a majority of the Board;  and (5) the
election in  opposition  to the nominees  proposed by  management of two or more
directors in any one election on behalf of any person, organization or group.

          The Company also has agreements with Messrs. Belcher,  Tiffany, Meyer,
Kneezel and certain  other  officers  and key  employees  which,  in addition to
benefits  similar to those  described  in (a),  (c) and (d) above,  provide  for
continued  employment  for  periods of from one to three years after a change of
control (the "Employment  Period") and for lump-sum termination payments ranging
from a minimum  of one  year's  salary  and bonus to a maximum  of three  year's
salary and bonus if employment is terminated during the Employment Period by the
Company  (other  than  for  cause  or  disability)  or by the  executive  due to
significant changes in his working conditions or status without his consent. The
agreements  also  provide the  foregoing  benefits in  connection  with  certain
terminations  which are effected in anticipation  of a change of control.  Under
the agreements,  the executive's employee benefits such as health,  accident and
life  insurance  will also be  continued  following  a  termination  for which a
termination  payment is made for up to three years or until comparable  benefits
are available from a new employer.  The agreements provide that, if any payments
thereunder  constitute an "excess parachute  payment" under the Internal Revenue
Code, the Company will pay the officer the amount necessary to offset the excise
tax and any additional  taxes resulting from the payment of an excess  parachute
payment.  In  addition,  the Company  has agreed to pay Mr.  Belcher a severance
payment of two year's salary (and continue to provide  health  insurance for two
years) if his employment with the Company is terminated  other than for cause or
disability prior to a change of control.

          The Company has deferred compensation plans for key employees in which
the named  executive  officers are eligible to participate and which provide for
deferral of salary and cash incentive compensation.  Payments under the deferred
compensation plans generally  commence following  retirement of the participant.
However,  in the event of a change of control,  a  participant  in the  deferred
compensation plans will receive a lump sum payment. The lump sum payment will be
equal  to  the  present  value  of  the  participant's  future  benefits  if the
participant  is receiving  benefits at the time of such change of control or the
amount standing to the participant's credit in his or her deferred  compensation
account if the participant is not otherwise  entitled to receive benefits at the
time of such  change of  control.  Payment of such  deferred  amounts  generally
begins  following  the  retirement  of the  participant  and is not  subject  to
acceleration in the event of a change of control of the Company. The Company has
entered into an executive  trust  agreement with Firstar Bank, N.A. to provide a
means of  segregating  assets  for the  payment  of these  benefits  (as well as
benefits under the Company's Supplemental Retirement Plan), subject to claims of
the  Company's  creditors.  Such  trust  is  only  nominally  funded  until  the
occurrence of a potential change of control.

          The Company  also has an agreement  with Mr.  Henseler  providing  for
monthly  payments  of $2,000  for 120  months in the event  that Mr.  Henseler's
employment  is  terminated  by the Company or as a result of his death or if Mr.
Henseler retires after age 62. The


                                      -13-
<PAGE>

agreement  provides that Mr. Henseler may designate a beneficiary to receive the
payments  to which he is entitled in the event of his death prior to the receipt
of any or all such  payments.  Payments  under the agreement may be forfeited in
the event Mr. Henseler engages in specified  competitive  activities  during the
first four years following his retirement or such termination.

Committee Report on Executive Compensation

          The Compensation Committee of the Board is responsible for all aspects
of  the  Company's  compensation  package  offered  to its  executive  officers,
including  the  named  executive  officers.  The  following  is a report  of the
Compensation Committee regarding executive compensation:

          Policies  Governing  Executive  Compensation.  The  Company's  general
policies relating to executive  compensation are: (a) to establish a direct link
between executive  compensation and the annual,  intermediate-term and long-term
performance  of the  Company;  (b)  to  provide  performance-based  compensation
opportunities  (including equity-based awards) which allow executive officers to
earn rewards for maximizing shareholder value; (c) to attract and retain the key
executives  necessary for the  Company's  long-term  success;  and (d) to reward
individual  initiative and the achievement of specified goals. In applying these
general policies, the objective of the Compensation Committee has been to ensure
that a  significant  portion  of  the  compensation  paid  to  senior  executive
officers,  such as the named executive officers,  be incentive-based since these
individuals  have  significant  control  and  responsibility  for the  Company's
direction  and  performance.  The intent of the  Compensation  Committee is that
there would be greater  variability in the levels of compensation  paid to these
officers which is directly linked to Company performance.

          Executive   Compensation  Package.  As  reflected  under  the  section
entitled "Executive  Compensation," the Company's executive compensation package
currently  consists of a mix of salary,  bonus awards and stock option grants as
well as benefits under the employee benefit plans offered by the Company.

          In setting and adjusting executive salaries, including the salaries of
the  Chief  Executive  Officer  and the  other  named  executive  officers,  the
Compensation   Committee,   in   conjunction   with   independent   compensation
consultants,  has historically compared the base salaries paid or proposed to be
paid by the Company with the ranges of salaries paid by  corporations of similar
size  relative  to the Company  and  operating  in  comparable  industries.  The
companies in the comparison  group,  which were selected based on their size and
performance  compatibility,  manufacturing orientation and geographic diversity,
are not solely in the graphic arts industry and  accordingly are not necessarily
the companies in the peer group identified in the section entitled  "Performance
Information." It is the judgment of the Compensation  Committee that a review of
the  compensation  practices  of  companies  with  the  characteristics  of  the
comparison  group is appropriate in establishing  competitive  salary ranges for
the Company's executive officers.

          Based on its analysis of comparative data, the Compensation  Committee
increased the minimum, midpoint and maximum ranges for each salary grade by 3.0%
for

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

fiscal 1999. The Compensation  Committee also approved a 4.2% guideline for 1999
executive  officer base salary  increases,  subject to  individual  variances to
reflect above or below average  performance.  In establishing  salaries for each
individual  executive  officer,  Mr.  Belcher,  the  Company's  Chief  Executive
Officer,  made specific  recommendations  for salary adjustments (other than his
own) to the Compensation  Committee based on the foregoing  guidance provided by
the  Committee  as well as a  review  of  industry  comparables,  the  level  of
responsibility  delegated to the particular executive officer, the expertise and
skills offered by each officer, the officer's individual job performance and the
performance  of the group over which the individual  had  responsibility.  These
various factors were considered on a case-by-case  basis and no specific formula
was used to give any one factor a relative weight as compared to the others. The
Compensation  Committee  reviewed the  foregoing  recommendations  and then made
final decisions on the base salaries to be paid by the Company. The Compensation
Committee  also reviewed and fixed the base salary of Mr. Belcher for 1999 based
on  similar  competitive   compensation  data  and  individual  job  performance
criteria. The base salary paid to Mr. Belcher for fiscal 1999 was $525,000.

          Effective  January 1, 1998, the Compensation  Committee adopted the EP
Incentive Plan which replaced the Management  Incentive  Award Plan (the "MIAP")
that had been in effect for a number of years as the Company's  annual incentive
arrangement.  As currently in effect, the EP Incentive Plan as it relates to the
Company's  executive officers  emphasizes both earnings per share performance as
well as  economic  value  creation  which  occurs  when a business  generates  a
financial  return  that  exceeds  the  total  cost  of  capital  employed.   The
Compensation  Committee  believes that an analysis based both on EPS performance
and economic  profit  provides a better  benchmark for  evaluating and rewarding
management's  performance than the bonus formula under the MIAP. For purposes of
the economic  value  creation  component of the formula,  the EP Incentive  Plan
defines economic profit as the difference between (a) net operating profit after
tax and (b) the charge for capital  employed in the  business.  The EP Incentive
Plan is designed to reward  executive  officers  and key  managers  for both EPS
performance  and  productive  use of  Company  assets,  reduction  of costs  and
creation of  efficiencies  throughout the Company's  organization.  Under the EP
Incentive Plan, target bonuses calculated as a percentage of salary are fixed by
the Compensation Committee.  Target economic profit levels have been established
by the  Committee  and  adjust on an  annual  basis by a  predetermined  formula
subject to Committee approval.  The EP Incentive Plan also incorporates a "bonus
bank" into which that  portion of an award,  if any, in excess of 200% of target
is credited.  Such bonus  amounts are  thereafter  scheduled to be paid out over
time, but remain "at risk" and subject to total loss or partial offset depending
on future performance as determined under the EP Incentive Plan.  Depending upon
performance,  the bonus bank may have a negative  balance  that would need to be
offset before payments could be made from the bank. Under the EP Incentive Plan,
Mr. Belcher received a bonus of $378,000 for the 1999 fiscal year.

          The Compensation  Committee also adopted,  effective  January 1, 1998,
the EP Long-Term Plan as the successor to the Company's Long Term Incentive Plan
(the "LTIP").  The EP Long-Term Plan is similar to the EP Incentive Plan. Awards
paid  under the EP  Long-Term  Plan to the  executive  officers  are paid  based
entirely on Company  performance  (EPS and economic profit  performance) and are
paid out in three annual installments. The payouts


                                      -15-
<PAGE>

which are deferred  remain "at risk" and subject to total loss or partial offset
depending on future Company  performance.  Similar to the EP Incentive Plan, the
EP Long-Term Plan  contemplates  that the bonus bank may have a negative balance
based on the performance levels achieved.  The Committee believes that employing
an EPS and economic profit formula to provide long-term incentive  opportunities
for  management  personnel  provides  a  more  favorable  link  to the  goal  of
maximizing long-term shareholder value than was offered by the LTIP. Mr. Belcher
received an award of $69,655 under the EP Long-Term Plan in 1999.

          The Compensation  Committee has also adopted the Retention Plan, which
provides an incentive  tied to the Company's  earnings per share over a two-year
period ending on March 31, 2001. The purpose of the Retention Plan is to provide
an  additional  inducement  for certain key employees to remain with the Company
for at least that two-year period. Pursuant to the Retention Plan, a participant
whose  employment with the Company is terminated on or before March 31, 2001 for
any  reason,  except  death or  permanent  disability,  will not be  eligible to
receive any award under the Retention  Plan.  Payouts  under the Retention  Plan
will be based on the Company's two-year cumulative earnings per share on a fully
diluted basis (subject to certain adjustments) for the period from April 4, 1999
through  March 31, 2001.  For each full cent that such earnings per share exceed
$3.60, each participant will receive 1.25% of his maximum award, but in no event
will a participant  receive more than 100% of such maximum award.  Payouts under
the  Retention  Plan if earned will be made in one lump sum payment  after March
31, 2001.  In the event of a change of control of the Company,  awards under the
Retention Plan will  immediately  vest and become payable.  Mr. Belcher does not
participate in the Retention Plan.

          In addition to the foregoing annual and long-term incentive plans, the
Company's executive compensation package includes stock option grants. Under the
1995 Plan,  the  Compensation  Committee  also has the  authority  to grant,  in
addition  to  stock  options,   other  equity-based   awards,   including  stock
appreciation rights,  restricted stock and performance shares. To date, however,
only stock  options have been granted under the  Company's  equity-based  plans.
Stock options  granted by the  Compensation  Committee have a per share exercise
price of 100% of the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of
grant and, accordingly,  the value of the option will be dependent on the future
market  value of the Common  Stock.  It has been the policy of the  Compensation
Committee  that  options  should  provide a  long-term  incentive  and align the
interests of management with the interests of shareholders.

          In  determining  proposed  stock  option  grants  to be  made  to  the
Company's   executive   officers,   the  Compensation   Committee  reviews,   in
consultation with the Company's  independent  compensation  consultants,  option
grants  made by a  select  group of peer  companies.  In  1999,  the peer  group
companies, some of which are included in the peer group described in the section
entitled  "Performance  Information,"  consisted of both industry competitors as
well as Midwestern-based  companies of comparable size to the Company.  Based on
this  analysis,  Mr.  Belcher  received an option to purchase  60,000  shares of
Common Stock at a per share  exercise price of $23.50 on October 25, 1999 and an
option to purchase  110,000  shares at a per share  exercise price of $21.125 on
December  7,  1999.  By tying a  portion  of each  executive  officer's  overall
compensation to stock price through the grant of


                                      -16-
<PAGE>

options, the Compensation  Committee seeks to enhance its objective of providing
a further incentive to maximize long-term shareholder value.

          In connection with the  equity-based  plans,  the Company endorses the
policy that stock ownership by management is an important factor in aligning the
interests  of  management  and  shareholders.  The  Company  has  adopted  stock
ownership   guidelines  that  are  intended  to  encourage  stock  ownership  by
management.  Under these guidelines,  management personnel are expected to own a
specified  number of shares of Common  Stock  depending  upon  their  respective
salary grade. The Compensation  Committee  considers an individual's  compliance
with the stock  ownership  guidelines in  determining  the size of  equity-based
grants.

          The Company's  policy with respect to other employee  benefit plans is
to provide competitive benefits to the Company's employees,  including executive
officers,  to encourage their continued service with the Company. In the view of
the  Compensation  Committee,  a  competitive  benefits  package is an essential
component  in  achieving  the  Company's  goal of being able to attract  new key
employees from time to time as events warrant.

          Under Section  162(m) of the Internal  Revenue Code, the tax deduction
by  corporate  taxpayers,  such as the  Company,  is limited with respect to the
compensation of certain  executive  officers  unless such  compensation is based
upon performance  objectives meeting certain regulatory criteria or is otherwise
excluded from the limitation.  The Compensation  Committee  currently intends to
qualify  compensation paid to the Company's executive officers for deductibility
by the Company under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.

                             BANTA CORPORATION
                             COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

                             Jameson A. Baxter, Chairperson
                             John F. Bergstrom
                             Richard L. Gunderson
                             Ray C. Richelsen
                             Michael J. Winkler


                             PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

          Set forth below are line graphs  comparing  during the last five years
the Company's  cumulative  total  shareholder  return with the cumulative  total
return of companies in the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index and  companies in a
peer group selected in good faith by the Company.  The total return  information
presented in the graphs assumes the reinvestment of dividends.  The companies in
the peer group are: Cadmus  Communications Corp.; Courier Corp.; R. R. Donnelley
& Sons  Company;  and Quebecor Inc. Big Flower Press  Holdings,  Inc., a company
included in the peer group index in past years,  is no longer a public  company.
In addition, World Color Press, Inc., another company included in the peer group
index in past  years,  merged  with and  into  Quebecor  Inc.  in  fiscal  1999.
Accordingly,


                                      -17-
<PAGE>

neither Big Flower Press Holdings,  Inc. nor World Color Press, Inc. is included
in the peer group index. The returns of each company in the peer group have been
weighted based on such company's relative market capitalization.

                 Comparison Of Five Year Cumulative Total Return
         Among Banta Corporation, S&P 500 Index And Peer Group Companies

                            [STOCK PERFORMANCE CHART]

                                              December 31,
                          1994     1995      1996      1997      1998     1999
                          ----     ----      ----      ----      ----     ----
Banta Value...........   $ 100    $ 148     $ 117     $ 141     $ 146    $ 123
S&P 500 Composite.....     100      138       169       226       290      347
Peer Group............     100      137       111       133       158       96


                         INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

          Arthur Andersen LLP acted as the independent  auditors for the Company
during the fiscal year ended January 1, 2000,  and it is  anticipated  that such
firm  will  be  similarly   appointed  to  act  in  the  current   fiscal  year.
Representatives  of Arthur Andersen LLP are expected to be present at the Annual
Meeting  to answer  appropriate  questions  and,  if they so  desire,  to make a
statement.

                                  OTHER MATTERS

Solicitation Expenses

          All expenses of  solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Company.
In addition to soliciting proxies by mail,  proxies may be solicited  personally
and by telephone by certain officers and regular  employees of the Company.  The
Company has retained  D.F.  King & Co.,  Inc. to assist in the  solicitation  of
proxies,  and  expects  to pay  such  firm a fee of  approximately  $4,000  plus
out-of-pocket expenses.  Brokers,  nominees and custodians who hold Common Stock
in their  names and who  solicit  proxies  from the  beneficial  owners  will be
reimbursed by the Company for out-of-pocket and reasonable clerical expenses.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

          Section  16(a) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934  requires the
Company's  officers and  directors  to file reports of ownership  and changes of
ownership  with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission and the New York Stock
Exchange.  The regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission require the
officers and  directors to furnish the Company with copies of all Section  16(a)
forms they file. Based on such forms, the Company believes that all its officers
and directors have complied with the Section 16(a) filing requirements.


                                      -18-
<PAGE>

                              SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

          Proposals of shareholders  pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934 ("Rule  14a-8")  that are  intended to be presented at the
2001  annual  meeting of  shareholders  must be received by the Company no later
than November 17, 2000 to be included in the Company's  proxy materials for that
meeting. Further, a shareholder who otherwise intends to present business at the
2001 annual meeting must comply with the requirements set forth in the Company's
By-laws.  Among other things,  to bring  business  before an annual  meeting,  a
shareholder must give written notice thereof, complying with the By-laws, to the
Secretary  of the  Company not less than 60 days and not more than 90 days prior
to the  second  Tuesday  in the  month of April,  provided  that the date of the
annual  meeting is not  advanced by more than 30 days or delayed by more than 60
days from the second  Tuesday in the month of April.  The 2001 annual meeting of
shareholders  is tentatively  scheduled to be held on April 24, 2001.  Under the
By-laws,  if the  Company  does not  receive  notice of a  shareholder  proposal
submitted  otherwise than pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (i.e., a proposal a shareholder
intends to  present at the 2001  annual  meeting  of  shareholders  but does not
intend  to have  included  in the  Company's  proxy  materials)  on or  prior to
February 9, 2001 (assuming an April 24, 2001 meeting date), then the notice will
be  considered  untimely  and the Company  will not be required to present  such
proposal at the 2001 annual meeting. If the Board nonetheless chooses to present
such  proposal at the 2001  annual  meeting,  then the persons  named in proxies
solicited by the Board for the 2001 annual  meeting may  exercise  discretionary
voting power with respect to such proposal.

                                         By Order of the Board of Directors
                                         BANTA CORPORATION


                                         /s/ Ronald D. Kneezel
                                         Ronald D. Kneezel
                                         Secretary

The Company  will  furnish to any  shareholder,  without  charge,  a copy of its
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 1999.  Requests for the Form 10-K
must be in writing and addressed to Gerald A. Henseler, Executive Vice President
and  Chief  Financial  Officer,  Banta  Corporation,  P.O.  Box  8003,  Menasha,
Wisconsin 54952.


                                      -19-
<PAGE>

                                BANTA CORPORATION
       Proxy for Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held April 25, 2000

     The  undersigned  constitutes  and appoints DONALD D. BELCHER and RONALD D.
KNEEZEL, or either of them, the true and lawful proxies of the undersigned, with
full power of  substitution,  to vote as designated  below,  all shares of Banta
Corporation  which the  undersigned is entitled to vote at the annual meeting of
shareholders  of such  corporation  to be held at the Park  Plaza  Paper  Valley
Hotel, 333 West College Avenue,  Appleton,  Wisconsin on April 25, 2000, at 2:00
P.M., Central Time, and at all adjournments or postponements thereof.

     The shares  represented by this proxy when properly  executed will be voted
in the  manner  directed  herein  by the  undersigned  shareholder,  but,  if no
direction is indicated, this proxy will be voted FOR Item 1.

     The undersigned  hereby revokes any other proxy heretofore  executed by the
undersigned  for the  meeting and  acknowledges  receipt of notice of the annual
meeting and the proxy statement.  This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board
of Directors of Banta Corporation.



             ^ DETACH BELOW AND RETURN USING THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED ^

<PAGE>

/---------------------                                    ----------------------
/                                                                              /
/                     BANTA CORPORATION 2000 ANNUAL MEETING                    /
/                                                                              /

1. ELECTION  1-Jameson A. Baxter    2-Donald D. Belcher  [ ]FOR all  [ ]WITHHOLD
   OF        3-John F. Bergstrom    4-Henry T. DeNero     nominees     AUTHORITY
  DIRECTORS: 5-Richard L. Gunderson 6-Gerald A. Henseler  listed to the  to vote
             7-Bernard S. Kubale    8-Ray C. Richelsen    left (except   for all
             9-Michael J. Winkler                         as specified  nominees
                                                          below).      listed to
                                                                       the left.

(Instructions: To withhold authority to vote     /-----------------------------/
for any indicated nominee(s), write the          /                             /
number(s) of the nominee(s) in the box provided  /                             /
 to the right.)                                  ------------------------------


2. In their  discretion upon all such other business as may properly come before
the meeting.

                       Date ____________________         NO. OF SHARES


Check appropriate box                            /-----------------------------/
Indicate change below:                           /                             /
Address Change?      [ ] Name Change?   [ ]      /_____________________________/

                                                 Signature(s) in Box
                                                 Please  sign  exactly  as your
                                                 name  appears  on  your  stock
                                                 certificate.    Joint   owners
                                                 should each sign personally. A
                                                 corporation  should  sign full
                                                 corporate    name    by   duly
                                                 authorized  officers and affix
                                                 corporate  seal.  When signing
                                                 as     attorney,     executor,
                                                 administrator,    trustee   or
                                                 guardian,  give full  title as
                                                 such.
/                                                                              /
/                                                                              /
/---------------------                                    ----------------------



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