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                                 UNITED STATES
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                                   FORM 10-K
       (MARK ONE)
 
           /X/  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
                   FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 31, 1998
 
                                       OR
 
         / /  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                            SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
     FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM ____________________ TO ____________________
 
                        COMMISSION FILE NUMBER:  0-14082
 
                              MERRILL CORPORATION
 
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
 
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<S>                                        <C>
                MINNESOTA                                 41-0946258
     (State or other jurisdiction of         (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     incorporation or organization)
           ONE MERRILL CIRCLE
           ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA                               55108
(Address of principal executive offices)                  (Zip Code)
</TABLE>
 
       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (612) 646-4501
 
        Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: NONE
 
          Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
 
                     COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.01 PER SHARE
 
                            ------------------------
 
    Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes _X_ No ____
 
    Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. / /
 
    As of April 23, 1998, 16,392,386 shares of Common Stock of the Registrant
were outstanding, and the aggregate market value of the Common Stock of the
Registrant as of that date (based upon the last reported sale price of the
Common Stock at that date by the Nasdaq National Market) excluding outstanding
shares owned beneficially by officers and directors, was approximately
$305,310,000.
 
                      DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
    This Report does not repeat important information that you can find in
selected pages of our Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended January
31, 1998 (Annual Report) and in our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting on
May 28, 1998 (Proxy Statement). The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference"
portions of these documents, which means that we can disclose important
information to you by referring you to other documents which are legally
considered to be a part of this Report. We encourage you to read the referenced
pages in the Annual Report and Proxy Statement for a more thorough understanding
of our company and business.
 
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                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
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<S>           <C>                                                                 <C>
PART I..........................................................................           1
 
  ITEM 1.     BUSINESS..........................................................           1
 
  ITEM 2.     PROPERTIES........................................................           7
 
  ITEM 3.     LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.................................................           8
 
  ITEM 4.     SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS...............           8
 
  ITEM 4A.    EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT..............................           8
 
PART II.........................................................................           9
 
  ITEM 5.     MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER
              MATTERS...........................................................           9
 
  ITEM 6.     SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA...........................................           9
 
  ITEM 7.     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
              RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.............................................           9
 
  ITEM 7A.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK........           9
 
  ITEM 8.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.......................           9
 
  ITEM 9.     CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
              FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE..............................................           9
 
PART III........................................................................          10
 
  ITEM 10.    DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT................          10
 
  ITEM 11.    EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION............................................          10
 
  ITEM 12.    SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT....          10
 
  ITEM 13.    CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS....................          10
 
PART IV.........................................................................          11
 
  ITEM 14.    EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS OF FORM
              8-K...............................................................          11
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
  ON FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE...............................................          13
 
SCHEDULE II -- VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS................................          14
 
SIGNATURES......................................................................          15
 
EXHIBIT INDEX...................................................................          16
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                                     PART I
 
ITEM 1.  BUSINESS
 
(a)  GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF BUSINESS
 
    Merrill Corporation provides a full range of typesetting, printing, document
management and reproduction, distribution and marketing communication services
to financial, legal, investment companies and corporate markets. Our
headquarters are in St. Paul, Minnesota and we have 31 other locations in major
cities across the United States, including six regional printing plants and two
distribution centers. We also service financial and corporate printing clients
internationally with partners in Canada, Europe and Asia, and through
arrangements with printing companies in many cities around the world.
 
    Since February 1, 1997, we have acquired two businesses. On February 21,
1997, we bought most of the assets of Roald Marth Learning Systems, Inc. which
used the name Superstar Computing. It is now called Merrill Training and
Technology. Merrill Training and Technology provides computer systems and
training to the real estate industry. On September 30, 1997, we bought some of
the assets of Total Management Support Services, LLC, a document management
services company.
 
    Merrill Corporation is a Minnesota corporation that was organized in 1968
under the name "K.F. Merrill Company." Our main offices are at One Merrill
Circle, Energy Park, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, telephone (612) 646-4501.
 
    Unless it does not make sense in the sentence, when we use "Company,"
"Merrill," "our" or "we," those terms also include our subsidiaries, Merrill/New
York Company, Merrill/Magnus Publishing Corporation, Merrill Corporation,
Canada, Merrill/May, Inc., Merrill International, Inc., Merrill Real Estate
Company, FMC Resource Management Corporation and Merrill Training & Technology,
Inc.
 
(b)  FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT INDUSTRY SEGMENTS
 
    Since we started in 1968, Merrill's revenues, operating profits and assets
have come from one business segment: we have provided document typesetting,
printing, management and reproduction, distribution and marketing communication
services for the financial, legal, investment company and corporate markets.
Please refer to pages 13 to 27 of our 1998 Annual Report to Shareholders for
more information. That information is part of our disclosure in this Report.
 
(c)  NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
 
    We are a document management and services company; we use advanced computer
and telecommunication technology to provide a full range of services to our
customers. These services include typesetting, printing, electronic document
formation, reproduction, facilities management, distribution and marketing
communication services. We market these services through the following product
sectors: Financial Document Services, Investment Company Services, Document
Management Services, and Managed Communications Programs.
 
CATEGORIES OF SERVICE
 
    We divide our revenue into four groups: Financial, Corporate, Document
Management Services and Commercial and Other work. The following table shows the
percentage of revenue Merrill has produced in each of those groups for our past
three fiscal years:
 
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<CAPTION>
                                 YEAR ENDED JANUARY 31,
                          -------------------------------------
CATEGORY OF SERVICE          1998         1997         1996
------------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                       <C>          <C>          <C>
Financial...............       38.2%        40.6%        36.1%
Corporate...............       31.6%        27.6%        29.5%
Document Management
 Services...............       11.7%        11.2%        12.9%
Commercial and Other....       18.5%        20.6%        21.5%
                              -----        -----        -----
    Total...............      100.0%       100.0%       100.0%
                              -----        -----        -----
                              -----        -----        -----
</TABLE>
 
FINANCIAL AND CORPORATE
 
    GENERAL
 
    The Financial revenue category includes the production and distribution of
time-sensitive, transactional financial documents, such as registration
statements, prospectuses and other printed
 
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materials that are part of business financings and acquisitions.
 
    Our Corporate revenue category includes the production and distribution of
corporate documents that our clients provide at regular intervals. Corporate
revenue includes documents marketed through both our Financial Document Services
and Investment Company Services product sectors. Some examples are annual and
quarterly reports and proxy materials for companies. Other examples are
registration statements, compliance and marketing materials for unit investment
trusts and mutual funds. We use the same technology and people to provide both
Financial and Corporate printing services.
 
    We are a service-oriented company. The production of financial and corporate
documents requires rapid typesetting, printing and electronic conversion
services that are available twenty-four hours per day and tailored to the
exacting demands of our customers. We receive information directly from our
customers in various forms, including typed or handwritten pages, tapes, faxes,
disks, Internet-based files, and direct links from customers' computers. The
information may come into one of our offices, which will transmit it by fax or
direct electronic connection (modem) to our centralized production facilities
for processing into a typeset or electronic document. Each document typically
goes through many cycles of proofreading and editing. Each version of a document
is typeset or converted to an electronic format required by the SEC (EDGAR), and
distributed to the people drafting it, including corporate executives,
investment bankers, attorneys and accountants. If the drafters are in different
cities, the proofs must be delivered simultaneously to different parts of the
country. Proofs are delivered to our customers on paper or electronically using
our E-PROOF-TM- proprietary system. e:Proof provides secure, on-screen versions
of documents that look like the originals and can be viewed, printed or e-mailed
anywhere in the world, from almost any computer.
 
    Just before the final version of a financial or corporate document is
completed, the drafting group will usually meet in one of our conference rooms
in our offices. These "in-houses" are one of the most time-critical services
that we provide. In-house sessions require the accurate and rapid turnaround of
the edited pages and expert knowledge of the documents and filing requirements
of the SEC. We also need to provide a comfortable and pleasant environment for
the many hours of drafting. After the customers have made their final changes,
we quickly prepare an electronic submission for filing through EDGAR. We also
may create paper copies of the document and exhibits for filing with the SEC and
other regulatory authorities. The document is then printed, collated, bound and
distributed in booklet form. We can also produce material electronically for
distribution via the Internet in PDF or HTML formats (computer coding that makes
it possible to look at pages of text on a computer screen).
 
    "HUB AND SPOKE" NETWORK
 
    We use computers and telecommunication technology to create a "hub and
spoke" network for Merrill's financial and corporate services, linking our
typesetting centers in St. Paul and suburban Baltimore (the hubs) with our 23
service facilities in the United States (the spokes). We also have the
technology to link the hubs directly to our customers and to our international
partners and affiliates.
 
    CENTRAL COMPUTERIZED PRODUCTION FACILITY. Merrill has computer systems in
our central production facility located in St. Paul that work with communication
technology and software we have developed. We use computers, communication
controllers, text entry and editing stations, laser typesetting equipment, and a
number of special purpose computer subsystems for data conversion and
information management. Each critical piece of equipment in the system has at
least one back-up device. We designed the computer systems to be high-
performance, reliable, and secure.
 
    The concentration of equipment and typesetting personnel in a central
facility has been a key Merrill strategy to reduce overhead and labor costs,
train people more effectively, and use our resources efficiently. In addition,
with the growth of the Company, a second hub in suburban Baltimore has given us
regional focus and stronger backup in case of a disaster to the St. Paul hub. We
believe we benefit more quickly from new technologies that have decreased costs
and improved the quality of our service, since new technologies and methods in
the hub facilities immediately benefit the spoke facilities. We also
 
2
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believe that we are better able to allocate our typesetting resources when and
where our customers need them.
 
    NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK.  Merrill has a self-contained
telecommunication network connecting our service facilities with the hubs. We
transmit documents and production control information electronically among our
offices. The network consists of digital lines connecting each of our service
facilities with the hubs, automated data switching and routing
equipment and the software that controls the communications. Designed to operate
continuously, the network is highly efficient and reliable. We have back-up
service for each section of the network, in case any of it fails to operate.
 
    SERVICE FACILITIES.  Merrill staffs service facilities with sales,
administrative, customer service, production, duplication and distribution
personnel. The service facilities have conference rooms with support staff,
office equipment and amenities to give our customers a comfortable work
environment in which to meet, write and revise their documents. The service
facilities have photo-imaging equipment to produce high quality images using the
electronic information received from the hubs. Within minutes of completion, we
can transmit documents to one or more service facilities for distribution.
 
    MERRILLLINK-TM-.  We developed the MERRILLLINK system to connect our hubs to
other locations through the use of portable printing devices in the client's
office or at our smaller sales offices. We can edit typeset pages and provide
proof distribution to remote locations throughout the world. MERRILLLINK lets us
do business almost anywhere. The system is particularly helpful in our financial
work where our customers require a quick turnaround
 
 .
 
    INTERNATIONAL SERVICE.  Merrill and Burrups, Ltd., a London-based financial
printing company, jointly market international financial transaction business
worldwide. Both companies work together to give customers integrated document
typesetting, printing and distribution services wherever the document originates
or needs to be delivered. Besides London, Burrups has full service facilities in
Frankfurt, Luxembourg, Paris, and Tokyo and Merrill/Burrups has additional
facilities in Hong Kong, Singapore, Melbourne and Tel Aviv for use in our joint
international service.
 
    We also market and service financial and corporate documents in Canada
through a joint venture with Quebecor Printing, Inc., a large commercial printer
based in Montreal. Quebecor Merrill Canada, Inc. has full service facilities in
Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.
 
    We have also established relationships with financial printing companies in
44 countries who provide services to us on an "as needed" basis. We have the
software and hardware for electronic communications between our production hubs
and the international service facilities. With this electronic connection and
the MERRILLLINK system, we can transmit high-quality typeset documents for
printing and distribution throughout the world without the time delays and costs
of air shipment.
 
    THE JOB CONTROL SYSTEM.  We coordinate the activities of our service
facilities through our own Job Control System (JCS). This system tracks each
document from the time we receive it through production and billing. Information
can be sent to and retrieved from the JCS by any service facility and can be
immediately read in the hubs. During the production phase, the JCS assigns job
numbers and tracks information about the document, such as dates and the times
at which proofs are due, style and job specifications, messages regarding the
job and last-minute changes. Distribution of drafts is a critical task in the
preparation of financial documents, and the JCS simplifies this task. It keeps a
current address list for each job, the history of the distribution, and the
method of delivery for each proof. We also use the production information
collected in the JCS for billing.
 
    EDGAR AND SEDAR-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-
 
    The SEC requires public companies or their agents to file most disclosure
information in an electronic format through EDGAR, rather than in paper. This
electronic format, usually in ASCII, includes additional submission information
and coding "tags" embedded in the document. The SEC uses this embedded
information to analyze the document and to help the public retrieve these
disclosures. EDGAR filings are generally delivered by modem on a telephone line,
but may be delivered on magnetic computer tape or by
 
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diskette. We convert SEC forms and exhibit documents from standard word
processing and other computer formats to the EDGAR format and we then assemble
these documents for electronic filing with the SEC.
 
    Merrill has been involved in all stages of EDGAR's development. We wrote
software that enables us to prepare documents in single source files and file
the electronic version of financial and corporate documents quickly. "Single
source files" mean we make only one set of corrections to alter both the
electronic and print files -- reducing the chance of inconsistency. We have a
dedicated data line directly to the SEC's computers, which avoids busy signals
and other tie-ups. In addition, we have trained our staff extensively to
coordinate the preparation of these EDGAR filings. We keep participants informed
of EDGAR developments by publishing quarterly Merrill's EDGAR ADVISOR-TM-, a
newsletter distributed to lawyers, corporate executives and other readers. We
conduct seminars throughout the country on EDGAR. Customers may call our
toll-free EDGAR information line. We also publish a variety of reference
materials on EDGAR rules, forms, and procedures.
 
    We have experienced high demand levels for EDGAR filing services in both our
financial and corporate categories of services. Many public companies choose not
to manage their own EDGAR filings and use outside services to meet EDGAR filing
requirements. We believe that our full array of EDGAR services will continue to
enhance the need for our other time-sensitive document services.
 
    SEDAR-Registered Trademark- (System for Electronic Document Analysis and
Retrieval) is Canada's system for electronic disclosure by public companies. We
offer a full range of SEDAR services, including a section on SEDAR in the EDGAR
ADVISOR.
 
    SEDAR IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF THE CANADIAN SECURITIES ADMINISTRATORS.
 
DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES
 
    Merrill provides comprehensive document management services for our
customers. We work both on an ongoing basis, which can include management of the
client's entire photocopying, typesetting, imaging and/or mailroom facilities,
and on a transactional basis, which includes photocopying and electronic imaging
services on an as needed basis.
 
    We offer comprehensive office photocopying, typesetting and mailroom
facility management services to our customers in Document Service Centers (DSCs)
within their offices. These services involve providing for a client's document
management needs, including on-site employees, equipment and management of the
operation.
 
    We typically enter into three-year agreements with our clients to provide a
range of services at their location. We help our customers determine their
needs, and provide the equipment, staff, and management to meet those needs.
Since most of our DSCs are located in cities where we have our own service
facilities, we can provide back-up capacity and personnel to our DSC customers
as needed.
 
    The transactional business includes document reproduction for projects that
are time-sensitive or otherwise require special service, such as photocopying
documents for large litigation matters. We produce the photocopies at our own
service facilities or we place photocopying equipment and personnel at the
client's office. Document reproduction services require rapid turnaround and
availability twenty-four hours per day. Our document reproduction customers
typically have several boxes of documents that may be in file folders, stapled
or on varying sizes of paper. We take apart, photocopy and reassemble the
original documents as instructed by the client. We also provide sequential
numbering, binding and imaging services for these documents, if requested.
Photocopying projects range from single copies of short documents to very
complicated tasks.
 
    Our service facilities include document management equipment and personnel.
Each service facility is equipped with high-performance photocopying equipment.
We make efficient use of this equipment by performing project photocopying
during times when the equipment would otherwise be idle. We also operate
document reproduction facilities in Century City (Los Angeles area) and Union,
New Jersey.
 
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COMMERCIAL AND OTHER SERVICES
 
    GENERAL
 
    The Commercial and Other revenue category includes document services
performed by our Merrill/May, Inc. (Merrill/May), FMC Resource Management
Corporation (FMC) and Merrill Training & Technology, Inc. (MTT) subsidiaries, as
well as revenue from the production of other commercial documents, including
health care provider directories, price catalogs, insurance industry annual
reports, sample ballots, directories, and technical manuals from electronic
information supplied by customers. Merrill/May provides custom marketing
communication services to corporate customers and demand printing and
distribution services designed to promote the corporate identity of large,
national customers with multiple franchisees, members, divisions or affiliated
organizations, including real estate companies, fast food restaurants, and
credit card companies. FMC provides manufacturing, distribution, and inventory
management services of marketing items for large, geographically diverse
companies, such as department stores. MTT provides computer systems and training
to the real estate industry.
 
MANAGED COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMS
 
    We provide demand printing and fulfillment of "corporate identity" materials
-- brochures, business cards, even clothing that carries the distinctive marks
and symbols of those corporations. We call this Managed Communications Programs.
Our customers are usually large, national customers with multiple franchisees,
members, divisions or affiliated organizations (member organizations).
 
    We also provide manufacturing, fulfillment, and inventory management
services, such as commercial printing, business forms, digital printing, display
items, collateral materials, (i.e., hangers, pricetags, and point of purchase
signage), and gift certificates for large companies with multiple locations and
departments that
are seeking consistency throughout the organization.
 
    We can produce multi-color, highly technical, commercial quality printed
materials. We develop, produce, and prepare a catalog of the printed products,
which includes other promotional merchandise produced by third parties. We also
distribute the client-specific catalogs to the client's member organizations. To
our real estate customers, we also offer computer hardware, training and
technology services.
 
    We develop direct relationships with the individual member organizations,
which are often independently owned and operated and make their own print
purchasing decisions. We use a sophisticated order entry system, including a
large inbound telemarketing staff, to receive and process orders. A member
organization or an individual can place an order by mail, fax or toll free
number. Our customer service representative processing the order will have
access to the client's purchase history (if an existing client) and can suggest
reordering certain items, cross-sell complementary items or alert the client to
current specials.
 
    We produce printed materials in large quantities, which we warehouse pending
receipt of an order. Products ordered from a catalog typically require
additional "personalizing" for the ordering member organization. They are
checked for quality, packaged and shipped. Promotional merchandise (point of
purchase, advertising specialty, premiums and incentives) included in a catalog
that are produced by third parties are generally shipped directly by the
manufacturer to the ordering member organization. We use a materials handling
system with automated handling, order consolidation and shipping. Most orders
are filled within four days of receipt.
 
    Our centralized production and fulfillment center in St. Cloud, Minnesota
benefits both the national account client and its member organizations. The
national account client can control the use of its trademarks and enjoy the
economies of mass production. The members, the ultimate consumers of our
services, receive quality products, fast delivery and prices that we believe are
competitive with prices charged by local print shops.
 
    Mutual fund and other investment companies also use our suite of fulfillment
services, including MERRILLCONNECT-TM- software. MERRILLCONNECT tracks client
contacts, marketing materials, and responses in a closed-loop system.
 
    Our Managed Communications Programs customers are located in all fifty
states and Canada, with limited shipments to Mexico, Puerto Rico, France,
Germany, England, Guam, the Virgin Islands, Italy, Spain, Singapore and the
Cayman Islands.
 
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    We also provide custom marketing communications and publishing services,
primarily to financial services companies, media organizations, retailers and
the health care industry. The types of custom publications we produce include
magazines, tabloids, newsletters, booklets and catalogs used by customers for
their marketing purposes. We work with customers in the design, editorial
content and mailing lists for these publications. We typeset, print and mail the
publications. Most often, we operate on annual contracts for this work.
 
    Our commercial typesetting business provides full document services,
including camera, pre-press and printing services for one- or multi-color
publications. These commercial printing projects, like financial and corporate
printing, require a high level of attention to detail, quick turnaround times,
and responsive customer service. We believe that offering a high level of
specialty service is a competitive advantage in certain niches of the commercial
printing business.
 
PRINTING SERVICES
 
    We currently operate printing plants in St. Paul, Los Angeles, Chicago,
Dallas and New Jersey. We have found it advantageous to operate printing presses
at these locations to service our Financial Document Services customers, and
service a portion of our recurring corporate and commercial printing business.
Corporate and commercial printing is generally more predictable in volume and
less time-sensitive in nature than financial printing. Because we use the
presses for both types of printing, we retain the flexibility to meet the
immediate demands of financial printing.
 
    In all markets, we have identified several printers capable of meeting our
production needs on an "as required" basis. We use associated printers when we
need additional capacity in markets where we do not own presses, when special
printing equipment is needed, or when we have overflow work. We generally select
associated printers on a job-by-job basis, based upon considerations of price,
availability and suitability of press equipment.
 
    We also operate a printing plant in St. Cloud, Minnesota, for our
specialized color printing services. SEE BUSINESS -- COMMERCIAL AND OTHER
SERVICES -- MANAGED COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMS ABOVE.
MARKETING AND CUSTOMERS
 
    We market our services through the following product sectors:
 
    - Financial Document Services (includes transaction and compliance
      documents)
 
    - Investment Company Services
 
    - Document Management Services
 
    - Managed Communications Programs
 
    We sell our products and services nationwide through a direct sales
organization operating from our service facilities and sales offices. We market
in Canada through employees of our joint venture, Quebecor Merrill Canada Inc.
Internationally, we sell with Burrups, Ltd. through the direct sales by
employees of each company.
 
    We direct our Financial Document Services to executives of corporations
whose securities are or are about to be publicly traded. We also sell to the
advisers to those companies -- corporate finance underwriters, municipal bond
underwriters, and attorneys, as well as others who require fast and accurate
typesetting.
 
    Investment Company Services are marketed to mutual fund and unit investment
trust managers.
 
    Our Document Management Services are marketed primarily to lawyers,
paralegals, law office administrators, and legal departments of corporations.
 
    We market Managed Communications Programs through direct sales teams based
in several major markets throughout the United States.
 
    We market our demand printing and distribution services to large, national
customers with multiple franchisees, members, divisions or affiliated
organizations and our custom publication services to financial service companies
(such as banks, credit unions and insurance companies), television and radio
stations and networks, trade associations, manufacturers and vacation travel
industries. We sell our commercial printing services primarily to corporations,
associations, insurance companies and legal, institutional and governmental
publishers. We sell computer training and technology services to real estate
agents through industry networking, telemarketing and other direct marketing
methods.
 
6
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    As of April 15, 1998, we employed 288 full-time salespeople to market
typesetting, printing, publishing, distribution, document management,
reproduction and managed communication services. Our salespeople solicit
business from existing and prospective customers. Together with the customer
service representatives, the sales team helps coordinate our services and
provides advice and assistance to customers.
 
COMPETITION
 
    Merrill competes with many domestic and international companies in the
financial and compliance printing industries, including two principal U.S.-based
competitors, Bowne & Co., Inc. and R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company. Both Bowne and
Donnelley are major competitors in most of our financial and compliance printing
markets.
 
    We also compete for complex, large-run typesetting work with a number of
other computer typesetting firms, and we compete for medium-run printing work
with a number of commercial web press printers.
 
    In the Managed Communications Programs business, we believe our primary
competitors are local print shops and marketing service firms, including
advertising agencies, custom publication printers, direct mail firms, and
television, radio, newspapers, magazine and other media organizations. We also
compete with computer training organizations and computer retailers.
 
    In our Document Management Services businesses, we compete with three
nationwide service companies -- Xerox Corporation, Pitney Bowes and IKON -- and
a number of smaller local companies. We also compete with litigation support
services vendors and a large number of photocopying and imaging shops, including
privately-owned shops as well as franchise operations. Competition in this part
of our business is intense and is based principally on service, price, speed,
accuracy, technological capability and established relationships.
 
    We believe that Merrill competes favorably with its competitors.
 
EMPLOYEES
 
    As of April 15, 1998, we had 3,626 full-time employees and 212 part-time
employees. None of our employees are covered by a collective bargaining
agreement. We consider our employee relations to be good.
 
    Merrill's senior management and certain technical personnel have substantial
experience and expertise in the document services industry. We consider the
retention of these employees to be important to our continued success.
 
    We compete intensely with others in the industry to attract and retain
qualified salespeople. However, we believe that we are able to provide
incentives sufficient to minimize the loss of key salespeople and to attract
productive new salespeople for both replacement and expansion of our sales team.
Many salespeople are under employment contracts of varying terms with us.
 
(d)  FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC OPERATIONS AND EXPORT
  SALES
 
    Substantially all of our revenue, operating profit and identifiable assets
are based in the United States.
 
ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES
 
    We lease all of our facilities, except two.
 
    We own Merrill/May's main facility in St. Cloud that includes approximately
123,000 square feet.
 
    We also own the Energy Park Business Center in St. Paul. This space consists
of approximately 150,000 square feet in two buildings adjacent to our principal
production and administrative office facility. We maintain several of our
corporate and administration departments in these buildings along with
reprographics operations. Substantially all of the approximately 85,000 square
feet of space remaining available for lease is currently leased to other
businesses. We believe that owning these buildings allows us to plan our
expansion more efficiently.
 
    Our main office in St. Paul includes 47,000 square feet and is leased from
the Port Authority of the City of St. Paul. The terms of our agreements with the
Port Authority are in a facilities lease and land lease, both dated October 1,
1985, which require us to pay rent to the Port Authority in the amounts of
$24,069 per month and $3,431 per month, respectively, for terms expiring on
November 30, 2005. Each lease grants us the
 
                                                                               7
<PAGE>
option to purchase the property at the end of the term. Under the facilities
lease, we may purchase the building for $254,500 and the land for $167,140 at
the end of the lease terms.
 
    Our New York City service facility consists of approximately 102,000 square
feet of leased space on three floors of a building in Greenwich Village. We are
required to pay rent in the amount of $57,385 per month for a term expiring on
October 31, 2014.
 
    We also lease service facilities, sales offices and warehouse space in other
cities, with space ranging from 150 square feet to 77,000 square feet. These
leases have expiration dates ranging from June 30, 1998 to October 31, 2018
under which we make monthly payments aggregating approximately $460,000,
including rental fees, real estate taxes and operating expenses.
 
    We make a continuing effort to keep all of our properties and facilities
modern, efficient and adequate for our operating needs.
 
ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
    We do not know of any important legal, governmental, administrative or other
matters that would significantly affect Merrill's business or property.
 
    ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
 
        We did not ask our shareholders to vote on anything during the
    fourth quarter of fiscal year 1998.
 
    ITEM 4A.  EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
 
        The executive officers of Merrill, their ages, the year they became
    executive officers and the offices held as of April 28, 1998 are as
    follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       YEAR FIRST
                                         ELECTED
                                     OR APPOINTED AS
                                           AN
         NAME               AGE     EXECUTIVE OFFICER                    TITLE
-----------------------     ---     -----------------  ------------------------------------------
<S>                      <C>        <C>                <C>
John W. Castro              49            1980         President and Chief Executive Officer
Rick R. Atterbury           44            1981         Executive Vice President
Steven J. Machov            47            1987         Vice President, General Counsel and
                                                        Secretary
Kathleen A. Larkin          38            1993         Vice President -- Human Resources
Kay A. Barber               47            1995         Vice President -- Finance, Chief Financial
                                                        Officer, Treasurer
</TABLE>
 
        Our executive officers are elected by the Board of Directors. The
    officers serve one-year terms that begin with their election at the
    first meeting of the Board of Directors after the annual meeting of
    shareholders. Their terms end at the same meeting the following year.
    The President and Chief Executive Officer appoints other officers who
    serve at his discretion. There are no family relationships between any
    of the executive officers or directors. There has been no change in
    position of any of the executive officers during the past five years,
    except as we explain below:
 
        Mr. Atterbury was elected Executive Vice President in 1996. He
    previously served as Vice President -- Operations.
 
        Mr. Machov was elected Vice President in May 1993 in addition to his
    positions as General Counsel and Secretary.
 
        Ms. Larkin joined Merrill in April 1993 as Manager of Human
    Resources and was appointed Vice President -- Human Resources in
    December 1993.
 
8
<PAGE>
        Ms. Barber joined Merrill in August 1995 as Vice President --
    Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. From January 1993 to
    August 1995, Ms. Barber was Vice President, Finance and Controller for
    Growing Healthy, Inc., a frozen baby food company.
 
                                    PART II
 
    ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED
 
             STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
 
        Please refer to the section called "Quarterly Stock Price
    Information" on page 12 of our 1998 Annual Report for additional
    important information about Merrill's stock price. That information is
    part of our disclosure in this Report. You should review this
    information carefully. Merrill did not sell any unregistered equity
    securities from February 1, 1997 through January 31, 1998.
 
    ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
        The financial information in the table on page 27 of our 1998 Annual
    Report should be reviewed. It is part of our disclosure in this Report.
 
    ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
             RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
        Please review the information under the caption "Management's
    Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
    Operations" on pages 8 to 12 of our 1998 Annual Report. It is part of
    our disclosure in this Report and analyzes our financial performance
    over the last few years. You should review this information carefully.
 
    ITEM 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
        The Company regularly invests excess operating cash in overnight
    repurchase agreements that are subject to changes in short-term interest
    rates. Accordingly, the Company believes that the market risk arising
    from its holding of these financial instruments is minimal.
 
    ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
 
        Our "Consolidated Financial Statements" on pages 13 to 26 (including
    the unaudited information in the "Quarterly Data" section on page 26)
    and the Report of Independent Accountants on page 28 of our 1998 Annual
    Report are part of our disclosure in this Report. You should review this
    information carefully.
 
    ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
             FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
 
        There were none.
 
                                                                               9
<PAGE>
                                    PART III
 
ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
 
    (a)  DIRECTORS OF THE REGISTRANT.
 
    Please review the information under the captions "Election of Directors --
Information About Nominees" and "Other Information About Nominees" on pages 5
and 6 of our 1998 Proxy Statement. It is part of our disclosure in this Report.
You should review this information carefully.
 
    (b)  EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.
 
    Information concerning Merrill's Executive Officers is included in this
Report under Item 4A, "Executive Officers of the Registrant."
 
    (c)  COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT.
 
    The information under the caption "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership
Reporting Compliance" on page 16 of our 1998 Proxy Statement is part of our
disclosure in this Report. You should review this information carefully.
 
ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
    The information under the captions "Election of Directors -- Directors'
Compensation" on pages 7 and 8 and "Executive Compensation" on pages 8 to 16,
(excluding the "Comparative Stock Performance" graph on page 14), of our 1998
Proxy Statement is part of our disclosure in this Report. You should review this
information carefully.
 
ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
    The information under the captions "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
Owners and Management" on pages 3 and 4, and "Election of Directors --
Information About Nominees" on page 5 of our 1998 Proxy Statement is part of our
disclosure in this Report. You should review this information carefully.
 
ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
 
    The information under the caption "Certain Transactions" on page 16 of our
1998 Proxy Statement is part of our disclosure in this Report. You should review
this information carefully.
 
10
<PAGE>
                                    PART IV
 
ITEM 14.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
 
    (a)  1.  Financial statements:
 
                The following financial statements are part of our disclosure in
            this Report and are found on the following pages in our 1998 Annual
            Report:
 
                    Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 31, 1998 and 1997
                -- page 13.
 
                    Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended
                January 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 -- page 14.
 
                    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
                January 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 -- page 15.
 
                    Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity
                for the years ended January 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 -- page 16.
 
                    Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements -- pages 17-26.
 
                    Report of Independent Accountants -- page 28.
 
        2.  Financial statement schedule:
 
                The following supplemental schedule and report of independent
            accountants are part of our disclosure in this Report and should be
            read together with the consolidated financial statements in the 1998
            Annual Report we refer to above (page numbers refer to pages in this
            Report):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         PAGE
                                                                                         -----
<S>                                                                                   <C>
Report of Independent Accountants...................................................          13
 
Supplemental Schedule:
 
  II  Valuation and Qualifying
    Accounts........................................................................          14
</TABLE>
 
                We are omitting all other schedules either because the
            information does not apply or the information is in the consolidated
            financial statements or related notes.
 
        3.  Exhibits:
 
    The exhibits to this Report are listed in the Exhibit Index on pages 16 to
19 of this Report.
 
    If you were a shareholder on April 1, 1998, you may request copies of any of
these exhibits by writing to: Investor Relations, Merrill Corporation, One
Merrill Circle, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108. We may charge a small handling fee
for the copies.
 
    The following is a list of each management contract or compensatory plan or
arrangement we need to file as an exhibit to this Report:
 
    A.  Employment Agreement between John W. Castro and the Company (this was
       made part of our disclosure in Exhibit 10 to the Company's Quarterly
       Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 1989 (File No.
       0-14082)).
 
                                                                              11
<PAGE>
    B.  First Amendment to Employment Agreement between John W. Castro and the
       Company (this was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit 10.9 to the
       Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January
       31, 1994 (File No. 0-14082)).
 
    C.  Second Amendment to Employment Agreement between John W. Castro and the
       Company (this is included with this filing).
 
    D.  Deferred Compensation Agreement between John W. Castro and the Company
       (this is included with this filing).
 
    E.  Employment Agreement between Rick R. Atterbury and the Company (this was
       made part of our disclosure in Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Annual
       Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1991 (File No.
       0-14082)).
 
    F.  First Amendment to Employment Agreement between Rick R. Atterbury and
       the Company (this was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit 10.3 to the
       Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January
       31, 1994 (File No. 0-14082)).
 
    G. Second Amendment to Employment Agreement between Rick R. Atterbury and
       the Company (this is included with this filing).
 
    H. 1987 Omnibus Stock Plan, as amended (this was made part of our disclosure
       in Exhibit 10.14 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
       fiscal year ended January 31, 1991 (File No. 0-14082)).
 
    I.  1993 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (this was made part of our
       disclosure in Exhibit 10.11 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
       for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997 (File No. 0-14082)).
 
    J.  Option Agreement between Ronald N. Hoge and the Company (this was made
       part of our disclosure in Exhibit 10.9 to the Company's Annual Report on
       Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1993 (File No. 0-14082)).
 
    K. 1996 Non-Employee Director Plan (this was made part of our disclosure in
       Exhibit 10.19 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
       year ended January 31, 1997 (File No. 0-14082)).
 
    (b)  REPORTS ON FORM 8-K:
 
    No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the fourth quarter of the fiscal
year ended January 31, 1998.
 
12
<PAGE>
                       REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
                        ON FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE
 
    Our report on the consolidated financial statements of Merrill Corporation
and Subsidiaries has been incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K from page
28 of the 1998 Annual Report to Shareholders of Merrill Corporation. In
connection with our audits of such financial statements, we have also audited
the related financial statement schedule listed in Item 14(a)2. of this Form
10-K.
 
    In our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when
considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole,
presents fairly, in all material respects, the information required to be
included therein.
 
                                           COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
 
St. Paul, Minnesota
 
March 30, 1998
 
                                                                              13
<PAGE>
                                                                     SCHEDULE II
 
                              MERRILL CORPORATION
                       VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
 
              FOR THE YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1998, 1997 AND 1996
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       COLUMN C
                                                                 --------------------
                                                     COLUMN B         ADDITIONS          COLUMN D
                                                    ----------   --------------------   ----------    COLUMN E
                     COLUMN A                       BALANCE AT               CHARGED    DEDUCTIONS   -----------
--------------------------------------------------  BEGINNING     CHARGED    TO OTHER      FROM      BALANCE AT
DESCRIPTION                                          OF YEAR     TO INCOME   ACCOUNTS    RESERVES    END OF YEAR
--------------------------------------------------  ----------   ---------   --------   ----------   -----------
 
<S>                                                 <C>          <C>         <C>        <C>          <C>
Year Ended January 31, 1996
  Valuation account deducted from assets to which
    it applies --
    Allowance for doubtful accounts...............    $2,830      $1,486     $ 26(A)    $  797(B)      $3,545
                                                    ----------   ---------    ---       ----------   -----------
                                                    ----------   ---------    ---       ----------   -----------
    Allowance for unbillable inventories..........    $  312      $  250                               $  562
                                                    ----------   ---------                           -----------
                                                    ----------   ---------                           -----------
 
Year Ended January 31, 1997
  Valuation account deducted from assets to which
    it applies --
    Allowance for doubtful accounts...............    $3,545      $2,861     $ 61(A)    $  440(B)      $6,027
                                                    ----------   ---------    ---       ----------   -----------
                                                    ----------   ---------    ---       ----------   -----------
    Allowance for unbillable inventories..........    $  562      $2,678                               $3,240
                                                    ----------   ---------                           -----------
                                                    ----------   ---------                           -----------
 
Year Ended January 31, 1998
  Valuation account deducted from assets to which
    it applies --
    Allowance for doubtful accounts...............    $6,027      $2,064     $ 55(A)    $1,154(B)      $6,992
                                                    ----------   ---------    ---       ----------   -----------
                                                    ----------   ---------    ---       ----------   -----------
    Allowance for unbillable inventories..........    $3,240                            $1,063(C)      $2,177
                                                    ----------                          ----------   -----------
                                                    ----------                          ----------   -----------
</TABLE>
 
------------------------
 
(A) Recoveries on accounts previously written off.
 
(B) Uncollectible accounts written off and adjustments to the allowance.
 
(C) Adjustments to the allowance account to reflect estimated net realizable
    value at year-end.
 
14
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
    Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                    <C>
(REGISTRANT)           MERRILL CORPORATION
BY (SIGNATURE)         /s/ JOHN W. CASTRO
(NAME AND TITLE)       John W. Castro, President and Chief Executive Officer
(DATE)                 April 30, 1998
</TABLE>
 
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
Registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                    <C>
BY (SIGNATURE)         /s/ JOHN W. CASTRO
(NAME AND TITLE)       John W. Castro, President and Chief Executive Officer
                        (Principal Executive Officer) and Director
(DATE)                 April 30, 1998
 
BY (SIGNATURE)         /s/ KAY A. BARBER
(NAME AND TITLE)       Kay A. Barber, Vice President -- Finance, Chief
                        Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial
                        and Accounting Officer)
(DATE)                 April 30, 1998
 
BY (SIGNATURE)         /s/ ROBERT F. NIENHOUSE
(NAME AND TITLE)       Robert F. Nienhouse, Director
(DATE)                 April 30, 1998
 
BY (SIGNATURE)         /s/ RICHARD G. LAREAU
(NAME AND TITLE)       Richard G. Lareau, Director
(DATE)                 April 30, 1998
 
BY (SIGNATURE)         /s/ PAUL G. MILLER
(NAME AND TITLE)       Paul G. Miller, Director
(DATE)                 April 30, 1998
 
BY (SIGNATURE)         /s/ RICK R. ATTERBURY
(NAME AND TITLE)       Rick R. Atterbury, Director
(DATE)                 April 30, 1998
 
BY (SIGNATURE)         /s/ RONALD N. HOGE
(NAME AND TITLE)       Ronald N. Hoge, Director
(DATE)                 April 30, 1998
 
BY (SIGNATURE)         /s/ JAMES R. CAMPBELL
(NAME AND TITLE)       James R. Campbell, Director
(DATE)                 April 30, 1998
 
BY (SIGNATURE)         /s/ FREDERICK W. KANNER
(NAME AND TITLE)       Frederick W. Kanner, Director
(DATE)                 April 30, 1998
 
BY (SIGNATURE)         /s/ MICHAEL S. SCOTT MORTON
(NAME AND TITLE)       Michael S. Scott Morton, Director
(DATE)                 April 30, 1998
</TABLE>
 
                                                                              15
<PAGE>
                              MERRILL CORPORATION
                         EXHIBIT INDEX TO ANNUAL REPORT
                                  ON FORM 10-K
                     FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 31, 1998
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 ITEM NO.                       DESCRIPTION                                       METHOD OF FILING
-----------  --------------------------------------------------  --------------------------------------------------
<C>          <S>                                                 <C>
       3.1   Articles of Incorporation of the Company            This was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit
                                                                  3.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on
                                                                  Form S-1 (File No. 33-4062)
 
       3.2   Amendments to Articles of Incorporation as of June  This was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit
              20, 1986 and March 27, 1987                         3.2 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                                                                  for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1987
 
       3.3   Restated Bylaws of the Company                      This was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit
                                                                  3.3 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                                                                  for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1990
 
      10.1   Employment Agreement between Rick R. Atterbury and  This was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit
              the Company, dated as of February 1, 1987, as       10.2 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
              amended                                             for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1991
 
      10.2   First Amendment to Employment Agreement between     This was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit
              Rick R. Atterbury and the Company, dated as of      10.3 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
              April 29, 1994.                                     for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1994
 
      10.3   Second Amendment to Employment Agreement between    Included with this filing electronically
              Rick R. Atterbury and the Company, dated as of
              April 8, 1998.
 
      10.4   Facilities Lease dated October 1, 1985 between the  This was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit
              Port Authority of the City of Saint Paul as         10.17 to the Company's Registration Statement on
              lessor and the Company as lessee                    Form S-1 (File No. 33-4062)
 
      10.5   Land Lease dated October 1, 1985 between the Port   This was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit
              Authority of the City of Saint Paul as lessor and   10.18 to the Company's Registration Statement on
              the Company as lessee                               Form S-1 (File No. 33-4062)
 
      10.6   Credit Agreement dated as of November 25, 1996      This was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit
              among First Bank, N.A., as Agent and as a Bank,     10.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form
              Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A., and the Company.      10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended October 31,
                                                                  1996
 
      10.7   Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 25,    This was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit
              1996                                                10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form
                                                                  10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended October 31,
                                                                  1996
 
      10.8   1987 Omnibus Stock Plan, as amended                 This was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit
                                                                  10.14 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                                                                  for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1991
</TABLE>
 
16
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 ITEM NO.                       DESCRIPTION                                       METHOD OF FILING
-----------  --------------------------------------------------  --------------------------------------------------
      10.9   Employment Agreement between John W. Castro and     This was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit 10
              the Company dated as of February 1, 1989            to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
                                                                  for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 1989
<C>          <S>                                                 <C>
 
      10.10  Amendment to Employment Agreement between John W.   This was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit
              Castro and the Company dated as of April 29,        10.9 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
              1994.                                               for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1994
 
      10.11  Second Amendment to Employment Agreement between    Included with this filing electronically
              John W. Castro and the Company, dated as of April
              8, 1998.
 
      10.12  Deferred Compensation Plan for John W. Castro,      Included with this filing electronically
              dated as of March 30, 1998.
 
      10.13  1993 Incentive Stock Plan, as amended               This was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit
                                                                  10.11 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                                                                  for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997
 
      10.14  Option Agreement dated as of July 1, 1991 between   This was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit
              Ronald N. Hoge and the Company                      10.9 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                                                                  for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1993
 
      10.15  Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 31,  This was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit
              1993 among the Company, Merrill Acquisition         2.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
              Corporation, May Printing Company and               dated December 31, 1993.
              Shareholders of May Printing Company.
 
      10.16  Loan Agreement, dated as of July 1, 1990 between    This was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit
              May Printing Company and Minnesota Agricultural     10.13 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
              and Economic Development Board, amended as of       for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1994
              December 31, 1993.
 
      10.17  Guaranty of Loan Obligations of May Printing        This was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit
              Company by the Company in favor of Minnesota        10.14 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
              Agricultural and Economic Development Board,        for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1994
              dated as of December 31, 1993.
 
      10.18  Guaranty Agreement of the obligations of Merrill    This was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit
              Acquisition Corporation by the Company in favor     10.15 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
              of May Printing Company, and Thomas May and James   for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1994
              Scott May, dated as of December 31, 1993.
 
      10.19  Stock Purchase Agreement, dated March 28, 1996, by  This was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit
              and among the Company and the Shareholders of FMC   2.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
              Resource Management Corporation                     dated April 15, 1996
</TABLE>
 
                                                                              17
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 ITEM NO.                       DESCRIPTION                                       METHOD OF FILING
-----------  --------------------------------------------------  --------------------------------------------------
      10.20  Asset Purchase Agreement, dated April 15, 1996, by  This was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit
              and among the Company, Merrill/New York Company     10.22 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
              and The Corporate Printing Company, Inc., CPC       for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1996.
              Communications, Inc., CPC Reprographics, Inc.,
              The Corporate Printing Company International,
              Ltd., CP International Holdings, Inc., CPC
              Management Services, Inc., The Corporate Printing
              Company International SNC, The Corporate Printing
              Company International PTE Ltd., Oakland
              Composition Limited Partnership, and the
              Shareholders of the above Affiliated Companies.
              (Omitted from this Agreement, as filed, are the
              exhibits listed in the List of Exhibits included
              at the beginning of the Agreement. The Company
              will furnish supplementally a copy of any such
              omitted exhibits to the Commission upon request.)
<C>          <S>                                                 <C>
 
      10.21  1996 Non-Employee Director Plan                     This was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit
                                                                  10.19 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                                                                  for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997.
 
      10.22  Lease dated as of May 1, 1994 between The Rector,   This was made part of our disclosure in Exhibit
              Church-Wardens, and Vestrymen of Trinity Church     10.20 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
              in the City of New York, as landlord and The        for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997.
              Corporate Printing Company, Inc, as lessee,
              assignor to Merrill/New York Company. (Omitted
              from this Lease, as filed, are the floor plan
              exhibits listed in the Exhibits and Other
              Attachments included at the beginning of the
              Agreement. The Company will furnish
              supplementally a copy of any such omitted
              exhibits to the Commission upon request.)
 
      13.1   Portions of Annual Report to Shareholders           Included with this filing electronically
 
      21.1   Subsidiaries of the Company                         Included with this filing electronically
 
      23.1   Consent of Independent Accountants                  Included with this filing electronically
 
      27.1   Financial Data Schedule for the year ended January  Included with this filing electronically
              31, 1998
 
      27.2   Restated Financial Data Schedule for the quarter    Included with this filing electronically
              ending October 31, 1997
 
      27.3   Restated Financial Data Schedule for the quarter    Included with this filing electronically
              ending July 31, 1997
 
      27.4   Restated Financial Data Schedule for the quarter    Included with this filing electronically
              ending April 30, 1997
</TABLE>
 
18
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 ITEM NO.                       DESCRIPTION                                       METHOD OF FILING
-----------  --------------------------------------------------  --------------------------------------------------
      27.5   Restated Financial Data Schedule for the year       Included with this filing electronically
              ending January 31, 1997
<C>          <S>                                                 <C>
 
      27.6   Restated Financial Data Schedule for the quarter    Included with this filing electronically
              ending October 31, 1996
 
      27.7   Restated Financial Data Schedule for the quarter    Included with this filing electronically
              ending July 31, 1996
 
      27.8   Restated Financial Data Schedule for the quarter    Included with this filing electronically
              ending April 30, 1996
 
      27.9   Restated Financial Data Schedule for the year       Included with this filing electronically
              ending January 31, 1996
</TABLE>
 
                                                                              19