UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                    FORM 10-K

(X)  ANNUAL REPORT  PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE  SECURITIES  EXCHANGE
     ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended January 1, 2000

                                                             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 0-6187

                                BANTA CORPORATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

               Wisconsin                                         39-0148550
-----------------------------------------                  ---------------------
      (State or other jurisdiction                             (IRS Employer
    of incorporation or organization)                           I.D. Number)

   225 Main Street, Menasha, Wisconsin                             54952
-----------------------------------------                  ---------------------
 (Address of principal executive offices)                        (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (920) 751-7777
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

                                                          Name of Each Exchange
           Title of Each Class                             On Which Registered
     -------------------------------                     -----------------------
      Common Stock, $.10 par value                       New York Stock Exchange
     Rights to Purchase Common Stock                     New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None

     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. (X) Yes ( ) No

     Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  files  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. (X)

     Aggregate  market  value of  voting  stock  held by  non-affiliates  of the
registrant as of March 3, 2000: $455,561,000.

     Number  of  shares  of  common  stock  outstanding  as of  March  3,  2000:
25,398,503.

                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

(1)  Annual  Report  to  Shareholders   for  the  year  ended  January  1,  2000
     (incorporated into Parts I and II).

(2)  Definitive Proxy Statement for annual meeting of shareholders to be held on
     April 25, 2000 (incorporated into Part III).


<PAGE>

                                     PART I

Item 1.   Business.

General.

          Banta  Corporation (the  "Corporation" or "Banta"),  together with its
subsidiaries, is one of the largest printing organizations in the United States,
providing  a  broad  range  of  printing  and  digital  imaging  services.   The
Corporation  was  incorporated  in Wisconsin in 1901.  Its  principal  executive
offices  are  located  at  225  Main  Street,  Menasha,  Wisconsin,  54952.  The
Corporation  had a total of  approximately  7,200 employees at the end of fiscal
1999.

          The Corporation  operates in two primary business segments,  print and
turnkey services,  with other business  operations in healthcare  products.  The
print segment provides  products,  including  digital  imaging,  and services to
publishers of educational and general books, special interest magazines,  and is
a supplier of direct marketing materials and consumer and business catalogs. The
turnkey services segment provides  supply-chain  management,  product  assembly,
fulfillment and product localization  services primarily to technology companies
in the  U.S.  and  Europe.  Healthcare  products  is  primarily  engaged  in the
production of disposable products used in outpatient clinics, dental offices and
hospitals. Footnote 12 to the Corporation's Consolidated Financial Statements in
the  Corporation's  Annual  Report to  Shareholders  for the  fiscal  year ended
January 1, 2000  includes  further  information  on the  Corporation's  business
segments.

          At the end of fiscal 1999, the Corporation's operations were conducted
at  35  production  facilities  in  the  United  States  located  in  Wisconsin,
Minnesota, California,  Connecticut,  Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts,
Missouri,  Ohio,  Texas,  Utah,  Virginia and  Washington  and at five  European
production facilities located in Ireland, Scotland and The Netherlands.

          In the  second  quarter  of 1999,  the  Corporation  recorded  a $55.0
million  restructuring  charge ($38.5 million or $1.40 per diluted share,  after
tax). The restructuring  primarily involved the Corporation's  print segment and
resulted in three facility closings, the elimination of certain  underperforming
business  assets and a work force reduction of nearly 9%. These closings and the
related  asset  writedowns  resulted  from the  Corporation's  decision  to exit
non-strategic  businesses and discontinue  activities that management determined
were unlikely to deliver future acceptable  profitability and shareholder value.
Targeted  objectives of the restructuring  included  earnings growth,  increased
efficiencies  and enhanced  shareholder  returns.  The Corporation  achieved its
cost-saving  objectives for 1999 and expects substantial benefits to continue in
2000.

          The following table sets forth the approximate  percentage of printing
segment net sales  contributed  by each class of similar  products  and services
which accounted for ten percent or more of printing segment net sales for any of
the last three fiscal years.

                                     1999         1998        1997
                                     ----         ----        ----

          Books                       29%          29%         30%

          Direct Marketing            24           25          25

          Catalogs                    23           24          23

          Magazines                   17           16          14

          Other                        7            6           8
                                   --------     --------    --------

                    TOTAL            100%         100%        100%
                                   ========     ========    ========


          During 1999, the Corporation  acquired a 50 percent equity interest in
a newly  formed  joint  venture,  Banta G. Imagen S. de R.L.  de C.V.,  based in
Queretaro  Mexico,  which  provides a variety of products  and  services for the
commercial  print market.  The purchase price paid for the interest in the joint
venture was not material to the Corporation.



<PAGE>

          This document  includes  forward-looking  statements.  Statements that
describe  future  expectations,  plans,  results or  strategies  are  considered
forward-looking.  Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties
which could  cause  actual  results to differ  materially  from those  currently
anticipated.  Factors that could affect actual  results  include,  among others,
changes in customer  order  patterns or demand for the  Corporation's  products,
changes  in raw  material  costs  and  availability,  success  with  operational
start-ups, pricing actions by competitors,  success in the implementation of the
Corporation's  plan to enhance  revenues  and  margins,  and general  changes in
economic  conditions.  These factors  should be  considered  in  evaluating  the
forward-looking  statements,  and undue  reliance  should  not be placed on such
statements.  The  forward-looking  statements included herein are made as of the
date hereof,  and the  Corporation  undertakes no obligation to update  publicly
such statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Customers.

          The  Corporation  sells its products and services to a large number of
customers and generally  does not have long-term  production  contracts with its
customers.  Production agreements covering one to three years are, however, more
frequent for turnkey services,  magazine and catalog production.  In addition to
these  production  agreements,  the Corporation  entered into three  significant
long-term  contracts  during  1999.  In  October,  the  Corporation  announced a
five-year  agreement with Compaq  Computer  having a total revenue range of $600
million to $800 million.  Under this contract,  Banta will  configure,  test and
distribute  worldwide  Compaq's  hard drives,  which are used in  mid-range  and
high-end servers typically found in information technology centers. Banta opened
a  260,000-square-foot  complex  in  Houston,  Texas  to  serve  North  America.
Additional  locations  will be in Ireland and Singapore in  connection  with the
Compaq  contract.  In January 1999, the  Corporation  announced a 10-year,  $100
million  contract with IDG Books  Worldwide,  Inc.  ("IDGB") to provide printing
services  and  advanced  systems  and  technologies  for order  fulfillment  and
distribution. To meet this requirement, Banta constructed a 250,000-square-foot,
state-of-the-art  distribution center in Harrisonburg,  Virginia,  which will be
dedicated to the distribution of all IDGB products. The Corporation also entered
into a five-year,  multimillion-dollar agreement to print and distribute ProBook
catalogs for The Home Depot.

          Substantially all sales are made to customers through employees of the
Corporation and its subsidiaries based on customer  specifications.  The fifteen
largest  customers  accounted  for  approximately  25%, 29% and 27% of net sales
during 1999, 1998, and 1997,  respectively.  No customer accounted for more than
10% of the  Corporation's  net sales in 1999,  1998,  or 1997. In the opinion of
management,  the loss of any single customer would not have a material long-term
adverse effect on the Corporation.

Backlog.

          The  Corporation  is primarily a  manufacturing  services  company and
provides its customers with printing,  converting and other services.  Lead time
for services  varies,  depending  upon the type of customer,  the industry being
serviced and seasonal factors including  cyclical paper  availability.  Backlogs
would be expressed in terms of time scheduled on equipment and not dollar value.
Consequently, the dollar value of backlog is not readily available.

Markets Served.

          Set  forth  below  is  a  description  of  the  primary   markets  the
Corporation serves:

     o    Books

          The Corporation prints consumable elementary and high school workbooks
and other  products  for  publishers  of  educational  and general  book markets
including  textbooks  (primarily soft cover),  testing  materials and paperbound
books. Print  opportunities in the consumable  educational  workbook market have
decreased  during  the last  several  years  as  publisher  consolidations  have
resulted in fewer companies offering  educational  products.  Additionally,  the
effort to improve the nation's educational system has prompted schools to invest
portions of their curriculum budget in alternate teaching methods. Some of these
efforts have replaced consumable  workbooks with other  instructional  materials
including non-print services. A strong textbook adoption period is projected for
years 2000 and 2001, providing additional revenue  opportunities from publishers
who participate in the state textbook adoption program.


<PAGE>


          At the end of 1999, the  Corporation  had two  facilities  serving the
computer  equipment and software  industry's  print  manuals,  both of which use
offset  printing  and  high  speed   photocopying.   In  conjunction   with  the
Corporation's second quarter 1999 restructuring,  the Kent,  Washington facility
which served this market,  was closed  primarily due to the replacement of print
documentation with CD-ROM and online  documentation.  Remaining Banta operations
serving the software and documentation markets continue to reinforce their sales
efforts toward other  publishers who utilize formats that fit the  Corporation's
existing equipment, including self-help instructional books and other soft cover
products.

         The  Corporation's  book units also  produce  multimedia  products  for
educational and other publishers. Services include project management, assembly,
fulfillment and distribution of customer products.

     o    Direct Marketing

          Printed   materials  for  direct  marketing   customers  are  provided
primarily by three  plants.  These  products vary in format and size and include
magazine and catalog  inserts,  bill stuffers,  brochures,  booklets,  cards and
target market  products  designed to sell a product or solicit a response.  Over
the past several years, the Corporation has invested in imaging  equipment which
personalizes  direct  mail  pieces at press  speeds.  Banta  believes  that this
capability  is important to its  customers.  With the closing of the facility in
Berkeley,  Illinois, in conjunction with the 1999 second quarter  restructuring,
the Corporation currently performs only limited mailing and fulfillment services
for its direct marketing customers.

     o    Catalogs

          Two of the Corporation's facilities produce catalogs primarily for the
consumer,  business-to-business,  industrial and retail catalog markets. Bindery
services provide ink-jet labeling and demographic  binding (which allows several
different versions of the same catalog to be bound simultaneously). Distribution
services are provided by various  operating units of the Corporation,  including
computerized mail distribution planning systems. The provision of these services
assist  the  Corporation's  customers  in  minimizing  postage  costs and are an
integral part of catalog printing services.

     o    Magazines

          The Corporation's three plants serving the magazine market print, sort
and mail magazines  representing more than 750 different titles. These magazines
include primarily  short-to-medium  run publications  (usually less than 350,000
copies)  which  are  generally   distributed   to   subscribers   by  mail.  The
Corporation's   magazine   customers  are  primarily   publishers  of  specialty
magazines,  including religious,  business and professional  journals and hobby,
craft and sporting  publications.  The  Corporation  provides its customers with
computerized mailing lists and distribution services.

     o    Turnkey

          The   Corporation's   product   offerings   in  its   turnkey   market
classification  include  supply-chain  management,  manufacturing,  procurement,
packaging,  assembly and worldwide  distribution  services for computer software
publishers,   as  well  as  manufacturers  of  computer  hardware  and  consumer
electronics  primarily in the United States and Europe.  These  facilities  also
perform computer disk replication, product packaging and distribution.

     o    Healthcare Products

          One of the Corporation's  operating units, Banta Healthcare  Products,
Inc.  (BHP),  converts  poly film and paper  into  single-use  products  for the
healthcare and food service industries.  In addition,  BHP extrudes films, using
both cast and blown extruders,  for use in its  manufacturing  processes and for
sale to  external  customers.  Its  products  include  plastic  garment  covers,
examination  gowns,  stretcher  sheets,  and examination  table paper and pillow
covers.  During 1999,  business alliances were formed in Europe,  Canada,  Latin
America and the Far East,  opening access to product sourcing  opportunities and
to international distribution.



<PAGE>


     o    Digital Imaging

          Prepress  services  are  provided  by  several  of  the  Corporation's
facilities  to  publishers,  printers and  advertising  agencies.  Such services
include  the  conversion  of  full-color  photographs,  art and text into  color
separated film and digital files for use in the  production of printing  plates.
These units also provide  electronic  graphic  design,  digital  photography and
on-demand  print  services.  During the last  several  years,  these  units have
diversified  their  customer base to include  packaging  customers and increased
their  ability to maximize  plant  utilization  by connecting  their  facilities
through  an  extensive  network  of  high-speed   telecommunication  lines.  The
Corporation  also  offers  multiple  graphic  communication   solutions  to  its
customers.

          The  Corporation's  Digital  Content  Management  Solutions  Center in
Cambridge  Massachusetts  provides sophisticated database systems for archiving,
managing, retrieving and enabling multiple uses of customer digital information.
The  Corporation's   service  offerings  also  include  CD-ROM  production,   CD
Interactive  programming and the development of interactive  online products for
the World Wide Web including  web site hosting and  maintenance  and  electronic
commerce solutions.  During 1999, the Corporation  continued to invest in the Bo
media digital content  management  system that automates  customer's  production
process  by  streamlining  information  storage  and  retrieval  for  print  and
electronic  distribution.  Initial software programs were developed in 1998 with
the enterprisewide software released in December 1999.

Competitive Conditions.

          The  Corporation  is subject  to  competition  from a large  number of
companies,  several  of which  have  greater  resources  and  capacity  than the
Corporation. The graphic arts industry has continued to experience consolidation
over the last few years. This trend has resulted in fewer competitors, which are
larger than the Corporation in size and product offerings. The major competitive
factors  in  the  Corporation's  business  are  quality  of  finished  products,
distribution  capabilities,  ongoing customer service, price and availability of
time on  equipment,  which  is  appropriate  in size  and  function  for a given
project.  The  consolidation  of customers  within certain of the  Corporation's
markets provides both greater  competitive  pricing  pressures and opportunities
for  increased  volume  solicitation.  In recent years,  excess  capacity in the
printing  industry  has  resulted in lower unit  prices.  Despite the unit price
reductions,  the Corporation has been able to remain competitive in part because
it is financially able to invest in modern  technologically  advanced equipment,
which helps reduce unit costs, and because of productivity  gains resulting from
Continuous Improvement programs.

          There are  seasonal  fluctuations  in the usage of printing  equipment
which  in  times of low  demand  and  excess  capacity  can  give  rise to price
discounting.  In the educational book market, for instance,  activity is greater
in the first half of the year, and in the other markets,  activity is greater in
the second half of the year.  Computer  software and hardware products for which
the Company  provides  fulfillment  and printing  services are also typically in
greater demand during the second half of the year, although the release of a new
product by a major  customer  can increase  activity on an "event"  basis at any
time during the year.

Raw Materials.

          The principal raw material used by the  Corporation is paper.  Most of
the  Corporation's  production  facilities  are located in heavily  concentrated
papermaking  areas,  and the Corporation  can generally  obtain quality paper at
competitive prices. The Corporation is not dependent upon any one source for its
paper or other raw materials.

          During 1999,  the price of paper fell  significantly  during the first
half of the year, but rebounded to near 1998 prices by year-end. It is customary
for  printers to adjust  sales prices to reflect  market  fluctuations  in paper
prices.  In 1998 and 1997 the price of paper grades used most  frequently by the
Corporation remained stable.

          The  Corporation  uses a number of other raw materials  including ink,
resins,  packaging  materials and  subcontracted  components.  The cost of these
materials remained relatively stable in 1999, 1998 and 1997.



<PAGE>


Development.

          The graphic arts industry,  made up primarily of firms much smaller in
size than the Corporation,  tends to rely upon equipment and material  suppliers
for research and development.  The Corporation is engaged in long-range research
and development  relating to technology and system  enhancements,  and has spent
significant  amounts of money for such purposes.  The Corporation  believes that
its research and development  investments are above the industry average. One of
the objectives of the Corporation's technical research and development effort is
to  establish  a  competitive  advantage  in  existing  markets by  focusing  on
improving  operating   procedures,   increasing  machine  speeds  and  improving
monitoring of paper usage,  as well as working on the development of proprietary
inks, coatings, adhesives and machine modifications.

          To  help  fulfill  its  research  and  development   objectives,   the
Corporation  maintains  labs staffed with full-time  personnel  whose task is to
enhance current  technologies for  market-specific  applications.  The effort is
guided by the Corporation's  Research and Development Council,  which is made up
of  representatives  from the  Corporation's  different  operating  groups.  The
Corporation  also has increased its emphasis on the  development of new products
and services in many areas,  including the  development of digital  technologies
that encompass  software solutions for digital content management and electronic
commerce. During the last several years, 60 professional and technical employees
have worked  primarily on research  and  development  activities.  Additionally,
approximately 10 persons from quality control and engineering  devoted a portion
of their time to research and development.

          The Corporation has environmental  compliance  programs  primarily for
control of internal and external air quality,  groundwater quality,  disposal of
waste  material  and all  aspects of the work  environment  concerning  employee
health.  Capital  expenditures for air quality equipment have approximated 1% to
3% of total  capital  expenditures  in each of the  last  three  years.  Planned
capital  expenditures for environmental  control equipment are expected to be in
the same range for 2000. The Corporation also incurs ongoing costs in monitoring
compliance  with  environmental  laws,  in  connection  with  disposal  of waste
materials and in connection  with laws  governing  the  remediation  of sites at
which the Corporation has previously  disposed of waste materials.  Requirements
of the U.S.  Environmental  Protection  Agency and state  officials  nationwide,
relating to disposal of wastes in landfill  sites,  are increasing and resulting
in higher costs for the Corporation and its competitors. Costs for environmental
compliance and waste  disposal have not been material to the  Corporation in the
past,  but the  Corporation  presently  believes  that  expenditures  for  these
purposes  will  have  a  negative  impact  on  its  earnings  and  those  of its
competition  in the future.  These  increased  costs  should not have a material
impact on the Corporation's competitive position,  assuming similar expenditures
are required to be made by competitors.  The Corporation does not believe at the
present time that any cost, claims or penalties that may be incurred or assessed
under environmental laws, in connection with known environmental  assessment and
remediation matters,  beyond any reserves already provided, will have a material
adverse effect upon the  operations or  consolidated  financial  position of the
Corporation.

Foreign Operations.

          Footnote 12 to the Corporation's  Consolidated Financial Statements in
the  Corporation's  Annual  Report to  Shareholders  for the  fiscal  year ended
January 1, 2000 includes  information on the Corporation's  foreign  operations.
The  disclosures  contained in such footnote are hereby  incorporated  herein by
reference.



<PAGE>


                      EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION

                                        Business Experience
Name, Age, Position                     During Last Five Years

Donald D. Belcher; 61.................  Chairman of the Board of the Corporation
  Chairman, President and Chief           since May 1995; President and Chief
    Executive Officer                     Executive Officer of the Corporation.

Gerald A. Henseler; 59................  Executive Vice President and Chief
  Executive Vice President and            Financial Officer of the Corporation.
    Chief Financial Officer


Ronald D. Kneezel; 43.................  Vice President, General Counsel and
  Vice President, General Counsel         Secretary of the Corporation.
    and Secretary


Dennis J. Meyer; 44...................  Vice President Marketing of the
  Vice President Marketing                Corporation.


John E. Tiffany; 60...................  Vice President Manufacturing of the
  Vice President Manufacturing            Corporation.


Henry M. Wells, III; 55...............  Vice President Human Resources of the
  Vice President Human Resources          Corporation since April 1996; Senior
                                          Vice President of EJ Brach Corporation
                                          (a confectioner) from 1988 until
                                          joining the Corporation.


There  are  no  family  relationships  between  the  executive  officers  of the
Corporation.

All  of  the  executive  officers  are  elected  or  appointed  annually  by the
Corporation's Board of Directors.  Each officer holds office until his successor
has been elected or appointed or until his death, resignation or removal.



<PAGE>



Item 2.   Properties.

          The Corporation and its  subsidiaries  own operating plants located in
Wisconsin,  Connecticut,  Ohio, Minnesota,  Missouri,  North Carolina,  Utah and
Virginia,  as well as several warehouse facilities for storage of materials.  As
of the  end of  fiscal  1999,  these  owned  facilities  included  approximately
3,444,000  square  feet of space  utilized  as follows:  office  space  317,000,
manufacturing  1,857,000 and warehouse  1,270,000.  The  Corporation  leases its
headquarters office located in Menasha,  Wisconsin.  The Corporation also leases
production  facilities in Wisconsin,  California,  Florida,  Georgia,  Illinois,
Massachusetts,  Michigan,  Minnesota,  Texas,  Utah and  Washington,  as well as
warehouse space in numerous locations. European production facilities located in
Ireland,  Scotland and The Netherlands are also leased.  The total of all leased
facilities contain  approximately  3,336,000 square feet of space. The buildings
owned  and  leased  by  the   Corporation  are  primarily  of  steel  and  brick
construction.

          One plant owned by the Corporation  and certain  equipment are pledged
to  secure  issues  of  industrial  revenue  bonds in the  principal  amount  of
$1,500,000 as of January 1, 2000.

Item 3.   Legal Proceedings.

          The  Corporation  is  not  involved  in  any  material  pending  legal
proceedings, as defined by this item.

Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

          Not applicable.

                                     PART II

Item 5.   Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters.

          Under  long-term debt  agreements to which the Corporation is a party,
the  payment  of  cash  dividends  by the  Corporation  is  subject  to  certain
limitations.  As of January  1,  2000,  approximately  $89,965,000  of  retained
earnings was not restricted under these agreements.

          The  information  set forth  under the  caption  "Dividend  Record and
Market Prices" (but excluding the graphs related  thereto) in the  Corporation's
Annual  Report to  Shareholders  for the fiscal  year  ended  January 1, 2000 is
hereby incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item.

Item 6.   Selected Financial Data.

          The  information  set forth  under the caption  "Five-Year  Summary of
Selected  Financial  Data" (but  excluding  the graphs  related  thereto) in the
Corporation's Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended January 1,
2000 is hereby incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item.

Item 7.   Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and
          Operations.

          The information set forth under the caption  "Management's  Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Operations" in the Corporation's  Annual
Report to  Shareholders  for the  fiscal  year  ended  January 1, 2000 is hereby
incorporated herein by reference in response to this item.


<PAGE>


Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Discussion about Market Risk.

          The information set forth under the caption  "Management's  Discussion
and Analysis of Financial  Position and Operations" in the Corporation's  Annual
Report to  Shareholders  for the  fiscal  year  ended  January 1, 2000 is hereby
incorporated herein by reference in response to this item.

Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

          The Consolidated Balance Sheets of the Corporation and subsidiaries as
of January 1, 2000 and January 2, 1999, and the related consolidated  Statements
of Earnings, Cash Flows and Shareholders'  Investment for the fiscal years ended
January 1, 2000, January 2, 1999 and January 3, 1998,  together with the related
notes thereto and the Report of Independent Public Accountants thereon set forth
in the  Corporation's  Annual Report to  Shareholders  for the fiscal year ended
January 1, 2000,  are hereby  incorporated  herein by reference in response to a
portion of this item.

          The  information  set forth  under the  caption  "Unaudited  Quarterly
Financial  Information" in the  Corporation's  Annual Report to Shareholders for
the fiscal year ended January 1, 2000 is hereby incorporated herein by reference
in response to a portion of this item.

Item 9.   Changes  in  and  Disagreements  with  Accountants  on  Accounting and
          Financial Disclosure.

          Not applicable.


                                    PART III

Item 10.  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.

          The information under the captions  "Election of Directors" and "Other
Matters-Section  16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting  Compliance"  contained in
the  Corporation's   definitive  proxy  statement  for  the  annual  meeting  of
shareholders to be held on April 25, 2000, as filed with the Securities Exchange
Commission,  is hereby incorporated herein by reference in response to a portion
of this  item.  Reference  is also made to the  information  under  the  heading
"Executive Officers of the Corporation"  included under Item 1 of Part I of this
report.

Item 11.  Executive Compensation.

          The information under the captions "Board of Directors" and "Executive
Compensation" (other than the information under the subheading "Committee Report
on Executive  Compensation")  contained in the  Corporation's  definitive  proxy
statement for the annual meeting of  shareholders  to be held on April 25, 2000,
as filed with the Securities  and Exchange  Commission,  is hereby  incorporated
herein by reference in response to this item.

Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.

          The information under the caption "Stock  Ownership"  contained in the
Corporation's  definitive proxy statement for the annual meeting of shareholders
to be held on  April  25,  2000,  as  filed  with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in response to this item.

Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.

          The information  under the caption " Election of Directors"  contained
in the  Corporation's  definitive  proxy  statement  for the  annual  meeting of
shareholders  to be held on April 25,  2000,  as filed with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission,  is hereby incorporated herein by reference in response to
this item.



<PAGE>


                                     PART IV

Item 14.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K.

(a)      The following documents are filed as part of this report:

                                                            PAGE REFERENCE

                                                                  ANNUAL REPORT
                                                     FORM 10-K   TO SHAREHOLDERS

1.   Financial Statements:
     Report of Independent Public Accountants                             23
     Consolidated Balance Sheets
       January 1, 2000 and January 2, 1999                                24
     For the fiscal years ended January 1, 2000,
       January 2, 1999, and January 3, 1998:
         Consolidated Statements of Earnings                              25
         Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows                            26
         Consolidated Statements of
           Shareholders' Investments                                      27
     Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                        28-36

2.   Financial Statement Schedule:
     Report of Independent Public Accountants              14
     Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts       15

     All other  schedules  have been omitted since the required  information  is
     included in the  consolidated  financial  statements or notes  thereto,  or
     because the information is not required or applicable.

3.   Exhibits:

     (a)  Articles of Incorporation, as amended(1)
     (b)  Bylaws, as amended(2)

4.   (a)  Note  Purchase  Agreement  dated  June  24,  1988(3)
     (b)  Promissory Note Agreement dated July 17, 1990(4)
     (c)  Rights Agreement dated October 29, 1991(5)
     (d)  Note Purchase and Private Shelf Agreement dated May 12, 1994(6)
     (e)  Amendment to Promissory Note Agreement dated July 17, 1990(7)
     (f)  Note Purchase and Medium-term Note Agreement Dated November 2, 1995(8)

     [Note: The registrant has outstanding  certain issues of industrial revenue
     bonds,  none of which  authorize  the issuance of  securities  in an amount
     exceeding  10% of the  registrant's  consolidated  assets.  The  registrant
     hereby  agrees to  furnish  to the  Commission  upon  request a copy of any
     instrument  with respect to long-term  debt under which the total amount of
     securities authorized does not exceed 10% of the registrant's  consolidated
     assets.]



<PAGE>



*10. (a)  Amended and Restated Supplemental Retirement Plan for Key Employees(9)
     (b)  Amendment to Amended and Restated Supplemental Retirement Plan for Key
           Employees(10)
     (c)  Agreement with Gerald A. Henseler(11)
     (d)  Agreement with Ronald D. Kneezel
     (e)  Form of Agreements with Dennis J. Meyer,  John E. Tiffany and Henry M.
          Wells III
     (f)  Agreement with Donald D. Belcher
     (g)  1985  Deferred  Compensation  Plan for Key  Employees,  as amended and
           restated(12)
     (h)  1988  Deferred  Compensation  Plan for Key  Employees,  as amended and
           restated(13)
     (i)  Basic Form of  Deferred  Compensation  Agreements  under  (pre-January
           1994) 1985 and 1988 Deferred Compensation Plans for Key Employees(14)
     (j)  Basic Form of Deferred  Compensation under  (post-December  1993) 1988
           Deferred Compensation plan for Key Employees(15)
     (k)  Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors, as amended(16)
     (l)  Revised  Form  of  Indemnity  Agreements  with  Directors  and Certain
           Officers(17)
     (m)  Executive Trust Agreement(18)
     (n)  Amendment to Executive Trust Agreement(19)
     (o)  1991 Stock Option Plan, as amended(20)
     (p)  Description of Supplemental Long-term Disability Plan(21)
     (q)  Letter Agreement with Donald D. Belcher(22)
     (r)  Agreement with Gerald A. Henseler(23)
     (s)  Banta Corporation 1995 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended(24)
     (t)  Banta Corporation Director Stock Grant Plan(25)
     (u)  Economic Profit Incentive Compensation Plan(26)
     (v)  Economic Profit Long-term Incentive Compensation Plan(27)
     (w)  Amendments to Economic Profit Incentive Plan and Economic Profit
          Long-term Incentive Compensation Plan
     (x)  Key Management Retention Plan(28)

13.  Portions of Annual Report to Shareholders  for fiscal year ended January 1,
     2000 that are incorporated by reference herein.

21.  List of Subsidiaries.

23.  Consent of Arthur Anderson LLP.

27.  Financial Data Schedule for the twelve-month period ended January 1, 2000.



*    Exhibits 10(a) through 10(x) are management contracts or compensatory plans
     or arrangements.  All documents  incorporated herein by reference are filed
     with the Commission under File No. 0-6187.



<PAGE>


(1)  Exhibit  No.  19(b) to Form  10-Q for the  quarter  ended  April 3, 1993 is
     hereby incorporated herein by reference.

(2)  Exhibit No. 3(c) to Form 10-K for the year ended  January 2, 1999 is hereby
     incorporated herein by reference

(3)  Exhibit No. 4(a) to Form 10-Q for the quarter  ended July 2, 1988 is hereby
     incorporated herein by reference.

(4)  Exhibit  No. 4 to Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended  September  29, 1990 is
     hereby incorporated herein by reference.

(5)  Exhibit  No.  4.1  to the  Form  8-K  dated  October  29,  1991  is  hereby
     incorporated herein by reference.

(6)  Exhibit No. 4(a) to Form 10-Q for the quarter  ended July 2, 1994 is hereby
     incorporated herein by reference.

(7)  Exhibit No. 4(c) to Form 10-Q for the quarter  ended July 2, 1994 is hereby
     incorporated herein by reference.

(8)  Exhibit No. 4(a) to Form 10-Q for the quarter  ended  September 30, 1995 is
     hereby incorporated herein by reference.

(9)  Exhibit  No.  10(a) to Form 10-K for the year ended  December  30,  1995 is
     hereby incorporated herein by reference.

(10) Exhibit  No.  10(b) to Form 10-K for the year ended  December  28,  1996 is
     hereby incorporated herein by reference.

(11) Exhibit  No. 10 to From 10-K for the year  ended  January 1, 1983 is hereby
     incorporated herein by reference.

(12) Exhibit  No.  10(j) to Form 10-K for the year ended  December  30,  1989 is
     hereby incorporated herein by reference.

(13) Exhibit  No.  10(a) to Form  10-Q for the  quarter  ended  April 2, 1994 is
     hereby incorporated herein by reference.

(14) Exhibit  No.  10(l) to Form 10-K for the year ended  December  30,  1989 is
     hereby incorporated herein by reference.

All documents  incorporated  herein by reference  are filed with the  Commission
under File No. 0-6187.


<PAGE>

(15) Exhibit  No.  10(b) to Form  10-Q for the  quarter  ended  April 2, 1994 is
     hereby incorporated herein by reference.

(16) Exhibit  No.  10(m) to Form 10-K for the year ended  December  28,  1996 is
     hereby incorporated herein by reference.

(17) Exhibit  No.  10(a) to Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended  March 28, 1992 is
     hereby incorporated herein by reference .

(18) Exhibit  No.  10(r) to Form 10-K for the year ended  December  30,  1989 is
     hereby incorporated herein by reference.

(19) Exhibit No. 10(s) to Form 10-K for the year ended January 1, 1994 is hereby
     incorporated herein by reference.

(20) Exhibit  No.  10(t) to Form 10-K for the year ended  December  28,  1996 is
     hereby incorporated herein by reference.

(21) Exhibit  No.  10(a) to Form 10-Q for the quarter  ended  October 2, 1993 is
     hereby incorporated herein by reference.

(22) Exhibit  No.  10(a) to Form 10-Q for the quarter  ended  October 1, 1994 is
     hereby incorporated herein by reference.

(23) Exhibit  No.  10(dd) to Form 10-K for the year ended  December  31, 1994 is
     hereby incorporated herein by reference.

(24) Exhibit No. 10.1 to Form 10-Q for the quarter  ended July 3, 1999 is hereby
     incorporated herein by reference.

(25) Exhibit  No.  10(z) to Form 10-K for the year ended  December  28,  1996 is
     hereby incorporated herein by reference.

(26) Exhibit No. 10(x) to Form 10-K for the year ended January 3, 1998 is hereby
     incorporated herein by reference.

(27) Exhibit No. 10(y) to Form 10-K for the year ended January 3, 1998 is hereby
     incorporated herein by reference.

(28) Exhibit No. 10.4 to Form 10-Q for the quarter  ended July 3, 1999 is hereby
     incorporated herein by reference.


All documents  incorporated  herein by reference  are filed with the  Commission
under File No. 0-6187.


(b)  No Current  Reports on Form 8-K were  filed by the  Corporation  during the
     quarter ended January 1, 2000.


<PAGE>


                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

We have audited, in accordance with generally accepted auditing  standards,  the
consolidated  financial  statements  included  in the Banta  Corporation  annual
report to shareholders and incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K, and have
issued our report  thereon  dated  January 31, 2000.  Our audit was made for the
purpose of forming an opinion on those statements taken as a whole. The schedule
listed in the index in item 14(a) (2) is the responsibility of the Corporation's
management  and is presented for purposes of complying  with the  Securities and
Exchange  Commission's rules and is not part of the basic financial  statements.
The schedule has been subjected to the auditing  procedures applied in the audit
of the basic  financial  statements  and, in our opinion,  fairly  states in all
material  respects  the  financial  data  required  to be set forth  therein  in
relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.



                                        /s/  Arthur Andersen LLP
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP


Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
January 31, 2000.


<PAGE>



<TABLE>
                                                          BANTA CORPORATION
                                           SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
                                  YEARS ENDED January 1, 2000, January 2, 1999 and January 3, 1998



<CAPTION>
                                                           DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS

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

                              BALANCE,        ADDITIONS          CHARGES
                            BEGINNING OF      CHARGED TO            TO                         BALANCE, END
                                YEAR          EARNINGS        RESERVE, NET        OTHER          OF YEAR
                            ------------     ------------     ------------     -----------     ------------
Reserve for Doubtful
    Receivables:

<S>                         <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>             <C>
        1999                $      3,835     $      3,189     $      2,097     $         0     $      4,927
                             ===========      ===========      ===========      ==========      ===========

        1998                $      3,708     $      1,728     $      1,757     $   156 (1)            3,835
                             ===========      ===========      ===========      ==========      ===========

        1997                $      3,486     $      1,408     $      1,436     $   250 (1)     $      3,708
                             ===========      ===========      ===========      ==========      ===========
</TABLE>


(1)  Consists of additions to the reserve related to acquisitions.


<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.

                                                      BANTA CORPORATION


DATE:    March 31, 2000                               BY: /s/ DONALD D. BELCHER
       ------------------                                ---------------------
                                                          Donald D. Belcher,
                                                           Chairman of the Board

         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 and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


/s/ DONALD D. BELCHER                                 March 31, 2000
---------------------------------------------         ------------------
Donald D. Belcher, Chairman, President and
    Chief Executive Officer


/s/ GERALD A. HENSELER                                March 31, 2000
---------------------------------------------         -----------------
Gerald A. Henseler, Executive Vice President,
    Chief Financial Officer, and Director


/s/ BERNARD S. KUBALE                                 March 31, 2000
---------------------------------------------         -----------------
Bernard S. Kubale, Director


/s/ JAMESON A. BAXTER                                 March 31, 2000
---------------------------------------------         -----------------
Jameson A. Baxter, Director


/s/ RICHARD L. GUNDERSON                              March 31, 2000
---------------------------------------------         -----------------
Richard L. Gunderson, Director


/s/ JOHN F. BERGSTROM                                 March 31, 2000
---------------------------------------------         -----------------
John F. Bergstrom, Director

<PAGE>
                               BANTA CORPORATION
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.    Description

   10. (d)  Agreement with Ronald D. Kneezel
       (e)  Form of Agreements with Dennis J. Meyer,  John E. Tiffany and
            Henry M. Wells III
       (f)  Agreement with Donald D. Belcher
       (w)  Amendments to Economic Profit Incentive Plan and Economic Profit
            Long-term Incentive Compensation Plan

   13.      Portions of Annual Report to Shareholders  for fiscal year ended
            January 1, 2000 that are incorporated by reference herein.

   21.      List of Subsidiaries.

   23.      Consent of Arthur Anderson LLP.

   27.      Financial Data Schedule for the twelve-month period ended January 1,
            2000.