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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q

(X) QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended April 2, 2005

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 1-14637

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

        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 whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes /X/ No /_/

        Common stock outstanding as of April 20, 2005 – 24,809,491 shares.


BANTA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
For the Quarter Ended April 2, 2005

INDEX

Page Number
   

PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:  

 
Item 1 - Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
   April 2, 2005 and January 1, 2005

 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
   for the Three Months Ended April 2, 2005
   and April 3, 2004

 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
   for the Three Months Ended April 2, 2005
   and April 3, 2004

 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements -
   April 2, 2005 6-11 

 
Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
   and Results of Operations 12-16 

 
Item 3 - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 17 

 
Item 4 - Controls and Procedures 17 

PART II
OTHER INFORMATION

 
Item 1 - Legal Proceedings 17 

 
Item 2 - Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 18 

 
Item 6 - Exhibits 18 

SIGNATURES
18 

EXHIBIT INDEX
19 

CERTIFICATIONS
20-22 



2


Part 1 Item 1. Financial Statements

BANTA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)
ASSETS April 2, 2005
January 1, 2005
(unaudited)

Current Assets
           
     Cash and cash equivalents   $ 140,401   $ 133,093  
     Receivables    262,150    263,087  
     Inventories    98,908    102,892  
     Other current assets    21,734    25,169  


          Total Current Assets    523,193    524,241  


Plant and equipment    1,001,589    999,935  
Less accumulated depreciation    722,958    711,808  


Plant and equipment, net    278,631    288,127  
Goodwill    65,991    66,371  
Other assets    28,037    26,834  


          Total Assets   $ 895,852   $ 905,573  



LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT
  

Current Liabilities
  
     Accounts payable   $ 108,778   $ 105,656  
     Accrued salaries and wages    29,852    44,410  
     Other accrued liabilities    45,247    47,946  
     Current maturities of long-term debt    25,597    25,594  
     Short-term borrowings    10,000    --  


          Total Current Liabilities    219,474    223,606  


Long-term debt    61,073    62,333  
Deferred income taxes    25,622    25,622  
Other non-current liabilities    58,162    56,046  


          Total Liabilities    364,331    367,607  



Shareholders' Investment
  
     Preferred stock-$10 par value;  
       authorized 300,000 shares; none issued    --    --  
     Common stock-$.10 par value, authorized 75,000,000 shares;  
       29,396,577 and 29,278,884 shares issued, respectively    2,940    2,928  
     Amount in excess of par value of stock    45,695    41,454  
     Retained earnings    594,765    582,973  
     Unearned compensation    (1,719 )  (840 )
     Treasury stock, at cost - 4,567,753 and 4,232,412 shares, respectively    (129,192 )  (114,046 )
     Accumulated other comprehensive income    19,032    25,497  


          Total Shareholders' Investment    531,521    537,966  


    $ 895,852   $ 905,573  


See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements


3


BANTA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(UNAUDITED)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 
Three Months Ended
April 2, 2005
April 3, 2004

Continuing Operations
           
Revenue   $ 386,277   $ 349,528  
Cost of printing and supply-chain services    302,358    277,302  


     Gross earnings    83,919    72,226  
Selling and administrative expenses    63,297    51,066  


     Earnings from operations    20,622    21,160  

Interest expense
    (1,556 )  (1,890 )
Interest income    737    527  
Other income, net    414    159  


     Earnings from continuing operations  
        before income taxes    20,217    19,956  
Provision for income taxes    6,470    7,139  


     Earnings from continuing operations    13,747    12,817  

Discontinued operations:
  
     Earnings from operations of discontinued  
        Healthcare segment, net of income taxes    2,260    1,257  


Net earnings   $ 16,007   $ 14,074  



Basic earnings per share of common stock:
  
     Earnings from continuing operations   $ 0.55   $ 0.50  
     Earnings from discontinued operations    0.09    0.05  


        Total   $ 0.64   $ 0.55  



Diluted earnings per share of common stock:
  
     Earnings from continuing operations   $ 0.54   $ 0.49  
     Earnings from discontinued operations    0.09    0.05  


        Total   $ 0.63   $ 0.54  



Cash dividends per share of common stock
   $ 0.17   $ 0.17  


See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

4


BANTA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)

(Dollars in thousands)

 
Three Months Ended
April 2, 2005
April 3, 2004
Cash Flows from Operating Activities            
     Net earnings   $ 16,007   $ 14,074  
     Depreciation    14,460    15,127  
     Deferred income taxes    14    (727 )
     Tax benefit from the exercise of stock options    967    1,012  
     Non-cash stock compensation    154    --  
     Gain on sale of plant and equipment    (2,315 )  (482 )
     Change in assets and liabilities  
          Decrease (increase) in receivables    937    (4,438 )
          Decrease in inventories    3,984    363  
          Decrease in accounts payable  
            and accrued liabilities    (14,094 )  (3,989 )
          Net change in other current assets and liabilities    3,421    3,932  
          Net change in other non-current assets and liabilities    913    10  


Cash provided from operating activities    24,448    24,882  



Cash Flows From Investing Activities
  
     Capital expenditures    (9,980 )  (18,865 )
     Proceeds from the sale of plant and equipment    6,952    668  


Cash used for investing activities    (3,028 )  (18,197 )



Cash Flows From Financing Activities
  
     Repayments of long-term debt    (1,256 )  (1,267 )
     Short-term borrowings, net of repayments    10,000    --  
     Dividends paid    (4,257 )  (4,388 )
     Proceeds from exercise of stock options    2,771    1,734  
     Repurchase of common stock    (15,664 )  (43,690 )


Cash used for financing activities    (8,406 )  (47,611 )



Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    (5,706 )  (476 )



Net increase (decrease) in cash
    7,308    (41,402 )
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period    133,093    181,112  


Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period   $ 140,401   $ 139,710  



Cash payments for:
  
     Interest, net of capitalized interest   $ 1,069   $ 1,353  
     Income taxes    487    556  

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

5


BANTA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
APRIL 2, 2005
(UNAUDITED)

1) Basis of Presentation

  The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Banta Corporation (the “Corporation”) included herein have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although the Corporation believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. It is suggested that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Corporation’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K.

  In the opinion of management, the aforementioned financial statements include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods. Results for the three months ended April 2, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2005. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2005 presentation.

2) Inventories

  Inventories consist of the following (dollars in thousands):

April 2, 2005
January 1, 2005
Raw materials     $ 55,561   $ 49,055  
Work-in-process and finished goods    43,347    53,837  


    $ 98,908   $ 102,892  



3) Earnings Per Share of Common Stock

  Basic earnings per share of common stock is computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share of common stock is computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of common shares and common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. The common equivalent shares relate to the assumed exercise of stock options, the assumed vesting of restricted stock and the assumed settlement of the 2004 accelerated share repurchase agreement described in Note 8.

  The weighted average shares used in the computation of earnings per share consist of the following (in millions of shares):

Three Months Ended
April 2, 2005
April 3, 2004
Basic 25.0 25.7
Diluted 25.4 26.1

6


4) Comprehensive Earnings

  Comprehensive earnings consist of the following (dollars in thousands):

Three Months Ended
April 2, 2005
April 3, 2004

Net earnings
    $ 16,007   $ 14,074  
Foreign currency translation  
  adjustments    (6,465 )  (649 )


Comprehensive earnings    9,542   $ 13,425  



5) Goodwill

  Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment for the quarter ended April 2, 2005 consist of the following (dollars in thousands):

Printing
services

Supply-chain
management
services

Healthcare
Total
Balance at January 1, 2005     $ 37,552   $ 6,855   $ 21,964   $ 66,371  
Translation adjustments for goodwill  
  denominated in foreign currencies    -0-    (380 )  -0-    (380 )




Balance at April 2, 2005   $ 37,552   $ 6,475   $ 21,964   $ 65,991  





6) Stock-Based Compensation

  The Corporation has two stock-based employee compensation plans. The Corporation’s stock-based employee compensation plans are accounted for under the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations. Because the number of shares is fixed and the exercise price of the stock options equals the market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant, no cost is reflected in net earnings for stock options granted under these plans. The Corporation amortizes restricted stock awards to net earnings over the vesting period based on the fair value of the stock at the date of grant.

  Had compensation cost been determined based upon the fair value at the grant date for awards under the plans based on the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” the Corporation’s pro forma net earnings and earnings per share would have been as follows (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts):





7


Three Months Ended
April 2, 2005
April 3, 2004

Net earnings, as reported
    $ 16,007   $ 14,074  
Add:  
   Compensation expense related to restricted stock  
   included in net earnings, net of related taxes    92    --  
Deduct:  
   Compensation expense determined  
   under SFAS No. 123, net of related taxes    (979 )  (1,349 )


Pro forma net earnings   $ 15,120   $ 12,725  



Earnings per share
  
As reported:  
   Basic   $ 0.64   $ 0.55  


   Diluted   $ 0.63   $ 0.54  



Pro forma:
  
   Basic   $ 0.60   $ 0.50  


   Diluted   $ 0.60   $ 0.49  



  In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 123(R), “Share Based Payment.” SFAS No. 123(R) requires that compensation cost related to share-based payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements. Share-based payment transactions within the scope of SFAS No. 123(R) include stock options, restricted stock, performance-based awards, stock appreciation rights, and employee share purchase plans. The provisions of SFAS No. 123(R) are effective as of the first fiscal year that begins after June 15, 2005. Accordingly, the Corporation will implement the revised standard in the first quarter of fiscal year 2006. Currently, the Corporation accounts for its share-based payment transactions under the provisions of APB Opinion No. 25, which generally does not require the recognition of compensation cost for employee stock options in the financial statements. Management believes that the disclosures above appropriately reflect the impact this standard would have on reported net earnings if adopted in the periods presented.

  During the quarter ended April 2, 2005, the Corporation awarded an aggregate of 24,159 shares of restricted stock to certain employees. Restricted stock is granted in the name of the employee, who has all the rights of a shareholder, subject to certain restrictions. The restricted stock vests ratably over three years from the date of grant, subject to acceleration in certain cases. The shares issued were previously acquired treasury shares. Upon issuance of the restricted stock, unearned compensation of $1,033,000 was charged to shareholders’ investment for the fair value of the restricted stock and is being recognized as compensation expense ratably over the three-year vesting period. The Corporation had 48,147 and 23,988 shares of restricted stock outstanding at April 2, 2005, and January 1, 2005, respectively. Compensation expense related to restricted stock for the quarter ended April 2, 2005 was $154,000 ($92,000 net of related taxes). No shares of restricted stock were outstanding during the quarter ended April 3, 2004.

7) Employee Benefit Plans

  The Corporation and certain of its unions have two pension plans covering substantially all employees. The plans are non-contributory and benefits are based on an employee’s years of service and earnings. The Corporation also maintains a non-qualified supplemental retirement plan, which is not funded. The disclosures for this plan for all years presented are combined with the pension plans. The Corporation makes contributions to the qualified plans each year in an amount that is at least equal to the minimum required contributions as defined by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

8


  The Corporation and its subsidiaries also provide non-contractual limited healthcare benefits for certain retired employees. The program provides for defined initial contributions by the Corporation toward the cost of postretirement healthcare coverage. The balance of the cost is borne by the retirees. The program provides that increases in the Corporation’s contribution toward coverage will not exceed 4% per year. Due to the terms of the Corporation’s postretirement healthcare program, assumed healthcare cost rate trends do not materially affect the Corporation’s costs.

  The Corporation’s postretirement healthcare program provides for prescription drug benefits. On December 8, 2003, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (the “Act”) was signed into law. The Act introduced a prescription drug benefit under Medicare (“Medicare Part D”). In May 2004, the FASB issued Staff Position No. 106-2 (“FSP 106-2”), which provides accounting guidance to employers that offer prescription drug benefits under retiree healthcare benefit plans to Medicare eligible retirees. FSP 106-2 requires that the benefit attributable to past service be accounted for as an actuarial gain and the benefit related to current service be reported as a reduction in service cost. The Corporation has elected to integrate retiree healthcare coverage with the new Medicare Part D, in a method similar to the way benefits currently integrate with Medicare Parts A and B. In the third quarter of 2004, the Corporation adopted FSP 106-2 retroactive to January 4, 2004.

  Net periodic pension and postretirement benefit costs for the Corporation-sponsored plans were as follows (dollars in thousands):

Pension Benefits
Three months ended

Other Benefits
Three months ended

April 2, 2005
April 3, 2004
April 2, 2005
April 3, 2004
Service cost-benefits earned during the year     $ 2,564   $ 2,327   $ 111   $ 197  
Interest cost on projected benefit  
obligation    2,674    2,437    111    201  
Expected return on plan assets    (3,391 )  (2,921 )  --    --  
Amortization of prior service cost    2    55    --    --  
Amortization of transition obligation    --    --    52    52  
Amortization of net loss (gain)    352    122    (107 )  (33 )




Net pension and postretirement  
benefits expense   $ 2,201   $ 2,020   $ 167   $ 417  





  The Corporation expects to make no contributions to its qualified pension plans during the 2005 fiscal year. A contribution of $716,000 is expected to be made as benefit payments to retired participants under the Corporation’s supplemental retirement plan. A contribution of $496,000 is expected to be made as benefits paid to retirees under the postretirement healthcare plan.

8) Repurchase of Common Stock

  In February 2005, the Board of Directors approved a $150 million share repurchase program, which replaced the Corporation’s previous program. Through February 2005, the Corporation had purchased 6,519,400 shares of its common stock under the previous authority at an aggregate cost of $173,870,000.

9


  During the quarter ended April 2, 2005, the Corporation purchased 359,500 shares of outstanding common stock under the newly approved repurchase program at an aggregate cost of $15,664,000.

  On March 19, 2004, the Corporation announced that it had entered into an Accelerated Share Repurchase (“ASR”) agreement whereby 1,000,000 shares of the Corporation’s common stock were repurchased at an initial price of $43.69 per share. The ASR required the counterparty to acquire the shares in the open market over a fixed period of time. On July 27, 2004, the Corporation paid $663,000 to settle the ASR. The final settlement amount was based on the volume-weighted average price of $44.35 per share for actual repurchases made by the counterparty.

  The shares of common stock held in treasury may be reissued pursuant to the Corporation’s equity incentive plans, or for other purposes. As of April 2, 2005, the Corporation had authority to repurchase up to an additional $134,336,000 in common stock under the current share repurchase program.

9) Segment Information

  The Corporation operates in two business segments, printing services and supply-chain management services. Summarized segment data for the three months ended April 2, 2005 and April 3, 2004 are as follows (dollars in thousands):

Three Months Ended
April 2, 2005
April 3, 2004

Revenue
           
  Printing services   $ 274,937   $ 246,536  
  Supply-chain management services    111,340    102,992  


  Total   $ 386,277   $349,528  



Earnings from Operations
  
  Printing services   $ 16,477   $ 16,437  
  Supply-chain management services    12,407    10,674  


  Total    28,884    27,111  



  The following table presents a reconciliation of segment earnings from operations to the totals contained in the consolidated condensed financial statements for the three months ended April 2, 2005 and April 3, 2004 (dollars in thousands):

Three Months Ended
April 2, 2005
April 3, 2004
Reportable segment earnings from operations     $ 28,884   $ 27,111  
Corporate expenses (not allocated to segments)    (8,262 )  (5,951 )
Interest expense    (1,556 )  (1,890 )
Interest income    737    527  
Other income, net    414    159  


    Earnings from continuing operations before  
       income taxes    20,217    19,956  



10


10) Subsequent event

  The Corporation announced on February 14, 2005, that it had reached an agreement to sell substantially all of the assets of its single-use healthcare products subsidiary, Banta Healthcare Group, Ltd. (“Healthcare”), to an affiliate of Fidelity Capital Investors, Inc. for $67 million, subject to final net working capital adjustments. The sale was completed on April 12, 2005, and the transaction will be accounted for in the Corporation’s second quarter of fiscal year 2005. The operations of Healthcare have been reflected as discontinued operations in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of earnings. The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets include the following assets and liabilities of Healthcare held for sale at April 2, 2005, and January 1, 2005, respectively (dollars in thousands):

April 2, 2005
January 1, 2005
Current assets     $ 17,328   $ 19,554  
Long-lived assets, including goodwill    29,814    30,126  
Current liabilities    9,033    10,066  
Non-current liabilities    10    12  

  In a separate transaction related to the divestiture of Healthcare, the Corporation sold its warehouse in Rialto, CA, to a California real estate investment company for $7.0 million. A gain of $1.3 million, net of income taxes, is included in earnings from discontinued operations in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of earnings for the quarter ended April 2, 2005.












11


Item 2.

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
FIRST QUARTER 2005 COMPARED TO FIRST QUARTER 2004

Organization of Information

Management’s Discussion and Analysis is intended to provide investors a narrative of the recent performance, financial condition and prospects of Banta Corporation (the “Corporation”). It should be read in conjunction with the accompanying financial statements and includes the following sections:

Overview
Business Segments
Results of Operations and Related Information
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Critical Accounting Policies
Forward Looking Statements

Overview

The Corporation operates in two business segments, printing services and supply-chain management services. The Corporation’s printing services segment provides a comprehensive combination of printing and digital imaging solutions to leading publishers and direct marketers. Products and services in this segment include books, catalogs, publications, product brochures, literature management services, educational materials and e-business services. The Corporation’s global supply-chain management services segment provides a wide range of outsourcing capabilities, primarily to some of the world’s largest technology companies. Services in this segment range from materials sourcing, product configuration and customized kitting, to order fulfillment and global distribution.

The Corporation announced on February 14, 2005, that it had reached an agreement to sell substantially all of the assets of its single-use healthcare products subsidiary, Banta Healthcare Group, Ltd. (“Healthcare”), to an affiliate of Fidelity Capital Investors, Inc. for $67 million, subject to final net working capital adjustments. The sale was completed on April 12, 2005, and the transaction will be accounted for in the Corporation’s second quarter of fiscal year 2005. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, the operations of Healthcare, which previously comprised the entire healthcare segment, have been reflected as discontinued operations in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of earnings.

Business Segments

Beginning with the current fiscal year, the Corporation strategically realigned certain components of the printing services segment. The Corporation’s literature management services had previously been included as a part of the book operating unit. Effective January 2, 2005, the Corporation’s literature management services became a separately managed operating unit. The literature management operating unit provides print related outsourcing services involving digital printing, package assembly, fulfillment and distribution for healthcare organizations, financial service providers and other large corporations.

Results of Continuing Operations and Related Information

The Corporation reported record first quarter 2005 results from continuing operations, with results exceeding the prior year period for revenue, earnings and diluted earnings per share. Revenue in the first quarter of 2005 was $386.3 million, an increase of 10.5% above the first quarter 2004 revenue of $349.5 million. Revenue for the first quarter of 2005 increased in all segments compared with the first quarter of 2004. Net earnings from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2005 were $13.7 million, compared with $12.8 million during the same period last year, an increase of 7.3%. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations for the first quarter were 54 cents compared with 49 cents in the first quarter of 2004.

12


Revenue

Revenues for the quarter by segment are shown below (dollars in thousands):


Segment
Quarter 1
2005

Quarter 1
2004

Increase %
Printing Services $274,937 $246,536 11.5%

Supply-Chain Management Services   111,340   102,992   8.1%

Total $386,277 $349,528 10.5%

Printing services revenue for the first quarter of 2005 was 11.5% higher than the comparable quarter in the prior year. The key issues related to revenue in this segment were:

Approximately one-third of the revenue increase for the segment was the result of paper price increases compared to the prior year. Paper prices were approximately 16% higher than the prior year, and these increases are generally passed on to the customer.
Revenue in the Book operating unit was up 11% compared with the prior year first quarter, primarily due to stronger educational volumes in advance of the traditionally busy second and third quarters of the year. In addition, the 2005 first quarter results included strong increases in business-to-business catalog printing in comparison to the first quarter of 2004.
Revenue for the Literature Management operating unit was comparable to the first quarter of the prior year. Increased revenue to new customers was offset by the loss of several large promotional orders printed in the first quarter of 2004 that did not repeat in 2005.
Revenue in the Catalog operating unit increased by 15% compared with the first quarter of 2004. The increased revenue was due to market share gains, higher customer retention than in prior years and increased order quantities as customers attempted to build their customer base ahead of an anticipated year-end postage increase.
Revenue for the Publications operating unit was up 13% from the first quarter last year. Approximately one-third of the increase was due to higher paper prices, with the remainder of the increase due to continued market share gains.
The Direct Marketing operating unit increased revenue by 11% for the first quarter of 2005 compared with the prior year period. Increased revenue for this unit was due to improved mix as the operating unit printed more complex material, primarily in-line finishing and on-press personalization.

Revenue for the supply-chain management services segment was 8.1% higher in the first quarter of 2005 compared with the first quarter of 2004. Approximately $4 million, or 50%, of the increase resulted from favorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The remaining increase was the result of improved sales to the segment’s major technology customers.

The Corporation has a contract with Hewlett-Packard Company that runs through 2005, subject to one-year extensions pursuant to an evergreen provision. Pursuant to this evergreen clause, the contract has been extended through 2005. Revenue from Hewlett-Packard Company under this agreement totaled approximately $134 million in 2004 and comparable revenue is expected under this contract in 2005. The loss of this contract could have a material adverse impact on the Corporation’s financial results.

13


Earnings from operations

Consolidated earnings from continuing operations of $20.6 million in the first quarter of 2005 declined slightly from $21.2 million in the prior year first quarter. Operating earnings from continuing operations as a percentage of revenue was 5.3%, down from 6.0% in the prior year period. Changes in operating earnings from continuing operations as a percentage of revenue are discussed below by segment.

Segment operating margins were as follows for the first quarter:

Segment 2005 2004

Printing Services
  6.0%   6.7%
Supply-Chain Management Services 11.1% 10.4%

Operating margins for the printing services segment in the first quarter of 2005 decreased to 6.0% from 6.7% in the first quarter of 2004. Approximately half of the decrease was related to lower margins in the Literature Management operating unit from the loss of promotional work that was printed in the first quarter of 2004 and not repeated in the first quarter of 2005 and additional expenses related to its formation as a separate printing services division. The remaining decrease was related to business mix and productivity issues in the Publications and Book operating units and increased employee healthcare costs across the printing services segment.

The principal raw material used by the Corporation in the printing services segment is paper. Paper prices in the first quarter of 2005 were approximately 16% higher than prices in the first quarter of 2004.

Operating margins for the supply-chain management services segment of 11.1% in the first quarter of 2005 were higher than the prior year first quarter margins of 10.4%. This increase in operating margins was primarily the result of strong sales to customers with a higher proportion of value-added sales to material sales, resulting in higher margins for the quarter. Operating margins in this segment continue to be at a level higher than would normally be expected, and will likely decrease in the future based on the expectation of a lesser proportion of value-added content in the product mix and anticipated pricing pressure from existing and new customers.

Interest Expense

Interest expense for the first quarter of 2005 was $1.6 million, a reduction of 18% compared with interest expense of $1.9 million in the prior year’s first quarter. The reduction in interest expense was the result of scheduled repayments of long-term debt. Total long-term debt at April 2, 2005 of $87 million was 22% less than the $111 million of long-term debt at the end of the first quarter of 2004. Essentially all of the Corporation’s long-term debt is at fixed interest rates. As a result, changes in market interest rates have not significantly impacted the Corporation’s interest expense.

Income Taxes

The Corporation’s effective tax rate of 32.0% for the first quarter of 2005 was lower than the 35.8% effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2004. The reduction in the effective tax rate was due to a greater proportion of foreign earnings generated by the supply-chain management services segment, which has extensive operations in countries whose tax rates are more favorable than the rates in the United States.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Corporation’s net working capital increased by less than 1% during the first quarter of 2005. Short-term borrowings of $10 million during the first quarter of 2005, proceeds from which were used primarily to finance the purchase of common shares under the share repurchase program, were offset by reductions in accrued liabilities related to accrued wages and incentives paid in the first quarter.

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The Corporation has in effect a stock repurchase program pursuant to which it may repurchase shares of its common stock on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions from time to time. During the quarter ended April 2, 2005, the Corporation purchased 359,500 shares of outstanding common stock under the repurchase program at an aggregate cost of $15,664,000. As of April 2, 2005, the Corporation had authority to repurchase up to an additional $134,336,000 in common stock under the current share repurchase program.

Capital expenditures were $10.0 million during the first quarter of 2005, a decrease of $8.9 million from the amount expended during the prior year’s first quarter. Capital expenditures for the full year are expected to be approximately $70 million and will be funded by cash on hand or cash provided from operations.

Total long-term debt as a percentage of total capitalization at April 2, 2005 was 14.0%, which was unchanged from the 14.0% at January 1, 2005. Given cash and cash equivalents on hand as well as borrowing capacity currently in place, the Corporation believes it has sufficient liquidity to fund its operations for the foreseeable future.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Corporation’s accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2005. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and footnotes. Future events and their effects cannot be determined with absolute certainty. Therefore, the determination of estimates requires the exercise of judgment. Actual results inevitably will differ from those estimates, and such differences may be material to the financial statements.

The most significant accounting estimates inherent in the preparation of the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements include estimates as to the recovery of receivables and the realization of inventories, plant and equipment and goodwill. Significant assumptions are also used in the determination of liabilities related to pension and post-retirement benefits, obligations for lease terminations, income taxes and environmental matters. The process of determining significant estimates is fact specific and takes into account factors such as historical experience, current and expected economic conditions, product mix and, in some cases, actuarial assumptions. The Corporation re-evaluates these significant factors as facts and circumstances dictate. Historically, actual results have not differed significantly from those determined using the estimates described above.

The Corporation believes the following critical accounting policies affect its more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements:

Revenue Recognition. Revenue is recognized, net of estimated discounts, when title and risk of loss transfers to the customer and the earnings process is complete. The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 104, “Revenue Recognition” provides guidance on the application of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States to selected revenue recognition issues. In addition, revenue in the supply-chain management services segment is recognized in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue No. 99-19, “Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal versus Net as an Agent.” Each major contract is evaluated based on various criteria, with management’s judgment required to assess the importance of each criterion in reaching the final decision. In general, revenue is recognized on a gross basis if the Corporation has the risks and rewards of ownership, latitude in establishing component vendors and pricing, and bears all credit risk. Revenue from contracts that do not meet these criteria is recognized on a net basis, recording only the portion that is related to services or products provided directly by the Corporation.

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Goodwill. The Corporation adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, effective December 30, 2001.  Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill is no longer amortized, but is reviewed for impairment on an annual basis. The Corporation’s analysis, which is performed in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year unless other indicators of impairment exist, is based on the comparison of the fair value of its reporting units to the carrying value of the net assets of the respective reporting units.

Retirement Benefits. The Corporation has significant pension and postretirement benefit costs that are developed from actuarial valuations. The valuations reflect key assumptions regarding, among other things, discount rates, expected return on plan assets, retirement ages and years of service. Consideration is given to current market conditions, including changes in interest rates and investment returns, in making these assumptions. Changes in these assumptions will affect the amount of pension and postretirement expense recognized in future periods.

Asset Impairments. Impairments of long-lived assets are accounted for under SFAS No. 144 “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” Long-lived assets are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable.

Income taxes.The Corporation’s annual tax rate is determined based on income, statutory tax rates and the tax impacts of items treated differently for tax purposes than for financial reporting purposes. Tax law requires some items to be included in the tax return at different times than the items reflected in the financial statements. As a result, the annual tax rate in the financial statements is different than the rate reported on the Corporation’s tax return. Some of these differences are permanent, such as expenses that are not deductible in the tax return and some differences are temporary, reversing over time, such as depreciation expense. These temporary differences create deferred tax assets and liabilities.

  Inherent in determining the annual tax rate are judgments regarding business plans, planning opportunities and expectations about future outcomes. Significant management judgments are required for the following items:
  ° Management reviews the Corporation’s deferred tax assets for realizability. Valuation allowances are established when management believes that it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Changes in valuation allowances from period to period are included in the tax provision.
  ° The Corporation establishes accruals for certain tax contingencies when, despite the belief that the Corporation’s tax return positions are fully supported, the Corporation believes that certain positions may be challenged. The tax contingency accruals are adjusted in light of changing facts and circumstances, such as the progress of tax audits, case law and emerging legislation.
  ° The Corporation has not provided for possible U.S. taxes on the undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries that are considered to be reinvested indefinitely.
  ° The Corporation is currently evaluating the effects of repatriating certain foreign earnings. The Corporation may repatriate as much as $100 million of its foreign earnings, which would carry a one-time tax charge to the Corporation’s consolidated results of operations of up to approximately $8.5 million.

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Forward–Looking Statements

This document includes forward-looking statements. Statements that describe future expectations, including revenue and earnings projections, plans, results or strategies, are considered forward-looking. The statements that are not purely historical should be considered forward-looking statements. Often they can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “project,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “continue,” “potential,” “plan,” “forecasts,” and the like. 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 customers’ order patterns or demand for the Corporation’s products and services, pricing, changes in raw material costs and availability, unanticipated changes in sourcing of raw materials (including paper) by customers, unanticipated changes in operating expenses, unanticipated production difficulties, unanticipated issues associated with the Corporation’s non-U.S. operations, changes in the pattern of outsourcing supply-chain management functions by customers, unanticipated costs or delays associated with the productivity-enhancing projects to be undertaken in the second quarter of 2005, unanticipated acquisition or loss of significant customer contracts or relationships, unanticipated difficulties and costs associated with the design and implementation of new administrative systems, the impact of any acquisition or divestiture effected by the Corporation, changes in the Corporation’s effective income tax rate, unanticipated swings in foreign currency exchange rates and any unanticipated weakening of the economy. 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.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Corporation is exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates and foreign exchange rates. As of April 2, 2005, the Corporation had short-term borrowings of $10 million outstanding against lines of credit with banks at variable interest rates. Since essentially all the Corporation’s long-term debt is at fixed interest rates, exposure to interest rate fluctuations is minimal.

Exposure to adverse changes in foreign exchange rates is not considered material. Potential market risk associated with changes in foreign exchange is considered in contractual arrangements with customers.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Corporation’s management, with the participation of the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluation, the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by the Corporation in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act.

Changes in Internal Controls. There have not been any changes in the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the fiscal period to which this report relates that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

  In the ordinary course of its business, the Corporation is involved in litigation matters. Based on the Corporation’s assessment of these matters and on the existing reserves provided for them, the Corporation does not believe that any of these matters, either individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition.

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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

  The following table provides information about repurchases of common stock effected by the Corporation during the quarter ended April 2, 2005:

Period Total Number of
Shares Purchased

Average Price
Paid per Share

Total Number
of Shares
Purchased as
Part of
Publicly
Announced
Program

Approximate
Dollar Value of
Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
Under the Program

January 2, 2005 - February 1, 2005      --   $ --    --   $ 36,130,000  
February 2, 2005 - March 1, 2005    --    --    --   $ 150,000,000  
March 2, 2005 - April 2, 2005    359,500   $ 43.57    359,500   $ 134,336,000  




Total    359,500   $ 43.57    359,500      





  In February 2005, the Board of Directors approved a $150 million share repurchase program, which replaced the Corporation’s previous program. Through February 2005, the Corporation had purchased 6,519,400 shares of its common stock under the previous authority at an aggregate cost of $173,870,000.

  During the quarter ended April 2, 2005, the Corporation purchased 359,500 shares of outstanding common stock under the newly approved repurchase program at an aggregate cost of $15,664,000.

Item 6. Exhibits

  Exhibits –
  10.1 Asset Purchase Agreement among Banta Corporation, Banta Healthcare Group Ltd. and BHG Acquisition LLC, dated as of February 12, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Banta Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 12, 2005).
  31.1 Certification by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).
  31.2 Certification by the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).
  32 Written Statement of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

SIGNATURES

  Pursuant to the requirements 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

  /s/ Geoffrey J. Hibner
Geoffrey J. Hibner
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

  Date: May 12, 2005

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BANTA CORPORATION
EXHIBIT INDEX TO FORM 10-Q
For The Quarter Ended April 2, 2005

Exhibit Number

10.1 Asset Purchase Agreement among Banta Corporation, Banta Healthcare Group Ltd. and BHG Acquisition LLC, dated as of February 12, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Banta Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 12, 2005).

31.1 Certification by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).

31.2 Certification by the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).

32 Written Statement of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.











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