Banta Corporation
Banta Corporation was a United States printing, publishing, imaging, packaging, and supply-chain services company headquartered in Menasha, Wisconsin.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Banta Corporation was a century-old American printing and communications company that grew from a small Menasha, Wisconsin, print shop into a diversified provider of commercial printing, publishing, imaging, packaging, paper products, displays, and supply-chain management services. George Banta founded the business in 1901 after beginning to print forms while working as an insurance agent. The company initially built a strong position through educational and collegiate work, including university catalogs, yearbooks, textbooks, magazines, and publications for fraternities and sororities. Its early relationship with Phi Delta Theta, including the printing of the fraternity's national magazine, The Scroll, helped establish a specialized academic and association-publishing franchise. The business changed names as it expanded. It operated first as the George Banta Printing Company and, from 1903, as the George Banta Publishing Company. In 1910 it moved into a new Menasha facility on Ahnaip Street, maintaining its headquarters in the city for the rest of its independent existence. Banta's publishing expertise broadened during the twentieth century, particularly in educational workbooks and softcover books. A relationship with Scott Foresman became an important part of this publishing activity. The company added a second plant in 1946 and eventually developed a broader network of production and service operations. Banta adopted the name George Banta Company, Inc. in 1954 and became a public company in 1971, initially trading on NASDAQ under BNTA. In 1989 it entered the Fortune 500 and formally became Banta Corporation. The company moved to the New York Stock Exchange in December 1998, where it traded as BN. From 1969 onward, acquisitions expanded its capabilities beyond traditional publishing into commercial printing, imaging, packaging, paper products, display equipment, and related manufacturing. It also produced catalogs, trade books, and entertainment-related printed materials, including products associated with the board game Trivial Pursuit. By the early 2000s, structural pressure in the printing industry encouraged Banta to narrow its activities and separate or divest certain operations. Management attempted to balance its established print businesses with supply-chain services, but the strategic direction became controversial during 2006. An unsolicited bid from envelope printer Cenveo prompted a sale process, while Banta's management characterized the proposal as hostile. Banta ultimately agreed to be acquired by Chicago-based competitor R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company. The transaction, announced in October 2006, valued the company at approximately $1.3 billion and provided $52.50 in cash per share through a combination of the acquisition payment and a special dividend. The acquisition was completed later that year, ending Banta's independent corporate existence after approximately 105 years. Banta is therefore best understood as a historical corporate brand and former major U.S. printing and publishing company rather than an active standalone brand.
History
George Banta established the company in Menasha, Wisconsin, in 1901 after developing a small forms-printing activity while working as an insurance agent. The original business was called the George Banta Printing Company and was renamed the George Banta Publishing Company two years later. Banta's connections to Phi Delta Theta and to Indiana University helped the young company obtain work for fraternity publications, university catalogs, yearbooks, textbooks, and magazines. The company became particularly associated with collegiate and Greek-letter publishing, producing The Scroll for Phi Delta Theta, Banta's Greek Exchange, and editions of Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. In 1910 the company moved to a purpose-built facility on Ahnaip Street in Menasha. The location remained associated with its headquarters for much of the twentieth century. Family involvement was central to the business. George Banta remained president until his death in 1935. His wife, Nellie, had managed daily operations during part of the preceding decade and succeeded him as president. Their son, George Banta Jr., joined the company in 1911 and later led it as president. George Banta III, known as Bud, subsequently held senior leadership and became chairman in 1971. Banta's publishing capabilities expanded in the 1920s when Russell Sharp, George Banta Jr.'s brother-in-law, developed an elementary-school workbook and used Banta to produce it. This experience supported the company's growth in educational materials and other softcover books. Its long-term relationship with Scott Foresman further connected Banta with educational publishing. A second manufacturing plant opened in 1946, approximately two miles north of the original operation. The company adopted the corporate name George Banta Company, Inc. in 1954. In 1969 it began a sustained acquisition program that broadened its business into imaging, commercial printing, packaging, paper products, and display equipment. Banta also diversified the kinds of printed products it produced, including catalogs, trade books, and materials connected with consumer entertainment products such as Trivial Pursuit. It went public in 1971 on NASDAQ under BNTA, entered the Fortune 500 in 1989, and changed its name to Banta Corporation. In 1998 its shares moved to the New York Stock Exchange, where they traded under BN. The printing sector faced increasing pressure in the early twenty-first century. Banta responded by refocusing its portfolio and spinning off or separating some operations, while trying to develop supply-chain management alongside its core printing businesses. In 2006, a strategic shift back toward printing generated investor concern, particularly after a difficult earnings call. Banta then became the target of an unsolicited offer from Cenveo. Rather than accept that proposal, the company agreed in October 2006 to be purchased by R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company of Chicago. The transaction was valued at roughly $1.3 billion and included a cash payment of $52.50 per share structured with a special dividend. The acquisition closed later in 2006, bringing the company's 105-year independent history to an end.
- 2006
Acquired by R.R. Donnelley
[1]Banta accepted R.R. Donnelley's acquisition offer, ending its independent corporate history later that year.
- 1998
Listing transferred to the New York Stock Exchange
[1]After 27 years on NASDAQ, Banta began trading on the NYSE under BN.
- 1989
Entered the Fortune 500
[1]Banta joined the Fortune 500 and formally adopted the Banta Corporation name.
- 1971
Became publicly traded
[1]The company went public and traded on NASDAQ under the symbol BNTA.
- 1954
Adopted George Banta Company, Inc. name
[1]The corporate name was changed to George Banta Company, Inc.
- 1946
Second plant opened
[1]The company opened an additional plant on Midway Road north of its original Menasha operation.
- 1910
Moved to Ahnaip Street facility
[1]Banta moved into a new Menasha building that remained associated with its headquarters for decades.
- 1903
Name changed to George Banta Publishing Company
[1]The young business adopted a name reflecting its growing publishing activity.
- 1901
Company founded in Menasha
[1]George Banta founded the original printing business in Menasha, Wisconsin.
Products and positioning
A diversified, acquisition-driven business-to-business printing and communications provider serving educational, collegiate, publishing, commercial, packaging, and supply-chain customers.
Educational publishing
Educational workbooks and books
Banta developed substantial expertise in producing elementary-school workbooks, softcover books, textbooks, and related educational materials. This capability grew from work initiated in the 1920s and was reinforced by the company's long-term relationship with Scott Foresman.
Association and academic publishing
Collegiate and fraternity publications
Early growth came from publications for universities, fraternities, and sororities. Banta printed Phi Delta Theta's national magazine, The Scroll, as well as Banta's Greek Exchange and editions of Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities.
Commercial printing
Commercial catalogs and magazines
As the company diversified, it produced commercial catalogs, magazines, trade books, and other high-volume printed communications for business customers.
Packaging and printed products
Packaging and displays
Acquisitions expanded Banta into packaging, paper products, display equipment, and related printed materials, making it more than a traditional book and periodical printer.
Business services
Imaging and supply-chain services
Banta also operated imaging-related activities and supply-chain management services, although its strategic emphasis between these activities and core printing changed during its final years.
Brand decisions
2006
Refocused the portfolio amid printing-industry pressureStrategyBackground
Declining conditions in the printing industry led Banta to reconsider the balance between printing and supply-chain management.
Action taken
The company spun off or separated certain operations and moved toward a stronger focus on its core printing activities.
Aftermath
The strategic shift contributed to investor concern and preceded unsolicited takeover interest and the eventual sale to R.R. Donnelley.
2006
Accepted R.R. Donnelley acquisitionM&ABackground
Banta received an unsolicited proposal from Cenveo but regarded it as hostile.
Action taken
The board accepted R.R. Donnelley's approximately $1.3 billion cash offer, structured at $52.50 per share through the acquisition payment and a special dividend.
Aftermath
The transaction closed later in 2006 and ended Banta's existence as an independent public company.
Acquisition value. Approximately $1.3 billion (2006)
- Cenveo — Cenveo made an unsolicited offer, but Banta rejected it in favor of the R.R. Donnelley transaction.
1969
Began acquisition-led diversificationStrategyBackground
Banta sought to expand beyond its traditional publishing base as the printing and communications market evolved.
Action taken
It began acquiring businesses connected with imaging, printing, packaging, paper products, and display equipment.
Aftermath
The acquisitions created a broader business portfolio spanning commercial printing and related manufacturing services.
Sources1 sources
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