-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PHjbZiWMTVCLL1ZwNefi+PKI5rdkIRjLus3m/mPtTm3jUnUGnltAEBTQdK6qpTqK
 eUo4C/7TJVbyLR5dhW+BdQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000009801-07-000015.txt : 20070111
<SEC-HEADER>0000009801-07-000015.hdr.sgml : 20070111
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070111155114
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000009801-07-000015
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070109
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070111
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070111

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BANTA CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000009801
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMMERCIAL PRINTING [2750]
		IRS NUMBER:				390148550
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		225 MAIN ST
		CITY:			MENASHA
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			54952
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9207517777

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BANTA GEORGE CO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19890509

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BANTA GEORGE PUBLISHING CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19720505

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Haugarth Janel S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001333099

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14637
		FILM NUMBER:		07525922

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		952-828-4381

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11840 VALLEY VIEW ROAD
		CITY:			EDEN PRAIRIE
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55344
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-01-09</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000009801</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BANTA CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001333099</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Haugarth Janel S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>225 MAIN STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P. O. BOX 8003</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MENASHA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>54952-8003</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom stock    units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-01-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>225.64</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Phantom stock     units</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>225.64</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>35.03</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-01-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8634</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-10-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-04-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8634</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares of Phantom Stock were converted into the right to receive $36.50 per share pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger between the issuer and RR Donnelley (the &quot;Merger&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This option was canceled in the merger pursuant to a cash conversion whereby each share of common stock of the option was converted into the right to receive cash in an amount equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of issuer's common stock subject to the option multiplied by (ii) the amount by which $36.50 exceeds the exercise price of the option.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F1">The units will be settled in cash following the reporting person's conclusion of service as a director.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Ronald D. Kneezel, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-01-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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