sc13da.htm

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
SCHEDULE 13D/A
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
(Amendment No. 2)
 
 
Champion Industries, Inc.
(Name of Issuer)
 
 
 
 
$1.00 Par Value Class A Common Stock
(Title of Class of Securities)
 
 
 
 
158520106
(CUSIP Number)
 
 
 
Justin T. Evans
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
2450 First Avenue
P.O. Box 2968
Huntington, West Virginia 25728
(304) 528-2700 
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
 
 
 
January 18, 2016
(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
 
 
 
 
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box. o
 
 
 
 
 
Explanatory Note
 
    This amendment (Amendment No. 2) is being made (1) to add Adam M. Reynolds as a reporting person (he was named the new President and Chief Executive Officer of Champion Industries, Inc. (the “Company” or the “Issuer”), effective March 1, 2016, succeeding his uncle Marshall T. Reynolds who will remain the Company’s Chairman of the Board), and (2) to reflect that the proposed reverse stock split proposal that was referenced in the Schedule 13D filing was not be presented to shareholders at the Company’s annual meeting (held on March 21, 2016) and instead will be presented to shareholders at a special meeting of shareholders at a date and time to be determined (presently anticipated to be in May or June, 2016).  Adam M. Reynolds has indicated that he supports the proposed reverse stock split proposal and intends to vote shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock which he beneficially owns in support of the proposal at such special meeting of shareholders.
 
    Amendment No. 1 was previously filed on February 5, 2016 primarily to clarify that all fractional shares resulting from the proposed reverse stock split, if it is approved by the shareholders and implemented, will be cashed out.  In addition, Amendment No. 1 added  Exhibits 99.2, 99.3 and 99.4, respectively, which taken together constituted the exhibits to the approving resolutions of the Board of Directors adopted January 18, 2016 that were previously filed as Exhibit 99.1.
 
 
             
CUSIP No. 158520106
  
 
1.
Name of Reporting Person:
Marshall T. Reynolds
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only):
 
2.
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions):
   
(a)
o
  
   
(b)
x
  
 
3.
SEC Use Only:
 
4.
Source of Funds (See Instructions):
Not applicable
 
5.
Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e): o
 
6.
Citizenship or Place of Organization:
United States of America
Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned by
Each Reporting
Person With
        
7.
Sole Voting Power:
1,817,615
8.
Shared Voting Power:
0
9.
Sole Dispositive Power:
1,817,615
10.
Shared Dispositive Power:
0
 
11.
Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person:
6,067,742 [See ownership of Harrah & Reynolds Corporation, of which Mr. Reynolds is the sole stockholder and chief executive officer.]
 
12.
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions):
o
 
13.
Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11):
53.7%
 
14.
Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions):
IN
 
 
2
 
 
             
CUSIP No. 158520106
  
 
1.
Name of Reporting Person:
The Harrah and Reynolds Corporation
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only):
55-0140550
 
2.
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions):
   
(a)
o
  
   
(b)
x
  
 
3.
SEC Use Only:
 
4.
Source of Funds (See Instructions):
Not applicable
 
5.
Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e): o
 
6.
Citizenship or Place of Organization:
West Virginia
Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned by
Each Reporting
Person With
        
7.
Sole Voting Power:
4,238,687
8.
Shared Voting Power:
0
9.
Sole Dispositive Power:
4,238,687
10.
Shared Dispositive Power:
0
 
11.
Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person:
4,238,687
 
12.
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions):
o
 
13.
Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11):
37.5%
 
14.
Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions):
CO
 
 
3
 
 
             
CUSIP No. 158520106
  
 
1.
Name of Reporting Person:
Glenn W. Wilcox, Sr.
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only):
 
2.
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions):
   
(a)
o
  
   
(b)
x
  
 
3.
SEC Use Only:
 
4.
Source of Funds (See Instructions):
Not applicable
 
5.
Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e): o
 
6.
Citizenship or Place of Organization:
United States of America
Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned by
Each Reporting
Person With
        
7.
Sole Voting Power:
125,390
8.
Shared Voting Power:
0
9.
Sole Dispositive Power:
125,390
10.
Shared Dispositive Power:
0
 
 
11.
Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person:
125,390
 
 
12.
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions):
o
 
 
13.
Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11):
1.1%
 
 
14.
Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions):
IN
 
 
 
4
 
 
 
             
CUSIP No. 158520106
  
 
 
1.
Name of Reporting Person:
Phillip E. Cline
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only):
 
 
2.
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions):
   
(a)
o
  
   
(b)
x
  
 
 
3.
SEC Use Only:
 
 
4.
Source of Funds (See Instructions):
Not applicable
 
 
5.
Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e): o
 
 
6.
Citizenship or Place of Organization:
United States of America
 
Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned by
Each Reporting
Person With
        
7.
Sole Voting Power:
52,419
 
8.
Shared Voting Power:
0
 
9.
Sole Dispositive Power:
52,419
 
10.
Shared Dispositive Power:
0
 
 
11.
Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person:
52,419
 
 
12.
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions):
o
 
 
13.
Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11):
0.005%
 
 
14.
Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions):
IN
 
 
 
5
 
 
 
             
CUSIP No. 158520106
  
 
 
1.
Name of Reporting Person:
Neal W. Scaggs
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only):
 
 
2.
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions):
   
(a)
o
  
   
(b)
x
  
 
 
3.
SEC Use Only:
 
 
4.
Source of Funds (See Instructions):
Not applicable
 
 
5.
Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e): o
 
 
6.
Citizenship or Place of Organization:
United States of America
 
Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned by
Each Reporting
Person With
        
7.
Sole Voting Power:
62,300
 
8.
Shared Voting Power:
0
 
9.
Sole Dispositive Power:
62,300
 
10.
Shared Dispositive Power:
0
 
 
11.
Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person:
62,300
 
 
12.
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions):
o
 
 
13.
Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11):
0.006%
 
 
14.
Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions):
IN
 
 
 
6
 
 
 
             
CUSIP No. 158520106
  
 
1.
Name of Reporting Person:
Louis J. Akers
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only):
 
2.
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions):
   
(a)
o
  
   
(b)
x
  
 
3.
SEC Use Only:
 
4.
Source of Funds (See Instructions):
Not applicable
 
5.
Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e): o
 
6.
Citizenship or Place of Organization:
United States of America
Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned by
Each Reporting
Person With
        
7.
Sole Voting Power:
14,000
8.
Shared Voting Power:
0
9.
Sole Dispositive Power:
14,000
10.
Shared Dispositive Power:
0
 
11.
Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person:
14,000
 
12.
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions):
o
 
13.
Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11):
0.001%
 
14.
Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions):
IN
 
 
7
 
 
 
             
CUSIP No. 158520106
  
 
1.
Name of Reporting Person:
Adam M. Reynolds
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only):
 
2.
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions):
   
(a)
o
  
   
(b)
x
  
 
3.
SEC Use Only:
 
4.
Source of Funds (See Instructions):
Not applicable
 
5.
Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e): o
 
6.
Citizenship or Place of Organization:
United States of America
Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned by
Each Reporting
Person With
        
7.
Sole Voting Power:
33,043
8.
Shared Voting Power:
0
9.
Sole Dispositive Power:
33,043
10.
Shared Dispositive Power:
0
 
11.
Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person:
33,043
 
12.
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions):
o
 
13.
Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11):
0.003%
 
14.
Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions):
IN
 
8
 
 
 
             
CUSIP No. 158520106
  
 
1.
Name of Reporting Person:
Justin T. Evans
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only):
 
2.
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions):
   
(a)
o
  
   
(b)
x
  
 
3.
SEC Use Only:
 
4.
Source of Funds (See Instructions):
Not applicable
 
5.
Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e): o
 
6.
Citizenship or Place of Organization:
United States of America
Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned by
Each Reporting
Person With
        
7.
Sole Voting Power:
0
8.
Shared Voting Power:
0
9.
Sole Dispositive Power:
0
10.
Shared Dispositive Power:
0
 
11.
Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person:
0
 
12.
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions):
o
 
13.
Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11):
0.00%
 
14.
Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions):
IN
 
9
 
 
 Item 1. Security and Issuer.
 
This statement relates to the Class A Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), of Champion Industries, Inc. (the “Issuer”). The principal executive offices of the Issuer are located at 2450 First Avenue, Huntington, West Virginia 25703.
 
Item 2. Identity and Background.
 
(a) This statement is being jointly filed by (i) Marshall T. Reynolds, (ii) Glenn W. Wilcox, Sr., (iii) Philip E. Cline (iv) Neal W. Scaggs (v) Louis J. Akers, (v) Adam M. Reynods,  and (vii) Justin T. Evans (i) through (vi) are referred to herein as the “Reporting Persons.” Messrs. Marshall T. Reynolds, Wilcox, Cline, Scaggs and Akers are members of the Board of Directors of the Issuer,  Mr. Marshall T.  Reynolds is also Chairman of the Board of the Issuer, and Mr. Adam M. Reynolds is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Issuer. Mr. Evans is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial officer of the Issuer. Mr. Marshall T. Reynolds also owns and controls The Harrah & Reynolds Corporation.

This filing is being made because the Board of Directors (“Board”) of Champion Industries, Inc. (the “Company”) on January 18, 2016 approved a 1-for-200 reverse stock split of the outstanding shares of its Class A Common Stock. As part of the proposed transaction, authorized shares of Class B Common Stock, which are unissued, likewise would be subject to and adjusted for a 1-for-200 reverse stock split as well.

If the transaction is approved by the Company’s stockholders and implemented, the Company expects to have fewer than 300 stockholders of record of its outstanding common stock, in which event the Company intends to deregister its shares and cease to be a reporting company under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934.

Pursuant to the proposed transaction, each 200 shares of Class A Common Stock held by a shareholder immediately before the reverse stock split would be converted into one share of Class A Common Stock after the reverse stock split.  In connection with the proposed transaction, the Company  intends to have no fractional shares after the reverse stock split.

Accordingly, stockholders holding fewer than 200 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock immediately before the transaction will have such shares cancelled and converted into the right to receive from the Company a cash payment of thirty cents ($0.30) for each such share owned before the reverse stock split. Stockholders holding 200 or more shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock immediately before the reverse stock split will receive one share for each 200 common shares held, and, as applicable, any resulting (post-split) fractional shares consisting of less than one (1.0) whole share likewise will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive from the Company a cash payment of thirty cents ($.30) for each such share owned before the reverse stock split. Cash consideration will only be paid for fractional shares, and only to shareholders whose post-split shares will consist entirely of, or will include in part, fractional shares consisting of less than one (1.0) whole share of the post-split Class A Common Stock.

Implementation of the reverse stock split is subject to stockholder approval of an amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation. Approval of the amendment would require the approval of a majority of the Company’s outstanding shares. The Company expects the amendment will be presented to the stockholders for a vote on the amendment at a special meeting of the Company’s stockholders which will be held on a date to be determined (presently anticipated to be in late May or June, 2016), and that if this amendment is approved, the reverse stock split and deregistration will be effective thereafter. The Board will set the date and time for such special meeting of stockholders at which the amendment will be voted upon by stockholders.

The reporting persons submitting this filing include the current directors and the Company’s current President and Chief Executive Officer, as well as its current Chairman of the Board and  its current Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer. Considered together they own approximately 56.2% of the Company’s outstanding Class A Common Stock, although it is noted that Mr. Evans does not own any such shares. In their capacities as directors and/or officers, these reporting persons, have indicated they support the proposed transaction and, to the extent they own or control shares of Class A Common Stock, they intend to support the proposed transaction and to vote in favor of the proposed amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation when the amendment is presented to a vote of the Company’s stockholders. To the extent they thus may be viewed or considered a group acting to effectuate transactions that would lead to the ultimate deregistration of the Company and its Class A Common Stock, these reporting persons are making this filing.
 
(b) The address of the principal business office of each Reporting Person is as follows:
 
     
Reporting Person
  
Address
Marshall T. Reynolds
  
P.O. Box 4040
    Huntington, WV 25729
     
The Harrah and Reynolds Corporation  
P.O. Box 4040
    Huntington, WV 25729
     
Glenn W. Wilcox, Sr.
  
1705 BB&T Building
    Asheville, NC 28801
     
Philip E. Cline
   P.O. Box 119
    Huntington, WV 25706
     
Neal W. Scaggs
   P.O. Box 1650
    Logan, WV 25601
     
Louis J. Akers  
P.O. Box 2968
   
Huntington, WV 25728
     
Justin T. Evans  
P.O. Box 2968
   
Huntington, WV 25728
     
 
 
10
 
 
(c) Mr. Marshall T. Reynolds is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Champion Industries, Inc. (“the Company”), and Mr. Adam M. Reynolds is the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. The Company is principally in the commercial printing and office products business and is located at 2450 First Avenue, Huntington, WV 25703. Mr. Marshall T. Reynolds is also the Chairman of various other businesses and manages a variety of other investments. Mr. Wilcox is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Wilcox Travel Agency, Inc. located 1705 BB&T Building, Asheville, NC 28801 and is a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Cline manages various investments and a member of various boards including the Company’s. Mr. Scaggs is President of Baisden Brothers, Inc. which is a retail and wholesale hardware business located at 340 Riverview Drive, Logan, WV 25601. Mr. Scaggs is also on the Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Akers is the Director of the Huntington West Virginia Sanitary Board and President of Metric of West Virginia. The Huntington Sanitary Board address is 555 7th Avenue, Huntington, WV 25701. Metric of West Virginia is principally in the business of metal recycling and is located at 5095 Waverly Road, Huntington, WV 25704. Mr. Akers is also on the Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Evans is the Company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

(d) During the past five years, none of the Reporting Persons, and to the knowledge of each Reporting Person, none of the executive officers or, to the extent applicable, directors of any such Reporting Person that is not an individual, has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).

(e) During the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons, and to the knowledge of each Reporting Person, none of the executive officers or, to the extent applicable, directors of any such Reporting Person that is not an individual, has been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.
 
(f) All Reporting Persons that are individuals are citizens of the United States of America.

Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.
 
The reporting persons do not intend to make any purchases of the Class A Common Stock of the Company in connection with the proposed transaction referenced in this filing.

As noted above, in Item 2(a), pursuant to the proposed transaction, the Company intends to have no fractional shares after the reverse stock split. Accordingly, stockholders holding fewer than 200 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock immediately before the transaction will have such shares cancelled and converted into the right to receive from the Company a cash payment of thirty cents ($0.30) for each such share owned before the reverse stock split. Stockholders holding 200 or more shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock immediately before the reverse stock split will receive one share for each 200 common shares held, and, as applicable, any resulting (post-split) fractional shares consisting of less than one (1.0) whole share likewise will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive from the Company a cash payment of thirty cents ($0.30) for each such share owned before the reverse stock split. Cash consideration will only be paid for fractional shares, and only to shareholders whose post-split shares will consist entirely of, or will include in part, fractional shares consisting of less than one (1.0) whole share of the post-split Class A Common Stock.  Thus, any such cash payments for such fractional shares of less than one (1.0) whole share of the post-split Class A Common Stock would be made and funded by the Company.

Item 4. Purpose of Transaction.
 
This filing is being made because the Board of Directors on January 18, 2016 approved a 1-for-200 reverse stock split of the outstanding shares of its Class A Common Stock. As part of the proposed transaction, authorized shares of Class B Common Stock, which are unissued, likewise would be subject to and adjusted for a 1-for-200 reverse stock split as well.

If the transaction is approved by the Company’s stockholders and implemented, the Company expects to have fewer than 300 stockholders of record of its outstanding common stock, in which event the Company intends to deregister its shares and cease to be a reporting company under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934.

Pursuant to the proposed transaction, the Company intends to have no fractional shares after the reverse stock split. Accordingly, stockholders holding fewer than 200 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock immediately before the transaction will have such shares cancelled and converted into the right to receive from the Company a cash payment of thirty cents ($0.30) for each such share owned before the reverse stock split. Stockholders holding 200 or more shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock immediately before the reverse stock split will receive one share for each 200 common shares held, and, as applicable, any resulting (post-split) fractional shares consisting of less than one (1.0) whole share likewise will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive from the Company a cash payment of thirty cents ($0.30) for each such share owned before the reverse stock split. Cash consideration will only be paid for fractional shares, and only to shareholders whose post-split shares will consist entirely of, or will include in part, fractional shares consisting of less than one (1.0) whole share of the post-split Class A Common Stock.
 
Implementation of the reverse stock split is subject to stockholder approval of an amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation. Approval of the amendment would require the approval of a majority of the Company’s outstanding shares. The Company expects the amendment will be presented to the stockholders for a vote on the amendment at a special meeting of the Company’s stockholders which will be held on a date and at a time to be determined by the Company’s Board of Directors.  It is presently anticipated that such special shareholders’ meeting will be held in May or June, 2016.  The Company further expects  that if this amendment is approved, the reverse stock split and deregistration will be effective thereafter. As noted, the Board will set a date and time for a special meeting of stockholders at which the amendment will be voted upon by stockholders.

The reporting persons submitting this filing include the current directors and the Company’s current Chairman of the Board as well as its current President and Chief Executive Officer and its current Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer. Considered together they currently own approximately 56.2% of the Company’s outstanding Class A Common Stock, although it is noted that Mr. Evans does not own any such shares. In their capacities as directors and/or officers, these reporting persons have indicated they support the proposed transaction and, to the extent they own or control shares of Class A Common Stock, they intend to support the proposed transaction and to vote in favor of the proposed amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation when the amendment is presented to a vote of the Company’s stockholders. (It is noted that Mr. Evans does not own any shares of Class A Common Stock.) To the extent they thus may be viewed or considered a group acting to effectuate transactions that would lead to the ultimate deregistration of the Company and its Class A Common Stock, these reporting persons are making this filing.
 
11
 
 
 
 
The Company’s Board of Directors may abandon the proposed reverse stock split at any time prior to the completion of the proposed transaction if they believe that the proposed transaction is no longer in the best interests of the Company or its stockholders.
 
The Company currently has outstanding 11,299,528 shares of its Class A Common Stock, held by approximately 346 record holders. No Class B shares have been issued and thus no Class B shares are outstanding. The Company currently estimates that the proposed transaction would reduce the outstanding common shares by approximately 88,000 shares pre-split, or less than 1% (0.78%), through the cash-out of post-split fractional share interests and will reduce the number of record holders of Class A Common Stock below 300. Changes in share ownership prior to the time the transaction is to become effective, as well as the distribution of shares held in street name through brokers and other intermediaries and the extent to which beneficial owners of those shares participate in the transaction, will affect those estimates, perhaps materially.
 
If the proposed transaction is approved by the stockholders and implemented, the Company estimates that the cost savings resulting from no longer being an SEC-registered company will be approximately $220,000 per year.  Estimated transaction costs are expected to be approximately $150,000 or less including estimated total cash payment of approximately $26,400 to purchase fractional share interests of less than one (1.0) whole post-split share that will be cashed out.  The Company expects to pay such transaction costs and consideration for such fractional share interests from existing cash reserves.

The Board of Directors created a special committee of non-employee, independent directors to review a possible transaction and make recommendations to the Board as to whether to pursue a possible transaction and, if so, the proposed details of any recommended transaction.  The special committee reviewed various alternatives to the proposed transaction, and evaluated the advantages and disadvantages of doing a proposed reverse stock split and SEC deregistration.  The special committee also received and considered an independent valuation opinion of the Class A Common Stock from an independent investment banking firm, Chaffe & Associates, Inc. (“Chaffe”).  In Chaffe’s opinion, the fair market value of the Class A Common Stock, as of December 21, 2015, if sold in a controlling block of shares, was between seventeen cents ($0.17) per share and twenty-one cents ($0.21) per share.  The special committee also reviewed and considered the recent trading history and price history of the Company’s Class A Common Stock.  As of January 8, 2016, the prior 52-week volume-weighted average price (“VWAP”) of such shares had been twenty-four cents ($0.24) per share.

On January 13, 2016, the special committee made a recommendation to the Board of Directors of the Company that the Board approve and recommend to stockholders a 1-for-200 reverse stock split to be followed by SEC deregistration, and further recommended that cash consideration be paid to shareholders for fractional shares, and only to such shareholders whose post-split shares will consist entirely of, or will include in part, fractional shares consisting of less than one (1.0) whole share of the post-split Class A Common Stock, for a price of thirty cents ($0.30) per pre-split share. It was the special committee’s opinion that this cash-out price, which represented a premium both to (a) the Chaffe valuation conclusions and (b) the VWAP per share as of January 8, 2016, was fair to the Company’s shareholders from a financial point of view. The Board of Directors unanimously accepted the recommendations of the special committee, and approved the proposed transaction as recommended by the special committee, at the Board’s regular monthly meeting held on Monday, January 18, 2016.
This filing is only a brief description of a proposed transaction and is not a solicitation of a proxy or an offer to acquire any shares of common stock. The Company is preparing and plans to file th the SEC wa new preliminary proxy statement and an Amendment No. 1 to its Schedule 13E-3 previously filed with the SEC outlining the transaction.  The originally filed Schedule 13E-3 and preliminary proxy statement contemplated that the reverse stock split proposal would be presented to voters at the annual meeting (held on March 21, 2016), but such proposal was not be presented then and instead will be presented to stockholders at a special meeting of stockholders (date and time to be determined by the Board but presently anticpated to be in May or June, 2016).  All stockholders are advised to read the new definitive proxy statement and amended Schedule 13E-3 carefully when those  documents are available, because those documents will contain important information about the special stockholders meeting (i.e., the meeting at which the amendment will be presented for a vote of shareholders thereon) and the proposed transaction, including information about the mechanics of the proposed transaction, persons soliciting proxies, their interests in the transaction, and related matters. Stockholders may obtain a free copy of such  proxy statement and the amended Schedule 13E-3 at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. The Company will also mail a copy of the definitive proxy statement prior to the stockholders meeting to its stockholders entitled to vote at such special meeting. The Company and its executive officers and directors may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders in favor of the proposed transaction. Information about the Company’s executive officers and directors and their ownership of the Company’s common stock will be set forth in the preliminary proxy statement. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the direct and indirect interests of the company and its executive officers and directors in the proposed transaction by reading the proxy statement regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available.

This filing includes “forward-looking” information statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including various statements relating to the proposed transaction, the termination of registration of the Company’s common stock under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the estimates as to numbers of outstanding shares and stockholders of record after giving effect to the proposed transaction, estimated cost savings resulting from, and estimated costs and expenses of, the proposed transaction, and the anticipated date of the stockholders meeting to consider the proposed transaction (including without limitation the statements that the Company anticipates the related amendment to the Articles of Incorporation will be presented to stockholders and voted upon at a special meeting of stockholders (date and time to be determined by the Board but presently anticpated to be in May or June, 2016.  Actual results may differ from those provided in the forward-looking statements. The proposed transaction and subsequent termination of SEC registration are each subject to various conditions and may not occur. Even if these events do occur, the ultimate transaction costs may be higher than anticipated, and the Company may not realize the costs savings anticipated, as of the date of this filing.
 
 
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Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer.
 
Item 5(a) The following table sets forth certain information concerning ownership of Company Common Stock as of the close of business on January 8, 2016 by (i) each of the directors and nominees, (ii) each executive officer, and (iii) all directors and executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise noted, each beneficial owner listed below has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares listed next to the owner’s name.

Name of Beneficial Owner
Shares Beneficially Owned
Percentage of Class
Louis J. Akers
14,000
*
Philip E. Cline
52,419
*
Marshall T. Reynolds
10,910,396 (1) (2)
67.6%(2)
Neal W. Scaggs
62,300 (3)
*
Glenn W. Wilcox, Sr.
125,390
1.1%
Adam M. Reynolds(5) 33,043
*
Justin T. Evans
-0-
*
All directors and executive officers as a group (7 persons)
11,197,548
69.2%(4)
   
 
* The percentage of shares of Company Common Stock beneficially owned by these persons is less than 1%. As used in the notes below, and in this Proxy Statement, “Mr. Reynolds” refers to Marshall T. Reynolds unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
 
(1)
Includes 4,238,687 shares owned by The Harrah and Reynolds Corporation and 2,440 shares owned by wife (with respect to which reporting person has no voting or investment power).
 
(2)
Also includes presently exercisable warrants owned by Mr. Reynolds to purchase shares of common stock equal to 30% of the then issued and outstanding common stock of the Company on a fully diluted, post-exercise basis.  Based on the 11,299,528 shares of Company common stock currently issued and outstanding, exercise in full of the warrants would result in issuance of an additional 4,842,654 shares.  The percent of class reflected above as owned by Mr. Reynolds includes common stock attributable to these warrants.  Excluding the effect of the warrants, Mr. Reynolds beneficially owns 53.7% of currently outstanding common stock.
 
(3)
Joint voting and investment power shared with wife respect to 62,300 shares.
 
(4)
Giving effect to warrants.  Excluding effect of warrants, percentage of class owned by all directors and executive officers is 55.9%.
 
(5)
Effective March 1, 2016 Adam M. Reynolds, age 33, was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Champion Industries, Inc. Mr. Adam Reynolds is succeeding his uncle, Marshall T. Reynolds, in this position. Mr. Marshall Reynolds will remain the Company's Chairman of the Board of Directors.
 
Item 5(b) The number of shares as to which there is sole power to vote or to direct the vote, sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition, or shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition, for each person named in response to Item 5(a) above, is included in the tables and footnotes set forth above in response to Item 5(a).

Item 5(c) None. That is, there were no transactions in Class A Common Stock that were effected during the past 60 days by the persons named in response to Item 5(a) above.

Item 5(d) Not Applicable.

Item 5(e) Not Applicable

 
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Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships With Respect to Securities of the Issuer.
 
Proposed 1:200 Reverse Stock Split followed by SEC Deregistration.

This filing is being made because the Board of Directors on January 18, 2016 approved a 1-for-200 reverse stock split of the outstanding shares of its Class A Common Stock.  As part of the proposed transaction, authorized shares of Class B Common Stock, which are unissued, likewise would be subject to and adjusted for a 1-for-200 reverse stock split as well.

If the transaction is approved by the Company’s stockholders and implemented, the Company expects to have fewer than 300 stockholders of record of its outstanding common stock, in which event the Company intends to deregister its shares and cease to be a reporting company under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934.

The reporting persons submitting this filing include the current directors and the Company’s current Chairman of the Board as well as its current President and Chief Financial Offier and its Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer. Considered together they currently own approximately 56.2% of the Company’s outstanding Class A Common Stock, although it is noted that Mr. Evans does not own any such shares. In their capacities as directors and/or officers, these reporting persons have indicated they support the proposed transaction and, to the extent they own or control shares of Class A Common Stock, they intend to support the proposed transaction and to vote in favor of the proposed amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation when the amendment is presented to a vote of the Company’s stockholders. To the extent they thus may be viewed or considered a group acting to effectuate transactions that would lead to the ultimate deregistration of the Company and its Class A Common Stock, these reporting persons are making this filing.

Presently Exercisable Warrants Owned by Mr. Reynolds

As noted in response to Item 5(a) above, Mr. Reynolds also owns presently exercisable warrants to purchase shares of common stock equal to 30% of the then issued and outstanding common stock of the Company on a fully diluted, post-exercise basis.  Based on the 11,299,528 shares of Company common stock currently issued and outstanding, exercise in full of the warrants would result in issuance of an additional 4,842,654 shares.  Although the Warrants are for Class B Common Stock (nonvoting shares), Subsection 7(c) of Article 7 of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation provides as follows:

"(c)  Any share of Class B common shares that is transferred to a holder who is not subject to the ownership limitations of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, shall automatically, upon tender to the corporation, be redeemed and converted by the corporation into a share of Class A common shares."

Subsection 7(d) of Article 7 of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation in turn further provides, in relevant part,  that “[a]ny conversion of  . . . Class B common shares . . . shall be made for no additional consideration   If Mr. Reynolds were to exercise such warrants, at this time, he would be able to convert Class B shares to Class A Common Stock for no additional consideration under the above provisions of Article 7 of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation.  The relevant beneficial ownership table set forth in response to Item 5(a) above reflects the percentage of Class A Commons Stock owned by Mr. Reynolds includes common stock attributable to these warrants assuming the warrants were exercised and all shares were converted into Class A shares.  As set forth in the footnotes to the relevant ownership table set forth in response to Item 5(a) above, excluding the effect of the warrants, Mr. Reynolds beneficially owns 53.7% of the Company’s currently outstanding common stock (only Class A shares are outstanding at this time).

Mr. Reynolds and Harrah and Reynolds have pledged 3,771,500 of their Class A shares (constituting 62.2% of all outstanding Class A shares beneficially owned by Mr. Reynolds) as collateral to secure loans made to Mr. Reynolds or Harrah and Reynolds in the ordinary course of business by several commercial banks.
 
Any disposition of such pledged shares upon a default by Mr. Reynolds or Harrah and Reynolds under such loans could result in a change of control of the Company.
 
 
 
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Proposed Issuance of Preferred Series A Shares and Use of Such Shares In Conversion of Debt Owed to Shareholder Into Preferred Series A Shares

On January 18, 2016, the Board approved and recommended that shareholders approve an amendment of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company to create a new class of capital stock, i.e., 2,500 shares of Preferred Series A with a par value of $1,000 per shares.  The purpose of this proposed amendment and proposed authorization of such Preferred Series A shares was to allow implementation of a conversion of debt owed to a shareholder into equity in the form of preferred shares, which conversion had been approved by the Board on June 15, 2015 and was disclosed in a previous filing (10-Q filed for the quarter ending April 30, 2016).

Specifically, as approved on June 15, 2015, the Board authorized and approved conversion of a $2,500,000 note payable to a shareholder, accruing interest at the rate of 3.25% per annum (currently 3.50%), to preferred stock equity that would pay either a 0.00% dividend or 6.00% dividend contingent on the Company’s net income after income taxes being at least $1.0 million, such that if the Company’s net income after income taxes is less than 1.00% the dividend rate on such preferred stock would be 0.00%, (the “Conversion”).   However, because the Company does not have a class of preferred shares currently, the proposed amendment is necessary in order to authorize creation of the preferred shares necessary to complete the Conversion.  Mr. Reynolds, who is the Chairman of the Board of the Company, is the shareholder affected by the Conversion, and consequently he recused himself from the votes on these matters at the Board’s July 15, 2015 and January 18, 2016 meetings.

If the transaction is approved by the Company’s stockholders and implemented, the Company expects to issue all 2,500 Preferred Series A shares, which would have the following features under the proposed amendment:

·  
The proposed Preferred Series A shares would be non-voting shares.

·  
The voting power for the election of directors and for all other voting purposes would be vested exclusively in the holders of the Class A common shares and, except as otherwise required by law, the holders of the proposed Preferred Series A shares would not have any voting power or be entitled to receive any notice of meetings of shareholders.

·  
The proposed Preferred Series A shares would be issued in consideration of the conversion by a stockholder of $2,500,000.00 principal amount of debt owed to such shareholder by the Company, and shall be issued on the date of the Conversion upon surrender and cancellation of such debt by such stockholder (the “Conversion Date”).

·  
The proposed Preferred Series A shares would be entitled to a preference in the event of liquidation as to proceeds thereof, over the common shares.

·  
The proposed Preferred Series A shares would be entitled to a contingent dividend (as described below) and a preference as to dividends, and no dividends would be paid by the Company to any holders of any class of common shares unless and until such dividends as are required to be paid to the proposed Preferred Series A shares have in fact been declared and paid to the holders of the proposed Preferred Series A shares.

·  
The proposed Preferred Series A shares would be entitled to receive a contingent dividend, at the rate of six percent (6.00%) per annum on the par value thereof, to be paid in the first quarter of the next ensuing fiscal year, following any fiscal year in which the net income of the Company after taxes is at least $1,000,000.00 or greater; provided, however, that no dividend would be permitted to be paid on the proposed Preferred Series A shares, and such shares would have a zero percent (0.00%) dividend rate, unless the corporation earned at least $1,000,000.00 in net income after taxes in the prior fiscal year.

·  
On each anniversary of the Conversion Date (each, an “Anniversary Date”), the Company would have the option and right to redeem, in whole or in part, Preferred Series A shares at the redemption price of $1,000 per share (par), at the option of the Company.

·  
The proposed Preferred Series A shares do not have a conversion right to convert the proposed Preferred Series A shares to any class of common shares.


 
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Creation and issuance of the Preferred Series A shares, and thus the final completion of the Conversion, are subject to stockholder approval of an amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation. Approval of the amendment would require the approval of a majority of the Company’s outstanding shares. The Company expects the amendment will be presented to the stockholders for a vote on the amendment at a special meeting of stockholders (date and time to be determined by the Board but presently anticpated to be in May or June, 2016).    The Company further expects that if this amendment is approved, the Preferred Series A shares would be issued and used to complete the Conversion. As noted above, the Board will set a date and time for such special meeting of stockholders at which the amendment will be voted upon by stockholders. Current directors who voted in favor of the proposed amendment at the January 18, 2016 meeting of the Board (the Company’s current Chairman of the Board recused himself) who own approximately 2.9% of the Company’s outstanding Class A Common Stock have indicated they support the proposed amendment and the Conversion and to the extent they own or control shares of Class A Common Stock are expected to support the proposed transaction and to vote in favor of the proposed amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation when the amendment is presented to a vote of the Company’s stockholders. The Company’s current Chairman of the Board is the shareholder who holds the debt to be converted into preferred shares under the Conversion. He currently owns or controls approximately 53.7% of the Company’s outstanding Class A Common Stock. To the extent he previously had committed to do the Conversion and convert such debt to preferred shares, he has indicated that he supports the Conversion and thus the Company anticipates that he will vote in favor of the proposed amendment when it is presented to a vote of the Company’s stockholders.  In addition, Mr. Adam M. Reynolds, the Company’s new President and Chief Executive Officer effective as of March 1, 2016, has indicated that he supports the Conversion and thus the Company anticipates that he will vote in favor of the proposed amendment when it is presented to a vote of the Company’s stockholders.

This filing is only a brief description of a proposed transaction and is not a solicitation of a proxy. All stockholders are advised to read carefully the definitive proxy statement (that is, the definitive proxy statement relating to the special meeting at which the reverse stock split proposal will be submitted to a vote of shareholders)  when it is available because it will contain important information about the stockholders meeting (i.e., the meeting at which the amendment will be presented for a vote of shareholders thereon). Stockholders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. The Company will also mail a copy of the definitive proxy statement prior to the stockholders meeting to its stockholders entitled to vote. The Company and its executive officers and directors may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders in favor of the proposed transaction. Information about the Company’s executive officers and directors and their ownership of the Company’s common stock will be set forth in the definitive proxy statement.
 
 
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Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits.
 
         
Exhibit
  
Name
    
99.1
  
Board Resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors on January 18, 2016 (authorizing proposed transaction)
    
         
         
Exhibit
  
Name
    
99.2
  
Exhibit A to the Board Resolution
    
         
         
Exhibit
  
Name
    
99.3
  
Exhibit B Part 1 to the Board Resolution
   
         
         
Exhibit
  
Name
    
99.4
  
Exhibit B Part 2 to the Board Resolution
   
         
 
 
 
 
 
 
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After reasonable inquiry and to the best of the undersigned’s knowledge and belief, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
 
 
Amendment No. 2
April 1, 2016
 
         
     
 
/s/ Marshall T. Reynolds
  
 
Marshall T. Reynolds
  
     
 
         
  The Harrah and Reynolds Corporation  
By:
/s/ Marshall T. Reynolds
  
 
Marshall T. Reynolds
  
     
 
         
     
 
/s/ Glenn W. Wilcox, Sr.
  
 
Glenn W. Wilcox, Sr.
  
     
 
         
     
 
/s/ Philip E. Cline
  
 
Philip E. Cline
  
     
 
         
     
 
/s/ Neal W. Scaggs
  
 
Neal W. Scaggs
  
     
 
         
     
 
/s/ Louis J. Akers 
  
 
Louis J. Akers
 
     
 
         
     
 
/s/ Adam M. Reynolds
  
 
Adam M. Reynolds
  
     
 
         
     
 
/s/ Justin T. Evans
  
 
Justin T. Evans
  
     

 
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