CHAMPION INDUSTRIES INC
424B1, 1998-03-30
COMMERCIAL PRINTING
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<PAGE>

                                1,000,000 SHARES
[LOGO]                     CHAMPION INDUSTRIES, INC.

                                  COMMON STOCK
                        ______________________________


     All of the 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock, per value $1.00 per share
(the "Common Stock"), of Champion Industries, Inc. (the "Company") offered
hereby are being sold by the Company. The Common Stock is currently listed on
The Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market System (the "Nasdaq National Market")
under the symbol "CHMP."  On March 26, 1998, the last reported closing price
of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market was $15.125.  See "Price
Range of Common Stock."
                        ______________________________

                      SEE "INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS" FOR CERTAIN
            FACTORS RELEVANT TO AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMON STOCK.
                        ______________________________

         THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
           SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
         COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR
           ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY
             OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO
                      THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

===============================================================================
                      |     Price       |     Underwriting   |      Proceeds
                      |       to        |    Discounts and   |          to
                      |     Public      |   Commissions(1)   |     Company(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Share............ |   $   14.50     |      $  1.015      |   $  13.485     
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total(3)............. |   $14,500,000   |      $1,015,000    |   $13,485,000  
===============================================================================
(1)  The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriter against certain
     liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
     amended. See "Underwriting."
(2)  Before deducting expenses payable by the Company, which are estimated at
     $282,000.
(3)  The Company has granted the Underwriter a 30-day option to purchase up to
     150,000 additional shares of Common Stock on the same terms and
     conditions as set forth above, solely to cover over-allotments, if any.
     If such option is exercised in full, the total Price to Public,
     Underwriting Discounts and Commissions and Proceeds to Company will be
     $16,675,000, $1,167,250 and $15,507,750, respectively.  See
     "Underwriting."
                        ______________________________

     The shares of Common Stock are offered by the Underwriter, subject to
prior sale, to withdrawal, cancellation or modification of the offer without
notice, to delivery and to acceptance by the Underwriter and to certain further
conditions. It is expected that delivery of the certificates representing such
shares will be made against payment therefor at the offices of Ferris, Baker
Watts, Incorporated, 1720 Eye Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. or through the
facilities of The Depository Trust Company, on or about March 31, 1998.
                        ______________________________

                              FERRIS, BAKER WATTS
                                  Incorporated
                        ______________________________

                 The date of this Prospectus is March 27, 1998




<PAGE>

Photo: Printing Press

Photo: Office Products - Supplies, pens, pads

Map:   Eastern United States

















                        ______________________________

     IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITER MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE, MAINTAIN, OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE MARKET PRICE OF
COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL
IN THE OPEN MARKET.  SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY
TIME.  FOR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIVITIES, SEE "UNDERWRITING."
                        ______________________________

     IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING, CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AND SELLING GROUP
MEMBERS MAY ENGAGE IN PASSIVE MARKET MAKING TRANSACTIONS IN THE COMMON STOCK ON
NASDAQ IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 103 OF REGULATION M.  SEE "UNDERWRITING."


                                       2



<PAGE>

                              PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     The following summary is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read
in conjunction with, the more detailed information and the financial statements
and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus. Unless otherwise
indicated, all information in this Prospectus assumes that the Underwriter's
over-allotment option will not be exercised. The offering of the shares of
Common Stock pursuant to this Prospectus is referred to herein as the
"Offering." Investors should carefully consider the information set forth under
the heading "Investment Considerations." This Prospectus contains
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. See "Special
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements."
                        ______________________________

                                  THE COMPANY

     Champion Industries, Inc. ("Champion" or the "Company") is a major
commercial printer, business forms manufacturer and office products and office
furniture supplier in regional markets east of the Mississippi River.  Since
its initial public offering (the "IPO") in 1993, the Company has been a major
consolidator within the fragmented printing and office products industries,
having acquired 16 businesses.  The Company provides state-of-the-art printing
services ranging from the simplest to the most complex jobs, including business
cards, books, brochures, posters, 4- to 6-color process printing and
multi-part, continuous and snap-out business forms.  The Company also offers
a full line of office products and office furniture primarily in the budget
and middle price ranges.  

     As a result of its consolidating acquisitions and internal growth, the
Company's revenues have increased from $33.6 million in the fiscal year ended
October 31, 1993 to $108.4 million in fiscal 1997.  For fiscal 1997, printing
accounted for 81.2% of total revenues and office products and furniture sales
accounted for 18.8% of total revenues.

     The Company's marketing strategy focuses on manufacturers, institutions,
financial services companies and professional firms.  The Company employs
approximately 130 salespeople who sell a full range of printing services,
office products and office furniture.  The Company believes that its reputation
for quality, service, convenience and selection allows it to enjoy significant
customer loyalty and customer referrals.  

     The Company's strategic objective is to grow its revenues and profits by
continuing its emphasis on cross-sales of products and services by its highly
competent and motivated sales force with additional industry consolidating
acquisitions designed to enhance the Company's geographic coverage, market
penetration, cross-selling opportunities and economies of scale.  Key elements
of the Company's strategy are as follows:

     o  Strategic acquisitions:  The Company intends to continue making
        strategic acquisitions to acquire new products and capabilities,
        acquire new markets for existing Company products and services and
        increase market share and revenues.  The Company believes favorable
        acquisition opportunities are available as the fragmented printing
        and office products industries undergo further consolidation.
        Champion believes that its competitive and financial strengths and
        considerable experience in acquiring and integrating businesses will
        continue to provide significant growth opportunities.

     o  Cross-selling of products and services:  Management believes that
        printing and office products sales activities are complementary,
        since frequent customer sales calls required for one of its products
        or services provide opportunities to sell other products and services.

     o  Expanded product and service lines:  Certain of the Company's
        acquisitions have permitted it to provide new products to its
        existing customer base while providing new markets for its existing
        products and services, enhancing economies of scale, vertical
        integration and margins.  As a result of the Company's expanded
        products and services, enhanced geographic market presence
        and reputation for quality, the Company has attracted customers in
        new markets and captured incremental sales from existing customers.

     o  Low cost operating structure:  The Company negotiates Company-wide
        paper purchasing agreements directly with paper manufacturers and is
        a member of a major office products buying group, which management
        believes provide the Company with a competitive advantage.
        Additionally, the Company's ability to integrate acquired
        businesses, and to perform work at the most advantageous location,
        contribute to cost reduction.

     o  Highly motivated sales force:  Salespeople are compensated based on
        their individual profitability.  The Company's acquisitions have
        provided its sales force with enhanced sales and compensation
        opportunities by expanding the number of available products and
        services, thereby contributing to the Company's ability to attract
        and maintain a highly motivated sales force.


                                       3



<PAGE>

      The Company was incorporated in West Virginia in 1992. The Company's
principal executive offices are located at 2450 First Avenue, Huntington, West
Virginia 25703. The Company's telephone number is (304) 528-2791.

                              RECENT ACQUISITION

     On February 2, 1998, the Company acquired all outstanding capital stock
of Rose City Press ("Rose City"), a full-line office products and office
furniture supplier in Charleston, West Virginia in exchange for 75,722 shares
of Company Common Stock.  Rose City, with approximately $4 million in sales in
its most recent calendar year, is a major competitive presence in the
Charleston, West Virginia market and will operate as a division of Stationers,
Inc. ("Stationers").  The acquisition of Rose City will not materially impact
the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows as
presented herein.

                                 THE OFFERING
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                                                    <C>
Common Stock Offered by the Company...................  1,000,000 shares

Common Stock to be Outstanding after the Offering.....  9,464,167 shares(1)

Use of Proceeds.......................................  To repay certain indebtedness and for general
                                                        corporate purposes, including working capital
                                                        and future acquisitions.  See "Use of Proceeds."

Nasdaq National Market Symbol.........................  "CHMP"
</TABLE>

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

(1)  Excludes 218,017 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
     outstanding stock options as of March 6, 1998, all of which were then
     exercisable.










                                       4



<PAGE>

                         SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     The following summary selected financial information should be read in
conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by, the more detailed
financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
The summary income statement data of the Company for the years ended
October 31, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997 and the summary balance sheet
data as of October 31, 1997 have been derived from the Consolidated Financial
Statements of the Company. This data should be read in conjunction with the
Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto and "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations"
included elsewhere herein.  The historical financial data as of and for the
three months ended January 31, 1997 and 1998 are derived from the Company's
unaudited financial statements.  It is management's opinion that the historical
financial data as of and for the three months ended January 31, 1997 and 1998,
contain all adjustments, consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments,
which management considers necessary to fairly present the financial data set
forth herein in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.  The
results of operations for the three months ended January 31, 1997 and 1998 are
not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for future periods.  
In 1997, the Company acquired all the outstanding common stock of Blue Ridge
Printing Co., Inc. ("Blue Ridge").  This combination has been accounted for 
as a pooling of interests.  Accordingly, all financial information for the 
three months ended January 31, 1997 has been restated as though Blue Ridge and
the Company had always been combined.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                  Three Months Ended
                                                        Year Ended October 31,                        January 31,
                                        -----------------------------------------------------    ---------------------
<S>                                    <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>         <C>
                                           1993       1994       1995       1996       1997         1997        1998
                                           ----       ----       ----       ----       ----         ----        ----
                                                        (In thousands, except share and per share data)

INCOME STATEMENT DATA:

Revenues..............................  $  33,590  $  43,230  $  49,903  $  66,357  $ 108,385    $  21,115   $  29,634

Cost of sales.........................     20,314     26,360     31,921     44,092     73,139       15,111      21,267
                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------    ---------   ---------

Selling, general and administrative
  expenses............................     10,155     12,486     12,788     16,197     28,079        4,694       6,663
                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------    ---------   ---------

Income from operations................      3,121      4,384      5,194      6,068      7,167        1,310       1,704

Other income (expense)................         58        147       (128)      (444)      (829)         224        (317)
                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------    ---------   ---------

Income before income taxes............      3,179      4,531      5,066      5,624      6,338        1,534       1,387

Income taxes..........................     (1,278)    (1,859)    (2,060)    (2,252)    (2,571)        (665)       (590)
                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------    ---------   ---------

Net income............................  $   1,901  $   2,672  $   3,006  $   3,372  $   3,767    $     869   $     797
                                        =========  =========  =========  =========  =========    =========   =========

Earnings per share(1):
  Basic...............................  $    0.26  $    0.33  $    0.37  $    0.41  $    0.45    $    0.10   $    0.10
  Diluted.............................  $    0.26  $    0.33  $    0.37  $    0.40  $    0.45    $    0.10   $    0.09

Weighted average common shares
  outstanding(1):
  Basic...............................  7,299,035  8,084,088  8,147,389  8,323,518  8,383,391    8,382,489   8,385,656
  Diluted.............................  7,299,035  8,098,799  8,176,716  8,356,032  8,441,083    8,438,879   8,435,507
</TABLE>

                                                        At January 31, 1998
                                                   ----------------------------

                                                      Actual    As Adjusted(2)
                                                      ------    --------------
BALANCE SHEET DATA:

Working capital............................          $ 18,624      $ 31,827
Total assets...............................            58,881        72,084
Short-term debt............................             4,244         4,244
Long-term debt, net of current portion.....            14,300        14,300
Shareholders' equity.......................            27,277        40,480

(1)  For each of the five years in the period ended October 31, 1997, and for
     the three months ended January 31, 1997, earnings per share and weighted
     average common shares outstanding amounts have been restated to comply
     with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings per
     Share."

(2)  Adjusted to give effect to the Offering at a price to the public of
     $14.50 per share and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts
     and offering expenses.


                                       5



<PAGE>

                          INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS

     The following factors, in addition to other information in this
Prospectus, should be carefully considered in evaluating the Company and its
business before purchasing the shares of Common Stock offered hereby:

Growth Through Acquisitions

     To expand its markets, diversify its business mix and take advantage of
the fragmented printing and office products industries, the Company intends to
grow through acquisitions.  There can be no assurance that future acquisitions
will be consummated on acceptable terms or that any newly acquired companies
will be successfully integrated into the Company's operations.  The Company may
use Common Stock (which could result in dilution to the purchasers of the
Common Stock offered hereby) or may incur additional indebtedness or a
combination thereof for all or a portion of the consideration to be paid in
future acquisitions.  The Company continuously evaluates opportunities to make
strategic acquisitions.  

Competition

     The printing, office products and office furniture industries are
extremely competitive and fragmented.  The Company competes with numerous large
and small companies that operate in each industry, some of which have greater
financial resources than the Company.  The Company competes on the basis of its
reputation for quality, production capability, prompt delivery, price and the
strength of its continuing customer relationships.  See
"Business - Competition."

Technology

     Production technology in the printing industry has evolved and continues
to evolve.  Although the Company has invested in excess of $10.5 million in
equipment since the beginning of fiscal 1993, it may be required to invest
significant capital in additional production technology in order to remain
competitive.  The Company believes that its capital investments in
state-of-the-art technology have allowed it to realize increased efficiencies.

Dependence on Marshall T. Reynolds; Control of the Company

     The Company's operations and prospects are dependent in large part on the
continued efforts of Marshall T. Reynolds.  The loss of Mr. Reynolds could have
an adverse effect on the Company.  In addition, by virtue of Mr. Reynolds'
ownership of 50.1% of the Common Stock after giving effect to the Offering made
hereby, Mr. Reynolds will continue to control the Company.

Environmental Regulation

     The Company is subject to the environmental laws and regulations of the
United States and the states in which it operates concerning emissions into the
air, discharges into waterways, and the generation, handling and disposal of
waste materials.  The Company's past expenditures relating to environmental
compliance have not had a material effect on the Company.  These laws and
regulations are constantly evolving, and it is impossible to predict accurately
the effect they may have upon the capital expenditures, earnings and
competitive position of the Company in the future.  Based upon information
currently available, management believes that expenditures relating to
environmental compliance will not have a material impact on the financial
condition of the Company.

Geographic Concentration and Economic Conditions

     The Company's operations and the majority of its customers are located in
West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Maryland,
Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina.  The Company and its
profitability may be more susceptible to the effects of unfavorable or adverse
local or regional economic factors and conditions than a company with a more
geographically diverse customer base.

Shares Eligible for Future Sale

     As of February 24, 1998, Marshall T. Reynolds and his affiliated
entities, including The Harrah and Reynolds Corporation ("Harrah and
Reynolds"), held 4,741,127 shares (56.0%) of the Common Stock of the Company.
Assuming no change in these holdings between February 24, 1998 and the closing
of this Offering, Mr. Reynolds will hold 50.1% of the Common Stock of the
Company.  Sales by Mr. Reynolds of Common Stock could adversely affect the
prevailing market price of the Common Stock.  The Company is unable to
estimate the amount of Common Stock, if any, that may be sold in the future.
The Company and its officers and directors, including Mr. Reynolds, have
agreed with the Underwriters not to sell or otherwise dispose of any shares
of Common Stock for a period of 180 days after the date of this Prospectus
without the prior written consent of the Underwriter. 


                                       6



<PAGE>

                                USE OF PROCEEDS

     The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the 1,000,000 shares of
Common Stock by the Company in this Offering (at an offering price of $14.50
per share) are $13,203,000 ($15,225,750 if the Underwriter's over-allotment
option is exercised in full), after deducting underwriting discounts and
commissions and offering expenses payable by the Company.

     The Company will apply no more than 75% of the proceeds to reduction of
indebtedness.  The Company intends to use the balance of the net proceeds of
the Offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes to fund
the Company's continued growth.  Pending the use of proceeds, the Company may
invest in short-term money market, government and federal agency obligations,
bank certificates of deposit and savings deposits.

                          PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

     The Common Stock is currently listed on the Nasdaq National Market under
the symbol "CHMP."  The following table sets forth the high and low sales
prices of the Common Stock for the periods indicated as reported by the Nasdaq
National Market, and reflects two 25% stock dividends, accounted for as 5 for 4
stock splits, paid on January 22, 1996 and January 27, 1997:

                                                               High        Low
                                                               ----        ---

Fiscal 1996:

  First Quarter...........................................    $15.52     $13.12
  Second Quarter..........................................     16.60      12.80
  Third Quarter...........................................     15.40      13.60
  Fourth Quarter..........................................     18.00      13.60

Fiscal 1997:

  First Quarter...........................................     19.40      17.00
  Second Quarter..........................................     19.75      17.00
  Third Quarter...........................................     19.50      16.13
  Fourth Quarter..........................................     19.25      18.00

Fiscal 1998:

  First Quarter...........................................     19.50      16.00
  Second Quarter (through March 26, 1998).................     17.00      14.75


     The last reported closing price of the Common Stock as reported by the
Nasdaq National Market on March 26, 1998, was $15.125.  As of March 24, 1998,
there were 552 holders of record of the Common Stock.






                                       7



<PAGE>

                                DIVIDEND POLICY

     The following table sets forth the quarterly dividends per share declared
on Company Common Stock, and reflects three 25% stock dividends, accounted for
as 5 for 4 stock splits, paid on January 23, 1995, January 22, 1996 and
January 27, 1997.

                          Fiscal 1995   Fiscal 1996   Fiscal 1997   Fiscal 1998
                          -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------

       First Quarter         $0.026        $0.032        $0.040        $0.050

       Second Quarter         0.032         0.040         0.050        $0.050

       Third Quarter          0.032         0.040         0.050              

       Fourth Quarter         0.032         0.040         0.050              

     The Company's Board of Directors intends to continue the payment of
regular quarterly cash dividends on its Common Stock, subject to the Company's
need for those funds.  The Company's ability to pay dividends is not currently
restricted by any of its financing agreements. 

                                CAPITALIZATION

     The following table sets forth the capitalization of the Company at
January 31, 1998, and as adjusted to give effect to the sale by the Company of
1,000,000 shares of Common Stock in the Offering (at a price to the public of
$14.50 per share), and the application of the net proceeds therefrom, as if
such transactions had occurred as of January 31, 1998.  This table should be
read in conjunction with the Company's financial statements and the notes
thereto included elsewhere in this Prospectus.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                            As of January 31, 1998
                                                                           ------------------------
                                                                             Actual    As Adjusted
                                                                             ------    -----------
                                                                                (In thousands)

<S>                                                                       <C>         <C>
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, net of current portion....    $14,300      $14,300

Shareholders' equity:

  Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, 20,000,000 shares
    authorized, 8,388,445 shares issued and outstanding, actual;
    9,388,445 shares issued and outstanding, as adjusted(1).............      8,388        9,388

  Additional paid-in capital............................................      7,496       19,699 

  Retained earnings.....................................................     11,393       11,393
                                                                            -------      ------- 

    Total shareholders' equity..........................................     27,277       40,480 
                                                                            -------      -------

      Total capitalization..............................................    $41,577      $54,780              
                                                                            =======      =======
</TABLE>

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

(1)  Excludes 218,017 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
     certain stock options outstanding on January 31, 1998, all of which were
     then exercisable.





                                       8



<PAGE>

                     SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

     The Consolidated Income Statement and Balance Sheet Data of the Company
set forth below at and for the years ended October 31, 1993 through 1997 have
been derived from the audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company.
The information set forth below should be read in conjunction with the
Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company (and notes thereto) appearing
elsewhere herein and the information contained in "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."  The historical
financial data as of and for the three months ended January 31, 1997 and 1998
are derived from the Company's unaudited financial statements.  It is
management's opinion that the historical financial data as of and for the three
months ended January 31, 1997 and 1998 contain all adjustments, consisting
solely of normal recurring adjustments, which management considers necessary
to fairly present the financial data set forth herein in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.  The results of operations for the
three months ended January 31, 1997 and 1998 are not necessarily indicative of
the results to be expected for future periods.  In 1997, the Company acquired
all the outstanding common stock of Blue Ridge.  This combination has been
accounted for as a pooling of interests.  Accordingly, all financial
information for the three months ended January 31, 1997 has been restated as
though Blue Ridge and the Company had always been combined.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                  Three Months Ended
                                                        Year Ended October 31,                        January 31,
                                        -----------------------------------------------------    ---------------------
<S>                                    <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>         <C>
                                           1993       1994       1995       1996       1997         1997        1998
                                           ----       ----       ----       ----       ----         ----        ----

                                                        (In thousands, except share and per share data)
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
Revenues:
  Printing............................  $  22,899  $  30,001  $  35,371  $  49,242  $  87,979    $  16,137   $  23,956
  Office products and office
    furniture.........................     10,691     13,229     14,532     17,115     20,406        4,978       5,678
                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------    ---------   ---------
Total revenues........................     33,590     43,230     49,903     66,357    108,385       21,115      29,634

Cost of sales:
  Printing............................     13,478     17,755     22,251     33,015     59,850       11,779      17,508
  Office products and office
    furniture.........................      6,836      8,605      9,670     11,077     13,289        3,332       3,759
                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------    ---------   ---------
Total cost of sales...................     20,314     26,360     31,921     44,092     73,139       15,111      21,267
Selling, general and administrative
  expenses............................     10,155     12,486     12,788     16,197     28,079        4,694       6,663
                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------    ---------   ---------
Income from operations................      3,121      4,384      5,194      6,068      7,167        1,310       1,704
  Interest income.....................        129         67         11         25         20            7           -
  Interest expense....................       (140)      (132)      (252)      (693)    (1,586)        (238)       (427)
  Other income........................         69        212        113        224        737          455         110
                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------    ---------   ---------

Income before income taxes............      3,179      4,531      5,066      5,624      6,338        1,534       1,387

  Income taxes........................     (1,278)    (1,859)    (2,060)    (2,252)    (2,571)        (665)       (590)
                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------    ---------   ---------
Net income............................  $   1,901  $   2,672  $   3,006  $   3,372  $   3,767    $     869   $     797
                                        =========  =========  =========  =========  =========    =========   =========
Earnings per share(1):
  Basic...............................  $    0.26  $    0.33  $    0.37  $    0.41  $    0.45    $    0.10   $    0.10
  Diluted.............................  $    0.26  $    0.33  $    0.37  $    0.40  $    0.45    $    0.10   $    0.09

Dividends per share...................  $   0.041  $   0.098  $  0.122   $   0.152  $   0.190    $   0.040   $   0.050

Weighted average common shares
  outstanding(1):
  Basic...............................  7,299,035  8,084,088  8,147,389  8,323,518  8,383,391    8,382,489   8,385,656
  Diluted.............................  7,299,035  8,098,799  8,176,716  8,356,032  8,441,083    8,438,879   8,435,507
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                            At October 31,                           At January 31,
                                        -----------------------------------------------------    ---------------------
<S>                                    <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>         <C>
                                           1993       1994       1995       1996       1997         1997        1998
                                           ----       ----       ----       ----       ----         ----        ----
BALANCE SHEET DATA:

Working capital.......................  $  9,603   $  10,040  $  11,148  $  13,579  $  18,935    $  17,490   $  18,624
Total assets..........................    21,050      25,690     28,643     44,063     60,346       57,255      58,881
Short-term debt.......................       484         538      1,077      2,437      4,244        3,369       4,244
Long-term debt, net of current
  portion.............................     1,131       1,124      2,405      7,561     15,156       15,614      14,300
Shareholders' equity..................    15,027      17,739     19,794     24,641     26,850       25,178      27,277
</TABLE>

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

(1)  For each of the five years in the period ended October 31, 1997, and for
     the three months ended January 31, 1997, earnings per share and weighted
     average common shares outstanding amounts have been restated to comply
     with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings per
     Share."

                                       9



<PAGE>

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


Overview

     The Company is a commercial printer, business form manufacturer and office
products and office furniture supplier in regional markets east of the
Mississippi River. The Company has grown through strategic acquisitions and
internal growth. Through such growth, the Company has realized regional
economies of scale and operational efficiencies.

     The Company's largest acquisition since the IPO was the purchase of
Interform Corporation ("Interform") on December 31, 1996. The addition of
Interform's sales in the business forms segment has increased the printing
component of the Company's revenue mix. Through sales to independent
distributors, and through its own distributor, Consolidated Graphic
Communications, Interform provides the Company's manufacturing divisions
access to the large northeastern markets of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New
York.  Interform contributed significantly to revenues in the quarter ended
January 31, 1998.

     The Company's 1997 acquisition of Blue Ridge, located in Asheville, North
Carolina and Knoxville, Tennessee added a premier commercial color printer
specializing in sales to and through advertising agencies. A portion of its
sales utilize the proprietary QuadRaster(TM) technology which creates color
printing of significantly higher resolution and impact than traditional color
imaging methods. This technology provides the opportunity for increased sales
of high-end color jobs throughout the Company.

     The Company's most recent acquisition was the addition of Rose City,
located in Charleston, West Virginia. Rose City is a major competitor in the
office products arena in the important Charleston market and has been in
business since 1923.  Rose City has now come full circle, having sold its
printing assets to Champion's predecessor, Chapman Printing Company, in 1974.
The combination of Rose City and Chapman Printing's Charleston division gives
Champion a powerful presence in West Virginia's capital city.  The acquisition
of Rose City will not materially impact the Company's financial position,
results of operations or cash flows as presented herein.

     The Company's net revenues consist primarily of sales of commercial
printing, business forms, tags, other printed products, office supplies,
office furniture, data products and office design services. Revenues are
recognized by the Company when products are shipped or services are rendered
to the customer. The Company's revenues are subject to quarterly fluctuations
caused by variations in demand for its products.

     The Company's cost of sales primarily consist of raw materials, including
paper, ink, pre-press supplies and purchased office supplies, furniture and
data products, and manufacturing costs including direct labor, indirect labor
and overhead. Significant factors affecting the Company's cost of sales
include the costs of paper in both printing and office supplies, the costs of
labor and other raw materials.

     The Company's operating costs consist of selling, general and
administrative expenses. These costs include salaries, commissions and wages
for sales, customer service, accounting, administrative and executive
personnel, rent, utilities and equipment maintenance.


                                      10



<PAGE>

Results of Operations

  The following table sets forth for the periods indicated information derived
from the Company's Consolidated Income Statements, including certain
information presented as a percentage of total revenues.  In 1997, the Company
acquired all of the outstanding common stock of Blue Ridge.  This combination
has been accounted for as a pooling of interests.  Accordingly, financial
information for the three months ended January 31, 1997 has been restated as
though Blue Ridge and the Company had always been combined.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                Year Ended October 31,                  Three Months Ended January 31,
                                  -------------------------------------------------   ---------------------------------
                                        1995            1996             1997              1997             1998
                                        ----            ----             ----              ----             ----
<S>                              <C>       <C>    <C>       <C>    <C>       <C>     <C>       <C>    <C>       <C>
Revenues:
                                                                                                 (unaudited)
                                                                  (Dollars in thousands)

  Printing....................    $ 35,371  70.9%  $ 49,242  74.2%  $ 87,979  81.2%   $ 16,137  76.4%  $ 23,956  80.8%
  Office products and office
    furniture.................      14,532  29.1     17,115  25.8     20,406  18.8       4,978  23.6      5,678  19.2
                                  -------- -----   -------- -----   -------- -----    -------- -----   -------- -----
       Total revenues.........      49,903 100.0     66,357 100.0    108,385 100.0      21,115 100.0     29,634 100.0

Cost of sales:
  Printing....................      22,251  44.6     33,015  49.8     59,850  55.2      11,779  55.8     17,508  59.0
  Office products and office
    furniture.................       9,670  19.4     11,077  16.7     13,289  12.3       3,332  15.8      3,759  12.7
                                  -------- -----   -------- -----   -------- -----    -------- -----   -------- -----
       Total cost of sales....      31,921  64.0     44,092  66.5     73,139  67.5      15,111  71.6     21,267  71.7

Selling, general and
  administrative expenses.....      12,788  25.6     16,197  24.4     28,079  25.9       4,694  22.2      6,663  22.5
                                  -------- -----   -------- -----   -------- -----    -------- -----   -------- -----

Income from operations........       5,194  10.4      6,068   9.1      7,167   6.6       1,310   6.2      1,704   5.8

  Other income (expense):
    Interest income...........          11   0.0         25   0.0         20   0.0           7   0.0        0.0   0.0
    Interest expense..........        (252) (0.5)      (693) (1.0)    (1,586) (1.4)       (238) (1.1)      (427) (1.4)
    Other income..............         113   0.2        224   0.4        737   0.7         455   2.2        110   0.3
                                  -------- -----   -------- -----   -------- -----    -------- -----   -------- -----

Income before income taxes....       5,066  10.1      5,624   8.5      6,338   5.9       1,534   7.3      1,387   4.7
  Income taxes................      (2,060) (4.1)    (2,252) (3.4)    (2,571) (2.4)       (665) (3.2)      (590) (2.0)
                                  -------- -----   -------- -----   -------- -----    -------- -----   -------- -----

Net income....................    $  3,006   6.0%  $  3,372   5.1%  $  3,767   3.5%   $    869   4.1%  $    797   2.7%
                                  ======== =====   ======== =====   ======== =====    ======== =====   ======== =====
</TABLE>

The following discussion and analysis presents the significant changes in the
financial position and results of operations of the Company and should be read
in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included
elsewhere herein.


Three Months Ended January 31, 1998 Compared to Three Months Ended
  January 31, 1997

  Revenues

     Total revenues increased 40.3% in the first quarter of 1998 to $29.6
million from $21.1 million in the first quarter of 1997.  Printing revenue
increased 48.5% in the first quarter of 1998 to $24.0 million from $16.1
million in the first quarter of 1997.  Office products and office furniture
revenue increased 14.1% in the first quarter of 1998 to $5.7 million from $5.0
million in the first quarter of 1997. The increase in total revenues was
primarily achieved through the acquisition of Interform, which contributed
$6.4 million to this change.  Revenues at existing printing divisions
increased by approximately $1.4 million in the first quarter of 1998 due to
increased sales efforts coupled with increased printing capabilities at
various locations.  Since the printing business is very capital and labor
intensive, a key success factor is increasing revenues to a level exceeding
fixed costs. The Company has been increasing volume through acquisitions and
increased marketing activity to new and existing customers. The Company
expects to realize the benefit of improved margins as volume increases.  The
existing office products and office furniture divisions also experienced a
sales increase during the first quarter of 1998 of approximately $700,000 due
to increased sales efforts.


                                      11



<PAGE>



  Cost of Sales

     Total cost of sales increased 40.7% in the first quarter of 1998 to $21.3
million from $15.1 million in the first quarter of 1997.  Printing cost of
sales increased 48.6% in the first quarter of 1998 to $17.5 million from $11.8
million in the first quarter of 1997, due primarily to sales volume and the
addition of newly acquired divisions with lower sales margins. As the Company
has increased volume through the addition of acquired businesses, cost of
sales as a percentage of revenues has increased because the additions have
been lower margin businesses than the Company's original core operations. The
first quarter gross margins are historically lower than complete year amounts,
because the second and fourth quarters are typically the  most profitable
and absorb more overhead.  The cost of sales for the first quarter of 1998
was lower than the year ago quarter due to the effect of Interform's lower
margin sales.  Office products and office furniture cost of sales increased
12.8% in the first quarter of 1998 to $3.8 million from $3.3 million in the
first quarter of 1997, primarily due to growth in sales.  The increase in cost
of sales parallels the change in sales. The cost of office products sales as
a percentage of office products sales has remained relatively stable.
  
  Operating Expenses and Income

     Selling, general and administrative expenses increased as a percentage of
sales in first quarter of 1998 to 22.5% from 22.2% in the first quarter of 1997
due to increased overhead costs associated with acquired businesses. Selling,
general and administrative expenses continue to fall on an annual basis as
they are spread over an increasingly large sales base. For the reasons stated
above, income from operations increased 30.1% in the first quarter of 1998 to
$1.7 million from $1.3 million in the first quarter of 1997. Operating income
as a percentage of sales has declined steadily over the last three years due
to the addition of lower margin acquired businesses.  The Company expects to
realize the benefits of the increased volume from acquired businesses in the
future as a result of cross selling, capital equipment improvements, broader
product lines and corporate purchasing advantages.

  Other Income/Expense

     Interest expense increased $189,000 to $427,000 in the first quarter of
1998 from $238,000 in the first quarter of 1997 as a result of the debt
assumed in the Interform acquisition and the financing of the purchase price.
Other income decreased from $455,000 in the first quarter of 1997 to $110,000
in the first quarter of 1998 due primarily to the recognition of a nonrecurring
deferred gain of $330,000 in the first quarter of 1997.

  Income Taxes

     The provision for income taxes as a percentage of income before income
taxes was approximately 43% in the first quarters of 1998 and 1997, and is
consistent with the rates for the years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996.  The
effective income tax rate was approximately the combined federal and state,
net of federal benefit, statutory income tax rate.

  Net Income

     After adjusting for the nonrecurring gain, net core earnings increased
17.2% to $797,000 in the first quarter of 1998, compared to $681,000 in the
first quarter of 1997.  Net income for the first quarter of 1998 decreased
8.2% to $797,000 from $869,000 in the first quarter of 1997.  Diluted earnings
per share in the first quarter of 1998 were $0.09 compared to $0.10 in the
first quarter of 1997.  Net income as a percentage of sales has declined
over the last three years due to the addition of acquired businesses with
lower margins as discussed above. The Company expects to realize the benefits
of the increased volume from acquired businesses in the future as a result of
cross selling, capital equipment improvements, broader product lines and
corporate purchasing advantages.

Year Ended October 31, 1997 Compared to Year Ended October 31, 1996

  Revenues

     Total revenues increased 63.3% in fiscal 1997 to $108.4 million from
$66.4 million in fiscal 1996. Printing revenue increased 78.7% in fiscal 1997
to $88.0 million from $49.2 million in 1996. Office products and office
furniture revenue increased 19.2% in fiscal 1997 to $20.4 million from $17.1
million in fiscal 1996. This was achieved through new acquisitions which
accounted for increased printing sales of $35.5 million and increased office
products and office furniture sales of $3.6 million. The office products and
office furniture change in sales was also impacted by a one-time furniture
sale totaling approximately $500,000 in 1996.


                                      12



<PAGE>

  Cost of Sales

     Total cost of sales increased 65.9% in fiscal 1997 to $73.1 million from
$44.1 million in fiscal 1996. Printing cost of sales increased 81.3% in fiscal
1997 to $59.9 million from $33.0 million in fiscal 1996, due primarily to
sales volume and the impact of newly acquired divisions with lower sales
margins. Office products and office furniture cost of sales increased 20.0%
in fiscal 1997 to $13.3 million from $11.1 million in fiscal 1996, primarily
due to increased sales volume.

  Operating Expenses and Income

     Selling, general and administrative expenses increased as a percentage of
sales in fiscal 1997 to 25.9% from 24.4% in fiscal 1996, due to increased
costs associated with acquisitions. For the reasons stated above, income
from operations increased 18.1% in fiscal 1997 to $7.2 million from $6.1
million in fiscal 1996.

  Other Income/Expense

     Interest expense increased $893,000 from $693,000 in fiscal 1996 to
$1.6 million in fiscal 1997 as a result of the debt assumed in the Interform
acquisition. Other income increased from $224,000 in fiscal 1996 to $737,000
in fiscal 1997, due to a $330,000 one-time recognition of deferred gain from
the previous sale of Stationer's bookstore operations.

  Net Income

     Income taxes in fiscal 1997 increased slightly to 40.6% from 40.0% in
fiscal 1996, due to the Company's expansion into states with higher tax rates.
For the reasons stated above, net income for fiscal 1997 increased 11.7% to
$3.8 million, or $0.45 per share (diluted), from $3.4 million, or $0.40 per
share (diluted), in fiscal 1996.

Year Ended October 31, 1996 Compared to Year Ended October 31, 1995

  Revenues

     Total revenues increased 33.0% in fiscal 1996 to $66.4 million from
$49.9 million in fiscal 1995. Printing revenue increased 39.2% in fiscal 1996
to $49.2 million from $35.4 million in 1995. Office products and office
furniture revenue increased 17.8% in fiscal 1996 to $17.1 million from $14.5
million in fiscal 1995. This was achieved through new acquisitions which
accounted for increased printing sales of $5.5 million and increased office
products and office furniture sales of $1.6 million. The office products and
office furniture divisions also experienced approximately $1.0 million of
sales growth due to increased sales efforts and a one-time furniture sale
totaling approximately $500,000. 

  Cost of Sales

     Total cost of sales increased 38.1% in fiscal 1996 to $44.1 million from
$31.9 million in fiscal 1995. Printing cost of sales increased 48.4% in
fiscal 1996 to $33.0 million from $22.3 million in fiscal 1995, due primarily
to sales volume and the addition of newly acquired divisions with lower sales
margins. Office products and office furniture cost of sales increased 14.5%
in fiscal 1996 to $11.1 million from $9.7 million in fiscal 1995, primarily
due to sales volume.

  Operating Expenses and Income

     Selling, general and administrative expenses declined as a percentage of
sales in fiscal 1996 to 24.4% from 25.6% in fiscal 1995, due to cost controls
implemented by management and spreading overhead expenses over increasing
revenues.  For the reasons stated above, income from operations increased
16.8% in fiscal 1996 to $6.1 million from $5.2 million in fiscal 1995.

  Other Income/Expense

     Interest expense on a comparative basis increased $441,000 as a result of
increased debt.

  Net Income

     Income taxes remained relatively constant at about 40%. For the reasons
stated above, net income increased 12.2% to $3.4 million, or $0.40 per share
(diluted), for fiscal 1996, from $3.0 million, or $0.37 per share (diluted),
in fiscal 1995.


                                      13



<PAGE>

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

     Cash provided from operating activities for the three months ended
January 31, 1998, was $105,000, compared to cash used in operating activities
of ($662,000) for the same period in 1997, and was positively impacted by
controlled growth in inventories, improved collection of accounts receivable,
and timing of payments of accrued income taxes and expenses.

     The Company continues to make significant investments in equipment.
Capital expenditures for the three months ended January 31, 1998, were
$596,000 versus the $543,000 expended in the first quarter of 1997. These
expenditures primarily relate to the upgrading of printing equipment to meet
the demands of production. Management plans to continue making such
improvements and expects total capital expenditures to approximate $3 million
in 1998. Included in these capital expenditures for 1998 is the initial phase
of upgrading the Company's information systems. Management plans to develop
and implement a centralized information system infrastructure.

     At January 31, 1998, working capital was $18.6 million compared to $18.9
million and $17.5 million at October 31, 1997 and January 31, 1997. Working
capital continues to be adequate to meet current operating needs.

     The Company has historically financed its acquisitions, capital
expenditures, and working capital needs from cash generated from its
operations and bank borrowings.  However, to fund the Company's plans to
continue to expand its operations internally and through acquisitions
and to upgrade its information systems, additional financing is necessary. 
The Company is currently evaluating financing alternatives such as the 
issuance of stock, obtaining additional debt or a combination thereof. 
These financing arrangements should be in place within the next three months.

INFLATION AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

     Management believes that the effect of inflation on the Company's
operations has not been material and will continue to be immaterial for the
foreseeable future. The Company does not have long-term contracts; therefore,
to the extent permitted by competition, it has the ability to pass through to
its customers most cost increases resulting from inflation, if any.

SEASONALITY

     Historically, the Company has experienced a greater portion of its annual
sales and net income in the second and fourth quarters than in the first and
third quarters. The second quarter generally reflects increased orders for
printing of corporate annual reports and proxy statements. A post-Labor Day
increase in demand for printing services and office products coincides with
the Company's fourth quarter.

YEAR 2000 ASSESSMENT

     Management has initiated a Company-wide program to assess the need to
modify or replace portions of its information systems enabling the proper
processing of transactions relating to the Year 2000 and beyond.  The Company
primarily utilizes purchased software and management believes that there are
adequate sources of Year 2000 compliant software available from vendors that
will meet its needs.  Management continues to evaluate appropriate courses of
corrective action, including the cost/benefit of modifying existing software
versus purchasing new software and hardware.  However, until a complete cost/
benefit analysis of the various alternatives available to the Company is
completed, an estimate of the total cost of its Year 2000 project cannot be
made at this time.  Management does not expect the Year 2000 project to
materially impact results of operations based on the current status of the
analysis.

     The Year 2000 project is expected to be completed no later than
December 31, 1998.  Management believes that with modifications to existing
software and/or conversions to new software, the Year 2000 problem will not
pose significant operational problems to the Company.  However, if such
modifications and/or conversions are not made, or are not completed timely,
this issue could have a material impact on the Company's operations.  The
Company has initiated discussions with its significant suppliers, large
customers and financial institutions to ensure that those parties have
appropriate plans to remediate Year 2000 issues where their systems interface
with the Company's systems or otherwise impact its operations.  The Company
is assessing the extent to which its operations are vulnerable should those
organizations fail to properly remediate their computer systems.  While
management believes its planning efforts are adequate to address its Year 2000
concerns, there can be no guarantee that the systems of other companies on
which the Company's systems and operations rely will be converted on a timely
basis and will not have a material effect on the Company.


                                      14



<PAGE>

                                   BUSINESS

GENERAL

     Champion is a major commercial printer, business forms manufacturer and
office products and office furniture supplier in regional markets east of the
Mississippi River.  The Company's sales force sells a full range of printing
services, business forms, office products and office furniture.  Management
views these sales activities as complementary since frequent customer sales
calls required for one of its products or services provide opportunities to
cross-sell other products and services.  The Company believes it benefits from
significant customer loyalty and customer referrals because it provides
personal service, quality products, convenience and selection with a one-stop
shopping approach.

     The Company's printing services range from the simplest to the most
complex jobs, including business cards, books, tags, brochures, posters, 
4- to 6-color process printing and multi-part, continuous and snap-out
business forms. The Company's state-of-the-art equipment enables it to
provide computerized composition, art design, paste-up, stripping, film
assembly and color laser scanner separations. The Company also offers
complete bindery and letterpress services. The Company's segmented gross
sales of printing services in fiscal 1997 consisted of approximately 41%
sheet and tag printing, 29% business forms printing and 30% process color
printing. The printing operations contributed $88.0 million, or 81.2%, of the
Company's total revenues for fiscal 1997.

     The Company provides a full range of office products and office furniture
primarily in the budget and middle price ranges.  The Company publishes a
catalog of high volume, frequently ordered items purchased directly from the
manufacturer.  These catalog sales account for the bulk of sales volume and
afford sales personnel flexibility in product selection and pricing.  Medium
to large volume customers are offered levels of pricing discounts.
In addition, the Company offers a broad line of general office products
through major wholesalers' national catalogs.  The Company recently introduced
an on-line ordering system through software available on a CD-ROM designed and
published by the Company.  The Company is a member of a major office products
purchasing organization. Members benefit from volume discounts, which permit
them to offer competitive prices and improve margins. The Company's office
furniture business focuses on the budget to middle price range lines, although
upscale lines are offered as well.  Office products and office furniture
operations contributed $20.4 million, or 18.8%, of the Company's total
revenues for fiscal 1997.


                           [Business Mix Pie Chart]


            Office Products                              18.8%
            Printing                                     81.2%

History

    The Company was chartered as a West Virginia corporation on July 1, 1992.
Prior to the IPO in January 1993, the Company's business was operated by
Harrah and Reynolds doing business as Chapman Printing Company ("Chapman
Printing"), together with its wholly-owned subsidiaries, The Chapman Printing
Company, Inc. and Stationers. 


                                      15



<PAGE>

     Since the IPO the Company has grown through internal growth and 
acquisitions, and has made 16 acquisitions, summarized below.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                          Approximate
                                                     Business                    Strategic                 Revenues
Business Acquired                      Date        Capabilities                   Benefits             (at acquisition)
- -----------------                      ----        ------------                   --------             ----------------

<S>                                   <C>      <C>                      <C>                           <C>
Bourque Printing, Inc.                1993      Commercial printer       Access to large, rapidly         $ 2,000,000
                                                                         growing Baton Rouge,
                                                                         LA market

Garrison Brewer                       1993      Full-line office         Cross-selling to                 $ 3,700,000
                                                products, furniture      Parkersburg printing
                                                                         division; increase
                                                                         purchasing volume and
                                                                         discounts

Dallas Printing Company, Inc.         1993      Commercial printer       Access to large, rapidly         $ 1,000,000
                                                                         growing Jackson, MS
                                                                         market

Strother Forms/Printing (combined     1993      Business form            Business form cross-             $ 1,000,000
with Bourque Printing)                          manufacturer             selling for Bourque
                                                                         Printing

Carolina Cut Sheets, Inc.             1993      Specialty cut sheet      Cost-effective, in-house         $   400,000
                                                manufacturer             manufacturing

Spectrum Press, Inc. (combined        1994      Pre-press operation      Augments Bourque                 $ 1,800,000
with Bourque Printing)                                                   Printing pre-press
                                                                         capabilities

Premier Data Graphics (now            1994      Printing broker          Access to northern               $   500,000
Champion Clarksburg)                                                     West Virginia market
                                                                         for office products and
                                                                         commercial printing

Premier Printing Company              1994     Commercial printer        Increase customer                $ 1,000,000
(combined with Dallas Printing)                                          base and production
                                                                         capacity in Jackson,
                                                                         MS

U.S. Tag & Ticket Company, Inc.       1995     Stock and custom          In-house manufacturing           $ 2,500,000
                                               tag manufacturing         capability, access to
                                                                         Baltimore, MD market

Donihe Graphics, Inc.                 1995     High-volume color         In-house manufacturing           $ 6,500,000
                                               printing                  capability and cross-
                                                                         sales

Upton Printing (Bourque Printing's     1996     Full-color               4-color printing for             $ 2,500,000
New Orleans operation)                          commercial printer       Bourque Printing;
                                                                         access to large, rapidly
                                                                         growing New Orleans,
                                                                         LA market

Smith & Butterfield Co., Inc.          1996     Full-line office         Access to Indiana/               $ 5,300,000
                                                products, furniture      Kentucky markets;
                                                                         increase purchasing
                                                                         volume and discounts

The Merten Company                     1996     Full-color               Access to Cincinnati,            $ 6,400,000
                                                commercial printer       OH market; 4-color
                                                                         printing for Lexington,
                                                                         KY operation

Interform                              1996     Medium- and high-        Access to northeastern           $33,000,000
                                                volume business          U.S. market, addition
                                                form manufacturer        of high-volume
                                                                         business form capacity

Blue Ridge                             1997     Full-color               Access to markets                $ 6,000,000
                                                commercial printer       served by advertising
                                                                         agencies, high
                                                                         resolution QuadRaster(TM)
                                                                         color printing

Rose City                              1998     Full-line office         Increase office products         $ 4,000,000
                                                products, furniture      market share in 
                                                                         Charleston, WV
</TABLE>


                                      16



<PAGE>

BUSINESS STRATEGY

     The Company's business strategy combines continuing its emphasis on
cross-sales of products and services by its highly competent and motivated
sales force with additional industry consolidating acquisitions designed to
enhance the Company's geographic coverage, market penetration, cross-selling
opportunities and economies of scale.

     Consolidating Acquisitions.  The Company intends to continue its strategy
of aggressively increasing its market share in areas it currently serves and
expanding into new markets through consolidating acquisitions.  The Company
believes the printing and office products industries are highly fragmented and
that it is well positioned to acquire desirable businesses in existing market
areas, contiguous geographic regions, and new geographic markets.  As a result
of its competitive and financial strengths, considerable experience in
integrating acquired businesses, and its reputation for retaining management
and employees of acquired companies, the Company believes it is perceived as
an attractive partner in consolidating acquisitions.

     Cross-Sales of an Expanding Line of Products and Services.  Printing and
office products sales activities are complementary.  Frequent customer sales
calls for one of its products or services provide opportunities to sell other
products and services.  Expanded products and services, a growing geographic
market, and the Company's reputation for quality, have enabled the Company to
expand the products and services sold to its customer base.  Further, many of
the Company's acquisitions have enabled it to do the following:

     o  add new products and services; 

     o  enhance economies of scale through, among others, centralized
        management, purchasing, and accounting;

     o  maximize vertical integration opportunities (such as the Company's
        purchase of U.S. Tag & Ticket Co., Inc. ("U.S. Tag") which
        manufactures a product the Company previously purchased from third
        party vendors), and maximize lower cost bulk purchasing opportunities;
        and

     o  increase the Company's profit margins by successfully integrating
        acquired businesses, with attendant reductions in overhead.

     Maintaining a Highly Competent and Motivated Sales Force.  The Company's
salespeople are compensated based on their individual profitability.  The
Company's acquisitions, and resulting increase in the number of products and
services available to its customers, provide the Company's sales force with
enhanced sales opportunities and income potential.  These factors contribute
to the Company's ability to attract and maintain highly competent and
motivated salespeople.  

COMPANY STRUCTURE

     Champion is organized into 16 divisions, 12 of which are wholly owned
subsidiaries.  The Huntington headquarters provides centralized financial
management and administrative services to all divisions.  Each division is
managed by a division manager who has profit responsibility for the sales and
production operations of the division. Division managers report directly to
the President of the Company. Their compensation depends primarily on the
volume and profit results of their individual operations.

     Commercial Printing

     Ten commercial printing divisions are located in Huntington, Charleston
and Parkersburg, West Virginia; Lexington, Kentucky; Baton Rouge and New
Orleans, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; Cincinnati, Ohio; Kingsport,
Tennessee and Asheville, North Carolina.  Each has a sales force, a customer
service operation and a pre-press department that serve the customers in their
respective geographic areas. Although each customer's interface is solely with
its local division's personnel, its printing job may be produced in another
division using the equipment most suited to the quality and volume
requirements of the job. In this way, for example, Champion can effectively
compete for high quality process color jobs in Lexington by selling in
Lexington, printing in Cincinnati and binding in Huntington. The full range of
printing resources is available to customers in the entire market area without
Champion having to duplicate equipment in each area.

     Business Forms

     Interform, doing business as Interform Solutions and located in
Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, manufactures business forms and related products
which it sells through a network of independent distributors concentrated in
Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and metropolitan New York, and directly
through its own distributor, the Consolidated Graphics Communications division
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.


                                      17



<PAGE>

     Carolina Cut Sheets, Inc. ("Carolina Cut Sheets"), located in
Timmonsville, South Carolina, manufactures single sheet business forms which
are sold to other commercial printers and dealers and through the Company's
other divisions.

     The Huntington, West Virginia division of Chapman Printing manufactures
single sheet and multi-part snap-out and continuous business forms for sale
through many of the Company's commercial printing divisions.

     Tags

     U.S. Tag, located in Baltimore, Maryland, manufactures and sells tags
used in the manufacturing, shipping, postal, airline and cruise industries
throughout the United States through dealers and the Company's other
divisions.

     Office Products and Office Furniture

     Stationers, located in Huntington, Charleston (doing business as "Rose
City Press") and Clarksburg (doing business as "Champion Clarksburg"), West
Virginia and Belpre, Ohio (doing business as "Garrison Brewer"), provides
office products and office furniture primarily to customers in the Company's
West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky market areas. Products are sold by printing
division salespeople and delivered in bulk daily to each division, or shipped
directly to customers. 

     Smith & Butterfield Co., Inc. ("Smith & Butterfield"), located in
Evansville, Indiana and Owensboro, Kentucky, provides office products and
office furniture primarily to customers in the Company's Indiana and Kentucky
market areas. Products are sold by Smith & Butterfield sales personnel and
delivered to customers daily.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

     Printing Services

     Champion's primary business is commercial printing and business forms
manufacturing. The Company, unlike most of its regional competitors, offers
the full range of printing production processes, enabling the Company to
provide customers a one-stop, one-vendor source without the time and service
constraints of subcontracting one or more aspects of production. Major
production areas include: (i) printing of business cards, letterhead,
envelopes, and one, two, or three color brochures; (ii) process color
manufacturing of brochures, posters, advertising sheets and catalogues;
(iii) die cutting and foil stamping; (iv) bindery services, including
trimming, collating, folding and stitching the final product; (v) forms
printing, encompassing roll-to-roll computer forms, checks, invoices,
purchase orders and similar forms in single-part, multi-part, continuous and
snap-out formats; (vi) tag manufacturing; and (vii) high volume process color
web printing of brochures and catalogs.

     The capabilities of the Company's printing divisions are stated below:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                     <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>     <C>      <C>            <C>     <C>
                                                                     High
                         Sales &                                    Volume    Continuous     Cut
                         Customer                 Sheet     Full     Full    and Snap-out   Sheet
Division                 Service     Pre-Press   Printing   Color    Color       Forms      Forms   Tags
- ---------------------    --------    ---------   --------   -----   -------  ------------   -----   ----
Chapman Printing/           o            o           o                             o          o
Huntington
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapman Printing/           o            o
Charleston
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapman Printing/           o            o           o        o
Parkersburg
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapman Printing/           o            o           o
Lexington
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bourque Printing, Inc.      o            o           o        o
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dallas Printing             o            o           o
Company, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carolina Cut Sheets         o            o                                                    o
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Tag                    o            o           o                                                o
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Donihe Graphics, Inc.       o            o                             o
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upton Printing              o            o           o        o
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Merten Company          o            o           o        o
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interform                   o            o                    o                    o          o
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blue Ridge                  o            o           o        o
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


                                      18



<PAGE>

Office Products and Office Furniture

     Champion provides its customers with a wide range of product offerings
in two major categories: supplies, such as file folders, paper products, pens
and pencils, computer paper and laser cartridges; and furniture, including
budget and middle price range desks, chairs, file cabinets and computer
furniture.  Office supplies are sold primarily by Company salespeople through
the Company's own catalogs.  Most office furniture is sold from catalogs and
supplied from in-house stock.  Special orders and design projects constitute
a small portion of sales. 

MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTION

     The Company's pre-press facilities have desktop publishing, typesetting,
laser imagesetting and scanning/retouching equipment, and complete layout,
design, stripping and plate processing operations. Sheet printing equipment
(for printing onto pre-cut, individual sheets) includes single-color
duplicators, single to 6-color presses and envelope presses. Rotary equipment
(for printing onto continuous rolls of paper) includes multi-color business
form web presses, carbon and multi-part collators, and a high-speed 5-color
half-web press.  Binding equipment consists of hot-foil, embossing and die
cutting equipment, perforators, folders, folder-gluers, scoring machines,
collator/stitcher/trimmers for saddle stitching, automatic and manual perfect
binders, numbering machines and mailing equipment.

     Each of the Company's offices is linked with overnight distribution of
products and on-line electronic telecommunications permitting timely transfer
of various production work from facility to facility as required. While the
Company maintains a fleet of delivery vehicles for intracompany and customer
deliveries, it utilizes the most cost effective and expeditious means of
delivery, including common carriers.

     Requirements for the Company's press runs are determined shortly before
the runs are made and, therefore, backlog is not a meaningful measure in
connection with the Company's printing business.

     The Company's inventory goal is to have approximately 60% of the
office product items the Company sells in stock.  Another 30% are ordered
on a daily basis and received overnight. The remaining 10% are items that
come directly from manufacturers and may take one week from placement of order
to delivery to customer. Office furniture sales are made primarily from the
Company's in-house stock. However, special orders from manufacturers may
require up to 90 days for delivery.

SALES AND MARKETING

     The Company's commercial printing operations currently utilize a sales
force of approximately 130 salespeople.  Each of the Company's salespeople
market printing services, business forms and office products and office
furniture.  The ability of the sales force to sell all the Company's products
and services constitutes an important part of the Company's marketing
strategy, with the sale of any one product or service providing a basis for
frequent customer visits, creating opportunities to sell additional products
and services.

     The Company's sales philosophy stresses frequent sales calls on existing
customers, constant marketing for new customers, cross-selling of all Company
products and services and target account marketing programs focusing on
priority customers.  Champion communicates to its customers the breadth and
sophistication of its products, the speed and quality of its service and
personal attention offered by the Company's salespeople.

     The sales force currently has an average of approximately 17 years
industry experience and reflects a blend of seasoned and newer salespeople.
The Company requires new salespeople to participate in a training program
which focuses on sales techniques and the Company's printing production
processes.  

     Salespeople receive a base salary each month and commissions based on
their individual profitability.  The Company's acquisitions, and resulting
increase in product diversification, provide the Company's salespeople with
enhanced earnings opportunities.  The sales program's emphasis on
profitability, substantial rewards for profitable performance and increase
in product diversification contribute to the Company's ability to attract and
maintain highly competent and motivated salespeople.

     Champion's office product operations regularly conduct sales promotions
of selected office products.  Management believes that this strategy encourages
higher aggregate orders by customers who purchase the specially advertised
products.  The Company distributes a variety of brochures, price lists and
other promotional matter to its customers and prospective customers.  The
Company publishes a catalog of high volume, frequently ordered items purchased
directly from the manufacturer.  These catalog sales afford sales personnel
flexibility in product selection and pricing.  The Company recently introduced
an on-line ordering system through software available on a CD-ROM designed and
published by the Company.  The Company uses very little media advertising,
relying instead on frequent sales calls as its primary marketing tool.  


                                      19



<PAGE>

     Several of the Company's acquisitions have added new dimensions and a
broader scope to its marketing capabilities.  The Donihe Graphics, Inc.
("Donihe") subsidiary specializing in high-speed, high-volume color printing,
uses an in-house telemarketing force for sales of its specialty high-speed
products and other divisions' printing products.  Interform sells a
significant portion of its business forms through independent distributors
and its own distributor, Consolidated Graphic Communications, in the
Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey markets.  The U.S. Tag and Carolina Cut
Sheets operations, in addition to providing products for Company retail sales,
primarily sell to third party dealers and printers.

CUSTOMERS

     The Company believes that its reputation for quality, service, convenience
and selection allows it to enjoy significant loyalty from its customers.
Champion's marketing strategy is to focus on manufacturers, institutions,
financial services companies and professional firms. Consistent with customary
practice in the commercial printing and office products industries, the
Company ordinarily does not have long-term contracts with its customers,
although a number of high volume customers issue yearly purchase orders.
These purchase orders, which are typically for office products but may include
printing services, are for firm prices adjustable for paper price changes.
Depending upon customer satisfaction with price and service, these purchase
orders may be renewed for another year or up to three years without repeating
the full bidding process.

     During the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997, no single customer
accounted for more than 1% of total revenues. Due to the project-oriented
nature of customers' printing requirements, sales to particular customers may
vary significantly from year to year depending upon the number and size of
their projects.

SUPPLIERS

     The Company has not experienced difficulties in obtaining materials in
the past and does not consider itself dependent on any particular supplier.
The Company has negotiated Company-wide paper purchasing agreements directly
with paper manufacturers and is a member of a major office products buying
group, which management believes provides the Company with a competitive
advantage.

COMPETITION

     The markets for the Company's printing services and office products are
highly competitive, with success based primarily on price, quality, production
capability, capacity for prompt delivery and personal service.

     Champion's printing competitors are numerous and range in size from very
large national companies with substantially greater resources than the Company
to many smaller local companies. In recent years, there has been a substantial
increase in technological advances in new equipment, resulting in excess
capacity and highly competitive pricing. The Company has remained competitive
by maintaining its printing equipment at state-of-the-art levels and
emphasizing personal attention to customers.

     Large national and regional mail order discount operations provide
significant competition in the office products and office furniture business.
The economies afforded by membership in a national purchasing association and
by purchasing directly from manufacturers, and the high level of personal
services to customers, contribute substantially to the Company's ability to
compete in the office supply and office furniture market segments.

SEASONALITY

     Historically, the Company has experienced a greater portion of its annual
sales and net income in the second and fourth quarters than in the first and
third quarters. The second quarter generally reflects increased orders for
printing of corporate annual reports and proxy statements. A post-Labor Day
increase in demand for printing services and office products coincides with
the Company's fourth quarter.

EMPLOYEES

     On October 31, 1997, the Company had 897 full-time employees.

     The Company's Interform subsidiary is party to a collective bargaining
agreement with the United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO-CLC on behalf of
its Local Union 8263 covering all production and maintenance employees
(currently numbering 96) at its Bridgeville, Pennsylvania facility.  The
Company believes relations with the union and covered employees are good.


                                      20



<PAGE>

PROPERTIES

     The Company's corporate office is located in leased facilities in
Huntington, West Virginia.  Operating facilities are located throughout the
eastern portion of the United States, as set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                Leased
                                                                  or
Location and Division                        Use                Owned       Footage
- ---------------------                        ---                ------      -------
<S>                             <C>                            <C>       <C>
Champion/Chapman Printing-       Headquarters/Printing Plant    Leased     85,000(1)
Huntington, WV

Stationers-                      Office Products                Leased     60,000(1)
Huntington, WV

Stationers-                      Office Products                Leased     21,600(1)
Huntington, WV

Chapman Printing-                Printing Plant                 Leased     36,614(1)
Parkersburg, WV

Chapman Printing-                Printing Plant                 Leased     21,360(1)
Charleston, WV

Rose City-                       Office Products                Owned      63,400
Charleston, WV

Champion Clarksburg-             Printing and Office Products   Owned      20,800
Clarksburg, WV

Chapman Printing-                Printing Plant                 Leased     20,135(1)
Lexington, KY

Smith & Butterfield-             Office Products                Leased      8,500
Owensboro, KY

Smith & Butterfield-             Office Products                Leased     42,375
Evansville, IN

Stationers (Garrison Brewer)-    Office Products                Leased     15,146
Belpre, OH

The Merten Company-              Printing Plant                 Leased     40,000
Cincinnati, OH

U.S. Tag-                        Printing Plant                 Leased     26,000
Baltimore, MD

Interform-                       Printing Plant                 Leased    120,000
Bridgeville, PA

Donihe-                          Printing Plant                 Owned      38,500
Kingsport, TN

Blue Ridge-                      Printing Plant                 Owned      12,500
Knoxville, TN

Blue Ridge-                      Printing Plant                 Owned      10,758
Asheville, NC

Carolina Cut Sheets-             Printing Plant                 Leased     16,200
Timmonsville, SC

Bourque Printing, Inc.-          Printing Plant                 Owned      18,501
Baton Rouge, LA

Upton Printing-                  Printing Plant                 Leased     15,000
New Orleans, LA

Dallas Printing Company, Inc.-   Printing Plant                 Owned      19,600
Jackson, MS
</TABLE>

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

(1)  These properties are leased from Harrah and Reynolds, Marshall T.
     Reynolds and affiliated entities or Company officers.  The Company
     believes that these properties are leased on terms no less favorable to
     Company than those available from unaffiliated parties.


                                      21



<PAGE>

                               LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 

     The Company is not currently party to any legal proceedings of a material
nature. 

                                 MANAGEMENT 

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS 

     The executive officers and directors of the Company are as follows: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


<S>                     <C>    <C>           <C>
                                Years with
Name                     Age     Company      Position with Company
- ----                     ---    ----------    ---------------------

Marshall T. Reynolds      61        40        President, Chief Executive Officer and
                                              Chairman of the Board of Directors

Joseph C. Worth, III      48         5        Vice President and Chief Financial
                                              Officer of Company

Michael D. McKinney       44        21        Vice President and General Sales
                                              Manager of Company

William M. Campbell       62        21        Vice President of Company and
                                              Division Manager - Parkersburg 

Ronald W. Taylor          40        12        Vice President of Company and
                                              Division Manager - Lexington

J. Mac Aldridge           56        14        Vice President of Company;
                                              President and Division Manager
                                              - Stationers

Gary A. Blackshire        45        22        Vice President of Company and
                                              Division Manager - Charleston

R. Douglas McElwain       50        12        Vice President of Company and
                                              Division Manager - Bourque
                                              Printing

David G. Pilcher          55         1        Vice President of Company and
                                              Division Manager - Interform

L. David Brumfield        60        28        Vice President of Company and
                                              Division Manager - Dallas Printing

Toney K. Adkins           48        10        Vice President of the Company

Walter R. Sansom          68        28        Secretary of Company

Robert H. Beymer          70         5        Director

Philip E. Cline           64         5        Director

Harley F. Mooney, Jr.     69         5        Director

Todd L. Parchman          43         5        Director

A. Michael Perry          61         5        Director

Neal W. Scaggs            61         5        Director

Glenn W. Wilcox, Sr.      66         1        Director
</TABLE>


      Marshall T. Reynolds was the President and General Manager of Harrah
and Reynolds, predecessor of the Company, from 1964, and sole shareholder
from 1972, until the Company's IPO in 1993.  He has served as President,
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors since the IPO. 
 
     Joseph C. Worth, III has served as Chief Financial Officer of the Company
since June 1992. 


                                      22


<PAGE>
 
     Michael D. McKinney has served as Vice President and General Sales
Manager of the Company since 1995.  He was Division Manager of the Company's
Huntington Division from 1992 to 1995.  He served as Division Manager of the
Huntington Division of Harrah and Reynolds from October 1991.  He served as
Division Manager of the Lexington Division of Harrah and Reynolds from
August 1982 to October 1991.  He served as a sales representative for Harrah
and Reynolds in eastern Kentucky from February 1976 to August 1982. 
 
     William M. Campbell has served as Division Manager of the Parkersburg
Division of the Company, and of Harrah and Reynolds, since June 1977. 
 
     Ronald W. Taylor has served as Division Manager of the Lexington Division
of the Company, and of Harrah and Reynolds since January 1992.  He served as
sales representative in the Lexington Division from 1986 to January 1992. 
 
     J. Mac Aldridge has served as President and Division Manager of
Stationers since November 1989, Vice President of the Company since 1993, and
served as Division Manager of the Huntington Division from 1995 through 1997.
He served as a sales representative of the Huntington Division of Harrah and
Reynolds from 1983 to 1989.   
 
     Gary A. Blackshire has served as Division Manager of the Charleston
Division of the Company, and of Harrah and Reynolds, since April 1992.  He
served as a sales representative of the Charleston Division of Harrah and
Reynolds from 1975 until April 1992. 
 
     R. Douglas McElwain has served as Vice President and Division Manager of
Bourque Printing, Inc. since 1993, and was a sales representative of the
Charleston Division of the Company and Harrah and Reynolds from 1986 until
1993. 
 
     David G. Pilcher has served as Vice President of Company since April 1997
and as President of Interform since January 1995.  He was President of
Printing Center Media (Fort Worth, Texas) from 1989 to 1995. 
 
     L. David Brumfield has served as Vice President and Division Manager of
Dallas Printing Company, Inc. since May 1997.  He was the President and
General Manager, Radisson Hotel, Huntington, West Virginia, from 1992 to 1997.
He served as Division Manager of the Charleston Division of Harrah and
Reynolds from 1978 until 1992.
 
     Toney K. Adkins has served as Vice President of the Company since 1995.
He was President of KYOWVA Corrugated Container Company, Inc. from 1991 to
1996.  He served as Treasurer of Harrah and Reynolds from 1982 to 1991.

     Walter R. Sansom has served as Secretary of the Company since December
1992. He has been the Production Coordinator of the Company since 1992, and
served in that capacity for Harrah and Reynolds from 1968 until 1992. 
 
     Robert H. Beymer has served as President of First Sentry Bank (Huntington,
West Virginia) since 1996, and was President of First Guaranty Bank (Hammond,
Louisiana) from 1992 to 1994.

     Philip E. Cline has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of
Broughton Foods Company since November 1996 and was employed in various
capacities (Vice President and Treasurer, Executive Vice President and
consultant) by J.H. Fletcher & Co., a manufacturer of underground mining 
equipment in Huntington, West Virginia from 1968 to 1996. 

     Harley F. Mooney, Jr., Brig. Gen. U.S. Army (Ret.), is Managing Partner
of Mooney-Osborne & Associates, a management consulting firm.  He has served
as a director of Stationers, Inc. since 1989, and served as a consultant to
Stationers, Inc. from 1988 to 1990. 

     Todd L. Parchman has been a partner of Parchman, Vaughn & Company
(investment bankers) since 1996 and was a Senior Vice President from 1990 to
1996 and Director from 1994 until 1996 of Ferris, Baker Watts, Incorporated.

     A. Michael Perry has served as President from 1983 to 1993 and Chief
Executive Officer from 1983 to present of Banc One West Virginia Corporation
and its predecessor, Key Centurion Bancshares, Inc. 

     Neal W. Scaggs has served as President of Baisden Brothers, Inc., a
retail and wholesale hardware company, since 1963. 
 
     Glenn W. Wilcox, Sr. has served as Chairman of the Board of Wilcox Travel
Agency, Inc. since 1953, and as Chairman of the Board of Directors since 1974
and President from 1974 to 1997 of Blue Ridge.  

                             PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDER 

     To the Company's knowledge, Marshall T. Reynolds is the only beneficial
owner of more than 5% of the Company's Common Stock, owning 4,741,127 shares,
or 56.0% of all outstanding Common Stock, through Harrah and Reynolds, a
corporation he controls, and his spouse.  Assuming no change in Mr. Reynolds'
beneficial ownership, after giving effect to the Offering, Mr. Reynolds will
beneficially own 50.1% of all Common Stock of the Company. 


                                      23



<PAGE>

                         DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK 

GENERAL 

     The authorized stock of the Company consists of 20,000,000 shares of
Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share referred to as, the "Common Stock."
As of March 5, 1998, 8,464,167 shares of Common Stock were outstanding. The
rights of holders of the Company's Common Stock are defined by the Company's
Articles of Incorporation, as amended from time to time (the "Articles"), as
well as by the Company's Bylaws, as amended from time to time (the "Bylaws"),
and the West Virginia Corporation Act, as amended from time to time (the
"WVCA"). The following summary of certain provisions of the Common Stock of
the Company does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified
in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the Articles and Bylaws,
which are included as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this
Prospectus forms a part, and by provisions of applicable law, including the
WVCA. 
 
COMMON STOCK 
 
     Upon completion of the Offering, 9,464,167 shares of Common Stock will
be issued and outstanding.  
 
     Holders of Common Stock have no preemptive or other rights to subscribe
for additional shares of the Company's capital stock.  If the Company should
decide to issue any or all of its authorized but unissued shares of Common
Stock, the effect would be to dilute the percentage of ownership of then
current Company shareholders who do not purchase a pro rata portion of shares
issued. 

     Under the WVCA, in the election of directors, holders of Common Stock
possess cumulative voting rights: they have as many votes as the number of
shares owned, multiplied by the number of directors to be elected, and may
either accumulate all votes for one candidate or distribute those votes among
as many candidates as the shareholder may choose.  For all other purposes,
each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote. 
 
     Cumulative voting is a form of proportional representation which can
provide a significant group of shareholders, though a minority, the ability to
elect one or more directors.  Under straight voting, a majority (over 50%)
shareholder can elect all directors.  Because cumulative voting applies to the
election of Company directors, depending upon the total number of shares
represented at a shareholders meeting and the number of directors to be
elected, despite Mr. Reynolds' beneficial ownership, after giving effect to
the Offering, of over 50% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company, he
cannot be assured of electing all directors (currently eight) of the Company. 
 
     Holders of Common Stock are entitled to such dividends as may be declared
by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor.  See
"Dividend Policy."  Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Company, the holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive pro rata the net
assets of the Company remaining after the payment of all creditors. 

TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR 

     The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock is Wachovia Bank of
North Carolina, N.A.
 
                                 UNDERWRITING 

     Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting
Agreement, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part (the "Underwriting
Agreement"), the Company has agreed to sell the number of shares of Common
Stock to Ferris, Baker Watts, Incorporated (the "Underwriter"), and the
Underwriter has agreed to purchase the aggregate number of shares of Common
Stock set forth opposite its name below:

      Underwriter                                     Number of Shares
      -----------                                     ----------------

      Ferris, Baker Watts, Incorporated............       1,000,000

                                                          ---------
      Total........................................       1,000,000
                                                          =========


                                      24



<PAGE>

     The nature of the Underwriter's obligations under the Underwriting
Agreement is such that all shares of Common Stock offered hereby, excluding
shares covered by the over-allotment option granted to the Underwriter, must
be purchased if any are purchased. The Underwriting Agreement provides that
the obligations of the Underwriter to pay for and accept delivery of the
shares of Common Stock offered hereby are subject to the approval of certain
legal matters by counsel and to certain other conditions. 

     The Company has been advised by the Underwriter that the Underwriter
proposes to offer the shares of Common Stock to the public at the public
offering price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus, and to certain
dealers at such public offering price less a selling concession not in excess
of $0.60 per share. The Underwriter may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a
concession not in excess of $0.10 per share to certain other underwriters or
to certain other brokers or dealers. 

     The Company has granted the Underwriter an option, exercisable within 30
days after the date of this Prospectus, to purchase up to an additional
150,000 shares of Common Stock to cover over-allotments, at the same price per
share to be paid by the Underwriter for the other shares offered hereby. The
Underwriter may purchase such shares only to cover over-allotments, if any, in
connection with the Offering made hereby. 

     The executive officers, directors and certain stockholders of the Company
have agreed that they will not offer, sell, contract to sell or grant an
option to purchase or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock, options
to acquire shares of Common Stock or any securities exercisable for or
convertible into Common Stock owned by them, in the open market, for a period
of 180 days from the date of this Prospectus, without the prior written
consent of the Underwriter. The Company has agreed not to offer, sell or issue
any shares of Common Stock, options to acquire Common Stock or securities
exercisable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock for a period of
180 days after the date of this Prospectus, without the prior written consent
of the Underwriter, except that the Company may issue securities pursuant to
the Company's stock option plans and upon the exercise of all outstanding
stock options. 

     The Company and the Underwriter have agreed to indemnify each other
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act,
which may arise out of or be based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact made by the indemnifying party and contained in
this Prospectus, the Registration Statement, any supplement or amendment
thereto, or any documents filed with state securities authorities, or any
omission or alleged omission of the indemnifying party to state a material
fact required to be stated in any such document or required to make the
statements in any such document, in light of the circumstances in which they
are made, not misleading. 

     The Underwriter intends to make a market in the securities of the
Company, as permitted by applicable laws and regulations. The Underwriter,
however, is not obligated to make a market in such securities and any such
market making may be discontinued at any time at the sole discretion of the
Underwriter. 

     The Underwriter has informed the Company that it does not intend to
confirm any sales to accounts over which it exercises discretionary authority.

     Until the distribution of the Common Stock is completed, rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission may limit the ability of the Underwriter
and certain selling group members to bid for and purchase the Common Stock.
As an exception to these rules, the Underwriter is permitted to engage in
certain transactions that stabilize the price of the Common Stock.  Such 
transactions consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing
or maintaining the price of the Common Stock. 

     If the Underwriter creates a short position in the Common Stock in
connection with the Offering, i.e., if it sells more shares of Common Stock
than are set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus, the Underwriter may
reduce that short position by purchasing Common Stock in the open market.  The
Underwriter may also elect to reduce any short position by exercising all or
part of the over allotment option described above. 

     The Underwriter may also impose a penalty bid on certain selling group
members.  This means that if the Underwriter purchases shares of Common Stock
in the open market to reduce the Underwriter's short position or to stabilize
the price of the Common Stock, it may reclaim the amount of the selling
concession from the selling group members who sold those shares as part of the
Offering. 

     In general, purchases of a security for the purpose of stabilization or
to reduce a short position could cause the price of the security to be higher
than it might be in the absence of such purchases.  The imposition of a
penalty bid might also have an effect on the price of a security to the extent
that it were to discourage resales of the security. 


                                      25



<PAGE>

     Neither the Company nor the Underwriter makes any representation or
prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the
transactions described above might have on the price of the Common Stock.  In
addition, neither the Company nor the Underwriter makes any representation
that the Underwriter will engage in such transactions or that such
transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice. 

                                 LEGAL MATTERS 
 
     The validity of the issuance of the shares of Common Stock offered by
this Prospectus will be passed upon for the Company by Huddleston, Bolen,
Beatty, Porter & Copen, Huntington, West Virginia.  Certain legal matters
related to the Offering will be passed upon for the Underwriter by Shapiro and
Olander, Baltimore, Maryland.

                                    EXPERTS

     The consolidated financial statements of Champion Industries, Inc. and
subsidiaries at October 31, 1997 and 1996, and for each of the three years in
the period ended October 31, 1997, appearing in this Prospectus and
Registration Statement have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent
auditors, as set forth in their report thereon appearing elsewhere herein, and
are included in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of such
firm as experts in accounting and auditing. 

               SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 
 
     Certain statements contained in this Prospectus or in documents
incorporated herein by reference, including without limitation statements
including the word "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "expects" or words of
similar import, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"). Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements of the Company expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others,
general economic and business conditions, changes in business strategy or
development plans, and other factors referenced in this Prospectus, including
without limitation under the captions:  "Investment Considerations,"
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations," and "Business." Given these uncertainties, prospective investors
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
The Company disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly
announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements
contained herein to reflect future events or developments.

                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION 
 
     The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange
Act and, in accordance therewith, files reports, proxy statements, and other
information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").
This Prospectus, which constitutes a part of a registration statement on Form
S-2 (the "Registration Statement") filed by the Company with the Commission
under the Securities Act, omits certain of the information set forth in the
Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto, as permitted by the rules and
regulations of the Commission. Reference is hereby made to the Registration
Statement and the exhibits thereto for further information with respect to the
Company. Statements contained herein as to the content of any contract or
other document are necessarily summaries of such documents, and each such
statement is qualified in its entirety by reference to a copy of the applicable
document filed with the Commission. The Registration Statement, including the
exhibits and schedules filed thereto, and the reports, proxy statements and
other information filed by the Company with the Commission, can be inspected
and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at
its principal office at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549, and at the Commission's Regional Offices at Seven World Trade Center,
13th Floor, New York, New York 10048 and Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison
Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Copies of such material also can
be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission, Room 1024,
450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates.  In
addition, registration statements, reports, proxy and information statements
and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the
Commission (such as the Company) through the Commission's Electric Data
Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval ("EDGAR") system are publicly available
through the Commission's site on the World Wide Web, located at
http://www.sec.gov.  Copies of certain reports, proxy statements and other
information filed by the Company can be inspected at the offices of National
Association of Securities Dealers, 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20006-1500. 


                                      26



<PAGE>

               INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE 
 
     This Prospectus incorporates by reference documents which are not
presented herein or delivered herewith. These documents (without exhibits,
unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference) are available
without charge and upon request.  Requests for documents should be directed to
Champion Industries, Inc., Attention: Joseph C. Worth, III (Telephone:
(304) 528-2791).

The following documents are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus: 
 
1.   The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
     October 31, 1997, as amended. 

     Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained
herein or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed
to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.
Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as
so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.









 
                                      27



<PAGE> 

                  Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

                        Consolidated Financial Statements


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

Consolidated Financial Statements (Audited)

   Report of Independent Auditors........................................   F-2
   Consolidated Balance Sheet............................................   F-3
   Consolidated Income Statements........................................   F-5
   Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity.......................   F-6
   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.................................   F-7
   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements............................   F-8


Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

   Consolidated Balance Sheets...........................................   F-20
   Consolidated Income Statements........................................   F-22
   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.................................   F-23
   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements............................   F-24



                                      F-1



<PAGE>

                         REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Champion Industries, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Champion
Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of October 31, 1997 and 1996, and the
related consolidated income statements, statements of shareholders' equity,
and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended October 31,
1997. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based upon our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.
An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of
Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries at October 31, 1997 and 1996, and
the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of
the three years in the period ended October 31, 1997, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.


                                        /s/ Ernst & Young LLP



Charleston, West Virginia
January 23, 1998, except
for Note 10, as to which the date
is March 2, 1998


                                       F-2



<PAGE>

                   Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

                           Consolidated Balance Sheets

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                         OCTOBER 31,
                                                                                  1997                1996
                                                                               -------------------------------
<S>                                                                          <C>                 <C>
ASSETS
Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                                                  $    912,290        $  2,460,879
   Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,140,000 and $548,000             19,075,180          11,683,573
   Inventories                                                                  11,576,651           7,446,025
   Property held for sale                                                          300,000                   -
   Other current assets                                                            283,642             410,706
   Deferred income tax assets                                                      981,619             560,511
                                                                               -------------------------------
Total current assets                                                            33,129,382          22,561,694

Property and equipment, at cost:
   Land                                                                            784,889             795,336
   Buildings and improvements                                                    4,144,472           4,124,217
   Machinery and equipment                                                      22,852,103          16,716,660
   Equipment under capital leases                                                5,720,594           4,401,928
   Furniture and fixtures                                                        1,684,275           1,329,459
   Vehicles                                                                      1,914,362           1,318,437
                                                                               -------------------------------
                                                                                37,100,695          28,686,037
Less accumulated depreciation                                                  (13,825,053)        (10,852,764)
                                                                               -------------------------------
                                                                                23,275,642          17,833,273

Cash surrender value of officers' life insurance                                   921,213             784,089
Goodwill, net of accumulated amortization                                        2,558,356           2,565,287
Other assets                                                                       461,120             318,233
                                                                               -------------------------------
                                                                                 3,940,689           3,667,609
                                                                               -------------------------------
Total assets                                                                   $60,345,713         $44,062,576
                                                                               ===============================
</TABLE>

                SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.


                                       F-3



<PAGE>

                   Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

                     Consolidated Balance Sheets (continued)


                                                           OCTOBER 31,
                                                     1997              1996
                                                -------------------------------

                     Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable                              $  3,657,365        $ 1,667,705
  Notes payable                                    2,425,000          1,300,000
  Accrued payroll and commissions                  2,052,130          1,065,721
  Taxes accrued and withheld                         571,477            806,638
  Accrued income taxes                               450,027          1,311,437
  Accrued expenses                                   793,848            394,617
  Current portion of long-term debt:
    Notes payable                                  2,842,844          1,690,078
    Capital lease obligations                      1,401,519            746,708
                                                 ------------------------------
Total current liabilities                         14,194,210          8,982,904

  Long-term debt, net of current portion:
    Notes payable                                 11,328,588          4,447,934
    Capital lease obligations                      3,827,368          3,113,083
  Deferred income tax liability                    3,589,889          2,073,891
  Deferred compensation                              555,886            473,601
  Deferred gain                                            -            330,443
                                                 ------------------------------
  Total liabilities                               33,495,941         19,421,856

  Commitments and contingencies                            -                  -

  Shareholders' equity:
    Common stock, $1 par value, 20,000,000
      shares authorized; 8,384,930 and 8,382,682
      shares issued and outstanding                8,384,930          8,382,682
    Additional paid-in capital                     7,450,328          7,442,502
    Retained earnings                             11,014,514          8,815,536
                                                 ------------------------------
Total shareholders' equity                        26,849,772         24,640,720
                                                 ------------------------------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity       $60,345,713        $44,062,576
                                                 ==============================



                SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.


                                       F-4



<PAGE>

                   Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

                         Consolidated Income Statements

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                             YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
                                                               1997                1996                1995
                                                          -----------------------------------------------------

<S>                                                       <C>                 <C>                 <C>
Revenues:
  Printing                                                 $ 87,978,709        $ 49,242,232        $ 35,370,827
  Office products and office furniture                       20,405,929          17,114,644          14,532,229
                                                          -----------------------------------------------------
Total revenues                                              108,384,638          66,356,876          49,903,056

Cost of sales:
  Printing                                                   59,849,596          33,014,938          22,250,920
  Office products and office furniture                       13,289,403          11,076,854           9,670,370
                                                          -----------------------------------------------------
Total cost of sales                                          73,138,999          44,091,792          31,921,290

Selling, general and administrative expenses                 28,079,009          16,197,359          12,787,876
                                                          -----------------------------------------------------
Income from operations                                        7,166,630           6,067,725           5,193,890

Other income (expense):
  Interest income                                                20,116              25,287              10,705
  Interest expense                                           (1,586,418)           (692,914)           (252,368)
  Other                                                         737,097             223,589             113,505
                                                          -----------------------------------------------------
                                                               (829,205)           (444,038)           (128,158)
                                                          -----------------------------------------------------
Income before income taxes                                    6,337,425           5,623,687           5,065,732
Income taxes                                                 (2,570,644)         (2,251,319)         (2,059,447)
                                                          -----------------------------------------------------
Net income                                                $   3,766,781        $  3,372,368        $  3,006,285

Earnings per share:
  Basic                                                   $        0.45        $       0.41        $       0.37
  Diluted                                                 $        0.45        $       0.40        $       0.37

Weighted-average shares outstanding:
  Basic                                                       8,383,391           8,323,518           8,147,389
  Diluted                                                     8,441,083           8,356,032           8,176,716
</TABLE>

                SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.


                                       F-5



<PAGE>

                   Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

                 Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                        COMMON STOCK            ADDITIONAL
                                                  ------------------------        PAID-IN       RETAINED
                                                    SHARES         AMOUNT         CAPITAL       EARNINGS         TOTAL
                                                  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>
Balance, October 31, 1994                          5,292,717     $5,292,717     $7,829,209     $ 4,617,564     $17,739,490

  Net income for 1995                                      -              -              -       3,006,285       3,006,285
  Dividends ($0.122 per share)                             -              -              -        (958,060)       (958,060)
  Stock issued in acquisitions                        52,383         52,383        (42,808)              -           9,575
  Cash paid in lieu of fractional shares                (168)          (168)        (3,413)              -          (3,581)
  Stock split (five shares for four)               1,266,789      1,266,789     (1,266,789)              -               -
                                                 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, October 31, 1995                          6,611,721      6,611,721      6,516,199       6,665,789      19,793,709

  Net income for 1996                                      -              -              -       3,372,368       3,372,368
  Dividends ($0.152 per share)                             -              -              -      (1,222,621)     (1,222,621)
  Stock issued in acquisition                        150,126        150,126      2,549,874               -       2,700,000
  Cash paid in lieu of fractional shares                (146)          (146)        (2,590)              -          (2,736)
  Stock split (five shares for four)               1,620,981      1,620,981     (1,620,981)              -               -
                                                 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, October 31, 1996                          8,382,682      8,382,682      7,442,502       8,815,536      24,640,720

  Net income for 1997                                      -              -              -       3,766,781       3,766,781
  Dividends ($0.19 per share)                              -              -              -      (1,567,803)     (1,567,803)
  Stock options exercised (2,441 shares)               2,441          2,441         11,310               -          13,751
  Cash paid in lieu of fractional shares                (193)          (193)        (3,484)              -          (3,677)
                                                 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, October 31, 1997                          8,384,930     $8,384,930     $7,450,328     $11,014,514     $26,849,772
                                                 ==========================================================================
</TABLE>

                SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.


                                       F-6



<PAGE>

                   Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

                      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                    YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
                                                                          1997                1996                1995
                                                                      ---------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                  <C>                 <C>                 <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income                                                            $ 3,766,781         $ 3,372,368         $ 3,006,285
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash                     
 provided by operating activities:
  Depreciation, amortization and accretion                              3,179,515           2,002,480           1,314,937
  Deferred gain on sale of assets                                        (371,041)            (23,260)            (19,128)
  Deferred income taxes (benefit)                                         334,409             236,860             (65,135)
  Deferred compensation                                                    82,285              92,933             109,911
  Changes in assets and liabilities:
   Accounts receivable                                                 (1,690,650)         (1,579,298)           (923,706)
   Inventories                                                         (1,758,510)            (88,812)         (1,487,066)
   Other current assets                                                   152,345            (232,237)            (35,769)
   Accounts payable                                                       236,195            (902,376)            (85,317)
   Accrued payroll                                                        616,772            (222,450)             71,751
   Taxes accrued and withheld                                            (235,161)            255,134             (44,280)
   Accrued income taxes                                                  (946,031)            650,031          (1,298,839)
   Accrued expenses                                                    (1,383,537)           (255,416)            (24,119)
                                                                      ----------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by operating activities                               1,983,372           3,305,957             519,525

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of property and equipment                                     (2,163,775)         (2,538,459)         (3,409,124)
Proceeds from sale of assets                                              163,103              34,745                -
Businesses acquired, net of cash received                                 254,676          (1,118,792)             18,206
Increase in other assets                                                 (297,364)           (137,655)            (88,796)
                                                                      ----------------------------------------------------
Net cash (used in) investing activities                                (2,043,360)         (3,760,161)         (3,479,714)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net borrowings on notes payable                                         1,575,000           1,300,000                -
Proceeds from long-term debt and capital leases                         1,306,919           3,122,343           2,393,559
Principal payments on long-term debt and capital leases                (2,812,791)         (1,672,249)           (815,506)
Dividends paid                                                         (1,567,803)         (1,222,621)           (958,060)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options                                    13,751                -                   -
Cash paid in lieu of fractional shares                                     (3,677)             (2,736)             (3,581)
                                                                      ----------------------------------------------------
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities                    (1,488,601)          1,524,737             616,412
                                                                      ----------------------------------------------------
Net (decrease) increase in cash                                        (1,548,589)          1,070,533          (2,343,777)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year                          2,460,879           1,390,346           3,734,123
                                                                      ----------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year                              $   912,290          $2,460,879          $1,390,346
                                                                      ====================================================
</TABLE>

                SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.


                                       F-7



<PAGE>

                   Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                                October 31, 1997

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accounting and reporting policies of Champion conform to generally
accepted accounting principles.  The preparation of the financial statements
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported
in the financial statements and accompanying notes.  Actual results could
differ from these estimates.  The following is a summary of the more
significant accounting and reporting policies.

PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Champion Industries,
Inc. and Subsidiaries (the "Company") include the accounts of The Chapman
Printing Company, Inc., Bourque Printing, Inc., Dallas Printing Company,
Inc., Stationers, Inc., Carolina Cut Sheets, Inc., U.S. Tag & Ticket Company,
Inc., Donihe Graphics, Inc., Smith and Butterfield Co., Inc., The Merten
Company, Interform Corporation, and Blue Ridge Printing Company, Inc.

Significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

CASH EQUIVALENTS

The Company considers all highly liquid investments, with an original maturity
of three months or less, to be cash equivalents.

Cash and cash equivalents consist principally of cash on deposit with banks
and repurchase agreements for government securities held in one bank. At
October 31, 1997 and 1996, the Company held overnight repurchase agreements
for $50,621 and $119,393 of Federal National Mortgage Association securities
with stated interest rates of 4.0% and 4.06%.

INVENTORIES

Inventories are principally stated at the lower of first-in, first-out cost
or market. Manufactured finished goods and work-in-process inventories include
material, direct labor and overhead based on standard costs, which approximate
actual costs.

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of leasehold
improvements and equipment under capital leases are recognized primarily on
the straight-line and declining-balance methods in amounts adequate to
amortize costs over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

           Buildings and improvements         5-40 years
           Machinery and equipment            5-10 years
           Furniture and fixtures             5-10 years
           Vehicles                           3- 5 years


                                      F-8



<PAGE>

                   Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

The Company leases certain equipment under financing agreements which are
classified as capital leases. These leases are for a term of five years and
contain purchase options at the end of the original lease term.  Amortization
of assets recorded under capital lease agreements is included in depreciation
expense.

Major renewals, betterments, and replacements are capitalized while
maintenance and repair costs are charged to operations as incurred. Upon the
sale or disposition of assets, the cost and related accumulated depreciation
are removed from the accounts with the resulting gains or losses reflected
in income. Depreciation expense approximated $3,021,000, $1,905,000 and
$1,183,000 for the years ended October 31, 1997, 1996, and 1995.

GOODWILL

The excess cost over fair value of net assets of acquired businesses, goodwill,
is being amortized by the straight-line method over 10 to 30 years. The
carrying value of goodwill is evaluated periodically for impairment. This
evaluation includes the review of operating performance and future
undiscounted cash flows of the underlying businesses. Any impairment loss is
recognized in the period when it is determined that the carrying value of the
goodwill may not be recoverable. Accumulated amortization at October 31, 1997
and 1996, approximated $956,000 and $824,000. Amortization expense approximated
$132,000, $98,000 and $132,000 for the years ended October 31, 1997, 1996, and
1995.

INCOME TAXES

Provisions for income taxes currently payable and deferred income taxes are
based on the liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and
liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting
and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted
tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected
to reverse.

ADVERTISING COSTS

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.  Advertising expense for the years
ended October 31, 1997, 1996, and 1995 approximated $646,000, $378,000 and
$346,000.

2. INVENTORIES

Inventories consisted of the following:


                                                             OCTOBER 31,
                                                          1997         1996
                                                      -------------------------
   Printing:
     Raw materials                                    $ 3,030,425   $2,507,717
     Work in process                                    2,867,270    1,530,933
     Finished goods                                     2,806,475      572,228
   Office products and office furniture                 2,872,481    2,835,147
                                                      -------------------------
                                                      $11,576,651   $7,446,025
                                                      =========================


                                       F-9



<PAGE>

                   Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

3. CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS

The Company has an unsecured line of credit with a bank for borrowings to a
maximum of $2,000,000 with interest payable quarterly at the prime rate plus
0.5%. This line of credit, which expires on May 31, 1998, contains certain
restrictive financial covenants. There was $2,000,000 outstanding under this
facility at October 31, 1997 and $1,100,000 outstanding at October 31, 1996.

The Company also has an unsecured line of credit with a bank for borrowings 
to a maximum of $800,000 with interest payable quarterly at the bank's 
prime rate. This line of credit expires on March 11, 1998, and is guaranteed 
by the President of the Company.  There was $425,000 outstanding under this 
facility at October 31, 1997 and 1996.

4. LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt consisted of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                            OCTOBER 31,
                                                                      1997              1996
                                                                  -----------------------------
<S>                                                             <C>                 <C>
Unsecured term note payable to a bank, due in 
 monthly principal installments of $149,000 plus
 interest at the prime rate with the note maturing 
 April 2004                                                      $11,600,431         $        -
Installment notes payable to banks, due in monthly
  installments totaling $103,000 with interest rates
  approximating the bank's prime rate and the last note
  maturing October 2002, collateralized by equipment,
  vehicles, inventory, accounts receivable, and, on
  certain notes, the personal guarantee of the President
  of the Company                                                   2,122,215          3,987,464
Unsecured installment notes payable to banks, due in
  monthly installments totaling $27,000, with interest
  rates approximating the bank's prime rate, with the
  last note maturing August 1999                                     448,786          2,150,548
Capital lease obligations, due in monthly installments
  totaling $177,000, including interest at the bank's
  prime rate, less .50% to 1%, through March 2004                  5,228,887          3,859,791
                                                                  -----------------------------
                                                                  19,400,319          9,997,803

Less current portion                                               4,244,363          2,436,786
                                                                  -----------------------------
Long-term debt, net of current portion                           $15,155,956         $7,561,017
                                                                 ==============================

</TABLE>

The unsecured term note agreement contains restrictive financial covenants 
requiring the Company to maintain certain financial ratios.  


                                      F-10



<PAGE>

                   Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Maturities of long-term debt for each of the next five years follows:

                                      NOTES         CAPITAL
                                     PAYABLE         LEASES         TOTAL
                                   ----------------------------------------
               1998                $2,842,844     $1,401,519     $4,244,363
               1999                 2,368,790      1,346,313      3,715,103
               2000                 2,174,840      1,004,298      3,179,138
               2001                 2,065,791        836,592      2,902,383
               2002                 1,963,494        435,668      2,399,162
               Thereafter           2,755,673        204,497      2,960,170
                                   ----------------------------------------
                                  $14,171,432     $5,228,887    $19,400,319
                                  =========================================

The prime rate, the base interest rate on the above loans, approximated 8.0%
and 8.25% at October 31, 1997 and 1996. Interest paid during the years ended
October 31, 1997, 1996, and 1995 approximated $1,511,000, $632,000 and 
$240,000.

The Company's non-cash activities included equipment purchases of approximately
$1,733,000, which were financed by a bank.

5. INCOME TAXES

Income taxes consisted of the following:

                                                   Year Ended October 31,
                                           1997           1996         1995
                                       ----------------------------------------
         Current expense:
           Federal                      $1,783,878     $1,620,319   $1,709,746
           State                           452,357        394,000      415,000
         Deferred expense (benefit)        334,409        237,000      (65,299)
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                        $2,570,644     $2,251,319   $2,059,447
                                       ========================================


                                      F-11



<PAGE>

                   Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    October 31,
                                                                1997           1996
                                                            ------------------------
<S>                                                        <C>            <C>
Assets:
 Allowance for doubtful accounts                            $  455,940     $ 218,977
 Deferred compensation                                         222,354       184,704
 Net operating loss carryforward of acquired companies         307,035       198,663
 Accrued vacation                                              217,980          - 
 Other accrued liabilities                                     238,244       156,829
                                                            ------------------------
Gross deferred tax assets                                    1,441,553       759,173

Liabilities:

 Property and equipment                                      4,049,824     2,272,554
                                                            ------------------------
 Gross deferred liability                                    4,049,824     2,272,554
                                                            ------------------------
Net deferred tax liabilities                                $2,608,271    $1,513,381
                                                            ========================
</TABLE>
A reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to the Company's
effective income tax rate is as follows:

                                                    Year Ended October 31,
                                               1997          1996         1995
                                               -------------------------------
Statutory federal income tax rate               34%            34%         34%
State taxes, net of federal benefit              5              5           6
Other                                            2              1           1
                                                ------------------------------
Effective tax rate                              41%            40%         41%
                                                ==============================  


Income taxes paid during the years ended October 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995
approximated $3,024,000, $1,437,000 and $3,414,000.

The Company has available, for income tax purposes, net operating loss
carryforwards from acquired companies of approximately $464,000, of which
$122,000 expires in 2010 and $342,000 in 2011.

6. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS AND OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS

The Company leases operating facilities from entities controlled by its
President, his family and affiliates. The terms of these leases, which are 
accounted for as operating leases, range from five to fifteen years.

The Company also leases vehicles from an entity controlled by its President.
Vehicle leases are for an initial term of twenty-four months and
month-to-month thereafter.  Lease payments average $350 per month.


                                      F-12



<PAGE>

                   Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

A summary of significant related party transactions follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                       Year Ended October 31,
                                                                1997           1996           1995
                                                             ---------------------------------------
<S>                                                         <C>            <C>           <C>
     Rent expense paid to affiliated entities for:
        Vehicles                                             $   7,920      $  13,130     $   86,559
        Operating facilities                                   363,100        363,100        363,100
     Purchases of materials and supplies from
        affiliated entities                                     95,616        181,113        197,963
     Sales of office products, office furniture and
        printing services to affiliated entities               461,674        840,482        984,132
</TABLE>


When a new vehicle is required, the Company either purchases a new vehicle or
enters into a new vehicle lease with unrelated entities. These leases are on a
month-to-month basis. Other vehicle rent expense to unrelated entities totaled
$334,000, $265,000 and $368,000 for the years ended October 31, 1997, 1996 and
1995.

In addition, the Company leases property and equipment from unrelated entities
under operating leases. Rent expense amounted to $489,000, $321,000 and 
$125,000 for the years ended October 31, 1997, 1996, and 1995.

Under the terms and conditions of the above-mentioned leases, the Company pays
all taxes, assessments, maintenance, repairs or replacements, utilities and
insurance.

Future minimum rental commitments for all noncancelable operating leases with
initial terms of one year or more consisted of the following at October 31,
1997:

                    1997                                      $738,000
                    1998                                       718,000
                    1999                                       502,000
                    2000                                       379,000
                    2001                                       292,000
                    Thereafter                                 893,000
                                                            ----------
                                                            $3,522,000
                                                            ==========


Accounts receivable from affiliated entities resulting from sales transactions
approximated $32,000 and $54,000 at October 31, 1997 and 1996.

In order to minimize premium costs, the Company participates in a 
self-insurance program for employee health care benefits with affiliates 
controlled by its President. The Company is allocated costs based on its 
proportionate share to provide such benefits to its employees. The Company's 
expense related to this program for the years ended October 31, 1997, 1996 
and 1995 was approximately $1,456,000, $733,000 and $652,000.


                                      F-13



<PAGE>

                   Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

7. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

The Company has a Profit Sharing Plan (the "Plan") which covers all eligible
employees and qualifies as a Savings Plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal
Revenue Code. The Company may make discretionary contributions to the Plan. In
addition to the Company's contribution, the participants may make voluntary
contributions up to 2% of their salary not to exceed $300. The Company's 
expense under the Plan was approximately $158,000, $97,000 and $66,000 for 
the years ended October 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995.

The Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan provides for the granting of both
incentive and non-qualified stock options to management personnel for up to
610,351 shares of the Company's common stock.  The  option price per share for
incentive stock options shall not be lower than the fair market value of the
common stock at the date of grant.  The option price per share for
non-qualified stock options shall be at such price as the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors may determine at its sole discretion.
All options to date are incentive stock options.  Options vest immediately and
may be exercised within five years from the date of grant. The weighted
average remaining contractual life of those options is 2.4 years. A summary of
the Company's stock option activity and related information for the years
ended October 31 follows:  

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     Weighted               Weighted
                                                     Average                Average
                                                     Exercise               Exercise
                                          1997       Price        1996      Price 
                                         -------------------------------------------
<S>                                     <C>         <C>         <C>        <C> 
Outstanding-beginning of year            146,973     $11.12      100,098    $ 9.28
Granted                                   35,000      17.90       46,875     15.04
Exercised                                 (2,441)      5.63            -         -
                                        --------                --------     
Outstanding-end of year                  179,532      12.52      146,973     11.12
                                        ========                ========
Weighted average fair value of
  options granted during the year          $4.63                   $3.62
                                        ========                ========
</TABLE>

The Company has elected to follow Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, 
"Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" (APB 25) and related 
interpretations in accounting for its employee stock options.  Under APB 25, 
because the exercise price of the Company's employee stock options equals the
market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant, no compensation 
expense is recognized.  


                                     F-14



<PAGE>

                   Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)





Pro forma information regarding net income and earnings per share has been 
determined as if the Company had accounted for its employee stock options 
under the fair value method of that Statement.  The fair value for these 
options was estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option 
pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions for 1997 and 
1996, respectively: risk-free interest rates of 6.04% and 5.63%; dividend 
yields of 1.10% and 1.37%; volatility factors of the expected market price 
of the Company's common stock of .236 and .230; and a weighted-average 
expected life of the option of 4 years. 

The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating 
the fair value of traded options which have no vesting restrictions and are 
fully transferable.  In addition, option valuation models require the input of
highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility.  
Because the Company's employee stock options have characteristics significantly
different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective
input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in 
management's opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable
single measure of the fair value of its employee stock options.

For purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of the options
is expensed in the year granted since the options vest immediately.  The 
Company's pro forma information for the years ended October 31 follows: 


                                                1997               1996
                                       --------------------------------------

   Pro forma net income                   $3,605,000             $3,203,000
                                       ======================================

   Pro forma basic and diluted
     earnings per share                        $0.41                  $0.38
                                       ======================================

The Company has deferred compensation agreements with two employees of Blue
Ridge Printing Co., Inc. providing for payments totaling approximately 
$1,000,000 over a ten year period after retirement.  The Company had accrued
approximately $556,000 and $474,000 at October 31, 1997 and 1996, relating
to these agreements.  The amount expensed for these agreements for the years 
ended October 31, 1997, 1996, and 1995 approximated $82,000, $93,000, and 
$110,000.  To assist in funding the deferred compensation agreements, the 
Company has invested in life insurance policies which had cash surrender 
values of $404,000 and $359,000 at October 31, 1997 and 1996.  

8. DEFERRED GAIN

On August 30, 1991, Stationers, Inc. sold assets of its retail bookstore
consisting primarily of inventory and fixtures. The assets sold represented
a separate area of Stationer's retail location and thus the transaction was
considered to be a disposal of a portion of a product line incident to the
evolution of its overall business. Stationers, Inc. unconditionally guaranteed
a bank loan of the purchaser amounting to $600,000. Accordingly, the gain from
the sale of $591,835 was deferred and recognized as the purchaser made payments
on the purchaser's bank loan and the note receivable.  In 1997, Stationer's
was released from this guarantee, and the remaining gain was recognized. The
gain recognized for the years ended October 31, 1997, 1996, and 1995 amounted
to $330,000, $23,000 and $19,000.


                                F-15



<PAGE>

                   Champion industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company is subject to the environmental laws and regulations of the 
United States and the states in which it operates concerning emissions into
the air, discharges into the waterways and the generation, handling and 
disposal of waste materials.  The Company's past expenditures relating to
environmental compliance have not had a material effect on the Company.  
These laws and regulations are constantly evolving, and it is impossible
to predict accurately the effect they may have upon the capital expenditures,
earnings, and competitive position of the Company in the future.  Based upon
information currently available, management believes that expenditures
relating to environmental compliance will not have a material impact on 
the financial position of the Company.  

10.  EARNINGS PER SHARE

In 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued statement No. 128,
"Earnings Per Share," which requires the reporting of basic and diluted
earnings per share.  The Company adopted Statement 128 in the first quarter
of 1998, as required.  Earnings per share and weighted average shares
outstanding for all periods presented have been restated to conform to
Statement 128.  Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income
by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the respective
period.  Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by
weighted average number of shares outstanding for the respective period plus
the number of shares which would be issued assuming the exercise of dilutive
stock options.  The dilutive effect of stock options approximated 57,692,
32,514 and 29,327 shares in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

11. ACQUISITIONS

On December 31, 1996, the Company acquired all of the outstanding common 
stock of Interform Corporation in exchange for cash of $2,500,000, obtained 
through bank financing.  This acquisition was accounted for under the 
purchase method.  At December 31, 1996, Interform held for sale one of its 
former facilities which was recorded at its estimated fair value.  This 
facility was sold in December 1997 for its estimated fair market value.

On August 21, 1996, the Company acquired various assets with a fair value
of approximately $2,500,000 and assumed certain liabilities of approximately
$2,500,000 of The Merten Company.  The Company refinanced $2,000,000 of the
assumed liabilities through a loan from a bank. 

On July 1, 1996, the Company acquired all of the outstanding common stock of
Smith and Butterfield Co., Inc. in exchange for 66,666 shares of its common
stock with a fair value of $1,200,000.


                                    F-16



<PAGE>
 
                   Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)


On February 2, 1996, the Company acquired various assets and assumed certain
liabilities of E.S. Upton Printing Company, Inc. for approximately $750,000 
in cash.  The Company obtained a loan from a bank of $750,000 to finance
this acquisition.

These acquisitions have been accounted for under the purchase method of
accounting. Accordingly, the purchase prices have been allocated to the 
assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their fair values at the
respective acquisition date. The operating results of these businesses are
included in the Consolidated Income Statements since their respective 
acquisition dates.
                                
The following summarizes the unaudited consolidated pro forma results of
operations for the years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996, assuming all of 
the acquisitions, including Interform Corporation, accounted for under the 
purchase method had been consummated at the beginning of each year presented.

                                               1997             1996
                                            -----------      -----------
          Revenues                         $113,710,000      $104,054,000
          Net income                         $3,661,000        $2,410,000
          Diluted earnings per share              $0.43             $0.29 
          Diluted weighted average 
            shares outstanding                8,441,083         8,414,548

In April 1997, the Company acquired all of the outstanding common stock of 
Blue Ridge Printing Co., Inc. (Blue Ridge) in exchange for 277,775 shares of
the Company's common stock.  This combination has been accounted for as a 
pooling of interests.  Accordingly, all prior period financial information 
has been restated as though they had always been combined.  The following is
an analysis presenting the results of operations for 1997 and 1996 of the
separate companies.

                                                                    Diluted
                                                     Net           Earnings
                                 Revenues           Income         Per Share
                              ---------------   ---------------  ------------

         1997
         ----
         Champion               $101,233,702      $3,400,266        $0.42
         Blue Ridge                7,150,936         366,515
                                -----------------------------
         Consolidated           $108,384,638      $3,766,781        $0.45
                                ============================
         1996
         ----
         Champion               $ 59,884,599      $3,252,476        $0.40
         Blue Ridge                6,472,277         119,892
                                -----------------------------
         Consolidated           $ 66,356,876      $3,372,368        $0.40
                                ============================


                                      F-17



<PAGE>

                   Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

12. INDUSTRY SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company operates principally in two industry segments: the production,
printing and sale, principally to commercial customers, of printed materials
including brochures, pamphlets, reports, tags, continuous and other forms; 
and the sale of office products and office furniture. The Company employs 
approximately 900 people, approximately 100 of whom are covered by a 
collective bargaining agreement which expires on May 31, 2004.  The Company
believes its relations with employees is satisfactory. 

The Company operates entirely in the United States. Inter-segment sales 
are not significant.

Revenues and operating income for the years ended October 31, 1997,
1996, and 1995, and identifiable assets at the end of each of those years,
were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                        1997           1996             1995
                                      ---------------------------------------
Revenues:
<S>                                   <C>           <C>           <C>
 Printing                              $87,978,709   $49,242,232   $35,370,827
 Office products and furniture          20,405,929    17,114,644    14,532,229

Operating income:
  Printing                               6,065,034     4,768,676     3,991,652
  Office products and furniture          1,101,596     1,299,049     1,202,238

Depreciation and amortization:
  Printing                               2,955,739     1,843,309     1,203,135
  Office products and furniture            223,776       159,171       111,802

Capital expenditures:
  Printing                               1,812,896     2,375,301     3,322,984
  Office products and furniture            350,879       163,158        86,140

Identifiable assets:
  Printing                               52,577,247    36,498,504   23,863,639
  Office products and furniture           7,768,466     7,564,072    4,779,198
</TABLE>

13. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The carrying amount reported in the balance sheet for cash and cash 
equivalents approximates its fair value. The fair value of short-term 
revolving credit agreements and long-term debt was estimated using discounted
cash flows and it approximates their carrying value. 


                                      F-18



<PAGE>

                   Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

14. QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

The following is a summary of the quarterly results of operations for the 
years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996.  Earnings per share and weighted
average shares outstanding amounts have been restated to comply with Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings Per Share."

                           FIRST         SECOND          THIRD        FOURTH
                         QUARTER        QUARTER        QUARTER       QUARTER
                       --------------------------------------------------------
   REVENUES
     1997              $21,116,000    $29,260,000    $27,867,000   $30,142,000
     1996               15,718,000     15,941,000     15,664,000    19,034,000

   COST OF SALES
     1997               15,111,000     19,331,000     19,129,000    19,568,000
     1996               10,904,000     10,412,000     10,177,000    12,599,000

   NET INCOME
     1997                  869,000        971,000        781,000     1,146,000
     1996                  630,000        895,000        776,000     1,071,000

   BASIC AND DILUTED
     EARNINGS PER SHARE
     1997                      .10            .12            .09           .14
     1996                      .08            .11            .09           .13

  WEIGHTED AVERAGE
    SHARES OUTSTANDING

    Basic
      1997               8,382,489      8,382,489      8,383,656     8,384,930
      1996               8,284,608      8,299,350      8,327,429     8,382,683

    Diluted:
      1997               8,438,879      8,442,243      8,435,827     8,447,106
      1996               8,317,269      8,329,445      8,360,283     8,417,132


                                      F-19



<PAGE>
                  Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries


                         Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                  (Unaudited)

                                    Assets
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               JANUARY 31,         OCTOBER 31,
                                                                                  1998                1997
                                                                              --------------------------------
<S>                                                                          <C>                 <C>
Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                                                  $    (77,007)       $    912,290
   Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,221,000 and $1,140,000           18,634,981          19,075,180

   Inventories                                                                  11,727,541          11,576,651
   Property held for sale                                                              ---             300,000
   Other current assets                                                            501,271             283,642
   Deferred income tax assets                                                      981,619             981,619
                                                                              --------------------------------
Total current assets                                                            31,768,405          33,129,382

Property and equipment, at cost: 
   Land                                                                            784,889             784,889
   Buildings and improvements                                                    4,180,269           4,144,472
   Machinery and equipment                                                      23,464,881          22,852,103
   Equipment under capital leases                                                5,720,594           5,720,594
   Furniture and fixtures                                                        1,652,194           1,684,275
   Vehicles                                                                      1,986,223           1,914,362
                                                                              --------------------------------
                                                                                37,789,050          37,100,695
Less accumulated depreciation                                                  (14,596,448)        (13,825,053)
                                                                              --------------------------------
                                                                                23,192,602          23,275,642

Cash surrender value of officers' life insurance                                   972,424             921,213

Goodwill, net of accumulated amortization                                        2,543,153           2,558,356

Other assets                                                                       404,037             461,120
                                                                              --------------------------------
                                                                                 3,919,614           3,940,689
                                                                              --------------------------------

Total assets                                                                   $58,880,621         $60,345,713        
                                                                               ===============================

</TABLE>

           SEE NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 

                                       F-20



<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries


                         Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                  (Unaudited)

                      Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

                                                                               JANUARY 31,         OCTOBER 31,
                                                                                  1998                1997
                                                                              --------------------------------
<S>                                                                          <C>                 <C>
Current liabilities:
   Notes payable                                                             $   2,900,000        $  2,425,000  
   Accounts payable                                                              2,423,898           3,657,365  
   Accrued payroll                                                               1,731,298           2,052,130
   Taxes accrued and withheld                                                      547,387             571,477
   Accrued income taxes                                                            478,218             450,027
   Accrued expenses                                                                819,386             793,848
   Current portion of long-term debt:

       Notes payable                                                             2,842,844           2,842,844
       Capital lease obligations                                                 1,401,519           1,401,519
                                                                             ---------------------------------
   Total current liabilities                                                    13,144,550          14,194,210

Long-term debt, net of current portion
   Notes payable                                                                10,796,498          11,328,588
   Capital lease obligations                                                     3,503,618           3,827,368
Deferred compensation                                                              569,047             555,886
Deferred income tax liability                                                    3,589,889           3,589,889
Deferred gain                                                                          ---                 ---
                                                                              --------------------------------

Total liabilities                                                               31,603,602          33,495,941

Commitments and contingencies                                                          ---                 ---

Shareholders' equity: 
    Common stock, $1 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized; 
      8,388,445 and 8,384,930 shares issued and outstanding                      8,388,445           8,384,930
    Additional paid-in capital                                                   7,495,930           7,450,328
    Retained earnings                                                           11,392,644          11,014,514
                                                                               -------------------------------

Total shareholders' equity                                                      27,277,019          26,849,772
                                                                               -------------------------------

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                                     $58,880,621         $60,345,713
                                                                               ===============================


</TABLE>

           SEE NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 

                                       F-21



<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries


                        Consolidated Income Statements
                                  (Unaudited)

                      

                                                                                     Three Months Ended 
                                                                                         January 31,
                                                                                  1998                1997
                                                                              --------------------------------
<S>                                                                          <C>                 <C>
Revenues:
   Printing                                                                  $  23,955,963        $ 16,137,366  
   Office products and office furniture                                          5,678,515           4,978,470
                                                                             ---------------------------------
     Total revenues                                                             29,634,478          21,115,836

Cost of sales: 
   Printing                                                                     17,508,471          11,778,980
   Office products and office furniture                                          3,759,136           3,332,299
                                                                             ---------------------------------
     Total cost of sales                                                        21,267,607          15,111,279
                                                                             ---------------------------------

Gross profit                                                                     8,366,871           6,004,557
                                                                             ---------------------------------

Selling, general and administrative expenses                                     6,662,752           4,694,266
                                                                             ---------------------------------

Income from operations                                                           1,704,119           1,310,291
                                                                             ---------------------------------

Other income (expense):
   Interest income                                                                     157               7,396
   Interest expense                                                               (427,415)           (238,070)
   Other                                                                           110,208             454,846
                                                                             ---------------------------------
                                                                                  (317,050)            224,172
                                                                             ---------------------------------

Income before income taxes                                                       1,387,069           1,534,463
   Income taxes                                                                   (589,691)           (665,466)
                                                                             ---------------------------------

Net income                                                                    $    797,378         $   868,997
                                                                              ================================

Earnings per share: 

   Basic                                                                            $.10                  $.10
   Diluted                                                                           .09                   .10

Dividends per share:                                                                $.05                  $.04

Weighted average shares outstanding:

   Basic                                                                          8,385,656           8,382,489
   Diluted                                                                        8,435,507           8,438,879
                            

</TABLE>

           SEE NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 

                                       F-22



<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries


                     Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                                  (Unaudited)


                                                                                     Three Months Ended
                                                                                        January 31,
                                                                                  1998                1997
                                                                              --------------------------------
<S>                                                                          <C>                 <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income                                                                    $    797,377        $    868,998
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash
 provided by operating activities:
  Depreciation, amortization and accretion                                         786,597             636,486
  Gain on sale of property                                                         (39,000)                 --
  Deferred gain on sale of assets                                                       --            (330,443)
  Deferred income taxes                                                                 --              36,031
  Deferred compensation                                                             13,161              18,988
  Changes in assets and liabilities:
   Accounts receivable                                                             440,199           1,371,015
   Inventories                                                                    (150,889)           (836,877)
   Other current assets                                                           (217,629)           (187,678)
   Accounts payable                                                             (1,233,467)           (461,614)
   Accrued payroll                                                                (320,832)            (88,130)
   Taxes accrued and withheld                                                      (24,090)           (139,617)
   Accrued income taxes                                                             28,191            (678,302)
   Accrued expenses                                                                 25,538            (871,228)
                                                                              --------------------------------
Net cash provided by (used in) operations                                          105,156            (662,371)

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of property and equipment                                                (596,101)           (543,192)
Proceeds from sale of assets                                                       339,000                  -- 
Business acquired, net of cash received                                                 --             254,676 
Increase in cash surrender value of officer's life insurance                       (51,211)            (46,673)
Decrease in other assets                                                            57,084               9,296
                                                                              --------------------------------
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities                               (251,228)           (325,893)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net borrowings on notes payable                                                     475,000             950,000
Proceeds from long-term debt and capital leases                                     104,000             282,433
Principal payments on long-term debt and capital leases                          (1,052,093)           (749,442)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options                                             49,115                  --
Cash paid in lieu of fractional shares                                                  --              (3,677)
Dividends paid                                                                    (419,247)           (324,195)
                                                                              --------------------------------
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities                               (843,225)            155,119
                                                                              --------------------------------
Net (decrease) increase in cash                                                   (989,297)           (833,145)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period                                     912,290           2,460,879
                                                                              --------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period                                       $   (77,007)         $1,627,734
                                                                              ================================
</TABLE>

           SEE NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 

                                       F-23



<PAGE>

                  Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)


1.  BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The foregoing financial information is unaudited and has been prepared from
the records of Champion Industries, Inc., and subsidiaries ("Champion" or the
"Company").  In the opinion of management, the financial information reflects
all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary
for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash
flows in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.  These
interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial
statements for the year ended October 31, 1997 and related notes thereto
contained in the Company's Form 10-K dated January 29, 1998.  The accompanying
unaudited financial statements are presented in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles and instructions to the Securities and Exchange
Commission Form 10-Q.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company include the
accounts of The Chapman Printing Company, Inc., Stationers, Inc., Bourque
Printing, Inc., Dallas Printing Company, Inc., Carolina Cut Sheets, Inc.,
U.S. Tag & Ticket Company, Inc., Donihe Graphics, Inc., The Merten Company,
Smith & Butterfield Co., Inc., Interform Corporation and Blue Ridge Printing
Co., Inc.

2.  INVENTORIES

Inventories are principally stated at the lower of first-in, first-out cost or
market.  Manufactured finished goods and work in process inventories include
material, direct labor and overhead based on standard costs, which approximate
actual costs.  The Company utilizes an estimated gross profit method for
determining cost of sales in interim periods.

Inventories consisted of the following:


                                                      JANUARY 31,   OCTOBER 31,
                                                          1998         1997
                                                      -------------------------
   Printing:
     Raw materials                                    $ 3,049,180   $ 3,030,425
     Work in process                                    2,885,015     2,867,270
     Finished goods                                     2,823,844     2,806,475
   Office products and office furniture                 2,969,502     2,872,481
                                                      -------------------------
                                                      $11,727,541   $11,576,651
                                                      =========================

3.  EARNINGS PER SHARE

In 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement
No. 128, Earnings per Share, which requires the reporting of basic and diluted
earnings per share.  The Company adopted Statement 128 in the first quarter of
1998 as required.  Earnings per share and weighted average shares outstanding
for all periods presented have been restated to conform to Statement 128.
Basic earnings per share excludes any dilutive effects of stock options and is
computed by dividing net income by the weighted average shares of common stock
outstanding for the period.  Diluted earnings per share is computed by
dividing net income by the weighted average shares of common stock outstanding
for the period plus the shares that would be outstanding assuming the exercise
of dilutive stock options.  The effect of dilutive stock options on weighted
average shares outstanding was 49,851 and 56,390 for the quarters ended
January 31, 1998 and 1997.


                                     F-24



<PAGE>

                  Champion Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

      NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED), continued


4.  DIVIDENDS

The Company declared a dividend of five cents to be paid on March 27, 1998,
to stockholders of record on March 9, 1998.

5.  ACQUISITIONS

On December 31, 1996, the Company acquired all the issued and outstanding
common shares of Interform Corporation ("Interform"), a business forms printer
located in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, in exchange for cash of $2.5 million.
Champion utilized the proceeds of a loan from a bank to provide the cash
consideration and to refinance the existing long-term debt of Interform.
The transaction was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting.

The following summarizes the unaudited consolidated pro forma results of
operations for the quarter ended January 31, 1997, assuming the acquisition
had been consummated at the beginning of the quarter.

                                                               1997
                                                           -----------
     Revenues                                              $26,441,000
     Net income                                               $691,000
     Diluted earnings per share                                   $.08
     Diluted weighted average shares outstanding             8,438,879


6.  NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In June, 1997, the FASB issued Statement No. 130 "Reporting Comprehensive
Income" and Statement No. 131, "Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise
and Related Information."  The Company does not expect that the adoption of
these statements will have a material impact on the consolidated financial
statements.


                                     F-25



<PAGE>



<PAGE>



<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                                                       <C>
=======================================================    =======================================================
     No dealer, salesperson or other individual has
been authorized to give any information or make any
representations in connection with this Offering other
than those contained in this Prospectus, and if given
or made, such information or representations must not                          1,000,000 SHARES
be relied upon as having been authorized by the
Company or any Underwriter.  This Prospectus does not
constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an
offer to buy, any securities other than the shares of
Common Stock to which it relates or an offer to, or
a solicitation of, any person in any jurisdiction in                                  [LOGO]
which such offer or solicitation would be unlawful.
Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale
made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create
an implication that there has not been any change in
the affairs of the Company or that the information
contained herein is correct as of any time subsequent
to the date hereof.
                                                                                   CHAMPION 
            -------------------------------                                    INDUSTRIES, INC.

                   TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                   Page                          Common Stock
                                                   ----

Prospectus Summary.................................   3    ------------------------------------------------------
Investment Considerations..........................   6                           PROSPECTUS
Use of Proceeds....................................   7    ------------------------------------------------------
Price Range of Common Stock........................   7
Dividend Policy....................................   8
Capitalization.....................................   8
Selected Consolidated Financial Data...............   9
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
  Condition and Results of Operations..............  10
Business...........................................  15
Legal Proceedings..................................  23
Management.........................................  23
Principal Shareholder..............................  24                      FERRIS, BAKER WATTS
Description of Capital Stock.......................  25                          Incorporated
Underwriting.......................................  25
Legal Matters......................................  27
Experts............................................  27
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements..  27
Available Information..............................  27
Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference..  28
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements......... F-1                        March 27, 1998
=======================================================    =======================================================
</TABLE>


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