SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No.______)*
American Vantage Companies
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(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, $.01 par value
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(Title of Class of Securities)
03037B106
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(CUSIP Number)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:
[x] Rule 13d-1(b)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)
* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities,
and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
Page 1 of 4 pages
<PAGE>
CUSIP No. 03037B106 13G Page 2 of 4 Pages
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Engex, Inc.
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
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NUMBER OF 5 SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES 418,300
BENEFICIALLY --------------------------------------------------------------
OWNED BY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH 0
REPORTING --------------------------------------------------------------
PERSON 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 418,300
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8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
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9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
418,300
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10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
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11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
8.6%
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12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IV
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*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT
<PAGE>
Page 3 of 4 Pages
Item 1. (a) Name of Issuer:
American Vantage Companies
(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
6787 West Tropicana, Suite 200
Las Vegas, NV 89103
Item 2. (a) Name of Person Filing:
Engex, Inc.
(b) Address of Principal Business Office:
44 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005.
(c) Citizenship:
Engex, Inc. is incorporated in the State of Delaware.
(d) Title of Class of Securities:
Common Stock, $.01 par value ("shares")
(e) CUSIP Number:
03037B106
Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b), or
13d-2(b), check whether the person filing is a:
(a) [ ] Broker or Dealer registered under Section 15 of the
Act
(b) [ ] Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act
(c) [ ] Insurance Company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of
the Act
(d) [X] Investment Company registered under section 8 of the
Investment Company Act
(e) [ ] Investment Adviser registered under section 203 of the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940
(f) [ ] Employee Benefit Plan, Pension Fund which is subject
to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 or Endowment Fund; see Section
240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F)
(g) [ ] Parent Holding Company, in accordance with Section
240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G)
(h) ( ) Group, in accordance with Section 240.13d-
1(b)(1)(ii)(H)
Item 4. Ownership.
(a) (b) As of September 21, 2000, Engex, Inc. may be deemed to
beneficially own 418,300 shares or 8.6% of the Issuer's
shares issued and outstanding.
(c) Engex, Inc. has sole power to vote or to direct the vote,
to dispose or to direct the disposition of those shares.
Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
Not applicable.
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which Acquired
the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company.
Not applicable.
<PAGE>
Page 4 of 4 pages
Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
Not applicable.
Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group.
Not applicable.
Item 10. Certification.
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the
purpose of, and do not have the effect of changing or influencing the control of
the issuer of such securities and were not acquired, and are not held in
connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or
effect.
Signature.
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief,
I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.
Date: September 21, 2000
Engex, Inc.
By: /s/ J. Morton Davis
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J. Morton Davis
Chairman
