CENTRAL NEWSPAPERS INC
SC 13D/A, 1998-12-03
NEWSPAPERS: PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                               (Amendment No. 3)*

                             CENTRAL NEWSPAPERS, INC
                                (Name of Issuer)

                     Class A Common Stock, without par value
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    154647101
                                 (CUSIP Number)


                                                   Copy to:
         Frank E. Russell                  Steven W. Thornton, Esq.
 135 N. Pennsylvania, Suite 1200              Barnes & Thornburg
   Indianapolis, Indiana 46204               11 S. Meridian Street
          (317) 231-9200                  Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
                                                (317) 236-1313

           (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to
                       Receive Notices and Communications)

                                October 22, 1998
             (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously  filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the  acquisition  which is the subject of this  Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of  ss.240.13d-1(e),  240.13d-1(f) or  240.13d-1(g),  check the
following box. |_|

Note: Six copies of this statement, including all exhibits, should be filed with
the  Commission.  See Rule  13d-1(a) for other  parties to whom copies are to be
sent.

* 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
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on 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 6


<PAGE>




                                  SCHEDULE 13D



CUSIP No. 154647101                                          Page  2  of 6 Pages
- --------------------                                        --------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1    NAME OF REPORTING PERSON                                   Frank E. Russell
     S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON             ###-##-####
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP                    (a) |_|
                                                                         (b) |_|
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3    SEC USE ONLY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4    SOURCE OF FUNDS            N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5    CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO 
     ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)                                                     |_|
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION         United States of America
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     7          SOLE VOTING POWER                   2,240,950++
                     -----------------------------------------------------------
       NUMBER OF
        SHARES       8          SHARED VOTING POWER                 2,305,750++
      BENEFICIALLY   -----------------------------------------------------------
       OWNED BY
         EACH        9          SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER              2,240,950
       REPORTING     -----------------------------------------------------------
        PERSON
         WITH       10          SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER            2,305,750
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

              4,546,700
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES   |_|
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
              22.6%*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
              IN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
++       Calculated   pursuant  to  Rule  13d-3(d)(1)   promulgated   under  the
         Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as amended,  reflecting  beneficial
         ownership  of shares  of Class A Common  Stock  which  can be  acquired
         through the conversion of shares of Class B Common Stock. Each share of
         Class B Common Stock may be  converted  into 1/10 of a share of Class A
         Common Stock at the option of the holder thereof. Each share of Class A
         Common  Stock is  entitled  to 1/10 of a vote and each share of Class B
         Common  Stock is  entitled  to one vote.  All  shares of Class A Common
         Stock and Class B Common Stock vote together as a single class.

*        Based on 17,207,924 shares outstanding. Pursuant to the Issuer's Report
         on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 1998, 18,707,924 shares
         of Class A Common Stock were  outstanding  as of November 2, 1998.  The
         Issuer  repurchased  1,500,000  shares  of  Class  A  Common  Stock  in
         November, 1998.


<PAGE>




Item 1.           Security and Issuer

Title of Security:         Class A Common Stock, no par value
Issuer:                    Central Newspapers, Inc.
                           100 East Van Buren Street
                           Phoenix, Arizona  85004

Item 2.           Identity and Background

(a)      Frank E. Russell
(b)      135 N. Pennsylvania, Suite 1200
         Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
(c)      Director & Chairman
         Central Newspapers, Inc.
         135 N. Pennsylvania, Suite 1200
         Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
(d)      No
(e)      No
(f)      United States of America

Item 3.           Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

N/A

Item 4.           Purpose of Transaction

(a) Pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation of Central Newspapers,  Inc., each
share of Class B Common Stock may be  converted  into 1/10 of a share of Class A
Common Stock.  Therefore,  the 3,732,500 shares of Class B Common Stock owned by
the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust (see Item 5 below) may be converted into
373,250 shares of Class A Common Stock; the 22,907,500  shares of Class B Common
Stock owned by the Eugene C.  Pulliam  Trust (see Item 5 below) may be converted
into 2,290,750 shares of Class A Common Stock; and the 125,000 shares of Class B
Common Stock owned by Frank E. Russell (see Item 5 below) may be converted  into
12,500 shares of Class A Common Stock.

         The Nina Mason  Pulliam  Charitable  Trust  intends  to sell  1,336,850
shares of Class A Common Stock in a registered  secondary  offering,  as further
described in Item 6 below.

(b)-(j)  N/A


                                   Page 3 of 6

<PAGE>




Item 5.           Interest in Securities of Issuer.

(a)      Frank E. Russell  beneficially  owns shares 4,546,700 shares (22.6%) of
         Class A Common  Stock.  Of such shares (i)  1,073,600  shares (5.3%) of
         Class A Common  Stock are owned by the Nina  Mason  Pulliam  Charitable
         Trust of which Frank E. Russell is trustee, as to which shares Frank E.
         Russell disclaims beneficial ownership,  (ii) 3,732,500 shares of Class
         B Common Stock are owned by the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust (of
         which  Frank E.  Russell is  trustee  and as to which  shares  Frank E.
         Russell disclaims beneficial ownership),  which shares may be converted
         into 373,250 shares (1.9%) of Class A Common Stock, (iii) 15,000 shares
         (.1%) of Class A Common Stock are owned by his wife,  Nancy M. Russell,
         as to which  Frank E.  Russell  disclaims  beneficial  ownership,  (iv)
         207,500  shares  (1.0%) of Class A Common  Stock may be  obtained  upon
         exercise,  within 60 days,  of stock  options held by Frank E. Russell,
         (v)  22,907,500  shares of Class B Common Stock are owned by the Eugene
         C.  Pulliam  Trust (of which  Frank E.  Russell is a Trustee  and as to
         which shares Frank E. Russell disclaims  beneficial  ownership),  which
         shares may be converted into 2,290,750 shares (11.4%) of Class A Common
         Stock,  (vi) 433,600 shares (2.2%) of Class A Common Stock are owned by
         various  trusts for which Frank E. Russell acts as sole trustee,  as to
         which Frank E. Russell disclaims  beneficial  ownership,  (vii) 140,500
         shares (.7%) of Class A Common Stock are owned by Frank E. Russell, and
         (viii)  125,000  shares  of Class B Common  Stock are owned by Frank E.
         Russell,  which shares of Class B Common  Stock may be  converted  into
         12,500 shares (.1%) of Class A Common Stock.

(b)      Sole Voting Power:                 2,240,950*
         Shared Voting Power:               2,305,750*
         Sole Dispositive Power:            2,240,950
         Shared Dispositive Power:          2,305,750

         *        Calculated pursuant to Rule 13d-3(d)(1)  promulgated under the
                  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended,  reflecting
                  beneficial  ownership  of shares of Class A Common Stock which
                  can be acquired  through the  conversion  of shares of Class B
                  Common  Stock.  Each  share  of Class B  Common  Stock  may be
                  converted  into 1/10 of a share of Class A Common Stock at the
                  option of the  holder  thereof.  Each  share of Class A Common
                  Stock is  entitled to 1/10 of a vote and each share of Class B
                  Common  Stock is entitled  to one vote.  All shares of Class A
                  Common  Stock  and Class B Common  Stock  vote  together  as a
                  single class.

(c)      In August and September 1998, two of the various trusts for which Frank
         E. Russell acts as sole trustee  transferred  in the aggregate  268,400
         shares of Class A Common Stock for no  consideration to five non-profit
         organizations.

         On  September  12,  1998,  options  held by Frank E. Russell for 75,000
         shares of Class A Common Stock became exercisable.


                                   Page 4 of 6

<PAGE>




         On September 21, 1998, the Nina Mason Pulliam  Charitable Trust and the
         Issuer  entered into a Stock Purchase  Agreement  (the "Stock  Purchase
         Agreement")  pursuant to which the Issuer agreed to purchase  2,500,000
         shares of Class A Common Stock from the Nina Mason  Pulliam  Charitable
         Trust for a purchase price of $60 per share.  The sale was completed on
         October 22, 1998.

         On September 21, 1998, the Nina Mason Pulliam  Charitable Trust and the
         Issuer entered into a Standstill and Option Agreement pursuant to which
         the Nina  Mason  Pulliam  Charitable  Trust  granted  to the Issuer the
         option to purchase up to 1,500,000  shares of Class A Common Stock at a
         price  of $67 per  share.  The  Issuer  exercised  part of its  option,
         purchasing  500,000  shares at $67 per share on November 13, 1998.  The
         Issuer exercised its remaining option,  purchasing  1,000,000 shares of
         Class A Common Stock for $67 per share on November 20, 1998.

(d)      Frank E.  Russell,  as  Trustee of the Nina  Mason  Pulliam  Charitable
         Trust,  has the power to direct the receipt of dividends  from,  or the
         proceeds  from the sale of,  securities  held be such  trust.  Frank E.
         Russell  does  not  have  the  right to  receive  dividends  from  such
         securities.

(e)      Pursuant to the terms of the Eugene C.  Pulliam  Trust,  all  dividends
         paid with  respect to the Class B Common  Stock owned by the trust will
         be paid to those descendants of Eugene C. Pulliam who are living at the
         time the trust  receives  such  dividends.  Frank E.  Russell  is not a
         descendant of Eugene C. Pulliam.

         The other  trustee of the Eugene C. Pulliam  Trust,  Eugene S. Pulliam,
         also has the right to direct the  receipt  of  dividends  from,  or the
         proceeds from the sale of, shares of the Issuer held in the trust.

Item 6.  Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships With Respect
         to Securities of the Issuer.

         Pursuant  to the Stock  Purchase  Agreement,  the  Issuer has agreed to
register  1,336,850 shares of Class A Common Stock (including any  underwriter's
over-allotment)  in a  registered  secondary  offering.  The Nina Mason  Pulliam
Charitable  Trust intends to sell 1,336,850  shares of Class A Common Stock in a
public offering pursuant to such registration.  A Registration Statement on Form
S-3 was filed with the Securities & Exchange  Commission (the  "Commission")  on
November  10,  1998.  The  Registration  Statement  is  being  reviewed  by  the
Commission and has not yet become effective.


Item 7.           Material to be Filed as Exhibits.

         Stock Purchase  Agreement  dated September 21, 1998, by and between the
Nina Mason Pulliam  Charitable Trust, an Indiana trust, and Central  Newspapers,
Inc., an Indiana corporation.

                                                    Page 5 of 6

<PAGE>







                                                     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.



December 1, 1998                                     /s/ Frank E. Russell
- ---------------------------                          ---------------------------
         Date                                        Frank E. Russell




                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT


         This  Agreement is made as of this 21st day of September,  1998, by and
between the NINA MASON PULLIAM CHARITABLE TRUST, an Indiana trust (the "Trust"),
and CENTRAL NEWSPAPERS, INC., an Indiana corporation (the "Company").


                                    Recitals

         A. The Trust  holds  shares of the Class A common  stock of the Company
(the "Shares").

         B. The Company desires to purchase from the Trust and the Trust desires
to sell to the Company Two Million  Five  Hundred  Thousand  (2,500,000)  of the
Shares (the "Redeemed Shares").



                                    Agreement

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants
contained  herein and subject to and upon the terms and  conditions  hereinafter
set forth, it is hereby agreed as follows:


                                    Article I
                           Purchase of Redeemed Shares

         1.1.  On the date  agreed  upon by the  Trust  and the  Company  as the
closing date of this transaction (the "Closing Date"), the Trust will deliver to
the Company,  at the Company's offices in Phoenix,  Arizona,  the certificate or
certificates  representing  the Redeemed  Shares, a stock power duly executed in
blank and such other instruments as the Company shall deem necessary to transfer
ownership of the Redeemed Shares to the Company. The Company will deliver to the
Trust a certified or cashiers check or wire funds transfer in an amount equal to
One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars  ($150,000,000) or $60 per Redeemed Share (the
"Purchase  Price") plus interest at the rate of five percent (5%) per annum from
September  16, 1998 through the Closing  Date,  calculated on the basis of a 365
day year.

         1.2      The Company represents and warrants as follows:

                  (a)      This Agreement is the valid and binding obligation of
                           the  Company,  enforceable  in  accordance  with  its
                           terms,  and the  execution  and  performance  of this
                           Agreement  by the  Company  will  not  result  in any
                           violation of or be in conflict  with or  constitute a
                           default  under any contract,  agreement,  instrument,
                           judgment,  decree  or other  indenture  to which  the
                           Company is a party or by which the Company  otherwise
                           is bound; and

                  (b)      No person,  corporation or other entity has, nor as a
                           result of the transactions  contemplated  hereby will
                           have, any right, interest, or valid claim against the
                           Trust,  the  Company  or any  other  person,  for any
                           commission,  fee or other compensation as a finder or
                           broker or in any similar  capacity arising out of any
                           action taken by the Company.


                                   Article II
                   Representations and Covenants of the Trust

                  The Trust hereby represents and warrants as follows:

                  (a)      As of the  Closing  Date,  the Trust will be the sole
                           owner of the  Redeemed  Shares,  and that each of the
                           Redeemed  Shares  will be free and  clear  of  liens,
                           encumbrances,   claims   of   others   and   transfer
                           restrictions  of any kind with the  exception  of any
                           restrictive legend placed on the certificate(s);

                  (b)      The Trust has full  power and  authority  to sell the
                           Redeemed Shares to the Company in accordance with the
                           provisions hereof;

                  (c)      This Agreement is the valid and binding obligation of
                           the Trust  enforceable in accordance  with its terms,
                           and the execution and  performance  of this Agreement
                           by the Trust will not result in any  violation  of or
                           be in conflict with or constitute a default under any
                           contract, agreement,  instrument, judgment, decree or
                           other  indenture  to which the Trust is a party or by
                           which the Trust otherwise is bound;

                  (d)      No person,  corporation or other entity has, nor as a
                           result of the transactions  contemplated  hereby will
                           have, any right, interest, or valid claim against the
                           Trust,  the  Company  or any  other  person,  for any
                           commission,  fee or other compensation as a finder or
                           broker or in any similar  capacity arising out of any
                           action taken by the Trust; and

                  (e)      The  Trust  has  had  access  to all  information  it
                           desires  concerning the Company and its  subsidiaries
                           and  operations,  and has had the  opportunity to ask
                           such  questions  of  officers  of the  Company as the
                           Trust has deemed necessary or appropriate in order to
                           enable the Trust to  determine  whether to  authorize
                           the sale of the  Redeemed  Shares on the terms herein
                           specified.  The Trust has reviewed all information it
                           deems  material  to making its  decision  to sell the
                           Redeemed Shares hereunder.


                                   Article III
                                  Registration

         The  Company  has agreed to  register  1,336,850  shares of its Class A
Common Stock in a registered  secondary  offering pursuant to a prospectus.  The
Trust will pay its own legal and accounting  fees, fees for the fairness opinion
received by the Trust, the underwriter's discount and all NASD, SEC and Blue Sky
filing fees related to the  secondary  offering.  The Company will pay all other
fees related to the secondary offering.  Any over-allotment  shares requested by
the underwriter shall be included in the shares registered by the Company.

                                   Article IV
                              Conditions Precedent

         All  obligations of the parties under this Agreement are subject to the
fulfillment or satisfaction,  prior to or as of the Closing Date, of each of the
following conditions precedent:

                  (a)      the  arrangement of financing for the  transaction on
                           terms and conditions acceptable to the Company;

                  (b)      the  receipt  of  probate  court   approval  for  the
                           transaction by the Trust; and

                  (c)      the receipt of fairness  opinions for the transaction
                           acceptable to each of the Company and the Trust.



                                    Article V
                                     General

         5.1.  This  Agreement  constitutes  the entire  Agreement  between  the
parties with respect to the subject  matter hereof and supersedes and merges all
prior  understandings and agreements  concerning the subject matter hereof. This
Agreement may only be modified or amended in writing.

         5.2.  This  Agreement  shall be governed and  construed in all respects
under the laws of the State of Indiana.

         5.3. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,  each one of which
shall  constitute  one and the same  Agreement  and  each one of which  shall be
deemed an original.


<PAGE>



         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.



                                   CENTRAL NEWSPAPERS, INC.


                                   By: /s/ Thomas K. MacGillivray
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Thomas K. MacGillivray, Vice President and
                                        Chief Financial Officer




                                   THE NINA MASON PULLIAM CHARITABLE TRUST


                                   By: /s/ Frank E. Russell
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                   Printed:   Frank E. Russell
                                   Title:     Trustee



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