UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. 4 )*
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Ablest Inc.
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(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, par value $.05 per share
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(Title of Class of Securities)
00371W00000
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(CUSIP Number)
Mia Jensen, c/o The Burton Partnership, Limited Partnership
Post Office Box 4643 Jackson, Wyoming 83001
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(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and
Communications)
4/17/00
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(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the
following box. [ ]
NOTE: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five
copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See 240.13d-7 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).
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SCHEDULE 13D
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CUSIP NO. 00371W100000 PAGE 2 OF 7 PAGES
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1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY).
The Burton Partnership, Limited Partnership
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [_]
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
(b) [_]
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
OO
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5 CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [_]
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware Limited Partnership
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7 SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF 329,000
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SHARES 8 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY -0-
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EACH 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING
PERSON 329,000
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WITH 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
329,000
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12 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS) [_]
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
11.4%
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
PN
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<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 13D
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CUSIP NO. 00371W100000 PAGE 3 OF 7 PAGES
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1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY).
The Burton Partnership (QP), Limited Partnership
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [_]
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS) (b) [_]
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
OO
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5 CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [_]
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware Limited Partnership
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7 SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF 329,000
--------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 8 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY -0-
--------------------------------------------------------------
EACH 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING
PERSON 329,000
--------------------------------------------------------------
WITH 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
329,000
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12 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS) [_]
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
11.4%
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
PN
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<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 13D
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CUSIP NO. 00371W100000 PAGE 4 OF 7 PAGES
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1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY).
Donald W. Burton
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [_]
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS) (b) [_]
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
OO
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5 CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [_]
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
United States
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7 SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF 329,000
--------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 8 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY -0-
--------------------------------------------------------------
EACH 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING
PERSON 329,000
--------------------------------------------------------------
WITH 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
329,000
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12 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS) [_]
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
11.4%
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
IN
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<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 13D
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CUSIP NO. 00371W100000 PAGE 5 OF 7 PAGES
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ITEM 1. SECURITY AND ISSUER
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This statement relates to shares of Common Stock, Par Value $.05 Per Share
(the "Shares"), of Ablest Inc. (the "Company"), having its principal executive
offices at 810 North Belcher Road, Clearwater, Florida 34625.
ITEM 2. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND
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This statement is being filed by The Burton Partnership, Limited
Partnership and The Burton Partnership (QP), Limited Partnership having its
principal offices at P.O. Box 4643, Jackson, Wyoming 83001; and the general
partner of The Burton Partnership, Limited Partnership and The Burton
Partnership (QP), Limited Partnership, Donald W. Burton. The principal business
of The Burton Partnership, Limited Partnership and The Burton Partnership (QP),
Limited Partnership is investment in public and private stocks. The general
partner's principal occupation is an investor.
The business address of the general partner is c/o The Burton Partnership,
Limited Partnership and The Burton Partnership (QP), Limited Partnership.
During the five years prior to the date hereof, neither The Burton
Partnership, Limited Partnership, The Burton Partnership (QP), Limited
Partnership nor its general partner has been convicted in a criminal proceeding
or has been a party to a civil proceeding ending in a judgment, decree or final
order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities
subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with
respect to such laws.
The general partner is a United States citizen.
ITEM 3. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION
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The Burton Partnership, Limited Partnership and The Burton Partnership
(QP), Limited Partnership acquired a total of 329,000 shares of Ablest Inc.
through open market transactions during a period beginning May 6, 1996 and
ending April 18, 2000 at prices ranging from $4.4951 to 7.125 per share, for an
aggregate purchase price of $2,169,807.
No part of the purchase price paid by The Burton Partnership, Limited
Partnership and The Burton Partnership (QP), Limited Partnership for shares was
represented by funds or other consideration borrowed or otherwise obtained for
the purpose of acquiring, holding, trading or voting shares of Ablest Inc.
ITEM 4. PURPOSE OF THE TRANSACTION
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The Burton Partnership, Limited Partnership and The Burton Partnership
(QP), Limited Partnership has purchased the Shares for investment purposes only.
a. Depending on market conditions, its continuing evaluation of the
business and prospects of Ablest Inc. and other factors, The Burton Partnership,
Limited Partnership and The Burton Partnership (QP), Limited Partnership may buy
or sell additional shares in the open market. Neither The Burton Partnership,
Limited Partnership, The Burton Partnership (QP), Limited Partnership, nor the
general partner has any present plans which relate to or would result in:
b. An extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger,
reorganization or liquidation, involving Ablest Inc. or any of its subsidiaries;
c. A sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of Ablest Inc. or any
of its subsidiaries;
d. Any change in the present board of directors or management of the
issuer, including any plans or proposals to change the number of tern directors
or to fill any existing vacancies on the board;
e. Any material change in the present capitalization or dividend policy of
Ablest Inc.;
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SCHEDULE 13D
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CUSIP NO. 00371W100000 PAGE 6 OF 7 PAGES
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f. Any other material change in Ablest Inc. business or corporate
structure, including, but not limited to, if Ablest Inc. is a closed-end
investment company, any plans or proposals to make any changes in its investment
policy for which a vote is required by section 13 of the Investment Company Act
of 1940;
g. Changes in Ablest Inc.'s charter or bylaws or other actions which may
impede the acquisition if control of Ablest Inc. by any person;
h. Causing a class of securities of Ablest Inc. to be delisted from a
national securities exchange or to cease to be authorized to be quoted in an
inter-dealer quotation system of a registered national securities association;
i. A class of equity securities of Ablest Inc. becoming eligible for
termination of registration pursuant to Section 12(g)(4) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934; or
j. Any action similar to any of those enumerated above.
ITEM 5. INTEREST IN SECURITIES AND THE ISSUER
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By virtue of his status as general partner of The Burton Partnership,
Limited Partnership and The Burton Partnership (QP), Limited Partnership, Donald
W. Burton may thus be deemed to be beneficial owner of the 329,000 shares which
The Burton Partnership, Limited Partnership and The Burton Partnership (QP),
Limited Partnership own of record, representing 11.4% of the Company. Donald W.
Burton may thus be deemed to share with The Burton Partnership, Limited
Partnership and The Burton Partnership (QP), Limited Partnership the power to
direct the voting and disposition of the shares which The Burton Partnership,
Limited Partnership and The Burton Partnership (QP), Limited Partnership own of
record.
The aggregate 329,000 shares purchased by The Burton Partnership, Limited
Partnership and The Burton Partnership (QP), Limited Partnership were obtained
in the open market transactions executed by J.C. Bradford & Co. between the
dates of 05/06/96 and 04/18/00. The foregoing percentage was calculated based
on 2,881,678 shares outstanding as of January 31, 2000.
No other person is known to have the right to receive or the power to
direct the receipt of dividends from, or any proceeds from the sale of, the
shares beneficially owned by The Burton Partnership, Limited Partnership, The
Burton Partnership (QP), Limited Partnership and the general partner
ITEM 6. CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT
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TO SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER
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Except as described elsewhere herein, there are no contracts, arrangements,
understandings or relationships (legal or otherwise) among The Burton
Partnership, Limited Partnership and the general partner or between any such
person and any other person with respect to the securities, finder's fees, joint
ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees of profits,
division of profits or loss or the giving or withholding of proxies.
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 13D
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CUSIP NO. 00371W100000 PAGE 7 OF 7 PAGES
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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.
April 20, 2000
------------------------
Date
THE BURTON PARTNERSHIP, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By: /s/ Donald W. Burton
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Donald W. Burton
General Partner
THE BURTON PARTNERSHIP (QP), LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP
By: /s/ Donald W. Burton
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Donald W. Burton
General Partner
DONALD W. BURTON
By: /s/ Donald W. Burton
----------------------------------
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